SBB FreeSurf

Schweizerische Bundesbahnen SBB

About this app

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from the train or switching off the connection, you will receive a message stating that free internet access is no longer active.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.

https://www.sbb.ch/en/station-services/during-your-journey/on-board-service/freesurf.html

Ratings and reviews

Utter garbage. Previous versions worked intermittently. The new one (with all possible permissions, on an IR train which it claims to work on) simply says "connection could not be established" all the time. Why would you spend public money and waste people's time developing such an elaborately complicated app that does nothing useful for anyone? People should be fired until this app is retired.

This is one of the most swiss solution I've seen in a while : Ridiculously over-complicated while technologically unsound. App needs Bluetooth plus location plus data usage. You'd better not forget your charger.... It's completely asinine. Tailored to one use case. It excludes anyone with a laptop, a mobile device running a less popular os and tablets without a sim card. You'd be better off doing nothing. On the bright side, the app works well.

Why even bother trying? Didn't expect it to work and, oh what a surprize, it didn't work! C'mon we have working WiFi in United Airlines airplanes, thousands of feet over the ocean and it aint possible to get a working internet connection on Swiss trains?! Not even to mention that IF the app worked, laptops, tablets, older phones, etc etc. wouldn't be able to use it. Even the german DB has it. And that's only one of the downsides of swiss trains.... Update: Actually seems to work...👍

What's new

• General bug fixes