Use cell phone in Switzerland: How to do it?

When you’re planning a vacation or business trip to another country, one of the things we think about the most is how to use your phone during that time. The good news is that there are different ways to stay connected, so that wouldn’t be a problem. Here we will explain everything you need to know to use your cellphone in Switzerland.

However, although it is simple, there are many things that you have to consider, and various factors to know which option of the ones we will present is the best for you. But do not worry! We are going to explain everything.

Will my phone work in Switzerland?

The short answer is yes. You can use your cellphone in a more or less as you generally do at home. Although, of course, there are some differences depending on the model of your device and which alternative of those we will present you decide to use.

In addition, you also have to consider the destination country, since some do not have roaming services or networks with speeds lower than what you may be used to in your home country. Then your experience with your phone would not be the same.

With this in mind, different alternatives can be more or less worthwhile depending on the destination country. We can mention the traditional roaming service, pocket Wi-Fi devices, the classic SIM cards, or the new international eSIM service that is becoming increasingly popular among travelers. 

What differences do they have with each other? How much do these services cost in Switzerland? Many questions may be going through your head. Don’t worry; we will know all your options, so you can remain connected in Switzerland without any problem.

Do I need an international plan in Switzerland?

Almost everyone has a daily data plan on their cellphone; explaining this is unnecessary. However, things do change the moment we travel to another country.

For those users who want to use the classic SIM cards or one of the new eSIM cards to be communicated at all times, they will almost certainly need an international plan. Attention! We discuss international plans, not to be confused with roaming services.

What are these international plans? Which are the best? You’re probably wondering. Let’s talk about it.

What are the international plan options for use cell phone in Switzerland?

We have already put you in context and named the different options you have to choose from. This was necessary for you to get an idea of what the issue of using your phone in another country was like, but it is time to go into more detail.

The most preferred alternatives for us and thousands of travelers worldwide are eSIM and SIM cards. And although there are more, we will see these two in more depth for now.

Unlimited data eSIM for Switzerland

Nowadays, and for a few years now, the preferred alternative of many different types of travelers is the eSIM card. The main reason is that they have simplified the process a lot, and anyone can do it in just a few minutes. It is by far the most comfortable and fastest option.

Although it is a novel technology, they have a small disadvantage: eSIM can only be used in the latest generation devices such as iPhone 13, or Samsung S21. If your phone came out a few years ago, it probably wouldn’t be able to use an eSIM, although you can check beforehand.

If this is your case, and you cannot use an eSIM, you still have other more classic alternatives that we will also mention, such as SIM cards. On the other hand, if your device supports it, eSIM can be activated quickly in a couple of minutes, even with a QR code. Very simple and easy to do for most of us.

Holafly’s eSIM service is worth mentioning if we elaborate on prices, which are of good quality and easy to acquire. For the specific case of Switzerland, the eSIM costs $47 for 15 days of completely unlimited data. You can look for other plans that fit your length of stay that start with plans of 5 days!

International SIM card for Switzerland

Another alternative is extended SIM cards. Of which, practically all of us have used, and all phones support. Well, you can buy one for international use.

So, if, for one reason or another, your device does not work with eSIM, you can use an international SIM card and have all the benefits of a conventional one. The only detail you have to keep in mind is that your device has to have open bands for international SIM cards.

What is the price? We highlight the SIM card service of Holafly again since you can hire its excellent service for 5 days for a price of $29. If you need more data, you can buy as many as you want.

Pocket WiFi for Switzerland

Another alternative is Pocket WiFi devices. Years ago, they were very popular and the favorite choice of many. On the other hand, eSIM and SIM are gaining in popularity today. However, pocket WiFi is still worth mentioning, as many companies still offer this service.

Their main disadvantage is that they are more expensive than other alternatives. The devices can cost up to $300 or $400, and their plans range from $60 to $110 per week. It is something to keep in mind.

Free WiFi in Switzerland

If you want to save as much money as possible, you can communicate through the free WiFi networks that many local establishments offer. However, this option can be the most uncomfortable of all, as it is very likely that you will spend long periods without a connection or with out the best quality you’d like.

And while it’s true that almost any café, restaurant, and hotel provide WiFi to its customers, you’re probably not connected while moving around the city.

Will my local internet work in Switzerland?

Here, the short response is “yes” This may differ depending on the service you use, but generally speaking, the answer is yes. Yet, we’ll talk about two services here, one from Europe and one from the US.

The only drawback is that roaming costs might easily increase, which we dislike. That’s why we have discussed other alternatives throughout the article, as people can tell which services will be better for them to use and for their pocket.

Use cellphone in Switzerland with AT&T

We will start by discussing AT&T, one of the services that Americans love to use. People can use their $10 daily International Data Plan with this service. As the pricing is set for roughly 210 countries, if you are a customer of this company, you should be aware of this when you travel.

Using your cell phone in Switzerland with Vodafone

We now have Vodafone for residents across Europe. Thankfully, if you are a Vodafone user, then things will be pretty cheap for you, as the price to pay regarding the service is, well, basically $0 for the roaming. Still, you need to have a data plan before using the roaming.

What is the best option to use your cell phone in Switzerland?

As you can see, there are several options to keep in touch while you are in another country. All with their advantages and disadvantages. In our opinion, SIM and eSIM cards are comfortable, inexpensive, and easy to use, so they are the ones that are worth it.

When we travel, we want everything to be as simple, fast, and economical as possible, and for this, these two are your best options.