Mobile Plans for Young People: 8 Pointers for Better Deals

Smartphones play a central role in the lives of many teenagers and young adults, and using a smartphone requires a mobile plan or prepaid service. Here, we list the points which you as a teen or young adult should pay attention to when choosing a mobile plan.

1. Compare unlimited plans with flat monthly fees

If you are like most young people, you probably use your phone quite intensively – and you probably stream video and music. Swiss telecom service providers offer special flat-rate plans for customers who use Internet a lot. These plans let you use the Internet as much as you want to in Switzerland.

The downside of flat-fee plans is their price. If you have a tight personal budget, the high cost of plans with unlimited Internet can pose a problem. After all, you might still be too tied down to a school desk or an apprenticeship to earn that kind of money. Most unlimited plans also include unlimited phone calls and SMS messages within Switzerland. If you do all your communicating online – as many young people do – you are paying for services which you rarely or never actually use.

2. Compare limited mobile plans

Many Swiss mobile plans and prepaid offers only include a limited amount of data in their flat fees, instead of unlimited data. Typically, these offers include between one and several gigabytes of data per month. On the upside, these plans are generally cheaper than unlimited mobile plans.

That makes them a more affordable option for the less-well-heeled young person. It is also true if you use the Internet a lot, because there are plenty of places where you can use high-speed Internet via WLAN for free. Another good reason to use WLAN whenever possible is that it does not drain your battery the way mobile Internet does. If you live with your parents, you can always tap their Internet connection when you are home.

3. Plans advertised to young people are not necessarily the cheapest

Swisscom, Sunrise and Salt all advertise special plans for young people which have extra features and discounted price tags. Depending on the mobile service provider, plans may include access to music streaming services or let you buy an SBB Half-Fare card at a special price.

Swisscom offers these plans to young people up to age 26. You can use Sunrise and Salt “youth” plans until you turn 30. As soon as you get past the age limit, the extra features go and the price tags shoot up.

Important: Special offers for young people are often not the most affordable options available. Many smaller mobile service providers in particular have regular “adult” plans which are much cheaper than the “youth” plans offered by bigger providers.

When you use the interactive mobile plan comparison on moneyland.ch, just select the “Show youth offers” option to include young-people-only plans in the comparison.

4. Keep your eyes peeled for special offers

Switzerland is currently ablaze with special offers or “promotions” as mobile providers prefer to call them. These are typically only accessible to new customers – both young and old – and often knock 40%, 50% or even more off standard price tags.

These promotions are normally only offered for a very short amount of time, but there are constantly new offers coming out. Comparing special offers regularly is the best way to make sure you are always getting the most for your money. 

5. Use plans which protect you from cost pitfalls

Let’s face it, most young people aren’t exactly rolling in dough. You probably don't have tons of extra money floating around for nasty, unexpected bills. That makes protection against financial pitfalls all the more important. Some plans automatically block mobile Internet when your data has run out instead of just quietly letting you browse or stream your way into the hole. Some let you continue using the Internet for free, but at despicably slow speeds (still fast enough for messaging).

6. Use prepaid offers

Using prepaid is the best way to avoid ugly financial surprises because you can never be charged money you do not have. It can also help you learn to budget both your money and your data allowances.

7. Watch out when traveling

Be cautious when using mobile data outside of Switzerland. If you are used to unlimited mobile data – like many young people in Switzerland are – it can be very easy to continue that lifestyle when traveling. The problem is that data roaming – using the Internet outside of Switzerland with your Swiss SIM – is a minefield of potential booby traps just waiting to rip you off sideways.

If you just switch on your smartphone and use it the way you do in Switzerland without first signing up for a roaming option, you could get straddled with hundreds of francs in roaming charges.

8. Buy cheap phones

Your mobile plan is an ongoing cost, but it can pale in comparison to the cost of buying a phone. Sure, it may be “cool” to have the most expensive iPhone or Samsung. The problem is, those companies know that, so they charge exorbitant prices for them. The fact is, you can get a phone that does (almost) all of what those phones do for a fraction of the price. Powerful phones are available brand new from 250 francs.

If you value the coolness factor, why not buy a used high-end phone. Second-hand is also a good choice if you just want cheap. There are plenty of being offered cheap online. Or you may have friends or relatives who are happy to pass on their old phones when they upgrade.

Whatever you do, avoid getting a phone as part of a mobile plan. The deals offered by many mobile services which give you a free or nearly-free phone if you sign up to a mobile plan are generally bad deals because the mobile plans you have to sign up for are expensive and binding.

More on this topic:
Compare mobile plans including youth offers online now
Get useful pointers on mobile plans for students here