Which UK phone companies offer free roaming in France?
In some cases, companies started charging extra fees directly after Brexit, but others have taken a slower approach by gradually introducing them. Meanwhile, there are still a few British phone plans that do not charge extra for 'roaming'.
Here is the latest list (as of July 2025) of the British phone companies that offer free roaming, as well as those who do not, plus what they offer instead. This list is correct at the time of publication, but providers can change their deals.
READ MORE:
Roaming: Where can I use my French mobile without landing a huge bill?
Free roaming in France
O2
- As part of their standard monthly SIM plans - Classic, Plus and Ultimate, ranging from £16 to £34 - O2 includes free roaming.
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O2 customers can make calls and send texts within the Europe Zone (which includes France) to any other country in the Europe Zone (including the UK). Users can also benefit from their monthly data allowance, but there is a roaming limit of 25 GB.
Once you near the roaming limit, you will receive a text message warning that if you keep using data, you will be charged extra.
BT 'Roam like Home'
- Despite the fact that BT and EE are merging, the company still allows customers to opt for BT mobile plans, such as the
50GB SIM
, which starts at £13 a month.
As for roaming, this means that customers can benefit from 'Roam like Home' free roaming in France and the EU. The plan includes 50 GB of data usage (as part of their fair use policy allowance). You can make calls and send texts within France at no extra charge, but you cannot call abroad from the UK without paying a fee.
You ought to receive a notification if you are at 80 percent of your usage allowance.
The company does warn that 'Roam like Home' is only available for people "usually based in the UK". They may add a surcharge if they see you have been using the plan for over four months in France.
Smarty
- Smarty's
SIM-only
plans include roaming within the EU, with unlimited calls and texts. Users have a 'fair use' limit of 12GB per month for a maximum of 60 days. To go above that, you have to buy a data add-on.
Giffgaff
- This phone company allows people to use their usual capacity of calls and texts in the EU "at no extra cost". As for data, the cut off is 5GB, and if you go over, you will have to pay 10p/MB. There are other travel add-on plans available, too.
Additional roaming fees
Vodafone
- As things stand, Vodafone has several different plans, and some of them include roaming (up to 25 GB fair use limit) in France (which falls into their 'B' list).
Specifically, you can opt for the 5GB Xtra Euro Roam (£25 monthly). Otherwise, you can purchase a plan that does not include roaming and pay an extra daily charge of £2.57 a day or purchase a 'European Roaming Pass" (either 8 or 15 days).
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EE Mobile
- EE Mobile has been changing its approach to roaming, with some of the contracts it offered before July 2021 no longer available. The company still has several plans that do include EU roaming (the Max Plan, Full Works, Essentials Plus, and All rounder).
For customers whose plans do not include roaming, they can purchase temporary passes, with fees of £2.59 per day, £15 per week, and £21.50 per 12 days. Calls, texts and data would be available at your normal UK allowance. You can decide which pass to purchase upon arrival, as you will receive a link giving you the options.
Tesco Mobile
- Customers who joined Tesco Mobile before June 16th, 2022 will continue to be able to use their UK data allowance in France. However, those who have changed contracts or joined after June 2022 will "be subject to roaming charges from 2026", the company warned on their website.
Customers are expected to receive 30 days' notice before changes are implemented. For the time being, people on monthly SIM plans with Tesco Mobile will still be able to have roaming in France included in their standard bill.
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Three
- Similar to EE Mobile and Vodafone, Three offers some plans (like Value and Complete) which include roaming in France/ the EU. Otherwise, customers can pay a daily charge of £2 for the 'Go Roam in Europe' pass. Data is capped at 12GB.
Sky
- This phone service does not include free roaming automatically. You can opt for the 'Roaming Passport Plus' which allows users to access their UK data, calling and texting allowance for £2 a day.
British tourists and second-home owners will likely keep their UK phone contract, but if you're moving to France then sooner or later you will probably want to switch to a French provider.
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