# MerrSIM vs Ubigi for France: which eSIM is better?

> MerrSIM vs Ubigi for France: MerrSIM from €1.99 on local network; Ubigi ≈ US$12.50.

Choosing between MerrSIM and Ubigi for internet in France? Here is the honest comparison.

## Price (10 GB / 30 days)

| Provider | 10 GB / 30 days | Note |
| --- | --- | --- |
| MerrSIM | €9.99 | local 4G/5G, hotspot, EUR, Albanian support |
| Ubigi | ≈ US$12.50 | Telefónica/O2 network |

*Ubigi’s price is a USD reference from its site (2026); MerrSIM bills in EUR. Check the live price before buying.*

## Why MerrSIM

Ubigi is solid, but MerrSIM is usually cheaper for 10 GB and bills in EUR. The Paris Métro has confusing signage; Citymapper on an eSIM gets you there precisely.

- Fixed price in EUR, no roaming surprises
- Hotspot included and Albanian support
- Instant QR activation
- No ID or passport registration

## MerrSIM plans for France

| MerrSIM plan | Price | Validity |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 1 GB | €1.99 | 7 days |
| 5 GB | €6.49 | 30 days |
| 10 GB | €9.99 | 30 days |
| 20 GB | €13.99 | 30 days |
| 50 GB | €29.99 | 30 days |

**Ready for France?** See plans at [MerrSIM — France eSIM](https://merrsim.com/destinations/esim-plans-for-france), from €1.99, instant QR activation, no physical SIM and no roaming.

## Common mistakes to avoid

Three mistakes often spoil the start of a trip. First: buying the eSIM at the last minute at the airport, when you have no WiFi to install it — do it at home. Second: forgetting to switch on data roaming for the eSIM line, which makes it look like it is not working. Third: leaving mobile data on your home SIM, which racks up roaming charges. Check these three and your connection in France will be trouble-free.

## Tips to save data

A few small habits make your gigabytes last in France. Download Google Maps offline before you head out, set video quality to “Auto” or 480p, and turn off background app refresh. Use hotel WiFi for big updates and high-resolution photo uploads. With these steps, even a modest plan covers the whole trip, and your hotspot stays free for the moments you really need it.

## Does your phone support eSIM?

Before you buy, check two things. First, the phone must be eSIM-compatible: iPhone XR/XS and newer, Samsung Galaxy S20 and newer, Google Pixel 3 and newer, and many recent Motorola, Huawei and Oppo models. Second, it must be carrier-unlocked. You can verify by dialling *#06# — if an EID number appears, your phone supports eSIM. This saves you any surprises when you arrive in France.

## eSIM versus roaming

Roaming with your home carrier can be expensive outside bundles — sometimes several euros per gigabyte, with bills that land after the trip. A local eSIM turns that into a fixed price you know up front: you pay in advance, you know exactly how many GB you have, and there are no hidden fees. For a trip to France, that means peace of mind and often a real saving compared with leaving roaming switched on unchecked.

## No registration, no shop queue

Many EU countries require identity verification for local SIM cards, which means a queue, a shop and sometimes even a local address. A travel eSIM skips all of that: it is sold as an international data service, with no passport and no contract. You have it ready before you set off for France, so you land and are online immediately — no time wasted at the airport and no risk of surprise roaming bills.

## FAQ

### MerrSIM or Ubigi for France?
For value, MerrSIM: local EUR price from €1.99, versus ≈ US$12.50 at Ubigi.

### Does the eSIM cover southern France?
Yes, Nice, Marseille and Cannes have very good coverage.


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Author: Etnik Beqiri  
Published: 2026-05-14  
Source: https://merrsim.com/en/blog/esim-vs-ubigi-en-france