Swisscom and Sunrise dominate the Swiss mobile market. Both providers are so close in network tests that the choice is difficult – but it is not irrelevant. Depending on usage behaviour and budget, there is a clear favourite.
Network Quality: Who Wins the Tests?
The annual network test by the German specialist magazine Connect is considered the benchmark for Swiss mobile quality. In the 2025 test, Swisscom won for the eighth consecutive time with 983 out of 1000 points. Sunrise follows with 975 points, Salt with 972. All three providers received the top rating "outstanding."
Even more interesting is the look at the individual categories: In voice and data, Swisscom and Sunrise are practically neck and neck. The difference is mainly seen in the train segment, where Swisscom performs slightly better. For gaming with high latency requirements, the picture changes: Sunrise wins in the "High-end Gaming" discipline, while Swisscom only ranks third here.
The Chip network test shows a similar picture. Swisscom leads the overall ranking with a grade of 1.07 and wins in all three categories: mobile internet, telephony, and 5G availability. Sunrise follows with a grade of 1.20, overtaking Salt in internet and 5G areas but showing minor weaknesses in telephony.
5G Expansion: Swisscom Ahead, Sunrise Catching Up
For fast 5G on band N78, which enables downloads over 1 Gbit/s, Swisscom leads with 71.4 percent coverage, followed by Sunrise with 67.9 percent. For comparison: German Telekom achieves only 28 percent on this band – Switzerland plays in a different league.
In large cities, Swisscom reaches almost 99 percent 5G coverage, Sunrise over 97 percent. Those mainly active in urban areas will notice no practical difference. In rural areas and on mountain routes, Swisscom slightly extends its lead.
Everyday Speed
In everyday performance – i.e., whether a connection is sufficient for normal surfing and streaming – Swisscom achieves a rate of 99.9 percent, Sunrise close behind at 99.0 percent. In the mobile network comparison, this difference is hardly noticeable for most users.
Those who regularly transfer large files or use a laptop via hotspot should look at peak values: 93.3 percent of all downloads on the Swisscom network reach over 100 Mbit/s – for Sunrise, it is 76.1 percent. Swisscom has a measurable advantage here.
Prices: Sunrise Cheaper, Swisscom More Expensive but More Comprehensive
The price relationship reverses. For light users, Sunrise offers the "Swiss Connect Lite" tariff for CHF 34.90 per month with unlimited calls and SMS plus 6 GB data with 5G. Swisscom charges CHF 39.90 per month for a comparable offer in the "Basic Mobile S" tariff with 5 GB data.
For heavy users with EU roaming needs, the difference is even greater: Sunrise offers "Swiss Connect Europe+" from CHF 44.90 per month with unlimited data and calls in Switzerland and 44 European countries. Swisscom offers a comparable flat rate for Switzerland and the EU with "Blue Mobile M" from CHF 69.90.
| Tariff | Provider | Price/Mo. | Data CH | Roaming |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Swiss Connect Lite | Sunrise | CHF 34.90 | 6 GB | 100 MB / 10 Min. EU |
| Basic Mobile S | Swisscom | CHF 39.90 | 5 GB | no |
| Swiss Connect Europe+ | Sunrise | CHF 44.90 | unlimited | EU unlimited |
| Blue Mobile M | Swisscom | CHF 69.90 | unlimited | EU unlimited |
Those who want to save money without sacrificing network quality can also turn to discount providers: providers like Wingo use the Swisscom network, Yallo and Quickline the Sunrise network – at significantly lower prices.
Who Should Choose Which Network?
Swisscom is suitable if you travel a lot by train, often need to be mobile in rural or alpine areas, or if maximum reliability is more important than price.
Sunrise is the better choice if you mainly live and work in cities, are looking for cheaper subscriptions with good value, or regularly travel in Europe. In the mobile provider comparison, Sunrise wins in six out of seven user profiles in 2026 – primarily thanks to better tariffs with comparable network quality.
Those still undecided should also check whether a combined subscription with an internet connection makes sense. Swisscom and Sunrise offer attractive discounts for customers bundling multiple services. An up-to-date overview of all providers can be found in the internet and mobile comparison.
