Comparison

SBB FreeSurf vs TPC Mobile

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

SBB FreeSurf

Access free internet on SBB long-distance trains. This app leverages strong mobile coverage for a faster connection than traditional train Wi-Fi. It's available for customers with specific Swiss mobile contracts and international travelers with participating SIM cards.

Highlights
  • Free internet access on SBB trains
  • Faster and smoother connection
  • Utilizes mobile phone coverage
  • Automatic recognition via beacon
  • SMS confirmation for registration
Features
Read full description

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from the train or switching off the connection, you will receive a message stating that free internet access is no longer active.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

About

TPC Mobile

Features
Read full description

TPC Mobile permet de planifier ses déplacements et d’acheter des titres de transports sur la totalité du réseau des TPC, de Mobilis, des CFF, de Car Postal, de TMR et de RegionAlps. Grâce à la géolocalisation, les prochains départs sont indiqués autour de votre position. Le temps de trajet et l’heure d’arrivée prévue vous permettent de choisir la meilleure option. En quelques clics, vous pouvez acheter votre titre de transport ou encore commander le passage d’un bus MobiChablais. Vos avantages avec TPC Mobile : RÉSERVATION DE PASSAGE Le réseau de bus MobiChablais introduit la notion d’arrêt desservi sur demande pour certaines destinations ou durant les heures creuses de la journée et de la nuit, ainsi que le dimanche. TPC Mobile vous permet de commander facilement le passage d’un bus. ITINÉRAIRES Recherchez votre itinéraire par texte, par déplacement de la carte, depuis et vers des lieux favoris ou votre géolocalisation. E-TICKETS Achetez des billets électroniques par carte de crédit, via Twint ou par SMS pour vous et vos accompagnants. FAVORIS Enregistrez vos favoris et reliez vos lieux de départ et d’arrivée d’un glissement de doigt. MES VOYAGES Retrouvez les billets et cartes journalières achetés dans la rubrique « Mes voyages ». Ces derniers sont disponibles en tout temps, y compris sans réseau ou wifi. INFO TRAFIC Découvrez en temps réel l’état du réseau et les éventuelles perturbations sur votre itinéraire. Cette application nécessite un accès internet. La localisation doit être activée sur le smartphone afin d’utiliser les fonctionnalités correspondantes.

Screenshots

SBB FreeSurf3 screens
TPC Mobile4 screens

Verdict

The call

SBB FreeSurf and TPC Mobile are too close to call on the numbers: across 6 compared parameters — price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases among them — neither pulls far enough ahead to decide it. What separates them is feature set and interface, not measurable difference.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

SBB FreeSurf ships an update every 3 months, TPC Mobile every 4 months. The most recent releases landed on November 2, 2026 and October 26, 2026 respectively.

ScorecardNo meaningful differences
SBB FreeSurf versus TPC Mobile: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSBB FreeSurfTPC Mobile
PriceFreeFree
Rating1.2 (41 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews3.4% of reviews—
Number of ratings41 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 3 months — betterEvery 4 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFree—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPod
Requires iOS14.0 — better15.0
Further details — not scored
Size53 MB44 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperSBB AGTransports Publics du Chablais SA

In-app purchases

None

SBB FreeSurf

No in-app purchases

None

TPC Mobile

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is SBB FreeSurf free?
SBB FreeSurf is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is TPC Mobile free?
TPC Mobile is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do SBB FreeSurf or TPC Mobile have ads?
Neither SBB FreeSurf nor TPC Mobile shows ads.
Which is updated more often, SBB FreeSurf or TPC Mobile?
SBB FreeSurf ships an update every 3 months, and TPC Mobile every 4 months. Most recently, SBB FreeSurf was updated on November 2, 2026 and TPC Mobile on October 26, 2026.

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