Best mobile plan: which one should I choose ? (comparison)

You are frustrated with your current mobile plan ? Whatever the reason, tell yourself that there may always be a more suitable and less expensive alternative. In our comparison of the best mobile plans, you will be able to define your needs and find the most suitable subscriptions.

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Whether it's data volume, calls, SMS and MMS, network or commitment, you can use the sliders in our comparison of the best mobile plan to precisely define your needs. The comparator is dynamic and shows you the best mobile plan for your use directly. Operators regularly reward their new customers with discounts: this is how they manage to attract them. While contracts with commitment are becoming increasingly rare, the user is becoming king.

Changing your mobile plan takes just a few minutes: today, subscribing to a new operator automatically results in the termination of your current contract. With your RIO code (available by calling 3179 for free), you can keep your phone number without charge or interruption. This way, you can easily switch from one operator to another and keep the best mobile plan at any given time.

Move the sliders to filter the mobile plan comparison view.

Our mobile plan comparison is updated by our dedicated team. Each plan is detailed with its characteristics (network, operator, commitment…) and its price. At the same time, flash sales allow operators to boost subscription volumes over a given period. In principle, they are therefore ephemeral. The end date of the offer is highlighted on each of the highlighted subscriptions.

The comparison of the best mobile plan in 2024

• RED by SFR
• B&You by Bouygues Telecom
• Orange plan
• Prixtel mobile plan
• Free Mobile
• Sosh
• Cdiscount Mobile

You want to know more about the mobile plans that we briefly mentioned in our comparison ? Here is our detailed guide, knowing that the list can change from one day to the next. We recommend that you consult our tables regularly. With the price battle on the telecoms market, you can save money by taking advantage of the competition between telecoms players.

You don't know how to choose your offer in our mobile plan comparison ? We will try to answer our readers' frequently asked questions. Finding the best plan is not a simple thing, far from it. You have to find the balance between your real needs, your budget and the offers that are available at a specific time. No one has the same expectations, you need a tailor-made solution.

In addition, operators often try to sell mobile plans with a data package that is too large for the average real use: this allows them to charge more. It is not only the data and price ratio that must be taken into account, but also the volume of data itself. For most users, a volume between 100 and 150 GB of Internet is more than enough, this should allow several years without any difficulty.

In 2024, 90% of mobile plans sold online are non-binding. The flexibility of these plans stands out from an era in which subscribers were tied to their operator for years. At the time, if you wanted to take advantage of a new plan, you had to wait or pay the remaining monthly payments until the end of the contract. Note that the historic operators Orange, Bouygues Telecom and SFR have also finally adopted the non-binding contract.

It was not uncommon for the mobile plan with commitment to cause problems by forcing some subscribers to make unforeseen expenses. Moreover, the system of subsidized smartphones was the norm: for a seemingly low price, the subscriber could benefit from a mobile associated with a plan with commitment. The problem was that the subscriber paid too much since this system allowed to cover up the tracks on the real cost of the plan (and the smartphone).

In the event of termination of your mobile plan, it was sometimes necessary to return the mobile in good condition under penalty of paying penalties or the remaining amount to be paid for the device. Fortunately, Free Mobile has pushed its rivals to adopt a radically different model. To present prices that are always attractive, the telecom operator has chosen not to subsidize mobiles, while promoting the purchase of a smartphone alone.

It is therefore possible to finance your smartphone in several monthly payments, with a supplement on the subscription that will be carried over each month to the bill. After the shock of the new operator's prices, Orange, SFR and Bouygues Telecom have launched increasingly aggressive non-binding offers. In exchange for a few small advantages less: it is normal to manage this type of plan online and without the possibility of going to a physical store.

Our comparison confirms it: the best mobile plan is non-binding. In 2024, it is better to avoid operators who want to keep you by force. RED by SFR, B&You, Sosh or Free have very naturally switched to non-binding. Among the important elements to consider before choosing the best mobile plan promo, you must first check the network coverage in your area.

ARCEP often updates its interactive map that allows you to compare the quality of the telecom network of operators. In most large cities, the quality is similar regardless of your choice. However, in rural areas, the question arises. On 4G, Orange is the best with 99% coverage of the territory and population. Bouygues Telecom and SFR are not far behind and Free Mobile closes the pack.

On the other hand, on 5G, Free Mobile is convincing with extensive coverage thanks to its antennas in the 700 MHz frequency range that cover large areas. That said, its speed is lower than the 5G of other operators, it is more comparable to 4G. On the other hand, the other players are now very present with their infrastructure, the coverage rate is around 80%.

Being able to cancel a plan without commitment is a good solution to avoid being stuck with a subscription whose price is high. It also forces the operator to always remain irreproachable. It is therefore under some pressure not to see its customers flee to the competition. You can always take advantage of the best offer by juggling between the discounts available from time to time.

In France, there are currently two types of players on the telecoms market. There are the historic operators who have their own network on one side – Orange, Bouygues Telecom, SFR and Free Mobile. On the other, there are the MVNOs who buy voice minutes, SMS and data from the operators to offer ever cheaper and ever more comprehensive mobile plans. The latter depend on the networks of the traditional operators that they operate.

Many of these MNVOs are actually subsidiaries of the historic operators. Among the virtual operators, we can cite RED by SFR, B&You or Sosh. In 2020, the MVNOs Cdiscount Mobile, NRJ Mobile, Prixtel and Coriolis were all bought out by the operators in their own right. This allows them to better monitor prices and ensure good overall harmony.

The best mobile plan promo can be hidden in the offer of one of these MVNOs. If you need real comfort (with the possibility of going to a store), traditional operators will be the way to go. But for those who are used to doing things online, these brands offer mobile plan promotions with a quality offer but less of a safety net.

Finally, MVNOs are known to lower prices but only for a few months. You must therefore be prepared to change your mobile subscription often — and don't forget to send your RIO code to request the portability of your phone number. Our tests and reviews of RED by SFR, B&You or Free Mobile often answer most of our readers' questions. These brands are real references in the segment, they have everything to seduce.

For a decade, MVNOs have been eating into market share. This acronym means Mobile Virtual Network Operator, it translates to virtual mobile operator. These players like Cdiscount, Prixtel or NRJ Mobile do not have a network, so they therefore rely contractually on the network of Orange, SFR or Bouygues Telecom.

The advantage of MNVO mobile plans is that the resulting plans are systematically cheaper and without commitment. The disadvantage is that they do not own the network and are sometimes disadvantaged over subscribers to Orange, SFR or Bouygues Telecom. The connection speed is likely to drop, for example, in the event of saturation of the main network.

A few years ago, MVNOs were promoting discounts for 6 to 12 months before returning to the basic price of the mobile plan. Now, prices remain stable even over time with these virtual mobile operators. On the other hand, Orange, SFR and Bouygues Telecom still operate in this way on certain offers.

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In recent years, there has been a consolidation in the MVNO market. In this case, EI Telecom — which owned NRJ Mobile or Cdiscount Mobile — was acquired by Bouygues Telecom. For its part, the Altice group (SFR) acquired Coriolis Telecom and Prixtel. Only Orange has not positioned itself for the moment. However, it was the first historical player to remove the commitment on its offer and then to launch its Sosh brand.

More good news: if you have not committed to an operator, the cancellation cost will be zero. It will therefore cost you nothing to cancel a mobile plan and go to the competition even if you opt for number portability. You need to make sure that you are not committed and that your operator does not charge hidden fees. Note that you pay between 1 and 10 euros more on the first bill for the cost of issuing your SIM card.

The game is worth the candle, because by taking the best mobile plan on the market, you will save money. You can easily reduce your budget by 50% with a mobile plan promo. In the end, changing operators is healthy for your wallet. Moreover, ARCEP advises the French to change their subscription often, which you can easily do by using our comparison to get the best rates.

Our comparison allows you to compare the best plans in real time and in the blink of an eye. If you manage to get a mobile plan promo during a Big RED or Very B&You operation, you can lower your bill by around -50%.

In France, the first 5G packages arrived at the end of 2020 — at the same time as the network began to be deployed. Is it essential in 2024 ? Not really, but it is becoming interesting. For a few years, operators had difficulty selling their 5G subscriptions due to lack of demand. Interest was still limited for customers and the price remained higher. This is no longer the case today, so these subscriptions are becoming more democratic among the general public. Now, the price difference between 4G and 5G offers remains minimal.

In our opinion, it is interesting to take a mobile plan compatible with 5G, even more so if you live in a big city or travel to other large metropolises, because it is highly possible that you will see the benefit. This is also true when traveling to many foreign countries as long as your operator has an agreement with them.

To subscribe to a plan compatible with the 5G network, you must also have a 5G compatible smartphone. With an ultra-fast network that is still geographically limited (to a few large cities) and 4G that is good, the success of 5G mobile subscriptions will probably increase further.

Mobile plan comparison: how much data do you really need ?

Whatever mobile plan you take, all operators segment to appeal to all profiles. Whether you are a small, medium or large data consumer, you will find what you are looking for. The French used an average of 9 GB per month in 2019. Since then, usage has intensified but no figures have been officially communicated by ARCEP. One thing is certain, you are probably paying for gigabytes that you never actually use.

Overall, operators all offer a small, medium and large mobile plan without commitment. The small one will range from 1 to 10 GB per month, while the intermediate version will be between 30 and 130 GB. The most generous plan varies between 140 and 200 GB. Only Free Mobile offers a completely unlimited data plan, but it is reserved for Freebox Pop customers. This is practical for those who share their connection and often upload videos in full quality.

In 2024, the average mobile plan includes around 130 GB and costs between 10 and 15 euros per month. Among the operators that are without commitment, RED by SFR, B&You or Sosh are positioned with the best mobile plan promos. Occasionally, depending on the offer calendar, it is possible to take advantage of them for a little less.

The best mobile plans in this comparison all include a data package that can be used abroad. By default, this data package can be used in the EU, the United States, the United Kingdom and the French Overseas Territories. However, with some offers in this mobile plan comparison, outside the EU and French Overseas Territories, it often happens that the data offer abroad is more limited. If you are traveling to Switzerland, the United States or Andorra, it may cost you more depending on the operator you have chosen.

Please note that from one operator to another, there may still be nuances for the data included abroad. For example, the operator RED by SFR adds a volume of data in the EU and the French overseas departments in addition to the data that is included in France. On the other hand, the B&You brand from Bouygues Telecom deducts the volume abroad from the envelope in France. This is a small difference that can be important; you have to compare the packages.

For its part, Free Mobile offers a mobile plan with unlimited calls and text messages outside France, i.e. in the EU, the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand and Israel. In addition to this, its Free 5 plan includes 25 GB of Internet usable from around a hundred countries, including Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, Algeria, Switzerland, Russia, Ukraine, Armenia, China, Pakistan, India, Sri Lanka and Thailand. Even if there are limits, you can see that those who opt for a mobile plan promo do not lack freedom.

If you are going abroad for a few months, keeping a French mobile plan is a real stroke of luck. Indeed, whether in the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada or Switzerland, the cost of a subscription is much higher. They can quickly exceed 50 euros. In France, the public is among the best off in terms of price.

The first thing to do before changing your mobile plan, especially for a promo available in our comparison, is to check the commitment period with your current operator, if applicable. If you are not (or no longer) committed, you can cancel your mobile subscription without any notice. No need to call them to have to terminate your current contract, the procedure has been simplified and automated.

To change telecom operator and keep your phone number, you must nevertheless complete a step in order to recover your RIO number. Nothing to do with OSS 117: this number contains everything your new operator needs to port your phone number. To obtain it, you can simply call 3179 (free). An automatic voice will give you this code to guarantee the portability of your number from one operator to another. The procedure is free and at the same time allows you to cancel your current mobile plan.

In a few seconds, you will obtain the RIO number which allows you to switch to another operator. All you then have to do is choose a new offer from this mobile plan comparison to start a new adventure – your new operator will take care of everything else. Take advantage of this to subscribe to a cheaper offer with more data. Telecom operators are often generous: be patient and you will find ways to save more.

In the end, it is quite difficult to advise you on the best mobile plan in this comparison without knowing your needs and your budget. That said, if we had to determine the best offer for conventional use, it would be the following: it would include unlimited calls, SMS and MMS with 50 to 130 GB of Internet. This is the volume needed to be worry-free with a smartphone. You have to count between 10 and 15 euros per month for this type of mobile plan.

Of course, there are mobile plans that go well beyond 130 GB. For example, the Free 5G plan offers 210 GB of data envelope – on average what a family of three people consumes each month with residential internet access. By the way, we remind you that 5G is now interesting in our opinion, in particular because the prices of compatible offers are now affordable and the deployment of infrastructures is much more advanced.

Finally, it's all a question of timing. Indeed, if you are a little patient, you can come across mobile plan promos that are sometimes 20 to 30% better than a mobile plan deemed expensive by our comparison. The start of the school year in September and the months of November, December and January are popular periods to take advantage of discounts on your next mobile plan. For several years, RED by SFR and B&You have been fighting each other with exceptional offers every month, which can really be worth it.

In the end, we recommend that you regularly come back to this 2024 mobile plan comparison to quickly benefit from an overall view of the best plans of the moment, the best plan promos, and a list of varied plans to better compare. So, which plan attracted you the most this year ?