Salt vs Swisscom: Complete Comparison and Network & Plan Review
When comparing Salt and Swisscom, two major Swiss mobile network providers take center stage. Swisscom operates one of the most extensively developed mobile networks in Switzerland, covering 4G, 4G+, 5G, and 5G+ standards.
Salt also operates its own network and offers very high coverage and performance. However, it lags slightly behind Swisscom in terms of overall coverage and network expansion. The third Swiss network provider is Sunrise. All three—Swisscom, Sunrise, and Salt—offer good network quality, though there are some minor differences.
The goal of this article is to help you find the right provider and the right mobile plan based on your usage behavior, needs, and budget.
Swisscom vs Salt: Prices, Features, and Value for Money in Mobile Plans
This section is not about declaring one provider better or worse, but rather about showing how their approaches differ in pricing, included services, customer support, and additional options. This allows you to decide for yourself which provider best matches your usage habits.
In independent tests (e.g., by connect or Chip), Swisscom regularly receives top ratings. Salt usually ranks just slightly behind. These tests confirm that both Swisscom and Salt are among the best mobile providers in Switzerland.
Swisscom positions itself as a premium provider with very high network coverage, stable 5G performance, and a wide range of additional services such as extended roaming, multi-device options, and TV bundles. It is particularly well suited for demanding users and customers with high data usage and service expectations.
More about Swisscom
Salt stands out with competitive pricing, generous data allowances, and extensive roaming options. Many plans offer strong performance at a comparatively lower price point, making Salt especially attractive for heavy data users, frequent travelers, and price-conscious customers.
More about Salt
Overview of Mobile Plan Details
The following table provides an overview of how the mobile networks of Swisscom and Salt compare:
| Category | Swisscom | Salt |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Price level | High | Medium to low |
| 📦 Data volume | Generous, often unlimited in higher plans | Often unlimited in CH / CH+EU, flexible add-on packages |
| 📄 Contract duration | 12–24 months | Often flexible, promotional offers available |
| 🎁 Additional services | Bundle packages (mobile + TV + internet) | TV + home/internet bundles available |
| 🤝 Customer service | Extensive (phone, shops, online), often ranked #1 in tests | Digital support, hotline, retail stores |
| 📶 Coverage & performance | Very high coverage & top-tier network | High coverage, slightly behind Swisscom |
Both network operators offer a wide range of mobile and bundle plans. Swisscom tends to have a higher base price level but includes more features and add-on services. Salt is often more attractively priced, especially for flexible, unlimited data plans or promotional deals.
For a comprehensive comparison, you can check out the mobile plan comparison on alao, where you’ll find all Swisscom and Salt plans available in Switzerland.
You can easily mark your favorites with a heart icon and compare all plan details at your own pace. Once you’ve found the right plan, you can switch online in just a few minutes. The modern alao service eliminates paperwork and makes signing up for a new plan quick and simple.
Which Mobile Provider Suits Which Swiss User?
There is no single “best” Swiss provider or mobile plan. The right choice depends on your usage behavior and personal needs. We’ve analyzed the most important user groups below.
Heavy Data Users: Streaming, Gaming, and Video
For power users who rely heavily on their smartphones, Swisscom offers very large data packages, often combined with premium service features and bundle options. Swisscom holds a slight edge in this category due to its comprehensive service approach, as confirmed by independent telecom experts. In connect tests, Swisscom frequently ranks slightly ahead and is often named the best Swiss provider in terms of service.
Salt’s unlimited data plans with high speeds in Switzerland (5G / 5G+) are ideal for data-intensive usage. These plans are often a few percent cheaper than comparable Swisscom plans.
Frequent Travelers / Commuters
Many Swisscom plans include EU roaming, along with a wide range of add-ons for data and calls worldwide.
With Salt, roaming packages vary by plan, ranging from small international data bundles to comprehensive roaming packages with large data volumes and many included minutes.
Budget-Conscious Users
Salt often offers lower entry prices for Swiss mobile plans with unlimited data within Switzerland and optional add-ons. Swisscom is generally more expensive but includes broader service offerings and larger plan bundles. Swisscom also tends to lead slightly in terms of innovation.
Light Users
Both providers offer entry-level plans and smaller data packages—ideal for occasional social media use, messaging, and light streaming.
Mobile Plan Comparison: Key Differences Between Providers in 2026
Network coverage in Switzerland plays a major role when choosing a mobile plan. Customers also pay attention to the following factors:
| Service category | Swisscom | Salt |
|---|---|---|
| 🌐 Internet performance | Very high coverage, up to 1–2 Gbit/s (5G+) | Up to approx. 1.7 Gbit/s (5G+ areas) |
| 📶 Mobile coverage | Excellent coverage, including rural areas | High coverage, slightly behind Swisscom in some metrics |
| 📺 TV & bundle packages | Extensive bundles (landline, TV, internet) | Bundles available, often with lower entry prices |
| ⚡ Activation time | Slightly longer activation process | Usually fast and fully digital |
| 🤝 Customer service | Phone support, retail shops, and online services | Hotline and online support, strong digital focus |
| 🧾 Billing | Very detailed billing with high transparency | Clear and often simpler billing structure |
Billing & Transparency – Practical Examples
Swisscom invoices are often very detailed and offer extensive breakdowns, which many users find helpful.
Salt invoices tend to be clearer and more streamlined—ideal for users who prefer a quick overview without excessive detail.
Swisscom vs Salt: Provider Rating Overview
The following table illustrates how both providers compare in key categories:
| Provider | Network quality | Value for money | Service | Flexibility |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Swisscom | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐ |
| Salt | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
Quick summary: Swisscom continues to top many network tests and is widely regarded as the best network in Switzerland, ahead of Salt and Sunrise. Salt also achieves solid results and often offers better value for money for many users.
Salt & Swisscom: Swiss Network Coverage Comparison
Both providers use modern 4G/5G infrastructure and achieve very high nationwide coverage:
- Swisscom covers over 99.9% of the population with 5G and 4G/LTE.
- Salt also reaches over 99.9% 4G coverage and offers 5G speeds of up to 1.7 Gbit/s in many areas.
This ensures fast and reliable mobile internet and calling even with Switzerland’s third-largest network provider.
Regional Coverage Differences Within Switzerland
Both Swisscom and Salt continuously expand their modern networks. Some subtle regional differences remain:
- Urban areas: Excellent coverage and stable speeds from both providers
- Suburban areas: Swisscom slightly stronger at the edges, Salt very stable
- Highways: Both networks are very well developed
- Rural regions: Swisscom has a slight advantage, especially in 5G+ expansion
Competitive Network Tests: Salt vs Swisscom Speed Scores
Because both providers use modern 5G technology, their speed scores are relatively close, with measurable but modest differences:
| Metric | Swisscom | Salt |
|---|---|---|
| 🚀 Overall speed score | approx. 130.9 | approx. 108.1 |
| ⬇️ Avg. download speed | approx. 71.4 Mbps | approx. 57.0 Mbps |
| ⬆️ Avg. upload speed | approx. 17.6 Mbps | approx. 15.5 Mbps |
| 🎬 Video experience score | approx. 69–71 points | approx. 66–68 points |
| 📺 Typical video quality | Full HD / stable | Full HD / stable |
| ⏳ Buffering / dropouts | Very rare | Rare |
| 🎮 Avg. latency (ping) | approx. 28–30 ms | approx. 32–35 ms |
| 🕹️ Gaming experience | Very good | Good to very good |
| 📞 Voice app experience | approx. 83–85 points | approx. 80–82 points |
| 💬 Video call stability | Very high | High |
Swisscom showed higher average download and upload speeds in several independent measurements, especially in urban areas such as Zurich or Bern.
Salt remains competitive in many categories but tends to trail slightly in peak and consistency values. These differences are noticeable but not dramatic and depend heavily on location, plan, and device.
User Perspectives on Swisscom and Salt
Swisscom is widely regarded as a premium network with high stability, particularly in rural areas or on trains. Users frequently praise its service quality, network reliability, and roaming options—while also noting its higher prices.
Salt is often perceived as significantly more affordable, especially for unlimited data plans and bundle offers.
Final Comparison & Conclusion
Both providers are strong choices in Switzerland. The best option depends on how you prioritize mobile internet usage, roaming, service, and price.
Swisscom is ideal if you want top-tier network quality, the best coverage nationwide, and an extensive service ecosystem (e.g., roaming, bundle packages). Users particularly value features like a dedicated email address and cybersecurity-related services.
Salt offers excellent value for money, especially for users who want a lot of data at fair prices and place less emphasis on premium service extras.
| Comparison point | Swisscom | Salt |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Price | High | Medium to low |
| 🎯 Ideal for | Premium network, heavy users, families | Budget-conscious & data-heavy users |
| 📦 Data volume | Generous & 5G+ available | Unlimited & flexible |
| 🌍 Roaming | Extensive options | Good, partly via add-ons |
| 📶 Network quality / coverage | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| 🤝 Service & support | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Broad | ⭐⭐⭐ Digital & hotline |
| 🔄 Flexibility | ⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
By the way, both providers also offer home internet plans. In our internet plan comparison, you’re sure to find a suitable option for fast browsing and streaming at home.
