Get informed about the expiry periods for prepaid mobile credits and inactive SIM cards used by Swiss mobile service providers in this guide.
Many prepaid mobile users are not aware of the fact that prepaid SIM cards are deactivated when they are not used for a long period of time. The balances of prepaid mobile accounts may also expire.
How do Swiss prepaid mobile providers define activity?
Most Swiss mobile service providers deactivate prepaid accounts if their users do not make use of prepaid services for one year.
Different mobile service providers define inactivity differently. The table below clearly shows what activities count towards keeping your prepaid mobile SIM card active (Yes), and which ones do not (No).
| Mobile service | Outgoing call or SMS |
Incoming call or SMS |
Mobile data |
Prepaid top-up |
Bundle purchase |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aldi Suisse Mobile | Yes | No | Yes | No | No |
| Coop Mobile | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Lebara | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Lidl Connect | Yes | Yes (calls only) | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| M-Budget | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Post Mobile | Yes | Yes (calls only) | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Salt | Yes | Yes (calls only) | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Sunrise | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Swisscom | Yes | No | Yes | No | Yes |
| Talktalk | Yes | Yes | No | No | No |
| Wingo | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Yallo | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Mucho uses a different system: Users can only receive phone calls and SMS messages if they have at least 1 franc of Mucho credit in their prepaid account. Your number is reactivated if you top up your prepaid credits within 60 days. It is worth noting that Mucho charges a 2-franc inactivity fee every month in which you do not use its services.
When are prepaid SIM cards deactivated and when do prepaid mobile credits expire?
Most mobile service providers only freeze inactive prepaid accounts initially. You get a grace period during which you can request to have your SIM reactivated and your prepaid account balance restored.
The table below lists the inactivity periods after which your SIM will be put on hold. It also lists the inactivity periods after which prepaid mobile credits expire.
| Mobile service | SIM card expiry | Prepaid credits expiry |
|---|---|---|
| Aldi Suisse Mobile | 12 months | 18 months |
| Coop Mobile | 12 months | 12 months |
| Lebara | 7 months | 12 months |
| Lidl Connect | 435 days | 435 days |
| M-Budget Mobile | 12 months | 12 months |
| Mucho Mobile | 60 days | 360 days |
| Post Mobile | 435 days | 435 days |
| Salt | 435 days | 435 days |
| Sunrise | 18 months (547 days) | 18 months (547 days) |
| Swisscom | 12 months | 12 months |
| Talktalk | 4 months | 4 months |
| Wingo | 12 months | 12 months |
| Yallo | 12 months | 18 months |
Do I need to worry about expiry periods?
Inactivity rules for prepaid mobile can pose a problem if:
Pay for your mobile plan in advance
This article is about classic prepaid accounts. With these offers, you first purchase credit. In Switzerland, however, there are now also mobile plans where you pay in advance without purchasing credit.
This applies to the Sunrise brand Swype. At Digital Republic, you can pay for a mobile phone subscription for a whole year in advance if you wish. For both offers, you can pay by debit card, credit card or Twint.
More on this topic:
Compare Swiss prepaid mobile offers and mobile plans now
Guide to topping-up Swiss prepaid mobile accounts
Swiss prepaid mobile questions and answers
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