The Best eSIM providers for Switzerland

Trips to Switzerland are often associated with high costs, including Internet fees. To avoid additional expenses, consider buying an eSIM plan before your arrival. An eSIM card for Switzerland is installed digitally on your smartphone or laptop, connecting you to the local Internet. Seasoned travelers highly recommend this option over traditional SIM cards or local roaming. See what are current offers and compare the best tariffs. Plus, see how the technology works and if your device is compatible with the newest eSIM providers. 

Table of Contents

• Compare the Best eSIM for Europe, Including Switzerland
• Yesim Data Plans for Switzerland
• Holafly Unlimited Internet in Switzerland
• Airalo Connection in Switzerland
• Maya eSIM in Switzerland: Feedback and Pricing
• Final Thoughts: Choose Your Favorite Provider

Compare the Best eSIM for Europe, Including Switzerland

Since each provider offers unique pricing models and data plans, let’s compare their key qualities. Afterward, see the detailed guide to each company and choose which one suits you best. To choose the best options, compare such characteristics as coverage in Switzerland, used providers, pricing models, and special features for Internet sharing and phone calls.  

Yesim Data Plans for Switzerland

Using cell data from the two largest providers in Switzerland, Yesim grants 5G and 4G connections. The company covers 200+ destinations, including countries in Europe. To use the Internet in Switzerland, consider a single-destination or a regional plan. In 2024, the country is included in the “Europe” tariff with 32 destinations. 

 As always, the service offers both prepaid and unlimited data – together, you choose from 10 variations:

Unfortunately, you choose from existing offers and cannot customize the plan. Thus, select the most suitable one depending on your stay duration and Internet requirements. All plans go together with unlimited hotspots. The activation is possible in two ways:

1. Install the Yesim official application from the App Store or Google Play. Here, buy available data plans and activate them automatically. During your stay, the Yesim app will calculate your data usage and offer new plans once you run out of data.  
2. Use the QR code sent via email. After the purchase from the official website, Yesim will send you a message through email. Scan the exclusive QR from here to uninstall the data to your smartphone. 

Before buying a tariff, make sure your smartphone is compatible with the eSIM technology. Old and budget-friendly smartphones usually lack the special chop for activation. Yesim provides a detailed list of compatible devices on the official site. Visit the “Help Center”, and you’ll find the needed information. 

Currently, you cannot find reviews about Yesim’s quality, particularly in Switzerland. Yet, feedback about connections in Europe is 100% positive. You’ll be connected to 5G or 4G during your trip without roaming charges and hidden expenses. 

Holafly Unlimited Internet in Switzerland

As you can see from the comparison, Holafly offers only unlimited data plans. They are traditionally more expensive than prepaid options – buy them only if you need a lot of data. The service cooperates with the Orange provider, also called Salt in Switzerland. With its help, the company guarantees an LTE connection. 

The choice of plans is more convenient compared to Yesim. Here, you choose the duration manually, and Holafly calculates the final price. For instance, one day costs $5.90, but you may lower the price to $2 when buying long-term plans. The longest option is 90 days. After they pass, you can top up the balance instead of buying a new tariff. In these terms, Holafly is the best provider for long stays, digital nomads, freelancers, and immigrants. While a short-term connection is expensive, you receive cheap Internet starting from 30 days. 

Note, however, that the hotspot capabilities are limited. In Switzerland, you are free to share only 500 MB daily. There’s an easy way to solve it: once buying the tariff, connect several devices. You can utilize the same data plans on two smartphones or your smartphones and a laptop. 

Use one of the three activation methods: via QR code, application, or manually. According to reviews, the in-app method is the most convenient. The Holafly application is overall a good tool to track data usage, buy plans, compare pricing, and receive notifications when you run out of data. 

The reviews show positive feedback about trips to Switzerland. The connection remains stable even in mountains and trains whenever you’re far from cities. Note that all plans include only an Internet connection. If you need a virtual mobile number to make local calls, consider Yesim instead, Holafly is limited to data and calls via messengers and social media. 

Airalo Connection in Switzerland

The company focuses on prepaid data plans with a duration from a week to a month. Currently, you can choose from 6 offers for your trip. With the Salt (Orange) provider, Airalo offers LTE connections all over the country. The company, however, doesn’t specify if 5G is available. 

Plans get more beneficial once you purchase more data:

• 1 GB for a week costs $4.50;
• 2 GB for 15 days go at $8;
• 3 GB for a month is $10;
• 5G for 30 days – $14.50, 10 GB for 30 days – $24, and 20 GB for 30 days cost $38.

Notably, the company has unlimited Internet options for certain destinations. Switzerland isn’t one of them, but things may change. Always check current pricing and offers on the official website, since conditions change. 

To install and activate your data, simply download the official application. Here, you buy tariffs, activate them, and track the data usage. The application has positive reviews in the App Store and Google Play. Feedback about connection, however, is more contradicting.

Airalo often shows itself as an unstable provider. Sometimes, you use the 5G Internet all over the country with no issues. In some cases, customers simply cannot connect and remain without the Internet. Reasons are unknown – yet, you get compensation in case something doesn’t work. When buying Airalo, be aware that a good price has its cost. There’s always a small possibility of non-working plans. 

Maya eSIM in Switzerland: Feedback and Pricing

Compared to previous companies, Maya has the widest choice of eSIM options in Switzerland. The service offers up to 24 plans for each country – the offers differ by duration and price. All plans use Sunlight provider with its 5G connection quality. 

The plans’ menu is quite convenient. First, choose the number of days in your trip – 5, 10, 15, or 30. Unfortunately, single-day plans are non-available. Then, see the available options for your stay duration. Choose from 3GB, 5GB, 10 GB, 20 GB, or an unlimited plan. Here’s another convenient feature. Once you search for a destination (Switzerland in your case), Maya shows regional plans together with local ones. Switzerland, for instance, is included in the “Europe eSIM” tariff together with 36 countries. 

Additionally, the company shows the top three variants for different needs. For example, Mays recommends plans with unlimited hotspots as “family” options. Meanwhile, unlimited connection without sharing options is a “Solo travel” offer.

The activation is similar to Yesim and Holafly. Receive a QR code in your email box, scan it, and install the tariff. You can do it in advance and turn the data on once you’re in the country. 

According to reviews, the connection is quite stable and works perfectly in all parts of the country. Almost all reviews about Switzerland are positive. Yet, be ready that some content may be geo-restricted. This is not Maya’s fault – the country has a list of banned websites. To access them, you need a VPN, which slows the Internet down. 

Final Thoughts: Choose Your Favorite Provider

All the listed providers are reliable companies with years of experience. According to reviews, each offers a stable connection in Europe, including Switzerland and its neighbors. Select the service depending on what you need. Prioritize Yesim as a tourist, or try Airalo as your first try with eSIMs. Share your experience and feel free to ask questions about the best providers. Don’t forget to visit the official websites of each service to see the actual pricing, tariffs, and discounts.