SBB FreeSurf

Name: SBB FreeSurf
Rating: 1.1 (30 reviews)
Author: SBB AG

Free Internet

Free

30 Ratings
Ages

4+
Years
Category

Travel
Developer

SBB AG
Language

EN
+ 3 More
Size

55.2
MB

Internet access free of charge from the app. SBB FreeSurf is available on all SBB long-distance trains (IC and IR). SBB FreeSurf is based on the excellent mobile phone coverage along the Swiss rail routes – passengers can benefit from a faster and smoother internet connection with more bandwidth than you get with conventional train Wi-Fi. Customers with a digitec, Quickline, Salt (Das Abo, GoMo, Lidl Connect are included), Sunrise or Swisscom mobile phone contract can surf the internet for free with die SBB FreeSurf app. Passengers from abroad will be able to surf the internet for free with a SIM card (also eSIM) from a mobile phone provider participating in SBB FreeSurf. Trains with a free internet connection are marked with ‘FS’ (for FreeSurf) in the online timetable. When boarding the train, the customers can open the SBB FreeSurf app. Automatic recognition takes place using a beacon. After registering successfully, the customers will receive an SMS text confirming that they can surf for free via their mobile phone provider. When alighting from the train or switching off the connection, you will receive a message stating that free internet access is no longer active. We only need customers to provide the mobile number to be used for registration.

Ratings & Reviews

1.1

out of 5

30 Ratings

Don’t bother if you don’t have a Swiss numbers
08/29/2024

EstherM@
If you are aboard with eSim(data only) don’t bother to download since it only accepts swiss number when register as the first step. Even if you do have eSim with voice, you need to have a swiss number. Free wifi offering should be straightforward and works for any one whether is local or aboard. Such a big railway company can’t figure out how to make the process simple is a shame!!

Developer Response
Passengers from abroad can browse the web for free using a SIM card from a participating provider. This is relatively easy thanks to eSIM and DUAL-SIM. You can find all information at sbb.ch/en/freesurf.
Don’t bother if you don’t have a Swiss numbers
08/29/2024

EstherM@

If you are aboard with eSim(data only) don’t bother to download since it only accepts swiss number when register as the first step. Even if you do have eSim with voice, you need to have a swiss number. Free wifi offering should be straightforward and works for any one whether is local or aboard. Such a big railway company can’t figure out how to make the process simple is a shame!!
Developer Response 09/03/2024
Passengers from abroad can browse the web for free using a SIM card from a participating provider. This is relatively easy thanks to eSIM and DUAL-SIM. You can find all information at sbb.ch/en/freesurf.
It is not free for tourists
11/28/2024

Abb1919
This is such a gimmick and scam. They will only offer free wifi if you buy eSIM from a selected swiss telecom companies. Most big companies have unlimited data plans within Switzerland so there is no point of saying that you offer free wifi on the trains. Shameful to falsely advertise this service for tourist by the one of the biggest train company. France trains for example have “truly free” wifi on long journey trains.

Developer Response
Travellers with a foreign telephone number can surf for free on the train with a SIM card from a participating provider. Thanks to eSIM and DUAL-SIM, this is comparatively easy. We opted for SBB FreeSurf because SBB FreeSurf offers better quality than WiFi. You can find all information about SBB FreeSurf at www.sbb.ch/en/freesurf
It is not free for tourists
11/28/2024

Abb1919

This is such a gimmick and scam. They will only offer free wifi if you buy eSIM from a selected swiss telecom companies. Most big companies have unlimited data plans within Switzerland so there is no point of saying that you offer free wifi on the trains. Shameful to falsely advertise this service for tourist by the one of the biggest train company. France trains for example have “truly free” wifi on long journey trains.
Developer Response 12/10/2024
Travellers with a foreign telephone number can surf for free on the train with a SIM card from a participating provider. Thanks to eSIM and DUAL-SIM, this is comparatively easy. We opted for SBB FreeSurf because SBB FreeSurf offers better quality than WiFi. You can find all information about SBB FreeSurf at www.sbb.ch/en/freesurf
Doesn’t work for USA phone numbers
12/07/2023

The sweLhead
There’s no way to register unless you have a Swiss phone number. They claim it works with eSIM but there’s nothing to do and it’s all dependent on a SMS confirmation. Don’t bother if you’re American. Just buy a travel plan through your provider at home. 5G works well almost everywhere.

Developer Response
Passengers from abroad can browse the web for free using a SIM card from a participating provider. This is relatively easy thanks to eSIM and DUAL-SIM. You can find all information at sbb.ch/en/freesurf
Doesn’t work for USA phone numbers
12/07/2023

The sweLhead

There’s no way to register unless you have a Swiss phone number. They claim it works with eSIM but there’s nothing to do and it’s all dependent on a SMS confirmation. Don’t bother if you’re American. Just buy a travel plan through your provider at home. 5G works well almost everywhere.
Developer Response 12/22/2023
Passengers from abroad can browse the web for free using a SIM card from a participating provider. This is relatively easy thanks to eSIM and DUAL-SIM. You can find all information at sbb.ch/en/freesurf
Doesn’t work with US phone numbers
08/24/2024

Anon123123123123
If you have a U.S. phone, don’t bother with this. They say you can just get a SIM card from a participating provider or whatever, but that kind of ruins the whole “free” wifi thing, doesn’t it?

Developer Response
It is correct that you pay a one-off fee for the SIM or eSIM, but you also have a credit balance or a flat rate. And you can use SBB FreeSurf for free on the train, during and end credit balance or after flat rate. You can find all information on www.sbb.ch/en/freesurf.
Doesn’t work with US phone numbers
08/24/2024

Anon123123123123

If you have a U.S. phone, don’t bother with this. They say you can just get a SIM card from a participating provider or whatever, but that kind of ruins the whole “free” wifi thing, doesn’t it?
Developer Response 09/03/2024
It is correct that you pay a one-off fee for the SIM or eSIM, but you also have a credit balance or a flat rate. And you can use SBB FreeSurf for free on the train, during and end credit balance or after flat rate. You can find all information on www.sbb.ch/en/freesurf.