We tested the Free terminals: the promise of 3 minutes watch in hand to open a line


The holidays are approaching and you need an extra phone line. Always quick to disrupt habits and services, Free drew up a solution a few years ago: the Free terminal. And with it, the promise of an open and active line in minutes.

A Free terminal in the store to pick up your line right away // Source: FRANDROID — Melinda DAVAN-SOULAS

Before going abroad, or to reassure yourself by letting your teenager go away from you, the idea may come to you to take out a new mobile telephone line. With the operators, despite the online demand, it can take a little time that we don’t always have in a rush.

Since 2014, strange terminals have appeared in Free stores, but also now in some Press Houses or even at Fnac Darty and The Kase stores. A form of bank-like ATM, but you won’t get any money out of it. On the contrary, it will be to give some.

Because these strange Free terminals are in fact distributors of minute SIM cards. The promise of the mobile operator is to provide you with a line in 3 minutes and that you can leave with your activated SIM card.

terminal Free mobile freebox sim card
Free stores have several terminals // Source: FRANDROID — Melinda DAVAN-SOULAS

In total, more than 2000 terminals are present throughout the territory.

What to do with a Free terminal?

Free’s promise is to give you quick access to a mobile phone line, to settle your outstanding debts or to take out a Freebox subscription. Several options are therefore offered on the screen:

  • payment of an invoice;
  • The opening of a mobile line;
  • A change of SIM card format charged at 10 euros (if you had a mini in your previous smartphone and you need a nano);
  • A new SIM card in case of loss or theft;
  • The opening of a Freebox subscription.
terminal Free mobile freebox sim card menu
Source: FRANDROID — Melinda DAVAN-SOULAS

Placarded on the Free site as in the store, a promise: in three minutes, you are a new Free user. We wanted to test for ourselves if the promise of speed was there.

Three minutes watch in hand

We start the clock. The handling is quite simple. You choose your offer on the home screen (mobile or Freebox), then you are guided step by step. We choose to open a new line. You must first choose a number from a proposed list, then the offer to which you wish to subscribe:

  • package at 2 euros for 50 MB of data and 2 hours of call;
  • 11.99 euros for 90 GB and unlimited calls;
  • 19.99 euros for 210 GB and unlimited calls.

You can choose to opt for a single month plan or a non-binding subscription.

If you were the owner of a Freebox, you cannot take advantage of the maximum package reduced to 15.99 euros. To do this, you will need to link the line to your account afterwards from your customer area. You choose the necessary SIM format (mini and micro cut SIM card, or a nano SIM format). Be careful, do not be mistaken! The SIM card is charged 10 euros and you will otherwise have to pay it again to change the card format.

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Please note, there are several SIM card sizes available // Source: FRANDROID – Melinda DAVAN-SOULAS

The speed of the whole process is also due to secure payment by credit card. This will prove interesting for those who only want one month without the risk of being charged more. You enter your information and your line is yours.

terminal Free mobile freebox sim card payment
Source: FRANDROID — Melinda DAVAN-SOULAS

And in three minutes, watch in hand, we have our line open and paid. All you have to do is slide the SIM card into a device. We have opted for a package at 19.99 euros which should also be immediately available abroad immediately. In a few seconds, the smartphone is functional.

The idea is therefore excellent for obtaining a line, especially in the short term, quickly. But if you have plans beyond a month, there may be some adjustments to make. You can always go back to the terminal or the online site to extend your subscription for a month or two, or switch to the classic offer without commitment. It’s simple, clear and fast. If you don’t have a computer handy, this will allow you to take out a subscription in minutes.

Valid for Freebox subscription too

If you were thinking of changing operators quickly to switch to Free for a month while keeping your number, you failed. You can only transfer a line with your RIO code to a charging station by opting for a non-binding package (ie more than one month). On the other hand, to link your new line to an existing mobile account or a Freebox, this will be done online on your account. It’s a shame, but it’s also the price of speed.

Free mobile subscription terminal
Source: Free

From the terminal, you can also subscribe to a Freebox offer. To do this, you will need to bring your bank details, fill in your email address and a mobile number (you have to think about it before or have them on hand). It’s a little longer, but barely. And this time, no problem transferring an RIO code, especially from a telephone line. You fill in your address, choose your offer, then create your file, keeping your landline number or not. The only thing is that you will still have to wait to receive your box and the passage of a technician for the installation of the fiber or other. But you will have saved the time of creating the file.

terminal Free mobile freebox sim card freebox menu
You can subscribe to a Freebox offer at the Free terminals // Source: FRANDROID – Melinda DAVAN-SOULAS

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