Smartphones dominate online shopping in France, with the majority of both men and women naming them as their primary device — but the gender gap is notable. Among the most common devices used for online shopping in France, 62% of women rely on smartphones compared to 53% of men, a nine-percentage-point difference that underscores the stronger mobile-first orientation among female shoppers.
Computers remain a meaningful alternative, particularly for men. Some 43% of male online shoppers prefer desktops or laptops, versus just 32% of women — a gap of eleven points that mirrors the smartphone divide and suggests men are more evenly split between mobile and traditional devices. Tablets register as a marginal channel for both groups, attracting just 4% of men and 5% of women, confirming their limited role in the French e-commerce landscape.
These device preferences sit within a broader picture of France's evolving digital economy. Shifts in consumer behaviour tracked through Device Usage Breakdown in France (%) point to accelerating mobile adoption across demographics. Wider economic conditions — including trends visible in France GDP Growth Rate by Year (1961–2023) and France Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by Year (1961–2023) — shape household purchasing power and, in turn, the pace at which consumers upgrade the devices they use to shop online.
