Must-knows about Swiss SIM cards and alternatives

  • I recommend a WiFi hotspot if you are online a lot or travel with a group.
  • I recommend the SimCorner card as a budget option.
  • You’ll also need a SIM card or mobile hotspot to use internet in the trains. There is no WiFi in most cases.
  • Switzerland is not an EU member state, so don’t assume low call and data rates on your own mobile plan if you live in the EU. Double-check with your provider.
  • Buying a Swiss SIM card or hotspot may require identification (passport or ID card).

Option 1: mobile WiFi hotspot

I’m online a lot while in Switzerland, and there are usually two of us traveling together. That’s why we prefer a mobile WiFi hotspot: we share it across multiple devices (two phones and two laptops usually) and use it both indoors and on the trains.

I used to rent a Travelers Wifi device. It offered unlimited data and was often faster than the hotel WiFi! Travelers Wifi is no longer available. I am looking into alternatives and will update this page as soon as possible. Meanwhile, there are a lot of mobile hotspots that will do the job just fine.

Advantages of a mobile Wifi hotspot

  • It’s fast. Most hotspots use a 4G network. The last time I used it I measured a 25-40 Mbps download speed and 17 Mbps upload speed. That’s really fast: it’s enough for streaming video, WhatsApp calls, uploading your photos to the cloud, and anything else you need to do online.
  • You only need one hotspot for the whole family. You can connect multiple devices like phones, tablets, and laptops.
  • It’s convenient. With your own hotspot, you do not need to replace the SIM card in your phone, so your phone will continue to work as normal. Also, a hotspot is an excellent solution for locked devices that cannot use any other SIM card. Even phones that don’t work in Europe can get online as long as they can connect to a WiFi network. A hotspot is a lightweight small device that easily fits in any pocket.

Disadvantages

  • It is not the cheapest option. I think it’s worth it for demanding users (such as myself), groups, and families.
  • The battery usually lasts many hours. Nevertheless, I recommend turning it off if you don’t need your devices to be connected for a while. Charge it in your accommodation or on board a train: many trains have outlets. Make sure it’s fully charged when you leave for your day trips. I never experienced issues following this procedure. If you expect to use it continuously and can’t recharge daily, I recommend ordering along an extra rechargeable battery.

How to use WiFi hotspots

  1. Order one for the number of days you will be in Switzerland. You can include the incoming and outgoing trips too if the device covers multiple countries.
  2. The package includes the hotspot password. Use it to securely connect all your devices (phone, tablet, etc.) to the WiFi network of the hotspot. The SIM card in your phone can stay in place and will work as normal.
  3. Use it wherever you go, and connect it to the included charger when you’re back at your accommodation.

SIM card and Wifi promotions

As soon as we find discounts, we’ll list them here.

Members-only

Members-only promotion

Members-only promotion | This promotion ends 31 December 2024

This promotion is available to members only. Check out all the benefits members have access to.

One SimCard military discount
15% SIM card discount for US military

US military members get a 15% discount with promo code MILITARY15.

Airalo
15% discount on eSIMs
This promotion ends 31 March 2024

Use coupon code MAR15 for a 15% discount on your eSIM for Switzerland, Europe or the world. Please note that the promotion expires after the first 10000 redemptions.

Are you already an Airalo customer? Then use coupon code MAR10 for a 10% discount.

These promotions are offered by our trusted partners.
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Option 2: budget prepaid SIM card for data/calls/text (recommended for regular use)

We recommend the Europe & UK SIM card offered by SimCorner. It offers plenty of internet data, calls and text messages not only in Switzerland, but also in the rest of Europe. It can be used for 30 days.

Where to buy

Advantages

  • It’s affordable: 12 Gb of data for $24. Even 1 Gb is plenty for the average holiday and regular usage, assuming you can access WiFi in your hotel or apartment. We’ve used less than 1 Gb in two weeks. 12 Gb is enough to share among multiple people, or to watch short videos.
  • Excellent coverage because it works with many network carriers (see simcorner.com/pages/about-us).
  • Good speed: 3G or 3.5G (HSPA+) in most countries, 4G in some countries. During our test with this card, we measured a download speed between 2.2 and 11 Mbps and an upload speed between 1.4 and 5.6 Mbps.
  • You only need one SIM card for multiple devices: you can use your phone as a WiFi hotspot (test this before departure), so other phones, laptops, and tablets of you or your family can get online through your phone. Note that the speed may be reduced a bit if you’re sharing the connection.
  • No additional costs, all are paid in advance.
  • Works in Austria, France, Germany, Italy, Liechtenstein, Switzerland, and a lot of other countries.
  • Unlimited calls and text to standard Europe and UK landlines and cell phones.
  • Free unlimited incoming calls.
  • Always fits in your phone as it comes in standard, micro and nano formats.

Disadvantages

  • The SIM card can only be used in phones, not in other devices. Other devices can use the hotspot of your phone though.
  • Your phone needs to be SIM-lock-free.
  • Your phone needs to work in Europe. It needs to operate on dual-band or quad-band for that.
  • You can’t recharge the SIM card when the 30 days have expired or the data is all used up. If you need more, you will need to buy another SIM card.

How to install the SimCorner SIM card

Please read the instructions. For your convenience we’ll list the procedure below:

  1. Once you have received the SIM card, go to simcorner.com/registersim to pick a start date. The card will automatically be activated on that day.
  2. Disable mobile data on your phone while traveling to Switzerland if you don’t have a data plan from your home provider.
  3. Enable mobile data on your phone once you are in Europe. Turn off your phone, remove your SIM card, insert the SimCorner SIM card, and turn on your phone.
  4. Enable roaming data on your phone.
  5. You should now be online. If you’re connected to WiFi you can temporarily disable that to verify that you can still access the internet without WiFi.
  6. Your phone number will be sent to you via SMS once the SIM card is active. You can also find it in your phone settings. This is the number people can call to reach your phone.

Option 3: prepaid eSIM card

eSIMs are electronic downloadable SIM cards. A physical card is no longer needed. Do check if your phone supports eSIM.

Budget eSIMs for Switzerland

Unlimited data eSIM options

There aren’t many eSIM options if you prefer unlimited data, and/or like to use your phone as a WiFi hotspot to connect multiple devices and share the data. If unlimited data is offered, there’s often a speed reduction after a certain (daily) limit, and/or data sharing is not allowed.

A good affordable option I found is SimCorner’s Europe Data eSIM of 200 Gb. That is not unlimited, but 200 Gb is a huge amount, and you can always buy a new (smaller) eSIM if you run out. It covers Switzerland and all surrounding countries. It allows data sharing via your phone’s hotspot option.

Option 4: use your own SIM card

If you live in the EU, calls and internet usage on your cell phone cost the same whether you’re in your own country or elsewhere in the EU. So you may not need to buy anything if rates, data speed, and data amounts are just fine for your holidays as well. Note that Switzerland is not a member state of the EU. Many providers do count Switzerland as an EU country. Some don’t, so in that case you’ll pay more.

Try to estimate how much you will call and how much data you will need during your stay. Check the rates of your provider for calls and data in Switzerland. It can still be cheaper to buy a SIM card or WiFi hotspot. For fast internet, and especially if you travel with multiple people, renting a mobile Swiss WiFi hotspot is an excellent option.

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Arno
Page author: ArnoI have visited Switzerland countless times since 1997. I've explored most of the country, but find myself staying in the Bernese Oberland and Graubünden most frequently. The alps and the rail network remain very impressive, even after all these years.