When changing plans with Free Mobile, the following bill does not always reflect just the new monthly rate. Migration fees, prorated charges, adjustments for bundled services: several lines may appear on the statement that the subscriber did not anticipate. Understanding what actually changes on the bill helps avoid unpleasant surprises at the time of payment.
Free Mobile Plan Change Fees: Summary Table
Free distinguishes between two types of migration. Upgrading to a more expensive plan (upscale) generally incurs no fees. However, switching to the €2 plan (downscale) may trigger fixed fees.
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| Type of Migration | Fees Applied | Effective Date |
|---|---|---|
| €2 Plan to Free Plan (5G+ or Max) | None | Immediate or next billing date |
| Free Plan (5G+ or Max) to €2 Plan | €10 charged once | Next billing date |
| Free Series to Free Plan | None | Immediate |
| Free Series to €2 Plan (after promotional period) | €10 depending on the case | Next billing date |
The €10 charge for a downscale migration has gradually become widespread since 2024-2025. This notion of a paid “plan change,” linked to the age and type of offer held, is absent from many guides published before 2025. On the bill, this amount appears on a separate line, distinct from the subscription amount.
A plan change with Free Mobile thus generates a statement that may simultaneously include the old prorated rate, migration fees, and the new rate, all on a single bill.
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Prorated Charges and Double Line on Free Mobile Bill
The date on which the migration takes effect determines the composition of the bill. If the change occurs mid-cycle, Free applies a prorated calculation: the statement displays a line for the remaining days of the old plan and a line for the days of the new one.
In an upscale migration, the switch is often immediate. The following bill will then contain two distinct amounts, possibly along with the activation of services related to the new plan. In a downscale to the €2 plan, the change takes effect on the next billing date, meaning the subscriber continues to pay the old rate until the end of the current cycle.
This delay has a direct consequence: the first bill after a downscale may seem high, as it accumulates the last full month of the old plan and the €10 migration fee. The following month returns to the target rate.
Bundled OTT Services: What the Bill Doesn’t Clearly Indicate
Some Free plans include third-party services like Netflix, Prime Video, or DAZN, either included in the offer or billed through the operator at a preferential rate. Switching to a cheaper plan can change the billing for these services in three different ways.
- The service is automatically canceled, without notice, as soon as the new plan takes effect. The subscriber loses access and must re-subscribe directly with the service at the public rate.
- The service remains active but switches to separate billing, without the operator discount. The line then appears on a separate payment or on the next bill at a higher rate.
- The operator option disappears from the account, and the subscriber must manually reactivate it if they wish to keep the service, sometimes without regaining the initial conditions.
The “step-by-step” guides published by comparison sites focus on the price of the mobile plan and do not detail these collateral effects. Checking the “Options and Services” section in the subscriber area before confirming the migration remains the only reliable way to measure the overall impact on the bill.
Freebox Subscribers: Mobile Pricing Advantage Linked to the Box
Freebox subscribers benefit from a discount on the mobile plan (the “Freebox subscriber” rate applied automatically). When changing the mobile plan, the Freebox discount is recalculated based on the new plan chosen. Two situations deserve attention.
If the subscriber switches from the Free plan to the €2 plan, the Freebox discount on the mobile plan disappears, as the €2 plan does not benefit from it under the same conditions. The mobile bill then displays the standard rate.
If the subscriber cancels their Freebox while keeping their mobile plan, the “Freebox subscriber” discount is removed in the next billing cycle. The mobile plan reverts to the public rate without systematic notification, which can create a notable discrepancy on the statement.
Regulatory Transparency and Pre-Contractual Information
Since 2023-2024, ARCEP and DGCCRF have strengthened their requirements for mobile operators regarding the transparency of contractual conditions. Free is required to clarify in the subscriber area whether a plan change will incur fees, before final validation.
In practice, the information appears on the migration confirmation screen, in the form of a summary box. This pre-contractual mention indicates the amount of any fees, the effective date, and the new monthly rate. If this screen shows no fees, the migration is free.
- Check the confirmation screen before validating: it serves as a contractual summary.
- Consult the “My Offer” section to identify active bundled services.
- Download the PDF bill for the month following the migration to compare each line with the summary displayed during the change.
The first bill after a Free Mobile plan change concentrates most adjustments: prorated charges, migration fees, changes to bundled services, recalculation of the Freebox discount. From the second month onward, the amount stabilizes at the rate of the new plan, without additional lines.