Free
The portal of a major French internet and mobile operator with webmail and customer area.
Free at a glance
Free is a technology website and one of the most visited sites in France, currently ranked #184 in the country. It was founded in 1999 by Xavier Niel and is headquartered in Paris, France. Today Free is owned by Iliad Group. Our estimates put its audience at ≈ 90 million visits per month. The business earns money mainly through telecom subscriptions, equipment sales. Its closest rivals include orange.fr, sfr.fr, bouyguestelecom.fr.
Traffic statistics
Traffic history
| Period | Visits | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Q1 | ≈ 84.6 million / month | +2% |
| Q2 | ≈ 87.3 million / month | +3% |
| Q3 | ≈ 90 million / month | +3% |
| Q4 | ≈ 95.4 million / month | +6% |
Traffic sources
- Direct56%
- Organic search27%
- Referral9%
- Social5%
- Paid3%
Audience & demographics
- Men57%
- Women43%
- Age 25-3432%
- Age 35-4424%
- Age 18-2421%
The audience is concentrated in France, skewing urban and mobile, with usage peaks in the evening hours.
Geographic reach
- France86%
Home market
- Diaspora and neighbouring markets7%
- Europe3%
- North America2%
- Rest of world2%
SEO profile
- Estimated organic traffic
- ≈ 27 million visits / month
- Branded share of search
- High — brand terms lead the keyword profile
- Indexed pages
- Large — category, listing or article level
- Primary search market
- France
Top organic keywords
| Keyword | Position | Volume | Traffic share |
|---|---|---|---|
| free | 1 | Very high | Dominant |
| login | Top 10 | High | — |
| app download | Top 10 | High | — |
| pricing | Top 10 | High | — |
Backlink profile
- Referring domains
- Tens of thousands
- Link profile
- News coverage, directories, blogs and partner sites
- Authority
- High within the France web
Top referral sources
- News and media31%
- Directories and aggregators24%
- Blogs and forums20%
- Partner sites14%
- Other11%
Technology stack
Website technologies
Advertising & analytics technologies
Stack details are inferred from public front-end signals and engineering communications; internal systems may differ.
Mobile app statistics
Available in the local store
Available in the local store
- App share of traffic
- ≈ 68% mobile
- Position in country
- Among the leading technology apps in France
Company information
- Website
- free.fr
- Sector
- Technology
- Owner
- Iliad Group
- Owner type
- Public company
- Founders
- Xavier Niel
- Founded
- 1999
- Headquarters
- Paris, France
- Employees
- 12,000+
- Ownership
- Iliad Group controls the platform. Ownership details are based on public filings and press reporting.
- Revenue
- ≈ $11 billion annual revenue (est.)
- Languages
- French
- Top traffic sources
- direct, organic search, referral
Financials
- Revenue
- ≈ $11 billion annual revenue (est.)
- Ownership
- Public company
- Reporting
- Figures based on public filings, press reports and market estimates
Business model & revenue
Free operates a technology platform focused on France. The portal of a major French internet and mobile operator with webmail and customer area. Revenue comes mainly from telecom subscriptions, supported by the other lines listed below.
- Telecom subscriptions
- Equipment sales
Products & services
Related deals on Amazon
As an Amazon Associate, Global Site Index earns from qualifying purchases.
International presence
- Primary market
- France
- Expansion
- Regional and diaspora audiences beyond the home market
Employee statistics
Customer statistics
Website rankings
- Country rank (France)
- #184 in this index
- Sector rank
- Leading technology site in France
- Global rank
- 900
Main competitors
Website comparisons
| Website | Monthly visits | Rank | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| orange.fr | ≈ 54 million / month | #185 class competitor | — |
| sfr.fr | ≈ 40.5 million / month | #186 class competitor | — |
| bouyguestelecom.fr | ≈ 27 million / month | #187 class competitor | — |
What is Free?
Free (free.fr) is a technology platform serving users in France. The portal of a major French internet and mobile operator with webmail and customer area. It ranks #184 among the most visited websites in the country in this index, within the technology category.
Who owns Free?
The site is operated by Iliad Group, founded by Xavier Niel. The company was established in 1999 and is headquartered in Paris, France. It employs around 12,000+.
Traffic and audience
Traffic estimates place Free at roughly 90 million visits per month, about 3 million per day. Around 68% mobile of sessions come from mobile devices, and visitors view about 5.6 pages per visit with an average session of 5 min.
How Free makes money
Revenue comes primarily from telecom subscriptions, alongside equipment sales.
Competitors in France
Its closest rivals include orange.fr, sfr.fr, bouyguestelecom.fr.
Data and accuracy
Company facts are drawn from public sources. Traffic, revenue and audience figures are third-party estimates or sector benchmarks, marked with ≈ where modelled, and are reviewed periodically.
Company history & milestones
- 1999
Free is founded in Paris, France.
- Growth phase
Expands its technology offering and moves to a mobile-first product.
- Today
Ranks #184 among the most visited websites in France.
User reviews & ratings
| Source | Score | Reviews | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Google Play | ≈ 4.3 / 5 | — | Ratings from the local store listing |
| App Store | ≈ 4.5 / 5 | — | Ratings from the local store listing |
| Consumer review platforms | Mixed | — | Service and support are common themes |
App store ratings are solid, while consumer review platforms show the usual friction around support and service quality.
Pros & cons
Pros
- Fast, reliable core product used daily
- Deep local language and market support
- Strong developer and integration ecosystem
- Free tier with broad reach
Cons
- Data collection and privacy questions from advertising
- Feature set can be complex for new users
- Limited direct customer support
- Dependence on advertising revenue
Key statistics
Frequently asked questions
Who owns Free?
Free is operated by Iliad Group. Public company structure, based on public filings and press reporting.
Where is Free headquartered?
Free is headquartered in Paris, France.
When was Free founded?
Free was founded in 1999 by Xavier Niel.
How many employees does Free have?
Free employs approximately 12,000+ people.
What is Free's revenue?
Free's revenue: ≈ $11 billion annual revenue (est.).
Who are Free's competitors?
Main competitors in France include orange.fr, sfr.fr, bouyguestelecom.fr.
How does Free make money?
Mainly telecom subscriptions, equipment sales.
Is Free publicly traded?
Free's ownership: Public company.
How many visitors does Free get?
Third-party estimates place Free at roughly 90 million visits per month, mostly from France, with 68% mobile traffic.
Is Free safe?
Free is an established technology site founded in 1999 and ranked #184 in France; use the official domain free.fr and HTTPS.
Popular searches
Data sources & confidence
- Company website and public announcementsfree.fr
- Third-party traffic estimation providersSimilarweb-class estimates
Visit figures are modelled, not measured
- App store listingsApple App Store, Google Play
- Press and market coverageFrance and international business media
- Data confidence
- Medium for company facts, medium-low for traffic and financial estimates. All modelled figures are rounded and marked with ≈.
- Last updated
- September 2026
Traffic, revenue and audience figures are third-party estimates or derived from sector benchmarks, and are reviewed periodically.
Social media profiles & statistics
Official brand account
Announcements and support
Community and campaigns
Company and hiring updates
Brand and product videos