Last updated: 20 October 2026
Yes. Any recent US phone works in France. Verizon, AT&T and T-Mobile all roam on French networks, so your phone has a signal as soon as you land at Charles de Gaulle or Nice. What changes is the price: Verizon and AT&T charge $12 a day per line, and T-Mobile's included data is a few gigabytes for the whole trip. Ten days in France for two people can add $180 to $240 to your phone bill.
If your phone is unlocked, a travel eSIM gives you data for the whole trip at a fixed price, from $11.99 for 7 days or $19.99 for 15 days, while your US number stays on for calls, texts and bank codes.
What each carrier charges in France
| Carrier | What you get in France | What it costs |
|---|---|---|
| Verizon | TravelPass: your plan's talk, text and data, with 5 GB of high-speed data per 24-hour session, then 3G speeds | $12 a day per line. Unlimited Ultimate includes some international data each month |
| AT&T | International Day Pass: your plan's talk, text and data | $12 a day for the first line, $6 for each extra line, at most 10 days charged per bill period. Unlimited Elite 2.0 includes 20 GB a month |
| T-Mobile | Included roaming on most plans: 5 GB of high-speed data on Experience More, 15 GB on Experience Beyond, then slow data | No extra cost, or a pass for more data. Essentials has no data abroad without a pass |
On Verizon and AT&T the day pass switches itself on: one call, one sent text or one background app sync in France starts a day. Our guides explain what triggers it and how to avoid a surprise: Verizon, AT&T and T-Mobile. On Mint, Visible, Cricket, Google Fi and other carriers the rules differ a lot: will my phone work in Europe? links to each.
What a 10-day trip costs
| One phone | Two phones | |
|---|---|---|
| Verizon TravelPass, 10 days | $120 | $240 |
| AT&T International Day Pass, 10 days | $120 | $180 |
| T-Mobile Experience More | Included, 5 GB at full speed in all | Included, 5 GB each |
| Europe eSIM, 15 days, 1.5 GB a day | $19.99 | $39.98 |
T-Mobile's included data is the cheapest if it is enough for you. Five gigabytes covers maps, messages and some photos over ten days, but not much streaming or video calling. In that case the eSIM is about more data at full speed, not about saving money.
Will my phone itself work there?
For data, yes, on any phone from the last eight years or so. French networks (Orange, SFR, Bouygues Telecom and Free) run 4G and 5G on frequencies US phones support.
For calls, France is switching off 2G at the end of 2026. Orange is turning off 2G department by department in October 2026, and SFR and Bouygues Telecom from mid-November to mid-December. 3G follows in 2028 and 2029. After that, calls travel over 4G (VoLTE), and VoLTE has to work between your phone, your US carrier and its French partner. On some older phones it does not, and then data works but calls fail. If that happens:
- Use Wi-Fi calling. Calls over Wi-Fi to US numbers are free on Verizon, AT&T and T-Mobile. Turn it on before you leave the US.
- Use WhatsApp, FaceTime or another app. Hotels, guides and restaurants in France often answer on WhatsApp.
To use a travel eSIM, your phone must be unlocked. Check it in 30 seconds: is my phone unlocked?, and does my phone support eSIM?
Which plan fits a France trip
Our France page sells the Europe plans: one eSIM for 30 countries, so it keeps working if your trip continues to Italy, Spain, Switzerland or the UK.
- A week in Paris: 1.5 GB a day for 7 days, $11.99. Enough for maps, metro routes, train tickets, messages and photos.
- Two weeks, or Paris plus the regions: 1.5 GB a day for 15 days at $19.99, or unlimited for 7 days at $19.99 if you share your connection or take video calls.
- A long stay: 1.5 GB a day for 30 days, $26.99.
Coverage in Paris is very good, underground too. All 304 metro stations and the tunnels between them have had 4G since 2020, a network the four French operators built together, so you keep data between stops. Coverage is also strong along the TGV lines and in towns. Tunnels, the high Alps and parts of the Massif Central and rural Brittany can drop the signal briefly on any network.
Why mobile data matters on a French trip: train tickets and seat changes live in the SNCF Connect app, strikes on trains, the metro and at airports are announced at short notice (see strikes in France this week), and the Louvre, the Eiffel Tower and many museums sell timed tickets you show on your phone.
Going for the Christmas markets? Our Strasbourg, Colmar and Paris guide has the 2026 dates and the train between them.
Before you fly
- Decide: carrier pass, included roaming, or a travel eSIM for data.
- Turn on Wi-Fi Calling while you are still in the US.
- Install your eSIM at home on Wi-Fi: iPhone or Android. When you land, set it as your data line and turn data roaming off on your US line, so the day pass never starts.
- Pack a plug adapter. France uses type C and type E plugs at 230 volts. Phone chargers rated 100 to 240 V need an adapter, not a converter.
- Know the emergency number: 112.
FAQ
Can I use my US phone in France?
Yes. Any recent US phone works on French networks through your carrier's roaming. Verizon and AT&T charge $12 a day per line, and T-Mobile's Experience plans include a few gigabytes of data. An unlocked phone can also take a travel eSIM for data at a fixed price.
Do I need an eSIM for France?
No, but it is usually cheaper. Without one you pay your carrier's day pass, $120 for 10 days on Verizon or AT&T. A Europe eSIM costs $19.99 for 15 days with 1.5 GB a day, and your US number keeps working for calls and texts.
Does Verizon work in France?
Yes. With TravelPass you use your plan's talk, text and data in France for $12 a day per line, with 5 GB of high-speed data per 24-hour session. The pass starts the first time your phone uses the network that day.
Will T-Mobile work in France?
Yes. Experience More includes 5 GB of high-speed data abroad and Experience Beyond 15 GB, then slower data. Essentials includes no data abroad unless you buy a pass.
Does my phone work in the Paris metro?
Yes. Every Paris metro station and the tunnels between them have had 4G coverage since 2020, on all four French networks, so data keeps working between stops.
Will my phone charger work in France?
Yes, with a plug adapter. France uses type C and type E plugs at 230 volts, and phone chargers are almost always rated 100 to 240 V, so no converter is needed.
Facts checked on 20 October 2026: Verizon's TravelPass page ($12 a day, 5 GB of high-speed data per session); AT&T and T-Mobile figures as listed on their sites in October 2026 and in our carrier guides; France's 2G and 3G switch-off dates as published by the operators and reported by Selectra (they can still move); Paris metro 4G coverage as announced by RATP in 2020; prices from our catalogue. Check your own plan before you travel.