Cheap Sim Card

Swisscom Switzerland SIM card: the Prepaid Flat for tourists

Swisscom sells a tourist eSIM in four lengths, from 20 francs for 7 days. The clock starts when you first use it in Switzerland, not when you buy.

By · Updated

Is a Swisscom Switzerland SIM card a good choice for a visitor?

If you want the best-known network and do not mind paying for it, yes. A Swisscom Switzerland SIM card for tourists is called Prepaid Flat, comes as an eSIM or a physical SIM, and gives unlimited use inside Switzerland. Swisscom markets it as Switzerland's best 5G network with the best network coverage. Those are its claims, and the page gives no data behind them.

What does the Swisscom tourist SIM cost?

Swisscom's tourist page (read 8 October 2026) lists four plans:

Prepaid Flat 7
CHF 20 for 7 days
Prepaid Flat 15
CHF 40 for 15 days
Prepaid Flat 30
CHF 65 for 30 days
Prepaid Flat 90
CHF 150 for 90 days

Each includes unlimited data in Switzerland at up to 50 Mbit/s download, unlimited calls within Switzerland, and unlimited texts in Switzerland and abroad. The period starts at activation, which happens once the eSIM connects to the Swisscom network and is used, so you can buy before the trip.

eSIM or physical SIM?

An eSIM is ready once ordered, with no shop visit. A physical SIM must be bought at a Swisscom shop, so it is the route for phones without eSIM support. You get a new Swisscom number and cannot use your home number on this plan.

Is ID or a Swiss number needed?

The page does not mention ID registration. It does say activation needs a login to My Swisscom, which may use two-factor authentication that wants a Swiss phone number. That is a possible snag for a visitor ordering from abroad. A search extract of a Swisscom support page suggests visiting a Swisscom shop if activation fails.

How good is Swisscom coverage?

The page's badges cite Connect Test wins without saying which test or year. Our own Swiss notes say Swisscom has the widest reach, with mountain villages and train tunnels, but those are unverified leads. Check Swisscom's coverage map for alpine areas.

Swisscom SIM card or a travel eSIM?

Swisscom is expensive next to many travel eSIMs, but gives unlimited data and calls and a Swiss number. A travel eSIM may be cheaper for light users. No provider except eSIMCard publishes its host network, so we cannot say whether any uses Swisscom. Compare on our Switzerland SIM card page and cheapest eSIM. The other operators are Sunrise and Salt Mobile. See the Switzerland hub.

Common questions

How much is a Swisscom tourist SIM card?

Swisscom's Prepaid Flat costs CHF 20 for 7 days, CHF 40 for 15 days, CHF 65 for 30 days and CHF 150 for 90 days. Each includes unlimited data and calls in Switzerland. Check the page for the current prices before buying.

When does the Swisscom tourist SIM start counting days?

At activation, not purchase. Swisscom says the period starts once the eSIM connects to its network and is used, so you can buy before your trip. The clock starts when you first use it in Switzerland.

Can I use my home number with the Swisscom tourist SIM?

No. Swisscom says you receive a new Swisscom number. Apps such as WhatsApp can stay on your home number on a dual-SIM phone, since the data runs through the Swisscom number. Check how your apps handle that.

Does Swisscom tourist eSIM need a Swiss phone number?

Activation needs a My Swisscom login, which may use two-factor authentication requiring a Swiss number. That can be a snag for visitors ordering from abroad. Swisscom shops can help if activation fails.

Is Swisscom better than a travel eSIM for Switzerland?

Swisscom offers unlimited data and calls on a Swiss number but costs more, from CHF 20 for 7 days. A travel eSIM may be cheaper for light use. We cannot say which network any travel eSIM uses unless the provider publishes it.

Sources and further reading