Frequently Asked Questions

You get a real French mobile number starting with +33, issued on the Bouygues Telecom network. It is a genuine mobile number, not a VoIP number, so it behaves like any other French mobile line for calls and SMS.

Yes, for one-off verification. Because it is a real French mobile number rather than a VoIP one, it receives SMS one-time passwords from booking apps, ride-share and delivery services, marketplaces, ticketing and most sign-up flows.

One thing to keep in mind: your +33 number is released when your plan ends, so it is not suited to being your permanent two-factor number. Verifying a service you will use for the length of your trip is fine; making it the number you rely on to log back into an account later is not. A small number of services also reject recently issued numbers — if a code does not arrive, message us and we will check whether it reached the network.

Yes — your +33 number receives the SMS verification code these apps send, so you can register with it.

One important warning about WhatsApp: it ties one account to one number, so if you register WhatsApp on your +33 number, your account moves there and stops working on your home number, and your contacts will not recognise the new one. Most travellers should leave WhatsApp on their existing number and simply use it over the Europe Number data allowance — it keeps working exactly as before.

In most cases yes — a real +33 mobile number works for Google and Instagram SMS verification. Because the number is only yours for the length of your plan, do not set it as the recovery or two-factor number on an account you want to keep. Use it to complete a one-off verification, not as the permanent phone number on the account.

Yes — a +33 number lets you register, list and buy on French marketplaces without exposing your personal number. This is one of the situations a temporary number suits well, since you only need it for the duration of your trip.

We do not recommend it. Banks and finance apps treat a change of registered phone number as a security event, and a newly issued number can trigger account locks or leave you unable to receive the codes you need to log in.

Because the number is released at the end of your plan, anything you attach to it permanently — banking, or any account you rely on for recovery — can become unreachable later. Keep your bank on your home number.

Yes. Using a temporary +33 number keeps your personal number private when you register on unfamiliar sites, sell on marketplaces or use short-term services. Just remember it is temporary by design — it is released at the end of your plan, so use it for things you are happy to leave behind, not for accounts you need long-term access to.

Your number stays active for the duration of your plan — 7, 15 or 30 days depending on which you choose. It deactivates automatically when the plan ends.

No — each new purchase comes with a new unique +33 number. If you need to stay reachable on one consistent number, choose a plan duration that covers your whole trip.

Yes — on the plans that include calls, calls and SMS are included across all 45 supported European countries and regions listed on our network coverage page.

No. Calls and SMS to numbers outside the European countries we cover will not connect. For international calls, messaging apps like WhatsApp, FaceTime or Signal work well over your data allowance.

Yes. Anyone in the world can call or text your +33 number and it reaches you at no cost to you while you are in a supported European country. Bear in mind the person calling you is dialling a French number internationally, so their own provider may charge them their international rate. Share your Europe Number with your contacts before you travel.

Usually, but this is set up with your existing carrier, not with us. Some carriers let you turn on call forwarding directly in your phone settings; others require you to enable it on your account.

Check what your home carrier charges first — forwarding a call to an international number is often billed to you at international rates. We cannot set this up on your behalf or control what your carrier charges.

After purchase you receive a QR code by email, and it also appears on your order confirmation page. Open your phone’s eSIM settings and scan the code — the whole process takes about two minutes. On iPhone you can also press and hold the QR code image to start the installation automatically.

No — you can scan the QR code and install the eSIM without Wi-Fi. It will only activate once your phone connects to a supported European network, so it will not go live, and your plan will not start counting, until you arrive in Europe.

Yes, and we recommend it. Your QR code is valid for 12 months from purchase. Install it at home and it activates automatically the moment you connect to a supported network in Europe.

Yes — message us on WhatsApp or live chat any time, or book a free installation session through our sister site Traveller eSIM.

Most modern iPhones, Samsung Galaxy and Google Pixel devices are compatible. Please check our eSIM compatible device list before purchasing. The list covers devices we have confirmed ourselves, so a very new or region-specific model may still work even if it is not shown yet — message us before you buy and we will check.

Please note that your device must be unlocked and free of any carrier restrictions in order to install eSIM data plans.

Yes — your device must be unlocked and free of any carrier restrictions in order to install an eSIM. A locked handset is the single most common reason an installation fails, so if you are not certain, ask your home carrier first.

Yes. Most eSIM-compatible phones support dual SIM, so your home number stays active alongside your Europe Number at the same time. After installing, just check that both lines are switched on in your phone’s mobile settings — on a few devices the second line is added but left turned off.

For most travellers, yes. Our data allowances are generous — up to around four times the data of comparable data-only eSIMs from providers like Airalo or Holafly, though you should always compare the current allowances and prices on our plans page before you buy.

On top of the data you also get a real +33 French number, with calls and SMS included on the plans that offer them, at no extra cost. If you genuinely only ever need data and never a call or text, a plain data-only eSIM may cost less — we would rather tell you that up front.

Yes, hotspot and tethering are included, on both iPhone and Android.

If hotspot does not appear straight after installation, try restarting your phone — this is sometimes needed the first time to fully initialise the network settings.

Hotspot ultimately depends on the local network you are connected to, and a small number of operators restrict it. We enable it on our side everywhere, but we cannot guarantee every network in every country will allow it. If yours does not, let us know.

When you arrive. Your plan duration begins when the eSIM activates on a European network, not when you purchase. Your QR code is valid for 12 months from purchase, so you can buy well ahead of your trip.

Plans cannot be extended at the moment. If you need more time, simply purchase a new plan — it will come with a new unique +33 number.

If your plans change or you no longer need the eSIM, we will refund you in full — provided it has not been activated and no data has been used. Once an eSIM activates on the network we can no longer refund it.

If you activated it and it genuinely does not work, contact us before using it further: we will troubleshoot with you, and if we cannot get you connected we will refund or replace it. Full details are in our refund policy.