How to get a French phone number from abroad
Short answer: To get a French number from abroad, order a real +33 number online: a mobile number for SMS and apps, a Paris local number for business calls, or a toll-free line. You only need an email address to sign up, you pay in USDT or USDC, and most numbers are active within minutes.
French customers, landlords, schools and public services often expect a French number, and many apps insist on one. Here is how the +33 format works, which number type suits which job, and how to run a French line from another country.
When a French number helps
- Running a business that sells to customers in France or other French-speaking markets
- Receiving codes from French banks, delivery services, rental platforms and apps
- Staying reachable for French contacts after moving abroad, or before relocating
- Offering a free-to-call support number to French customers
- Keeping WhatsApp or Telegram on a +33 number long-term
Options for a +33 number compared
French SIM plans are cheap inside France, but buying one generally means being there, and a line left unused abroad can lapse. A number that lives online avoids both problems.
| Option | Must be in France? | Works while abroad | Suited to |
|---|---|---|---|
| French prepaid SIM | Usually, to buy and recharge | Through roaming only | Holidays and short stays |
| French mobile contract | Yes, typically with French banking details | Roaming rules apply | Residents |
| ZuteSIP +33 number | No, email sign-up | Dashboard, SIP app, web dialer, forwarding | Business, apps, people abroad |
French number format explained
France uses the country code +33 and a closed ten-digit national format that starts with 0. From abroad the 0 is dropped, leaving nine digits after +33. The ZuteSIP France page confirms nine digits after +33 for all types, with example formats such as +33 XX2 29 22 XX for a mobile.
The first digits tell you the type. Numbers beginning 06 and 07 are mobile, and under the national numbering plan managed by Arcep they are reserved for person-to-person communications. Geographic numbers start 01 to 05, with 01 covering Paris and the Ile-de-France region. Numbers beginning 0800 to 0805 are free to call.
Written the French way, a Paris number looks like 01 23 45 67 89; in international form it becomes +33 1 23 45 67 89.
Which French number type should you pick?
Because Arcep reserves mobile ranges for interpersonal communication, a mobile number is the natural choice for personal use and app verification, while a local or toll-free number fits company phone lines. Every type costs the same at ZuteSIP.
| Type | Begins with | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| Mobile | +33 6 or +33 7 | SMS codes, WhatsApp, Telegram, personal contact |
| Local (Paris identity) | +33 1 | Business line that looks based in Paris |
| Toll-free | +33 80 | Customer support free for callers in France |
Setting up a French number step by step
- Go to the France page and choose a mobile, Paris local or toll-free +33 number from the live inventory.
- Register with your email address; no French address or SIM is required.
- Add USDT or USDC to your wallet on Tron, BNB Smart Chain, Polygon, Base or Solana, then complete the order.
- Once the number is active, usually within minutes, open it in your dashboard to see the full number and SIP username and password.
- Take calls in the web dialer or a SIP softphone, forward them to any phone, and read SMS in the inbox.
- Keep auto-renew switched on to hold the number year after year.
Using your +33 number with WhatsApp and French services
In any sign-up form select France (+33) and enter the nine digits without the 0. When an SMS code is slow, use the resend option once and then the voice-call option; the number takes calls as well as texts.
French numbers work with WhatsApp, Telegram, Google, Facebook and thousands of other services. If an app refuses the number or the codes do not arrive, the 7-day replacement guarantee swaps it for another French number at no charge, up to two times.
Answering French calls from another country
Your +33 number can ring in several places. The web dialer inside the dashboard works in a browser tab with nothing to install. Any SIP-compliant softphone, for example Zoiper on a phone or MicroSIP on Windows, can register with the number's SIP credentials. And call forwarding passes incoming calls on to whichever phone you carry, wherever you are.
People in France call you as they would call any French number, and messages appear in your SMS inbox. When you call back, pick the French number as caller ID so the person recognises it. A company can also connect the number to a PBX such as 3CX or Asterisk and route calls to staff in different countries.
Before you print the number on invoices or a website, send yourself a text and place a test call to confirm that the route you chose rings reliably.
Cost and features
Every French number is priced from $1.80 per month, billed yearly ($21.60 per year), with no setup fee or contract. Other billing options are shown at checkout, and an unused number can be refunded within 7 days.
- Unlimited incoming SMS and calls
- 500 outgoing SMS and 1,000 outgoing minutes a month, shown with your +33 caller ID
- SIP credentials that work with Zoiper, MicroSIP, Bria, 3CX, Asterisk and other SIP software
- Call forwarding to any phone and a browser dialer with nothing to install
- SMS inbox, call logs, 2FA and a sign-in audit log
Common problems and fixes
- Form says the number is invalid: remove the leading 0 and do not repeat 33
- Code never arrives: wait out the timer, request once more, then choose a call
- No ringing on your softphone: check registration to sip.zutesipdialer.com on port 5060 (or 5061 for TLS)
- Some regulators require documentation for certain number types; any such requirement is shown before you pay
Included on every plan
- Unlimited incoming SMS
- Unlimited incoming calls
- 500 outgoing SMS per month
- 1,000 outgoing minutes per month
- SIP credentials, call forwarding and web dialer
- Keep your number as long as you want
- Works with WhatsApp, Facebook, Google, Telegram and thousands more
- 7-day replacement guarantee — free new number if it doesn't work for you
- 7-day money-back guarantee if the number is unused
Numbers from $1.80 per month, billed yearly ($21.60 per year). Pay with USDT or USDC.
Frequently asked questions
Can I get a French number without living in France?
Yes. ZuteSIP only needs an email address, and you can order and use the +33 number from any country.
How many digits does a French phone number have?
Ten digits nationally, starting with 0, or nine digits after +33 in international format.
Which prefixes are French mobile numbers?
Mobile numbers start with 06 or 07, which become +33 6 and +33 7 from abroad.
Can I get a Paris 01 number?
Local France numbers in the ZuteSIP inventory carry a Paris identity; choose one from the live list.
Are 0800 numbers free in France?
Yes. Numbers from 0800 to 0805 are free for the caller.
Will a French number work for WhatsApp?
Yes. It receives WhatsApp's SMS and calls, and if WhatsApp does not accept it you get a free replacement within 7 days.
Related guides and use cases
- France phone numbers (+33)
- France number for WhatsApp
- France number for Telegram
- Local, mobile or toll-free explained
- Paying for a number with USDT or USDC
- Virtual number vs real mobile number
- A real phone number for WhatsApp
- Phone numbers for travelers
- How to set up a SIP dialer
- Pricing
- A Google Voice alternative for users outside the US
- How to get a second phone number for your business
- Verification code not received? How to fix SMS OTP problems
- A real phone number for WhatsApp Business
Related countries
- France phone number (+33)
- Belgium phone number (+32)
- Switzerland phone number (+41)
- Canada phone number (+1)
Sources
- Arcep: La numerotation (as of September 2026)
- Arcep: Plan de numerotation pour les professionnels (as of September 2026)