Mobile plan for children: Worauf Eltern achten sollten

From what age does a child need their own mobile plan?

There's no fixed age limit — in Switzerland, most children get their first own phone between 10 and 12 years old, often when moving up to secondary school, as the way to school and free time become more independent. Many parents want to be able to reach their child while out and about, and that's exactly what a own number is needed for.

Wichtiger als die Zahl auf dem Geburtstagskuchen ist die Reife: Kann dein Kind Verantwortung für ein Gerät übernehmen? Versteht es, dass Videos und Apps Daten verbrauchen und dass man persönliche Informationen nicht mit Fremden teilt? Wenn du diese Fragen mit Ja beantwortest, ist der Zeitpunkt gekommen — unabhängig davon, was die Klassenkameraden haben.

At the start, the plan can be small. Children make few calls and are usually on WLAN both at home and at school. A few GB is almost always enough in the first year — you can upgrade with practically any provider at any time, but downgrading is often harder.

Prepaid oder Abo: Was passt besser für Kinder?

Both models have their merits — the choice depends on age and usage behaviour. Prepaid is the classic entry-level solution: you can only spend what you've topped up beforehand, a nasty billing surprise is practically excluded. However, minutes and data are often more expensive in the prepaid model, and regularly topping up is annoying in everyday life — at the latest when the balance runs out at exactly the wrong moment.

A cheap plan with a fixed data package makes sense from the moment your child uses the phone daily. You pay a predictable fixed amount, don't need to top up anything, and get significantly more performance per franc. Which model generally performs better is shown in our comprehensive comparison Prepaid or plan.

Kostenkontrolle: So bleibt die Rechnung planbar

The most important principle: choose a plan with a limited data allowance instead of unlimited. Once the allowance is used up, the child's internet slows down or stops working altogether — but no additional costs arise, and as a side effect, screen time is naturally limited too.

• Deliberately choose a small data package: A few GB per month is enough for most children. Our guide explains how to realistically estimate the need How many GB do I need?
• Mehrwertdienste sperren lassen: Klingelton-Abos, Gewinnspiele und Premium-SMS lassen sich beim Anbieter kostenlos blockieren — unbedingt gleich beim Abschluss erledigen.
• In-App-Käufe absichern: Käufe im App Store und Play Store nur mit deinem Passwort erlauben oder ganz deaktivieren.
• Rechnung im Blick behalten: Schliesse das Abo auf deinen Namen ab und prüfe die ersten Monatsrechnungen genau, um Überraschungen früh zu erkennen.

Jugendschutz: Filter und Bildschirmzeit einrichten

The plan governs the costs — how you handle content is managed on the device. With Google Family Link (Android) and the Screen time (iPhone) you define which apps may be installed, how long the phone is used daily and when night rest begins. Both tools are free and set up within a few minutes.

Zusätzlich bieten die Schweizer Anbieter auf Wunsch Jugendschutzfilter auf Netzebene an, die nicht jugendfreie Inhalte bereits im Mobilfunknetz blockieren. Frag beim Abschluss aktiv danach — die Option ist meist kostenlos, aber nicht immer standardmässig aktiviert.

Just as important as the technology is the conversation: agree on rules together instead of just blocking things. Children accept limits much better when they understand why they exist — and when the rules apply to everyone at the family table. A good starting point is a short family media use agreement: write down together when the phone is off-limits, what applies in case of problems, and who the child can turn to if something online seems off.

Roaming sperren: die unterschätzte Kostenfalle

Switzerland is not part of the EU roaming regulation — abroad, surfing without a booked package can quickly become very expensive. For a child's phone, the simplest solution is to disable data roaming completely: on the one hand in the device settings, and on the other as a permanent block directly with the provider. That way, nothing happens even if the child accidentally changes the setting.

Vor den Familienferien hebst du die Sperre gezielt auf und buchst ein passendes Roaming-Paket. Wie du dich auf Reisen richtig vorbereitest, liest du im Roaming guide for the holidays. Anyone living near the border should also deactivate automatic network selection, so the phone doesn't unknowingly connect to a foreign network — a classic cost trap that regularly catches adults too.

Unsere Empfehlung: Zweitmarken-Tarife um CHF 10–20

Children don't need a premium plan. The budget brands of the major providers — such as Yallo and Lebara on the Sunrise network, Wingo on the Swisscom network, or Post Mobile on the Salt network — run on the same networks as the main brands but cost significantly less. Solid plans with a few GB of data are often available there for as little as CHF 10–20 per month, sometimes even less with promotions.

Warum die günstigen Marken meist die bessere Wahl sind, erklären wir im Artikel über Budget brands in Switzerland. Details on the individual providers can be found in our tests, such as the Yallo test oder dem Wingo test. And if several family members need a plan at once, it's worth looking at Family discounts and multi-SIM.

The fastest way to compare current offers is in our Mobile Plan Comparison — oder du holst dir eine free advice, if you're unsure which plan suits your child.

Checklist: What to consider before signing up

Zum Schluss die wichtigsten Punkte kompakt zusammengefasst. Wenn du diese sechs Dinge vor der Übergabe des Handys erledigst, hast du die häufigsten Probleme — überraschende Rechnungen, ungeeignete Inhalte, Streit um Bildschirmzeit — von Anfang an im Griff:

• Start with a small data package — aufstocken geht jederzeit, verkleinern ist oft nur mit Wartefrist möglich.
• Monatlich kündbaren Tarif wählen, so that you stay flexible if your child's needs change.
• Sign up a plan in your own name — Minderjährige können ohnehin keinen eigenen Vertrag unterschreiben.
• Roaming und Mehrwertdienste sperren, before handing over the phone — not only after the first invoice.
• Jugendschutz einrichten: Enable Family Link or screen time plus the provider's filter.
• Regeln gemeinsam vereinbaren — Technik ersetzt das Gespräch über Bildschirmzeit und Umgangsformen nicht.

Unsere Empfehlung für Familien

For children's phones, cost certainty matters most: no add-on bookings, no surprises on the bill. That's why we recommend Yallo — unlimitierte Daten sind in jedem Tarif enthalten, es gibt also nichts, was aufgebraucht werden und teuer nachgebucht werden könnte.

Also handy: EU roaming is included everywhere, which makes holidays and school trips abroad more relaxed. Details in Yallo review, further constellations in our Buying guide by user type.

Frequently asked questions