Permanent discount or a 24-month commitment? How to compare promotional mobile plans correctly

A mobile plan costing CHF 19.90 per month sounds clearly cheaper than one costing CHF 29.90. That is only true if both prices apply for the same length of time and the other costs are comparable. With promotional offers, details often decide the outcome: Is the discount permanent or time-limited? Is there a minimum contract term? Is an activation fee charged? How expensive are usage, roaming or an early switch?

Especially when considering Swiss mobile plan contract commitments, you should not look only at the advertised monthly price. What matters is the amount you pay during the period for which you are actually committed. This guide shows you a simple comparison method and the conditions you should check before signing up.

Why the promotional price alone is not a fair comparison

Mobile operators often advertise plans with a reduced monthly price. That is not necessarily a problem: a low price can genuinely be the cheaper choice over several years. What matters, however, is how long the price applies and which conditions are attached to it.

There are three common models:

• Permanent discount: The reduced price generally continues as long as you keep the plan and the operator’s contractual requirements are met.
• Limited-time promotion: The discount applies only for a specified number of months. Afterwards, the price increases to the standard price or another tariff.
• Promotional price with a minimum contract term: The price may be advertised as permanent, but you commit for 12 or 24 months, for example. Leaving early may trigger costs.

Advertising terms are not always clear. You should therefore check wording such as “permanent”, “lifetime” or “forever” in the product sheet and contract terms. In particular, check whether the statement refers to the price, a specific discount component or only the current contract term.

For an initial market overview, see the mobile plan comparison. Do not compare only data volume and network coverage: for interesting offers, always open the details on fees and contract conditions as well.

Calculating the effective price over the commitment period

The effective price shows what a plan actually costs you during the minimum contract term. It takes into account the monthly price, one-off fees and foreseeable additional costs. This lets you compare two offers on the same basis.

The simple formula is:

Effective monthly price = (monthly basic fee × number of commitment months + one-off fees + expected additional costs) ÷ number of commitment months

Example: comparing two plans correctly

Suppose you compare these fictional offers over 24 months:

In this example, Plan B is cheaper during the first 24 months despite the activation fee. That alone is not a purchase recommendation: if you want to switch after just six months, Plan A may be the better choice because it has no commitment.

For time-limited price promotions, calculate two price phases as well. Example: CHF 19.90 for six months and CHF 39.90 thereafter. With a 24-month commitment, CHF 19.90 is not the relevant figure; use the average of both phases plus fees.

Which costs belong in the calculation?

Include at least these items:

• Monthly basic fee throughout the minimum contract term
• Activation, connection or setup fee
• Cost of a physical SIM card or eSIM if charged separately
• Price after a time-limited promotion ends
• Recurring options you genuinely need, such as additional roaming
• Foreseeable costs for calls or data outside the included allowance

You do not need to include purely hypothetical costs, such as high foreign-use charges in countries you never visit. You should still know about them so that an exceptional situation does not come as a surprise.

Minimum contract term: flexibility has value

A minimum contract term is not automatically bad. It can be worthwhile if the effective price is significantly lower and you do not intend to switch anyway. It does, however, restrict your flexibility.

This matters if your needs are likely to change:

• You may move abroad or live there temporarily.
• Your employer may provide a business phone in the future.
• Your usage pattern may change, for example because of more frequent travel.
• You may want to switch quickly when a better offer becomes available.
• You may be dissatisfied with network coverage or customer service.

Do not read only the minimum term; also check the rules for early cancellation. Depending on the contract, remaining fees, administration fees or other costs may apply. The conditions of the specific offer are decisive, not just the presentation on the offer page.

For example, yallo publishes its applicable contract rules in the General Terms and Conditions. Such documents are particularly important when taking out a heavily discounted promotional plan: look for sections on contract duration, cancellation, price changes, late payment and early termination. Offers and conditions can change, so the version valid when you sign up always applies.

How to assess a permanent discount correctly

A permanent discount can be more attractive than a cheap introductory price followed by an increase. It saves you from recalculating the cost after a promotion ends and makes monthly expenses easier to plan. Nevertheless, you should distinguish three points.

Does the discount really have no time limit?

Check whether an end date is stated. If there is none, review the footnotes and contract documents. An operator may also adjust prices or services under certain conditions. The contract terms state what rights you have in that situation.

What happens if you change tariff?

A discount may be tied to a specific plan. If you later switch to another offer, it may disappear. This matters if you need more data, better roaming services or a cheaper option in the medium term.

Do the included services remain the same?

Price is not the only factor. Check whether data in Switzerland is unlimited, whether there is a speed cap and which countries are included for roaming. A permanent discount is of little use if you then regularly need to buy paid data packages.

Always check the current services directly with the operator, for example on its mobile offers page. Do not rely on old price comparisons, screenshots or statements in forums.

Roaming: the most common reason for expensive additional costs

A Swiss mobile plan can be very cheap domestically and still be expensive abroad. Roaming rules are particularly important if you regularly travel to neighbouring countries, take holidays outside Europe or live near the border.

Before signing up, check these questions:

• Which countries are included in the roaming zone?
• How many GB of data are included abroad?
• Are calls from the country you are visiting to Switzerland included?
• Are incoming calls abroad included?
• What does additional data cost after the included allowance is used up?
• Does a fair-use rule apply, or is the speed reduced after a limit?
• What does roaming cost in countries outside the included zone?

“Europe” is not a uniform contractual definition. Depending on the operator, individual countries or territories may be classified differently. Check the specific country list, especially for trips to the Balkans, islands, British Overseas Territories or Turkey.

If you travel only rarely, an inexpensive domestic plan plus a travel package booked when needed may make more sense than an expensive plan with lots of unused roaming. For frequent travel, the opposite may be true. The right comparison takes your personal needs into account, not the maximum advertised allowance.

Clarify cancellation and number porting in advance

A plan is only truly flexible if you can also leave it without difficulty. Therefore check the cancellation notice period and possible cancellation date. Plans without a minimum term often still have a notice period. If you miss it, the contract may be extended by another period depending on the applicable rules.

To keep your existing number, you generally need number porting. You normally request this from the new operator. Important points:

• Enter your name, address and date of birth exactly as registered with your current operator.
• Check whether your current contract still has a minimum term or notice period.
• Do not cancel too early yourself if the new operator is handling porting and cancellation for you.
• Choose the desired transfer date carefully.
• Keep the porting confirmation.

Number porting is no reason to stay with an overpriced contract. It does, however, need to be timed to the end of your existing commitment. Allow enough time for the switch and read the new operator’s instructions.

Checklist before taking out a promotional mobile plan

Use this checklist before clicking “Order”:

• Check the price: Does the advertised monthly price apply permanently or only for a specific period?
• Calculate the effective price: Add monthly prices, activation fees and necessary options over the minimum term.
• Understand the commitment: Is there a minimum contract term? What does leaving early cost?
• Check the follow-up price: What price applies after the promotion ends?
• Compare roaming: Check countries, data allowance, calls and prices after the allowance is used.
• Check domestic services: Compare data volume, possible speed limits and calls.
• Read the cancellation terms: Note the notice period, cancellation date and process at the end of the contract.
• Plan porting: Confirm your details with the current operator and set the switch date.

Conclusion: the lowest monthly price is not always the cheapest plan

For a promotional plan, the total cost over the period for which you are committed is what matters. A permanent discount can provide predictable costs and flexibility. A 24-month commitment can nevertheless pay off if the price advantage, including fees, is large enough and you expect to use the plan for that long.

Therefore, never compare only the large number in the advertisement. Calculate the effective price, read the cancellation conditions and check roaming for your usual destinations. This way, you can find an offer in the mobile plan overview that not only looks cheap when you sign up, but also suits you in the long term.