Moving to Switzerland: Mobile & Internet Made Simple
Your first week is overwhelming. Health insurance, bank account, residence permit. Getting a SIM card and home internet should be the easy part. This guide is what we wish someone had handed us.
The 60-second version
- Mobile plan on day one: an eSIM from Digital Republic (CHF 13/month, unlimited) or Galaxus (CHF 12/month, 3 GB). Both activate in 15 minutes via QR code. No Swiss address needed for activation.
- Home internet: never sign up directly with Swisscom. The same fibre network costs CHF 25-40 less per month through providers like iWay, Wingo, Mucho or Init7.
- Budget reality: CHF 13-25 per month for mobile, CHF 29-50 for fibre internet. If you pay more, you are paying the Swiss tax on inertia, not on quality.
- Health insurance is compulsory and separate. You have three months from arrival to choose a basic plan. Compare on abovergleich.com, our sister site.
How mobile works in Switzerland
Switzerland has three physical mobile networks: Swisscom, Sunrise and Salt. All three are solid. Coverage differences are marginal in cities and exist mainly in rural areas or deep valleys. Swisscom has a slight edge in the mountains. The three networks price their own-brand plans at CHF 50-100 per month.
But you almost never pay those prices. Most Swiss residents are on an MVNO, a smaller provider that rents capacity on one of the three networks and sells it under its own name for much less money. Wingo, Mucho and Migros Mobile use the Swisscom network. Digital Republic, yallo and Galaxus use Sunrise. iWay and Coop Mobile use Salt. Same towers, same signal, often half the price.
There are roughly 22 mobile providers active in Switzerland. Our comparison pages rank them by price and features.
Getting your first SIM card
eSIM: the fastest path
An eSIM is a digital SIM. You scan a QR code and your phone is live within minutes. No shop visit, no plastic card, no appointment. Most mid-range and newer phones from 2020 onwards support eSIM (iPhone XS and later, Google Pixel 3 and later, Samsung Galaxy S20 and later, most Xiaomi flagships).
Best eSIM options on day one:
- Digital Republic Flat Swiss — CHF 13/month, unlimited data in Switzerland, 5G, no contract. Activation takes 10 minutes. ID verification by video call or photo.
- Galaxus Basic — CHF 12/month, 3 GB data, 5G on Sunrise. Cheapest plan in Switzerland full stop.
- Gomo Unlimited — CHF 22/month, unlimited data, Sunrise network, bonus: covers the whole EU for the same price.
Deeper dive: read our eSIM Switzerland guide for device compatibility and activation steps.
Physical SIM: still an option
If your phone does not support eSIM, buy a physical SIM. Migros, Coop, Interdiscount and kiosks stock them. Ask for Digital Republic, Yallo or Lebara. Activation usually requires a passport and a Swiss address.
What documents do you actually need
- Prepaid SIM: passport or ID card. Activation in minutes. Good for the first few weeks.
- Postpaid plan without contract (like Digital Republic): passport, debit or credit card, valid Swiss address (your Airbnb works).
- Postpaid plan with contract (Swisscom, Sunrise direct): additionally a Swiss bank account and sometimes a residence permit. Avoid these as a new arrival.
The best plans for different expat situations
| Your situation | Recommended plan | Price | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| Just arrived, need it now | Galaxus Basic | CHF 12/mo | Cheapest unlimited option, eSIM, no contract. Stop worrying about mobile for a week. |
| Want unlimited data, no drama | Digital Republic Flat Swiss | CHF 13/mo | Unlimited data, 5G, no contract. Incredibly simple, transparent company. |
| Unlimited Switzerland + EU roaming | Gomo Unlimited / Mucho Europe Surf | CHF 22-29/mo | Full Swiss plan plus usable EU data. Good for frequent travellers. |
| Cross-border commuter (DE, FR, IT) | Sunrise Connect Europe+ | CHF 39.90/mo | Unlimited Switzerland + EU, strong coverage near borders. See our cross-border guide. |
| Heavy budget traveller outside EU | Salt Plus Data World | CHF 39.95/mo | Includes global roaming. Consider a separate travel eSIM (Airalo, Holafly) for short trips. |
| Student | Wingo Student / Digital Republic | CHF 13-25/mo | Low price, no commitment, fast activation. |
| Two or more lines (family) | Individual Digital Republic plans | CHF 13 x N | Swiss "family plans" often cost more than two individual cheap plans. Do the math. |
Use our mobile calculator to filter by network, price, data, EU roaming and contract term across all 22 providers.
How home internet works
Three infrastructures deliver internet to Swiss homes: fibre (Glasfaser), cable and copper DSL/VDSL. Which one reaches your building determines your provider choices.
Fibre (Glasfaser) — open access
Fibre is the good one. Symmetric speeds, low latency, up to 10 Gbit/s. Swiss fibre is open access: once a fibre line reaches your building, any licensed provider can deliver service over it. You are not locked into Swisscom even if the fibre was rolled out by Swisscom. This is the single best feature of the Swiss market. Take advantage of it.
Cable — usually Sunrise
Cable uses the old TV network. Closed: only Sunrise, Yallo and a few resellers offer service. Still fast (up to 1 Gbit/s), decent latency, widely available.
Copper DSL/VDSL — open access, but limited
Copper uses the old phone line. Open access like fibre, but speeds top out around 200-500 Mbit/s depending on distance from the exchange. Perfectly fine for streaming and home office. Many apartments without fibre still only have copper.
Which one do you have?
Ask your landlord or property management. They usually know. If not, try Swisscom's address lookup (even though you will not sign with Swisscom). Most urban Swiss apartments have fibre by now. Expect a 2-6 week installation wait for a new line, though often it is as fast as 3 days if the line exists.
The best internet plans for expats
| Your situation | Recommended plan | Price | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic: streaming, email, home office | iWay Economy Classic (1 Gbit) or Wingo 1G | CHF 29-39/mo | Gigabit fibre, FRITZ!Box router included. Honest prices, no 1-year promo traps. |
| Power user: 4K streaming, large uploads | Init7 Fiber7 (up to 25 Gbit!) | CHF 64.75/mo | Swiss cult provider. Bring your own router. Best latency, raw speed, and engineering culture. |
| Short-term (under 1 year stay) | Mucho (no-contract) or Init7 | CHF 39-49/mo | No 24-month lock-in. Leave the country without a penalty. |
| Rural / small town | Regional provider (GGA Maur, SAK Digital) or Digital Republic 5G Home | CHF 20-50/mo | Regional cable/fibre often beats national brands. 5G Home as fallback if no wired line. |
Full comparison: Swiss internet plan comparison. Filter by speed, price, contract and technology.
The quirks Swiss locals take for granted
Termination notice: three months
Most Swiss contracts auto-renew annually. To cancel, send written notice at least three months before the renewal date. Missing the window means another year. Read our cancellation guide (German only for now).
TV licence (Serafe)
A separate CHF 335 per year per household, compulsory even if you do not own a TV. Registered automatically after 3 months in your commune. Not part of your mobile or internet plan.
Health insurance is urgent
You have three months from arrival to sign up for compulsory basic health insurance (KVG). Expensive, but not optional. Compare on abovergleich.com.
VAT is included in advertised prices
The CHF 13 you see is CHF 13 you pay. 8.1% VAT is already included. Unlike the US, no surprise tax at checkout.
Swiss number portability works
You can keep your Swiss mobile number when switching providers. Takes 1-3 working days, free. Porting from abroad is technically not possible; you get a new Swiss number.
No credit checks for cheap plans
Digital Republic, Galaxus, Wingo and most MVNOs do no credit check. Big three (Swisscom, Sunrise, Salt direct) will.
What we recommend as your first-week checklist
- Day 1: activate a Digital Republic or Galaxus eSIM on your existing phone. Cost: CHF 12-13. Time: 15 minutes.
- Day 2-3: register with your local commune (Einwohnerkontrolle / Bureau des habitants). You need this before most postpaid signups.
- Week 1: open a Swiss bank account (UBS, Raiffeisen, PostFinance, or a digital option like Neon or Yuh).
- Week 2: sign up for basic health insurance (3-month deadline). Compare on abovergleich.com.
- Week 2-3: order home internet once your address is confirmed. Allow 2-6 weeks installation buffer.
- Month 2-3: reassess your mobile plan once you know your real usage pattern. Switch providers free of charge if better deal exists.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use my home-country SIM while I am moving to Switzerland?
Yes for a few weeks, at international roaming rates. EU residents in particular can use their home SIM under EU "roam like at home" rules for up to a few months before providers start flagging it. But Swiss data allowances are often richer than EU plans, so switching quickly pays off. Most newcomers buy a Swiss eSIM within the first week.
Do I need a Swiss bank account to get a mobile plan?
For most no-contract plans (Digital Republic, Galaxus, Wingo, Mucho, Gomo), a foreign credit card or debit card works fine. For postpaid contracts with handset subsidies from Swisscom, Sunrise or Salt, yes, you typically need a Swiss account and a residence permit.
Can I port my German, French or Italian number to Switzerland?
No. Cross-border number porting does not exist between EU countries and Switzerland. You will get a new Swiss number. Within Switzerland, porting works flawlessly (free, 1-3 working days).
Should I buy an unlocked phone before moving?
Yes. Swiss phone prices are among the highest in Europe, and handset subsidies are usually built into expensive 24-month contracts. Bring your unlocked phone, get a no-contract SIM, save roughly CHF 1000-1500 over two years.
What happens to my mobile or internet contract if I leave Switzerland?
No-contract plans you simply cancel on one month's notice. For 24-month contracts, leaving the country is usually not a valid reason for early termination unless explicitly stated. You may be liable for the remaining term. Another reason to avoid long contracts as a newcomer.
How fast is Swiss mobile internet really?
5G on Swisscom and Sunrise routinely hits 300-700 Mbit/s download in cities. Salt's 5G rollout is behind. In 4G zones expect 30-150 Mbit/s. Latency under 30ms across all networks. Tethering is allowed on all major plans.
Why is Swisscom so expensive?
Swisscom is 51% state-owned, runs the nationwide network, and does not compete on price. Their own-brand plans at CHF 80-100 include handset subsidies and "service" value. You can get the identical Swisscom network through Wingo or Migros Mobile (both owned by Swisscom) at CHF 20-25. Same towers, same signal, half the price. See Swisscom alternatives.
What do I do if there is a problem with my mobile or internet?
Customer service in Switzerland works, but varies wildly by provider. Digital Republic and Init7 are known for responsive support. Swisscom, Sunrise and the big MVNOs have longer queues. Most providers do English support in addition to German, French and Italian. Check our provider overview for customer satisfaction data per provider.