Are you thinking of moving to Switzerland or do you work as a cross-border commuter, crossing the border every day? Let's find out together what you should do with your mobile phone to save on data and calls while in Switzerland.
In this guide, you will find important information to understand what to do with your mobile phone and save on mobile phone services in Switzerland. There are two scenarios to consider in this case:
Activate a new Swiss mobile plan with a local operator offering the right amount of data and minutes to use both in Switzerland and Europe, to avoid roaming charges.
Keep a foreign SIM card by activating the best roaming options for Switzerland.
Activate a foreign SIM that already includes data and calls in Switzerland.
Let’s evaluate the pros and cons of these three alternatives in the following paragraphs.
Alternative 1: Activate a New Mobile Contract in Switzerland
When thinking of Switzerland, one often imagines a market where goods and services are more expensive than in other economies. But for mobile telephony, this is not always the case: in fact, there are several affordable and contract-free plans that include data and minutes for use abroad, starting at less than 20 CHF per month.
Here are our suggestions for subscribing to a mobile plan with roaming, to stay in touch with your foreign contacts. All these plans come with no minimum contract term.
Mobile Plan | Price from | GB e Minutes Switzerland | GB e Minutes Abroad | |
Mucho Mini | 9.90 CHF/month | 5 GB and 300 minutes | 500 MB and 300 minutes | |
Lyca Hello World | 19.90 CHF/month | 10 GB and unlimited minutes | 10 GB and 1000 minutes | |
TalkTalk International Flex | 29.95 CHF/month | Unlimited GB and minutes | 5 GB and 300 minutes | |
swype Europe | 34.95 CHF/month | Unlimited GB and minutes | Unlimited GB and minutes | |
Sunrise Swiss Travel+ | 39.90 CHF/month | Unlimited GB and minutes | Unlimited GB and minutes |
If you want to compare all the available subscriptions on our free comparison tool, click the button below.
The benefit of this option is that you can immediately see the value of the subscription you choose by comparing the GB offered with those currently available on your SIM and checking the cost difference per GB and call minute.
Alternative 2: Activate Roaming Options with Your Foreign Operator
For those who want to avoid buying a new SIM for foreigners, especially for cross-border workers who would need to install a second SIM in their phone, the first option is to activate roaming options on your mobile.
In this case, the savings vary and depend on the roaming tariffs applied by your operator. For this reason, we recommend carefully reviewing the terms offered. Then, consider how often you call your contacts abroad and in Switzerland, and estimate your exact needs in terms of minutes and GB to determine the expected cost of this option.
Alternative 3: Activate an eSIM and Get Low-Cost Prepaid Data
Some mobile operators already include mobile data and minutes for use while in Switzerland. Of course, there aren’t any low-cost tariffs offering unlimited minutes and data in Switzerland, but for cross-border workers, around 10 GB per month may be enough.
In recent years, French cross-border workers have been able to access affordable prepaid tariffs by activating an eSIM with one of the many providers of this service. For example, 10 GB costs less than $12 per month, and activation is free without needing to uninstall your current SIM.
What Documents Are Needed to Activate a Mobile Contract in Switzerland?
To activate a mobile contract in Switzerland, all you need is a valid ID and a suitable payment method for the subscription activation (e.g., a credit card or a Twint account).
The procedure for activating a new subscription for foreigners is the same as for other customers:
Find the best mobile tariff by comparing different operators.
Access the subscription form and fill in the required fields (personal and payment information).
Choose the preferred delivery method by selecting either a physical SIM or an eSIM.
Activate the SIM by completing identity verification with the postman or through an online guided procedure.
Stay Informed and Save with internet-offer
If you want to compare the best mobile subscriptions available in Switzerland or other products, use internet-offer to find the best deals for free, clearly organized in a comparison. Then, use the various online tools or read the guides to stay informed about the Swiss telecommunications market.