Salt reviews: are the mobile plans of Switzerland's rising challenger any good?

With a score of 4.4, Salt's investment in its 5G network is clearly paying off. The provider has improved and densified its 5G coverage considerably. Its rates are very competitive, and the plans with roaming options suit frequent travellers perfectly. Salt offers very good value for money, especially with its deals for use abroad.

This ranking comes from our own rating system. An AI-assisted analysis checks our data against several criteria, including price, network performance, roaming and customer service. That gives you a fair and independent assessment.

Yes, and by a wide margin. For years Salt had a less flattering reputation than Swisscom or Sunrise for coverage and reliability. The provider tackled this head on, with heavy investment in antennas and the 5G rollout. Independent tests now rate the Salt network very highly, from "very good" to "excellent", and you can feel the improvement in everyday use. Compare Salt with Swisscom today and you will quickly see that the real gap has little in common with the one of a few years ago.

In cities, urban areas and along the major transport routes, a Salt mobile plan now gives a very convincing experience. Bandwidth is excellent, 5G connections are fast, and the comfort matches that of a large Swiss operator. For typical use, a Salt phone plan covers almost every need without any notable restrictions. In some very remote Alpine regions the difference from Swisscom may still show. For most users, especially in inhabited areas, the Salt network has become a genuine premium network.

With Salt, the gap between online ratings and shop ratings is unusually wide. On platforms such as Trustpilot the operator sits at a very low 1.2/5, while many physical Salt stores shine on Google Maps with 4.7/5. People who post criticism online have usually run into something concrete, such as cancellation fees they found too high, silent contract renewals or billing errors. That frustration is legitimate and deserves to be taken seriously.

It helps to look at the scale. Salt serves a great many customers every day, and at that volume some mishaps are unavoidable. For those affected they are still very annoying. Online platforms also attract complaints more readily, because people go there looking for help or to be heard. The picture therefore does not reflect the whole experience.

In the shops it works differently: issues are discussed in person and often solved on the spot, and some customers then leave a rating on Google Maps straight away. Both pictures have their merit. What matters for you is telling small everyday annoyances apart from real, structural weaknesses, such as recurring billing errors or support that is permanently hard to reach. So read the contract terms carefully before you sign.

The customer area and the MySalt app are very well done: you can manage plans, bills and roaming options online with ease and no waiting.

Unlike low-cost providers, Salt has a phone helpline that is 100% free (0800 700 700). Customer service is organised as a hybrid: head office and technical support are based in Switzerland (in Prilly and Biel), but a large share of calls from private customers is handled abroad, notably in Portugal. If you prefer to go in person, you will find plenty of physical Salt stores across Switzerland.

Pros: very intuitive online management, a free phone helpline and a network of shops for face-to-face contact.

Con: because part of the calls is outsourced abroad, the quality of phone support can sometimes be uneven.

It is an ideal compromise if you want very competitive prices and free support, and can live with customer service not being based entirely in Switzerland.

What you really need to watch with a Salt mobile plan is not the network but the contract. Salt adjusts its contract terms regularly, so you will find plans with 1 month (no commitment), 12 months or even 24 months. Look closely when you sign up. If you compare Salt and Swisscom on the displayed price alone, you must also factor in contractual flexibility, because a Salt phone plan often asks for longer loyalty in return for the best conditions.

Once the minimum term has ended, you can cancel with 60 days' notice to the end of a month. The principle is simple but takes some forward planning. If you want to keep maximum flexibility, make sure you read this point before signing. If your priority is a good network and a Salt plan that stays competitive over time, you can usually live with this restriction.

The pros:

Salt has played an important historical role in bringing down mobile prices across Switzerland. Its 5G network is now excellent, with very strong coverage in cities, conurbations and along the major transport routes. It also has its own infrastructure: the plan runs on Salt's own antennas, with no network rented from third parties. Keeping your number is easy, the operator handles it completely, and it costs you nothing. For active users who want a large national operator, a Salt phone plan is a solid alternative to Swisscom. And if you travel regularly, the international offers often include very well equipped plans.

The cons:

Plans taken out during promotional periods often carry a minimum term of 24 months. The 60-day notice period is mandatory and has to be planned for the end of a month. Overall the model is less flexible than some alternatives on the market that offer plans with no minimum term at all. In the high mountains coverage is limited: in some very remote Alpine regions it can still lag slightly behind Swisscom. And the contract terms are strict. Read the contract carefully before signing, since the attractive price is often tied to a minimum term.

Salt is an excellent Swiss operator with plenty of roaming solutions in Europe and beyond. For urban, active users who want a high-level network without paying the full Swisscom price, a Salt mobile plan is now a very solid option. On network quality, Salt has clearly taken a leap forward. Compare the plans above and keep an eye on the contract term.