Free and Orange get along again on 3G, SFR cries out in scandal

In short, we notice that Free subscribers seem to encounter fewer problems than orange subscribers. On the other hand, the quality of service is rarely the subject of the discontent of orange customers. Which is explained by the fact that the historic operator has the best network.

Free or orange: who is the best ? We compared for you

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Free or orange: who choose for the mobile ?

�� which has the package at the best price ?

For a mini package without commitment (2h 100 MB)

For a 5G without mobile package (140 GB 5G)

For a package with data abroad (80 GB in France and in Europe)

* Reduction for 12 months. Zero duration commitment on these packages.

For a mini package without commitment (2h 50 MB)

For a 5G without mobile package (210 GB 5G)

For a package with data abroad (140 GB in France including 18 GB in Europe)

* Reduction for 12 months for the 140 GB package. Zero duration commitment.

�� The best choice in our opinion

On promo 22.99 €/month for 1 year then 34.99 €/month

Orange 140 GB 5G package

• 140 GB of data including 80 in Europe
• Take advantage of 5G unlimited and without commitment
• Multi-SIM offered on request

Always pay 19.99 €/month no increase after 1 year

Free 5G package

• 210 GB of data, including 25 in Europe
• Zero duration commitment
• Free Ligue 1 application included free

✅ Free and orange advantages for mobile

• Choice between package with and without commitment
• Possibility to buy a mobile at very advantageous prices with 24 -month commitment
• Multi-SIM offered with 5G packages
• Up of up to € 15/month for Livebox customers
• Mobile loan in 24 hours in the event of a breakdown or loss
• Important Data quota abroad (in Europe)
• The most efficient mobile network in France according to ARCEP for the 12th time

• All packages are without commitment
• Low price that adapts to all budgets
• Reduction for Freebox subscribers
• Be able to take advantage of 5G for less than 20 €/month
• Automatic terminals everywhere in France to take out a package

❌ Disadvantages of Free and Orange for Mobile

• 24 -month commitment necessary to pay for mobile much cheaper
• Higher prices on average
• Need to speak to an advisor for most of the procedures in stores

• No multi-SIM option, too bad given the internet quota included
• Important starting investment for the purchase of a smartphone
• No blocked package

✏️ Subscribe a mobile package

Orange or Free: which is the best for an internet box ?

�� which offers the cheapest box ?

For a basic fiber offer (Fiber Livebox)

For a basic ADSL offer (Livebox ADSL)

For a premium fiber offer (Livebox max fiber)

For a 4G box (4G Home 300 Mbit/s)

* Reduction for 12 months (excluding 4G box), 12 months commitment.

For a basic fiber offer (Freebox Fiber Pop)

For a basic ADSL offer (Freebox Pop ADSL)

For a premium fiber offer (Freebox Delta Fiber)

For a 4G box (4G box+ 320 Mbit/s)

* Reduction for 12 months (excluding 4G box), without commitment.

⭐ which offers the best Internet services ?

Flow down to 2 gbit/s in fiber

12 -month commitment

Up to 160 TV channels

Up to 3 wifi repeaters included

TV recorder up to 300 hours of storage

Ultra HD 4K TV decoder with fiber (HD with ADSL)

Unlimited calls to mobiles from Livebox Up

Bonus included according to offer: replaymax, netflix, 2nd decoder or TV key, airbox 20 GB, wifi coach

Flow down to 8 gbit/s in fiber

Up to 270 TV channels

Up to 1 wifi repeater included

TV recorder up to 100 hours of storage

HD or 4K HDR decoder according to offer

Unlimited calls to systematic mobiles

Bonus included according to offer: Netflix, Disney+, Video Prime, Canal+Series, Apple TV+, Oqee by Free

✅ Free and orange advantages for the Internet box

• No commissioning fees or fiber connection costs
• Premium equipment available according to offers to improve the connection
• 1st operator on the fiber coverage rate
• Satellite offers via its northeast subsidiary
• Attractive prices in the 1st year of the contract thanks to the promotions

• No duration of engagement (excluding Freebox Revolution TV by Canal and Box 4G)
• Cheaper than Orange prices in the long term (after promotions)
• Very complete TV offer with many bouquets offered in the first months
• Max. much higher than that of Orange
• Unlimited calls to mobiles from the fixed for each offer

❌ Disadvantages of Free and Orange for Internet

• Higher prices after the end of promotions
• Activation fees of € 40 for the TV decoder and € 10 for other equipment
• 12 -month commitment (allowances in the event of early termination)
• Max. rather low compared to the market

• 49 € commissioning fees
• Few accessories to improve Internet connection (only 1 WiFi repeater)

⬇️ Test my adsl / fiber eligibility

What are the opinions on Orange and Free ?

�� What are customer reviews ?

Average note based on 710 votes

Average note based on 616 votes

✏️ Recent comments

After 3 installation appointments canceled, I was fortunate to be online with Ms. Brun, very professionals who did not drop my file, before setting it, so rare, that I take the time here congratulate.

Nothing to say. I left Bouygues after 20 years because no respect for their loyal customer. I am very happy with free, top price, friendly customer service. For the moment nothing to blame them for at 5 years.

Orange and Free are among the main telephony operators in France. One is the historic operator, formerly called France Telecom, and specializes in high-end packages, whose quality of services is no longer to be demonstrated. The other arrived as Challenger d’Orange, in 2007, with offers at broken prices and without commitment, thus reversing the balance of the telecommunications market. You are surely wondering what differences there are between orange and free today ? You want to find the best offer and avoid increasing administrative procedures. Do not panic, Livebox-News compared for you Orange and Free and gives you its recommendations to choose !

Conclusion: Do you have to choose Free or Orange ?

The result of our comparison is mixed. Indeed, The two operators are tied as their offers and services are of quality. For a mobile package, we recommend Orange which will make you benefit from the best network. For an internet box, choose Free if you want to take advantage of premium TV services and an offer without obligation. For an efficient connection throughout the accommodation, favor Orange. Finally, Free Customer Service is the most appreciated by subscribers.

Free vs orange: who has the best offers ?

For mobile

Let’s start by comparing the mobile orange and free packages.

Comparison between free and orange mobile plans – free referencing

Criteria	Free	Orange
Commitment	✅ All non -binding packages	❌ 2 Packages with 24 -month commitment in exchange for a reduction on the smartphone
5G compatibility	✅ 1 5G package at less than 20 €/month	✅ 3 5G packages from 20 €/month
Mobile network	❌ The lowest 4G coverage of operators	✅ Number 1 according to ARCEP for the 12ᵉ times in 2022
Purchase of smartphone alone	✅ Payment spread up to 24 months with 1ᵉʳ Payment (or rental)	✅ Payment spread up to 4 times with 1ᵉʳ Payment
Significant discount on new smartphone	❌ Only occasional promotions	✅ smartphone at advantageous prices if commitment 24 months and renewal every 2 years
Abroad	❌ Very little data in roaming (Europe) for all packages (max. 25 GB)	✅ up to 100 GB of data in Europe
Mobile loan in the event of a breakdown or theft	❌ Not available	✅ Free loan in 24 hours and for 1 month
Multi-Sim to share the package on a 2D device	❌ Not available	✅ included free of charge with 5G packages

Orange focuses on Best quality of service for mobile Thanks to its powerful network and the services available to its subscribers (multi-SIM, mobile loan in 24 hours, insurance, etc.)). This is why the historic operator offers higher rates than free In general, even for its non -binding packages. Customers who choose Orange know that they will pay more, in exchange for a quick connection, a large network of stores in France or a smartphone at a reduced price thanks to more-for-forms (24-month commitment )). For the Small budgets looking for a basic offer, It is best to turn to your Sosh or to Free subsidiary.

• Compare Orange mobile plans
• Orange 5G coverage
• Mobile packages without obligation at Orange
• Cheap orange mobile packages

Free is, in fact, a more affordable operator from a tariff point of view. In addition, all its packages are Without a commitment of duration, which allows the subscriber to change operator when he wishes, without surprise. Everything is done to make customers autonomous, which is why Free has installed multiple automatic terminals in its agencies and in local shops and tobacco-press.

�� Winner: Orange
In summary, the winner concerning mobile plans is orange. Indeed, the operator has the best network there is, and it is the arcep that says it. Whether you are in town or in the countryside, you will have no concern to do yourself concerning the quality of connection on your phone. Even if orange prices are higher, you can enjoy an accessible package thanks to the orange tips and the discount reserved for Livebox customers. Free remains a perfect alternative for consumers who want the cheapest price and do not have too many requirements concerning network coverage and services available.

Livebox-News specialist in Orange and Sosh offers

For internet

Comparison between free and orange Internet subscriptions – Free SEO

Criteria	Free	Orange
Commitment	✅ without commitment except for Freebox Revolution with Canal (1 year)	❌ Engagement 12 months
Termination Fee	49 € + allowances in the event of early termination with Freebox Revolution with Canal	50 € + allowances in the event of early termination
Setup fees	❌ 49 €	✅ 0 €
Fiber	✅ Offered	✅ Offered
Max flows. theoretical fiber (descending)	✅ 8 Gbit/s	❌ 2 Gbit/s
Television	✅ 220 channels included min.	❌ Until 160 channels included

By comparing the Internet offers from Orange and Free, we notice that there are two different wishes: one is concentrated on Optimization of Internet connection (especially in WiFi) while the other focus on Entertainment options such as television, mobile apps or the integrated Google assistant. So, if you have accommodation where the connection is difficult to access in all rooms, it may be more interesting to choose Orange which offers up to 3 WiFi repeaters and a coach.

• Open Orange packs
• Make a line opening with Orange
• Fiber price at Orange

On the other hand, if you have medium -sized accommodation and you are tired of multiplying streaming subscriptions, you can enjoy a very good connection with free going up to 8 gbit/s with fiber, and Netflix, Disney+ or Video Prime For several months, free. Whatever happens, if Free’s services are not satisfactory, you can terminate when you want since the offers are without commitment !

To support our comparison, we have also observed the results of the customer satisfaction survey conducted by ARCEP with ISPs (Internet access providers). It appears that Fiber subscribers have average satisfaction of :

• 8.1 / 10 when they are at Orange
• 8/10 when they are at Free

The two operators are therefore really in the elbow. For ADSL, however, The satisfaction rate is better at Free With a note of 7.7/10 against 7.5/10 for Orange.

�� Winner: Orange and Free (Equality)
Difficult to decide between Orange and Free concerning the Internet box because everyone has weight arguments. Free has a slight advance thanks to the multitude of services Included in his offers (television, home automation, mobile apps, voice assistant, etc.) and at its slightly lower prices once the promotions have passed. In addition, this operator offers a maximum speed significantly higher than that of Orange. Nevertheless, Orange is a very good competitor of free for the box. He was able to provide his subscribers with Premium equipment who will find echo in individuals whose accommodation has connection problems. Thanks to its WiFi repeaters, personalized coaching and 4G key, there is no doubt that consumers living in rural areas will be satisfied with their orange box. Finally, the advantage of Orange is the lack of commissioning costs, even if this is offset by a minimum commitment period of 12 months.

Livebox-News specialist in Orange and Sosh offers

Who has the best service of orange or free ?

Comparison of free and orange customer services – Free SEO

Features	Free	Orange
Number of shops	❌ 127 + 1000 terminals	✅ 505
Telephone customer service hours	✅ 7/7 from 7 a.m. to 0h	❌ 6/7 from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m
General customer service level level*	✅ 6.6/10	❌ 6.5/10
% of customers who have encountered at least 1 internet problem*	✅ 55%	✅ 55%
% of problems related to the quality of internet service*	❌ 40%	✅ 35%
% of problems related to internet subscription or connection*	✅ 6%	❌ 7%
% of problems related to overcharging or internet contract*	✅ 2%	❌ 6%
% of customers who have encountered at least 1 mobile problem*	✅ 36%	❌ 43%
% of problems related to the quality of mobile service*	❌ 17%	✅ 15%

* Data from the ARCEP customer satisfaction observatory, 2022 edition.

The quality of customer service is an essential criterion in the choice of its mobile or internet operator. Unfortunately, it is difficult to define who has the best customer service because the experiences of subscribers are all different. In addition, it is unreliable to trust only customer reviews since most are only posted by unsatisfied consumers.

We have therefore compared certain objective criteria (customer service hours, network of stores, etc.) and then we resumed the statistics of the satisfaction survey conducted by ARCEP in 2022. It is a reliable and objective source that highlights the quality of free customer service. However, it is necessary to qualify taking into account the fact that the number of respondents is half less than at Orange.

In short, we notice that Free subscribers seem to encounter fewer problems than orange subscribers. On the other hand, the quality of service is rarely the subject of the discontent of orange customers. Which is explained by the fact that the historic operator has the best network.

�� Winner: Free
To summarize, we can designate Free as a duel winner on customer service. In addition to being Available on large time centers, He seems to bring full satisfaction to his customers. Orange, however, remains the operator with the best appreciation concerning the quality of service.

Livebox-News specialist in Orange and Sosh offers

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Free and Orange get along again on 3G, SFR cries out in scandal

Arcep has validated the extension of the 3G homelessness contract between the two operators.

The 3G homelessness contract between Free and Orange will be extended. The commercial agreement allowing free subscribers, especially in areas that are not very covered by the operator, to take advantage of the orange network will be renewed until December 2025, for the happiness of the two parts and the chagrin of their two competitors. Indeed, this roaming contract implemented since 2011 should first have expired in 2020. At the time, the arcep, the telecoms gendarme, had authorized a first extension of the contract until December 2022. Following the request of the two parties of a new extension last July, the Arcep again validated the contract, for three additional years this time.

Competitive advantage ?

On the competition side, the pill seems to have trouble passing. And for good reason, for years, SFR and Bouygues Telecom believe that this agreement gives Free a substantial advantage insofar as it spares investments. It should also be recalled that this contract between Orange and Free in 2011 had to be temporary and that it should therefore last a minimum of 14 years. SFR reacted strongly to the announcement of Arcep’s decision and denounces an agreement which ” does not find objective justifications “and which” grants free an unacceptable competitive advantage and induces seriously anti -competitive effects damaging to the market. »»

When rendering its decision, ARCEP wanted to highlight a drop in the use of 3G frequencies by free subscribers in recent years, which seems logical given the evolution of the. The telecoms gendarme adds that this endorsement to the contract maintains rising and descendants at 384 kbit/s for free mobile customers as well as the cap of the capacity of the interconnection links between the heart of free mobile network and that orange for the flow of total roaming traffic. Finally, the arcep concludes by recalling that it ” will remain attentive to the continuation of free mobile investments in the deployment of its own networks »». Not sure that it is enough to soothe tensions between the four operators.