Preparing your next vacation in Switzerland? This small country of alpine landscapes and green meadows is the perfect place to spend a few days surrounded by nature and beautiful medieval villages. You won’t be able to stop taking pictures. That’s why in this post we talk about how to find the perfect travel eSIM for Switzerland so you can share your experience with friends and family.
By now you probably know that eSIM cards are the best option for connecting to the Internet immediately without paying huge bills like with roaming, or compromising your data on public wifi networks. However, you may also realise that there are many aspects to compare before choosing one brand or another, such as speed, data limit, customer support, price or duration of the plans. In Passporter we make it easy for you, so we prepared this post where we compare the main brands of eSIM for Switzerland as Holafly, Airalo or Nomad, and we explain what is the best option. However, we can tell you that the eSIM cards with unlimited data from Holafly are a safe bet with no extra charges and 24/7 multilingual support (including English).
eSIM comparison for a trip to Switzerland
When comparing different eSIM brands we must take into account all the features that will determine if the card fits the needs of our trip. That’s why we have prepared this table with all the essential information about each brand to help you choose. Later on we will elaborate on all the important aspects so that you don’t miss any information.
| Brand | Plan duration | Data sharing | Unlimited data | App | GB per plan | Support | Price | Trustpilot | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Holafly | 5, 10, 15, 20, 30, 60 and 90 days | No | Yes | Yes | Unlimited data on all plans | In English and other languages, direct chat and WhatsApp | 19€ -99€ | 4,6 | 4 |
| Airalo | 7, 15 and 30 days | Yes | No | Yes | 1GB, 2GB, 3GB, 5GB, 10GB and 20GB | In English, via a bot | 4,5€ – 38€ | 3,9 | 3,8 |
| Maya Mobile | 30 days | Yes | Yes | No | 1GB, 3GB, 5GB, 10GB and unlimited | In English, via a bot | 5€ – 47€ | 4,5 | 3,2 |
| Simoptions | 10, 15 and 30 days | No | No | No | 3GB, 5GB, 8GB and 20GB | In English, via chat | 24,9$ – 49,9$ | 3,5 | 3 |
| Nomad | 7 and 30 days | Yes | No | Yes | 1GB, 3GB, 5GB, 10GB y 20GB | In English, via email or the App | 7€ – 28,5€ | 3,1 | 3,6 |
| Ubigi | 1, 30 days or 12 months. | Yes | No | Yes | 500 MB, 1GB, 5GB, 10 GB, 20 GB and 50GB | In English by email | 2,9$ – 68$ | 4,2 | 4,1 |
1. Holafly, eSIM for Switzerland with Unlimited Data and customer care in English
| Advantages | All of their eSIM plans offer unlimited data. They offer data packages by continent and by country. Holafly’s eSIM cards are easy to purchase and install with QR code or manually. They offer a wide variety of eSIM cards with different prices and contract durations. They have eSIM cards for 160 destinations. 24/7 technical support in Spanish, English, German, French, Italian, and Japanese. Very flexible pricing. They offer Europe-wide eSIM cards. You can pay in euros, dollars and Mexican pesos. Flexible duration of data plans: 5, 10, 15, 15, 20, 30, 60 and 90 days. It has an App where you can check the consumption and the remaining days of the contract. |
| Inconveniences | Their eSIM cards do not include calls or sms. They are one of the most expensive options on the market, but it’s worth it because you don’t run out of data and you don’t have to recharge. Holafly’s eSIM card for Switzerland does not allow data sharing. It is not possible to do the installation through their App. |
Holafly is one of the best options for buying eSIM cards as all their plans have unlimited data for those who want to travel without worrying about running out of internet. In addition, the brand offers a 24/7 customer support service in English, German, French, Spanish, Italian and Japanese that responds in less than a minute via chat or WhatsApp, and is currently the company with the best customer rating on Trustpilot with a score of 4.6.
On the website of Holafly you can find 7 unlimited data plans ranging from 19€ to 99€ depending on the duration of the contract, which can be 5, 10, 15, 20, 30, 60 and 90 days. It is perfect for long stays, as well as for digital nomads, express or business trips to Switzerland. Youtubers like Molaviajar or Viviendo de viaje use it as well. On Holafly website you can also find an eSIM card for all Europe that includes 32 countries (Switzerland included) so you can move from one country to another without changing eSIM.
| Data plan | Price in Euros | Price in Dollars | Price in Mexican Pesos |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 days – unlimited data | 19€ | 19$ | $339 |
| 10 days – unlimited data | 34€ | 34$ | $699 |
| 15 days – unlimited data | 47€ | 47$ | $899 |
| 20 days – unlimited data | 57€ | 57$ | $1199 |
| 30 days – unlimited data | 69€ | 69$ | $1399 |
| 60 days – unlimited data | 87€ | 87$ | $1699 |
| 90 days – unlimited data | 99€ | 99$ | $1999 |
The Holafly eSIM cards can be installed easily by scanning the QR code that you will receive by email once you have completed the purchase. The installation can also be done manually without a computer, simply writing a code in the settings of your mobile phone that you can consult in the email or in your App, which is very convenient to control the duration of the data plan.
After testing Holafly’s eSIM cards we can say that they are one of the most expensive options on the market, but that in the end they are profitable since all their plans have unlimited data and you will not need to recharge at any time during your trip. Here we leave you this ranking where we evaluate from 1 to 5 all the features of Holafly eSIM cards for Switzerland based on our experience.
In this post you can read about our experience with Holafly eSIM cards and the opinions of some users: Our review of Holafly eSIM: is it worth it?
| Data | Duration | Support | Price | App | Speed | Data Sharing | Currencies | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | 5 | 4,8 | 3,5 | 3,5 | 4,8 | 3,5 | 4,5 | 4,3 |
2. Airalo, the cheapest eSIM brand on the market
| Advantages | They offer regional, country or global data packages. Airalo eSIM cards are easy to purchase and install. It is one of the cheapest brands in the market. They offer a wide variety of eSIM cards with different duration, price and gigabytes. They have eSIM cards for 190 countries. Their eSIM card allows you to share data with other devices. They allow you to recharge the eSIM. They have an App and you can buy and install the eSIM from it. |
| Inconveniences | Gigabytes are limited to 20GB or less and do not have unlimited data cards. Short-term plans have very limited gigabytes. Their eSIM cards do not include calls and sms. The duration of the data plans is limited to 7, 15 and 30 days. Their services and technical support is exclusively in English and takes a long time to respond. |
Although Airalo is one of the cheapest brands on the market, the truth is that in the long run it can get expensive since their data plans have very limited gigabytes that can run out at any time, and their technical service takes a long time to respond.
Airalo is along with Holafly one of the best-known brands in the world to buy an international travel eSIM. This company, founded in Singapore in 2019 by Turkish entrepreneurs Abraham Burak and Ahmet Bahadir Özdemir, was one of the first to offer these services, and has a wide coverage of countries where they offer eSIM cards.
Airalo’s eSIM card data plans for Switzerland have durations of 7, 15 and 30 days, and prices range from $4.5 to $38. The brand has an App through which you can buy and install the eSIM, and later recharge it when you run out of data.
| Data plan | Price in U.S. Dollars |
|---|---|
| 7 days – 1 GB | 4,5$ |
| 15 days – 2 GB | 8$ |
| 30 days – 3 GB | 10$ |
| 30 days – 5 GB | 24$ |
| 30 days – 10 GB | 38$ |
Airalo’s eSIM for Switzerland offers 5 data plans so you can choose the one that best suits your trip. We compared customer reviews and feedback on Trustpilot and found that Airalo has one of the lowest scores with 3.7. Here is the ranking of every aspect of Airalo and in this post you can also read about our opinion of the brand: Our review of Airalo eSIM: is it worth it?
| Data | Duration | Support | Price | App | Speed | Data Sharing | Currencies | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | 4 | 3 | 4.5 | 4 | 4 | 4,5 | 3 | 3,8 |
5. Nomad and their App
| Advantages | They offer regional, country or global data packages. Nomad eSIM cards are easy to purchase and install. The app is very convenient and allows you to recharge the eSIM. They offer a wide variety of eSIM cards with different prices and amount of gigabytes. They have eSIM cards for 112 countries. Technical support both in the app and on the web. Very affordable prices. |
| Inconveniences | Gigabytes are limited to 20GB or less and do not have unlimited data cards. Short-term plans have very limited gigabytes (1GB). Their eSIM cards do not include calls and sms. The duration of data plans is limited to 7 or 30 days. Their services and technical support are exclusively in English. |
Nomad is a company dedicated to the distribution of eSIM cards so you can have internet during your travels. It is also a marketplace like SimOptions, but their website and App are much better developed and it is a bit easier to compare eSIM cards. One of the advantages of the brand is that it has an App with which its customers can easily and quickly sign up for data plans.
The brand offers data plans in more than 100 countries and also by continents so that we can make use of our internet connection even if we are moving between different countries. In the case of Switzerland, the data packages only have a duration of 7 and 30 days, which is not flexible at all. In addition, they have data limits ranging from 1 GB to 20 GB. The fact that they do not have unlimited data plans is a big disadvantage as we will be forced to recharge.
| Data plan | Price in Dollars | Price in Euros | Price in Pounds |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7 days – 1 GB | 7$ | 7€ | 6£ |
| 30 days – 3 GB | 12$ | 11,5€ | 10£ |
| 30 days – 5 GB | 14$ | 13,5€ | 12£ |
| 30 days – 10 GB | 20$ | 19€ | 17£ |
| 30 days – 20 GB | 30$ | 28,5€ | 25£ |
The Nomad App is very useful to monitor the consumption and recharge in case we run out of data. We can also use it to get in touch with customer service, which unfortunately is only in English.
Here you can see our ranking of Nomad’s eSIMs.
| Data | Duration | Support | Price | App | Speed | Data Sharing | Currencies | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | 4 | 3,5 | 3,5 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 3,6 |
4. SimOptions, and their marketplace
| Advantages | They offer regional, country or global data packages. Sim Options eSIM cards are easy to purchase and install. They have eSIM cards for 160 countries. |
| Inconveniences | Gigabytes are limited to 20GB or less and do not have unlimited data cards. Short-term plans have very limited gigabytes. eSIM features for the same country vary depending on the brand contracted. The duration of data plans is limited to 14 and 30 days. Not all eSIM cards allow recharging data. Technical support depends on each brand and good customer service cannot be guaranteed. Speed depends on each brand of eSIM card. There is no App to control data consumption. |
SimOptions is an eSIM card marketplace where local mobile carriers in each country sell their eSIM cards. The brand, with offices in Paris, Thailand and Hong Kong, offers data plans for eSIM cards in more than 160 countries and also have regional and global plans.
For Switzerland you will find only two 14-day and 30-day data plans with data limits of 3GB, 5GB, 8GB and 20GB. Prices are higher than average and range from $24.9 to $49.9. Only two of the available options offer the ability to recharge the eSIM when data runs out.
The main drawback of Simoptions is that its website is a bit chaotic and the data plans, being from different brands, are very disparate and their features vary a lot, not only price, speed or duration, but also technical support, the possibility of recharging or data sharing. This will force you to look in detail at each brand and will make it harder for you to make a decision.
| Data plan | Price in U.S.Dollars |
|---|---|
| 30 days – 3 GB | 24,9$ |
| 14 days – 8 GB | 29,9$ |
| 30 days – 5 GB | 34,9$ |
| 14 days – 20 GB | 49,9$ |
Our personal experience is that with SimOptions cards you lose a lot of time comparing between one and the other. In addition, the price is high, you can only pay in dollars and they don’t give you the guarantee of a good technical support. Here we rate SimOptions eSIM cards from 1 to 5 and in this post you can read about our opinion and what other customers think about the brand: Our review of Sim Options eSIM: is it worth it?
| Data | Duration | Support | Price | App | Speed | Data Sharing | Currencies | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 4 | 3 | 3,5 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 |
5. Maya Mobile, data packages with the GBs you need
| Advantages | They offer data packages by continent and for countries. Maya Mobile eSIM cards are easy to purchase and install with QR code or manually. They have eSIM cards for 194 destinations. Data plans limited to 1GB, 3GB, 5GB, 10GB that can run out quickly. Flexible pricing. Possibility of internet sharing. You can set up auto-recharge after 30 days to recharge. Data sharing with other devices. They offer unlimited data plans |
| Inconveniences | Their eSIM cards do not include calls or sms. They do not have an App. Its unlimited data plans are limited to 5Mbps which drops to 1Mbps after the first 30GB. Technical support in English via a bot. They only have data plans for 30 days. |
Maya Mobile only offers eSIM cards for 30 days in Switzerland. In this case, the price of the data packages varies depending on the gigabytes. In total you have 4 packages of 1GB, 3GB, 5GB, 10GB.The price ranges from 5€ to 47€.
On their website you will also find a plan with unlimited data for 30 days, however, you have to keep in mind that after the first 30GB of the plan, the browsing speed will drop from 5Mbps to 1Mbps. They also offer another plan for Europe which covers 30 countries (including Switzerland) and also has unlimited data.
Like Holafly, Maya Mobile is known for the speed and simplicity of their installation process, which is also done through a QR code that you receive by email. In addition, they have a 100% refund policy of the purchase in case the data does not work, which is not common since they have a minimum of two data providers in each country where they offer their services.
| Data plan | Price in Euros |
|---|---|
| 30 days – 1 GB | 5€ |
| 30 days – 3 GB | 9€ |
| 30 days – 5 GB | 12€ |
| 30 days – 10 GB | 30€ |
| 30 days – unlimited data* | 47€ |
| 30 days in Europe – unlimited data | 47€ |
In the case of Maya Mobile we consider it a disadvantage their plans being very inflexible and only having a duration of 30 days. They don’t offer plans with truly unlimited data like some other brands such as Holafly, which means you may run out of data in the middle of your trip or browse at a very slow speed. Here the table with the score for each of the features of their eSIM cards.
| Data | Duration | Support | Price | App | Speed | Data Sharing | Currencies | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 4,5 | 4,5 | 3 | 3,2 |
Conclusion: what is the best eSIM for Switzerland
In this post we have seen that there are many important factors to take into account when comparing eSIM cards as for each type of travel you will have different connection needs. That is why we have prepared this section where we share our experience which eSIM card is best for traveling to Switzerland.
When we travel we don’t want to run out of data in the middle of our trip, that’s why eSIM cards with unlimited data are the best option if we want to travel without worries. In this case, the only brand that offers unlimited eSIM data plans is Holafly. With some companies like Nomad or Airalo you can top up the eSIM already installed via their website or App, but the best thing is not having to pay again if you run out of data.
If in the end you opt for an eSIM with limited data, we leave you this table that will help you to make the estimate of the gigabytes you will need based on your usual consumption.
| Plataform | Gigabyte consumption per hour |
| 0,12GB – 0,18 GB | |
| 0,12GB – 0,18 GB | |
| 0,06 GB | |
| Tiktok | 0,18 GB – 0,8 GB |
| Netflix | 0,3GB – 7GB |
| Youtube | 0,14GB – 1,7 GB |
| Amazon Prime | 0,8GB – 6GB |
The installation process of eSIM cards is always simple and fast, but it is true that there are some companies that make it even easier. The first thing is to check if your mobile is compatible with the eSIM of the brand. You can check this information on the website of each provider.
The purchase of the eSIM for Switzerland can be done through the web in the case of some brands like Holafly or SimOptions, or through the app like Nomad. Holafly’s website is very intuitive and easy to use, while SimOptions’ is quite complicated to understand and you will have to read a lot.
Nomad is one of the few brands with which you can do the installation directly from the App, and in the case of Holafly, from the App you can get the code to install the eSIM manually without using a computer. You can also do the installation scanning a QR code that will arrive in the mail as soon as you have completed the purchase with Holafly, Airalo, Simoptions or Nomad.
On the other hand, it is very important to consider the technical service to help you in the installation process and solve any doubt or problem. Most brands such as Maya Mobile or Airalo have a chat bot that takes a long time to respond and only does so in English. In the case of Simoptions, technical support will depend on the brand of eSIM card you have chosen. In this aspect Holafly’s technical support is the best as it responds in less than 1 minute in English, German, French, Italian, Spanish and Japanese via web chat or WhatsApp.
Many times when we travel we want to share data with other devices and only some providers like Airalo and some Simoptions brands make it possible.
But one of the most important aspects is price. The cheapest brands are Airalo and Maya Mobile, however, their data plans are very limited and you’re likely to run out and have to pay again with the top-up. That’s why it’s sometimes advisable to pay a little more and get a unlimited data eSIM card like Holafly’s to give you peace of mind and avoid having to recharge again.
All in all, Holafly’s eSIM cards are the best choice for travel to Switzerland because of their unlimited data and multilingual technical support that responds in less than a minute. In addition, their plans have very flexible durations and adapt to all types of trips. With Holafly you will never have problems on your trip.
Other options to have internet in Switzerland
Here we share other alternatives to have Internet in Switzerland so you can compare and decide the one that best suits your needs, although in our opinion the best option will always be the eSIM cards for its many advantages that we show in this table.
| Convenience | Immediate delivery and activation upon purchase. Purchase prior to travel. Easy installation; unlike SIM cards, there is no need to remove the original card. You’ll be connected as soon as you land, no need to find a store first. You’ll find tailor-made plans to suit the duration and needs of your trip. No need to rely on batteries, as with Pocket wifi. You won’t have to carry an extra device during your trip, like the Pocket Wifi. |
| Peace of mind | You will have 24/7 technical support in English, unlike with a SIM or Pocket Wifi. You will not have to worry about forgetting or losing any device other than your cell phone. |
| Security | You will avoid using public wifi networks vulnerable to hacking. You will avoid entering personal data in endless forms to get Wifi. No need to open or manipulate your mobile phone like with SIM cards. |
1. Buy SIM cards from Swisscom or Salt upon landing
After arriving in Switzerland you can get a prepaid SIM card from providers such as Salt and Swisscom, which stores are located in airports and shopping areas. Prices, between €8 and €30, vary depending on the length of the contract and the gigabytes.
This option offers the possibility to have a local number and thus be able to make calls. But on the other hand, you will have to waste time of your trip buying the card. It will also be necessary to remove your regular SIM at the risk of losing or damaging it.
| Advantages | There are a variety of brands and data plans to choose from. Installation is fast. They can be purchased online or in physical stores. You can make calls and send messages with a local number. |
| Inconveniences | It always replaces your regular SIM, which can be lost or damaged. The cell phone must be opened and handled during the installation process. You have to travel to buy it or wait for the card to be delivered. When the contract of your travel SIM expires, it must be replaced by another one. You will not be able to keep your regular phone number. |
2. Renting a Pocket WiFi for Switzerland
Pocket WiFi is a wireless router that allows you to connect to the internet from anywhere as long as you have the device with you and it is charged. It also offers the possibility of sharing it with other devices.
The main drawback of this system, apart from the fact that you have to carry it, is the price. It is one of the most expensive options as it usually costs around €10 per day plus insurance and shipping costs. Penalties for loss exceed €100.
| Advantages | Can be used by several devices at the same time. You can choose the gigabyte package that suits you best. No need to install anything on our cell phones. |
| Inconveniences | It is one of the most expensive options. There are few brands to choose from. Contracts are usually of long duration. In addition to the data plan, you have to pay for rental, insurance and shipping costs. The battery lasts 6 hours maximum. If you use it with more people you have to be in the same room. You have to carry it with you wherever you go and you run the risk of losing it. |
In Switzerland, you can rent your Pocket Wifi from iSpot Connect, whose routers are small and have a battery life of 6h.
3. Search for free WiFi networks in Switzerland
As in most tourist destinations you can find free WiFi in Switzerland at airports, restaurants, bars, libraries, museums and hotels. Apart from the usual problems with these networks in terms of speed and efficiency, Passporter recommends using them with caution due to their vulnerability to hacking. It is best to limit their use to specific queries and avoid at all costs making transactions that put your personal data at risk.
| Advantages | It is free of charge. There is nothing to install on our cell phones. |
| Inconveniences | It is difficult to find free access wifi networks. Public wifi networks are often slow or give connection problems. You often have to fill in forms and share your personal data. Some free wifi networks have limited time. You have to be near the router to connect. These networks are vulnerable to hacking. |
4. Activate Roaming in Switzerland
Roaming is a service offered by some mobile operators to provide you with call, text and internet coverage abroad. Charges vary according to operator, coverage and destination countries or areas. Roaming in Europe is free for European Union countries, which do not include Switzerland, and therefore has to be paid for.
The main advantage of this option is the convenience of not having to install or sign up for any service, just connect your mobile data and you have internet. The disadvantage is the price, which is usually very high, reaching up to €6 per MB.
| Advantages | There is no need to install anything on our cell phone. There is no need to contract any extra service. You can receive calls, send messages and connect to the internet immediately. |
| Inconveniences | This is the most expensive option. Sometimes it is activated without us realizing it. Not all telephone companies offer this service. |
In Spain there are several companies that offer roaming abroad such as Movistar, Vodafone or Orange. If you choose this option, we recommend that you ask your usual company about the cost of roaming beforehand so that you can compare it with other services such as eSIM cards.
Frequently asked questions about getting Internet in Switzerland
Most models from popular brands such as Apple, Samsung, Motorola, Huawei or Google are compatible as long as they are recent models. Several iPads are also supported. However, the best thing to do is to consult the website of each provider, where they will tell you all the compatible models.
eSIM cards allow you to have internet on your cell phone when you travel abroad without having to remove your regular SIM card, as is the case with SIM cards. This is possible thanks to a chip that is incorporated in the latest generation of cell phones.
The purchase of the eSIM data plan can be done through the web or the App of some brands. Choose your destination, the duration and the gigabytes of the data plan and pay securely.
SIM cards can be purchased in physical shops or online, with delivery times ranging from 48 to 72 hours. There are also companies that offer same-day express delivery.
Most companies offer data capped packages. Holafly, unlike the rest, offers a wide variety of unlimited data packages.
Data cards are activated as soon as they are installed in the country of origin, i.e. when the SIM is inserted or the QR code is scanned.
Data packages usually last for a week or 30 days, however, there are providers such as Holafly offering more flexible packages between 5 days and 3 months.
Unlimited data plans do not normally allow data sharing, but those plans with a specific number of GBs included do.
Data on unlimited plans is really unlimited. Note in any case that local mobile operators may temporarily reduce speeds if you use apps such as Netflix or YouTube very intensively. These limits are more intended to avoid network saturation by a few users.
Holafly is a Spanish company launched in 2018 that you can trust, it has been tested by over 400,000 customers, travel blogs and Youtubers. Holafly markets eSIMs since 2019.
Holafly has over 10,000 positive experiences posted on Trustpilot, with a rating of “Excellent” and an average score of 4.6.
No, Maya actually limits the speed on its unlimited plans to only 5mbps. Once 30 GB is consumed, Maya further limits the speed to 1mbps.
No, with SIM Options you can find data plans up to 10 GB or 20 GB, depending on the plan. Once the data runs out, it would be reduced to an unusable speed (128kb).
SIM Options has both positive and negative reviews, and an average Trustpilot score lower than Holafly, at 3.8. SIM Options is a Hong Kong-based company.
Maya is owned by a US company, Maya Virtual Inc. Maya’s reviews on Trustpilot are good, with a 4.5 average rating.
The reviews of Airalo on Trustpilot are good, with an average rating of 3.9.
Airalo reviews on Trustpilot are good, with an average score of 3.9.
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