June 2024 edition
The Incumbents
The following providers typically have a minimum 24 month contract for their subscriptions and offer certain details with certain durations; Swisscom usually discounts their packages for 6 months, Sunrise for 12 months and Salt discounts for the lifetime of the contract. These three companies own and operate the mobile network infrastructure in Switzerland.
Swisscom has its sweet spot with the blue Mobile M subscription that initially costs CHF60 per month (rising after six months to CH80). blue Mobile L includes more international services and starts at CHF80 for six months (after which it’s CHF100).
You will receive a CHF20 discount (blue benefit) on the subscription if you have Swisscom Internet at home.
These packages include roaming plus calls in the EU with the L package including calls into the EU and US/Canada and on up to 4 extra devices.
Salt is offering their Europe XL which has unlimited calls in Switzerland and unlimited data in Switzerland and Europe for CHF35.
Take their Swiss Max product – unlimited in Switzerland and 1Gb roaming in Europe for CHF25 and benefit from no contract minimum duration (although notice period will mean 30-60 days).
Never pay full price for a Salt subscription and never take a subsidised device – you lose all discounts and benefits.
Sunrise offers various deals with a 12-month discount duration.
Swiss Travel costs CHF35 (discounted permanently) and includes roaming and calls in and to: Switzerland, Germany, Italy, France, Spain (incl. Canary Islands and Balearic Islands), Portugal (incl. Madeira and Azores), Austria, Liechtenstein, and Greece.
Up Mobile L and Up Mobile XL are CHF36 (later CHF72) and CHF46 (later 92) and have more wide-ranging roaming and calls included.
The Disruptors
There are other service providers in Switzerland who run their services on the networks provided by Swisscom, Sunrise and Salt.
Their contract duration is usually more flexible than those providers with 1-2 months being more normal. They also new arrivals in Switzerland good options during the settling-in period – avoiding roaming fees and surprise bills.
Lebara has a current offer for their XXL subscription which is unlimited in Switzerland, Europe and US/Canada (data and voice). Calls to Europe are also included.
Post Mobile has a Europe Surf subscription for CHF25 that includes unlimited Swiss calls and unlimited data in Switzerland and Europe; their Europe subscription adds calls while in Europe to the country visited as well as back to Switzerland.
Galaxus has their CH Unlimited package offering unlimited voice and data in Switzerland plus 1Gb roaming in EU and US, all for CHF19.
Go-Mo offers one package for CHF13 with voice and data in Switzerland. It can be cancelled with 30 days’ notice. It’s not particularly roaming-friendly though.
Digital Republic offers Flat 10, a data-only option, for CHF10. Flat Mobile adds voice calls plus 2Gb roaming in EU/USA and costs CHF18. They offer Flat Mobile for free for the first month which can be a great transitional option for those arriving in Switzerland.
TalkTalk offers their Swiss Unlimited package for CHF25 (unlimited in Switzerland, 5Gb roaming abroad). Their EU&US package is an even better option at CHF30, adding voice calls to their Zone 0 countries.
