Sunrise Changes Its Data Roaming Prices

Switzerland’s second-largest telecom company is changing its pricing for annual roaming data bundles just in time for this year’s Easter holidays.

Europe: Mid-range bundle now has three gigabytes

The second-largest Swiss telecom company is changing its mid-sized roaming data bundle for Europe, the US, and Canada from April 11, 2025 – shortly before Easter. This bundle now comes with three gigabytes of data instead of two. But the revised bundle also costs 24.90 francs – five francs more than it did previously. The small bundle (500 megabytes for 9.90 francs) and the large bundle (6 gigabytes for 49.90 francs) remain unchanged.

Depending on how much data you use, the cost of roaming may remain the same, or cost less or more than it did until now.

More gigabytes for the same price

Sunrise is doubling the data allowances included in its mid-sized and large roaming data bundles for its A zone. This zone includes many popular European holiday destinations outside of the EU, including Balkan regions like Albania, Kosovo, North Macedonia, and Serbia. It also includes countries like Australia, Brazil, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, Egypt, New Zealand, Peru, South Africa, Thailand, Tunisia, and Vietnam.

The mid-sized bundle for this zone now costs 39.90 francs, and includes four gigabytes of data, instead of the previous two gigabytes. The large bundle now costs 59.90 francs, and includes 10 gigabytes instead of just five. The small bundle remains unchanged, at 14.90 francs for 500 megabytes.

Depending on how much data you need, the cost of roaming in this zone may be the same as before, or it may be cheaper if you need a lot of data.

Lower prices after changes to zones

On April 23, 2025, 20 countries that were previously in Sunrise’s D zone, or no zone at all, will be reclassified to a cheaper zone. That will result in much lower prices for roaming in those countries. Using one gigabyte of data while roaming in countries for which no data bundle is available would hypothetically cost 15,600 francs, as per Sunrise’s price list. Now, one gigabyte of roaming data for some of these countries will cost as little as 6 francs. It is fair to note, though, that roaming is typically deactivated once your roaming bill reaches an amount between 50 and 500 francs.

Overview of price changes for data roaming in different countries

The prices shown are the price per gigabyte that apply once a data bundle has been exhausted.

* No data bundles have been available for these countries until now. The cost shown is based on the standard roaming fee of 15.60 francs per megabyte, which translates into 15,600 francs per gigabyte.

Comparison with other service providers

A comparison of data roaming prices for EU countries shows that for amounts of up to six gigabytes of data, Swisscom is cheaper in some cases, while Sunrise is cheaper in others. For more than six gigabytes of roaming data, Swisscom is always cheaper than Sunrise. Salt is almost always more expensive than both Swisscom and Sunrise. Spusu, on the other hand, is always substantially cheaper than all three big operators. The Austrian mobile service provider charges 0.4 euros per megabyte, which translates into 4 francs per gigabyte.

Comparison with other service providers

A comparison of data roaming prices for EU countries shows that for amounts of up to six gigabytes of data, Swisscom is cheaper in some cases, while Sunrise is cheaper in others. For more than six gigabytes of roaming data, Swisscom is always cheaper than Sunrise. Salt is almost always more expensive than both Swisscom and Sunrise. Spusu, on the other hand, is always substantially cheaper than all three big operators. The Austrian mobile service provider charges 0.4 euros per megabyte, which translates into 4 francs per gigabyte. 

Comparing prices for non-EU countries is more difficult because each mobile service provider groups countries into zones differently. So prices are specific to individual countries.

Here are a few examples:

• Comparing prices is relatively easy for certain countries, including Balkan countries like Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Serbia, and other destinations like Egypt, the Philippines, and South Korea. For up to five gigabytes of roaming data per year, the cost is similar with Swisscom and Sunrise, with one or the other being cheaper depending on how much data you need. For more than five gigabytes, Sunrise is cheaper than Swisscom. Salt is much more expensive. While 10 gigabytes will cost you 60 francs with Sunrise and 70 francs with Swisscom, Salt already charges 60 francs for a small 400 megabyte roaming bundle.
• A comparison of 20 non-European countries – including Argentina, Australia, India, Japan, Mexico, and Peru – reveals a similar pattern for both Swisscom and Sunrise. Salt, on the other hand, is much cheaper in this region, but still much more expensive than both Swisscom and Sunrise. 10 gigabytes of roaming data for these countries costs 60 francs with Sunrise, 70 francs with Swisscom, and 150 francs with Salt. For a few countries – such as El Salvador, Kenya, and Cambodia – Sunrise can be cheaper than Swisscom, depending on how much data you need. One gigabyte of roaming data in these countries costs around 30 francs with Sunrise and 50 francs with Swisscom. The price difference is much bigger for 10 gigabytes, with Sunrise charging 60 francs and Swisscom charging 500 francs.
• Roaming in Algeria and Azerbaijan, on the other hand, is cheaper with Swisscom. One gigabyte of roaming data for these countries costs 20 francs with Swisscom and 140 francs with Sunrise. 10 gigabytes costs 70 francs with Swisscom and nearly 1400 francs with Sunrise.

Sunrise now offers its customers 10 gigabytes of roaming data for over 110 countries at under 100 francs. Swisscom offers that amount of data for less than 100 francs in more than 130 countries.

Conclusion by moneyland.ch telecom expert Ralf Beyeler

It is a shame that the cost of data roaming in Europe with Sunrise will go up in many cases. Depending on how much data you need, you may have to pay five francs more than you did previously. To be fair though, the changes can also result in you paying up to 15 francs less, depending on how much data you need.

It is the second change that is more important. Thanks to the redistribution of Sunrise’s roaming zones, larger amounts of data are now available at reasonable prices. One can only assume that most customers would hardly use mobile roaming when the price tag is 15.60 francs per megabyte. Many would opt for using a third-party travel eSIM or a local SIM instead. Now that Sunrise customers can get one gigabyte of roaming data for 30 francs and 10 gigabytes for 60 francs, they are more likely to just add a Sunrise roaming bundle.