Roaming summer check 2026: where 'unlimited' really ends and which plans are enough for the holidays

The key points in brief

• Practically every plan sold as 'unlimited roaming' has a fair-use limit, usually between 20 and 40 GB per month. After that the speed is throttled to 128 to 256 kbit/s.
• At throttled speed, map apps, streaming and photo uploads effectively no longer work.
• Anyone who travels only once or twice a year does not need an expensive roaming plan: good plans with a few GB of EU data start at around CHF 13 to 15.
• The best price-performance ratio does not come from the big three, but from regional providers: Quickline and GGA Maur lead the table for frequent travellers.
• Paying more does not mean more roaming: Swisscom blue Mobile M and L deliver identical EU roaming at the same promo price, and at Salt some pricier 'unlimited' plans throttle earlier than cheaper ones.

The magic limit: what 'unlimited roaming' really means

'Surf without limits abroad' sounds like freedom. But in the contract details there is almost always a fair-use clause: after 20 to 40 GB of high-speed volume per month, the provider throttles the speed to 128 to 256 kbit/s. That is slower than a modem from the 1990s.

For two weeks at the beach with email and a bit of Maps, the throttled speed just about does. But anyone who navigates, streams, makes video calls or uploads holiday photos is effectively left without internet. Exactly when you need it most.

Only a single provider (Mucho) drops any published GB limit on its Europe plan. All other 'unlimited' promises end at a concrete number, often only in the fine print.

How to read the tables

We analysed all 127 active mobile plans from the 22 Swiss providers (reference date 1 June 2026, verified on 8 June). Every plan with roaming gets a Roaming Value Score (RVS) from 0 to 100: it rates data volume, zone coverage, included minutes, top-up prices and the honesty of the marketing. Per provider we show the single best plan, sorted by RVS. CHF/GB is the price per gigabyte of EU high-speed volume, the most honest comparison value.

For plans advertised as 'unlimited', we show the actual high-speed limit (FUP). Promo prices are marked as such, with the list price.

Table 1: roaming up to 6 GB EU, for occasional travellers

One or two short trips a year? Then the base price counts, not the roaming package.

Our picks:

• Aldi Mobile Swiss Unlimited Extra (CHF 14.90 promo): 6 GB EU/USA/CAN, Switzerland unlimited, monthly contract
• yallo Swiss Max (CHF 19.90 promo): 5 GB EU/USA/CAN/TUR, Switzerland unlimited
• Quickline Mobile L (CHF 14.50, 50% off for 24 months): 5 GB EU, Switzerland unlimited

Table 2: roaming 7 to 20 GB EU, for the summer holidays

One or two weeks away, with Maps, photos and a bit of streaming: this is the sweet spot for most.

Our picks:

• Digital Republic Flat Mobile (CHF 18 permanent price): 12 GB EU/USA/UK plus 100 minutes, monthly contract
• Galaxus Mobile International (CHF 29 permanent price): 20 GB full speed EU/USA plus 100 minutes
• GGA Maur Mobile Smart (CHF 14.95, 50% off for 24 months): 10 GB EU plus Zone 3

Table 3: roaming from 21 GB, for frequent travellers and long stays

This is where almost all plans advertised as 'unlimited' land, most with a fair-use cap at 40 GB.

Our picks for the largest volume:

• Quickline Mobile XL (CHF 19, 50% off for 24 months): 40 GB EU plus unlimited calls, best RVS in the whole comparison (82)
• swype Surf Europe (CHF 24.95 permanent price): 60 GB high-speed in 41 countries including USA/CAN
• GGA Maur Mobile World (CHF 29.95 promo): 100 GB, lowest price per GB on the market (CHF 0.30)

Two findings that appear in no advert

'Premium' does not mean more roaming. Swisscom blue Mobile M and L cost the same in the promo (CHF 59.90) and deliver the same EU roaming: 40 GB high-speed. Only the L plan additionally offers some volume for the USA and Canada.

Paying more does not help at Salt either. Salt advertises several 'Europe' plans as unlimited, but the fair-use limits sit at 10, 20 or 40 GB depending on the plan. Europe XL already throttles at 10 GB, Europe Data at 20 GB. Paying more does not automatically get you more roaming.

Update of 10 June 2026

After the reference date, spusu replaced the legendär XL with the legendär XXL: same price (CHF 22.90), now 30 instead of 20 GB EU plus 100 roaming minutes. yallo is briefly advertising a discounted 'Black' line (CHF 24.90 to 34.90), whose 40 GB cap appears only in the PDF factsheet. Wingo has also activated new promo prices. We do not retroactively add short-lived promo changes to the reference-date tables; permanent changes will flow into the next report update.

Our expert's assessment

Moritz Schmid, telecom expert handyabo.com

'I test data plans abroad for work. The throttle almost always kicks in earlier than the advertising promises. Anyone who knows their plan's limit saves themselves a lot of hassle on holiday.'

Moritz Schmid is an expert on Swiss internet and mobile providers. Through his work in mobile outdoor livestream production, he regularly tests and uses SIM cards, data plans and contracts from various providers, at home and abroad.

Methodology and sources

Data basis: 127 active mobile plans from 22 Swiss providers, reference date 1 June 2026, verified on 8 June 2026 via provider FUP pages, product pages and official plan factsheets. The full plan-by-plan verification with all caps, throttle speeds and source links is openly accessible in the press area for newsrooms. Media enquiries: press page.