Kornelijus
Affordable and reliable. Traveled to the US for a trip and used blikst. It was much more affordable than other companies and was very
France
Trust score 4.5
Features
- Coverage: France
- Network Provider: Orange
- Speed: 4G / 5G
- Tethering / Hotspot: Yes
Plan Details
Device Compatibility: Most modern smartphones are fully compatible with Blikst eSIMs. However, a few exceptions exist. Check our detailed compatibility list to confirm your device works flawlessly with our service..
Activation Policy: Enjoy automatic activation by simply scanning the QR code provided after purchase. Your eSIM will instantly activate upon your arrival at France, ensuring immediate connectivity.
Delivery Time: Receive a confirmation email with your eSIM details right after completing your purchase. Quick and seamless delivery ensures you’re ready to go in minutes.
Description
France is the kind of country where data quietly carries your whole trip — SNCF tickets live in the app, the Paris Metro now takes Navigo through your phone, and every boulangerie that takes cards assumes you can tap or scan. A Blikst France eSIM runs on Orange, France's largest mobile network by subscriber base and typically ranked first or second in ARCEP's annual coverage assessments. You'll get 4G and 5G across Paris, Lyon, Marseille, Bordeaux, Toulouse, Nice, and most of the countryside between.
Where Orange works best
Central Paris, Lyon, Marseille, Nice, Bordeaux, Toulouse, Strasbourg, and Lille all have 5G. The TGV corridors between Paris and the south — Paris–Lyon, Paris–Bordeaux, Paris–Marseille — hold 4G or 5G almost the entire route with brief dips through tunnels. Rural Dordogne, the Cévennes, Pyrenees valleys, and the Alpine ski-valley towns above a certain altitude drop to 4G or 3G. Corsica is covered but mountain interior roads can go patchy. The Paris Metro has coverage on most platforms; tunnels between stations are spottier on older lines (1, 4, 11, 12, 13 are the more reliable ones for in-tunnel data).
Cost vs. EU roaming and airport SIMs
EU travellers with "roam like home" bundled by their domestic carrier often don't need this eSIM — France is a standard EU zone and most EU plans include it. UK post-Brexit plans vary: some include France at £2–£6 per day, some charge more. US and Canadian carriers typically charge $10–$12 per day for France. Airport SIMs at CDG or Orly work but require you to find the right kiosk after a long-haul flight and do the paperwork. A Blikst plan arrives already installed.
Activation when you land
Install the profile over Wi-Fi before you fly. When you land at CDG, Orly, Lyon Saint-Exupéry (LYS), Nice Côte d'Azur (NCE), Marseille (MRS), or Bordeaux (BOD), the eSIM registers on Orange as soon as you switch off airplane mode. Turn data roaming off on your home SIM. If you're arriving by Eurostar from London St Pancras into Gare du Nord, the plan registers as you enter French territory — the train crosses the Channel Tunnel in darkness, then picks up French towers once it surfaces near Calais.
Apps that run French travel
- SNCF Connect: For TGV, Intercités, and TER regional trains. Tickets live in the app; conductor checks scan your phone directly.
- RATP and Bonjour RATP: Paris Metro, RER, bus, and tram. The iPhone Navigo pass is now native in Apple Wallet — no physical card needed.
- Uber and Bolt: Both work in Paris, Lyon, Marseille, and most medium-sized cities. G7 is the local taxi equivalent.
- Google Maps and Citymapper: Citymapper is particularly good for Paris multimodal routing — walking-metro-bike combinations.
- Lime, Dott, Tier: Scooters are restricted in Paris but still everywhere in Lyon, Bordeaux, and Marseille. Bike-share (Vélib' in Paris) works well.
- WhatsApp and Airbnb inbox: Small hotel and gîte owners often confirm check-in by WhatsApp rather than email.
Plan sizing for typical trips
A long weekend in Paris runs comfortably on 3 GB. A one-week Paris-plus-one-region trip (Normandy, Loire, Provence) fits 5 GB. A classic two-week Paris-south-of-France loop covering TGV segments and a rental car stretch uses 10 GB easily. Digital nomads or remote workers staying a month in Paris or Lyon should plan for 20–50 GB, particularly with video-call work. Self-drive trips through the Dordogne or Provence wine country usually need 5–10 GB thanks to heavy Google Maps use.
Practical notes
French hotels, Airbnbs, and most cafés have Wi-Fi — your eSIM covers trains, rental cars, hikes, and the one-star Michelin village restaurant where the Wi-Fi password is written on the specials board and doesn't work. Install the profile before you fly, and land at Roissy or Orly already connected. The first espresso at the airport Café Le Paris is waiting.
Important Information
- This eSIM plan is only compatible with iPhone, Samsung and Google devices.
- To activate this plan, you will need to provide your IMEI, EID/ICCID and preferred eSim Activation Date.
- On the specified date your eSim will be activated automatically in the USA no QR code needed.
- The plan must be purchased at least 2 days before the activation date to allow time for processing.
Our plans
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How to get your Bliskt eSIM data?
Check Device Compatibility
Confirm that your smartphone or device supports our Blikst eSIM functionality.
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Follow Installation Instructions
Use the provided step-by-step guide to set up and activate your eSIM in few minutes. Then enjoy your trip.
Learn MoreBlikst eSIM Reviews
Marius
Smooth, simple, just works. Use it again.
Elinga
Quick activation and stable connection. Super handy 🌟 Used it during my trip in Madeira.
James
Lovely support, got an esim for UK. Had no issues.
Capone
I used to have 3 mobile but the internet connection was not the best, that’s why I started to use Blikst and I find it very useful
eSIM FAQ
The Blikst France eSIM runs on Orange, France's largest mobile network by subscriber base and typically ranked first or second in ARCEP's annual coverage assessments. You get both 4G and 5G speeds, so you can stream, video-call and navigate without trouble across Paris, Lyon, Marseille, Bordeaux, Toulouse, Nice and most of the countryside in between.
Central Paris, Lyon, Marseille, Nice, Bordeaux, Toulouse, Strasbourg and Lille all have 5G, and the TGV corridors from Paris to the south hold 4G or 5G almost the whole route, dipping only in tunnels. Be honest with yourself about rural spots: the Dordogne, Cevennes, Pyrenees valleys and high Alpine ski towns can drop to 4G or 3G, Corsica's mountain interior goes patchy, and older Metro lines lose signal between stations.
Right after you buy, you get a confirmation email with your eSIM details, so install the profile over Wi-Fi by scanning the QR code before you fly. Activation is automatic: the eSIM registers on Orange the moment you switch off airplane mode on arrival, whether you land at CDG, Orly, Lyon, Nice, Marseille or Bordeaux, or cross by Eurostar into Gare du Nord. Remember to turn data roaming off on your home SIM.
Most modern smartphones are fully compatible with Blikst eSIMs, though a few exceptions exist, so do check our detailed compatibility list to confirm your device. Your phone must be carrier-unlocked. To check eSIM support on an iPhone, look under Settings, General, About for an EID number; on Android it sits in your network settings. If you see an EID, you are almost certainly good to go.
It depends on your trip. A long weekend in Paris runs comfortably on 3 GB, while a one-week Paris-plus-one-region trip through Normandy, the Loire or Provence fits 5 GB. A classic two-week Paris to south-of-France loop with TGV and a rental car uses 10 GB easily. Self-drive trips through the Dordogne or Provence wine country usually need 5 to 10 GB thanks to heavy Google Maps use, and a month working remotely is better on 20 to 50 GB.
Yes, tethering and hotspot use are supported, so you can share your connection with a laptop or a travelling companion's phone. That is handy on a French train or in a rental car where you want a tablet online for maps or work. Since the plan runs on Orange's 4G and 5G, expect solid speeds in the cities, though shared use does eat through your data faster, so size your plan accordingly.
This is a data-only plan, so you call and message over the internet using apps like WhatsApp, FaceTime, iMessage or Messenger, which is exactly how many French hosts work anyway. Small hotel and gite owners often confirm check-in by WhatsApp rather than email. Because the eSIM is a separate digital line, your physical home SIM and number can stay in the phone, ready to receive the odd important text from home.
It depends where you are coming from. EU travellers with roam-like-home bundled by their carrier often don't need this eSIM, since France is a standard EU zone. UK post-Brexit plans vary, with some charging £2 to £6 a day for France and some more, while US and Canadian carriers typically charge $10 to $12 a day. Airport SIMs at CDG or Orly mean hunting for a kiosk and paperwork after a long flight, whereas a Blikst plan arrives already installed.