SBB FreeSurf vs tpg+
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
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.
- Free internet access on SBB trains
- Faster and smoother connection
- Utilizes mobile phone coverage
- Automatic recognition via beacon
- SMS confirmation for registration
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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from the train or switching off the connection, you will receive a message stating that free internet access is no longer active.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.
tpg+
Plan your journeys and purchase tickets for public transport across Greater Geneva. Get real-time schedules, route planning, and digital ticketing for seamless travel in Switzerland and France.
- Real-time timetables and next departures
- Route search and planning
- Digital tickets and SwissPass
- Multiple payment options
- Door-to-door routing
- Traffic information
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- THE OFFICIAL TPG APPLICATION - Optimise your daily travel time and get around easily on the entire network of Greater Geneva, in SWITZERLAND and FRANCE. tpg+ brings together, in a single application, all the timetables, stations and tickets in the canton of Geneva and its cross-border conurbation (zones 10, 200, 230, 240, 250). It also covers the geographical area around the Léman Express between Geneva, Annecy, Annemasse, Thonon-Evian, Saint-Gervais-les-Bains, Bellegarde, and as far as Coppet in the Canton of Vaud. - TIMETABLE and NEXT DEPARTURES - ROUTES SEARCH in real time - ORIENTATION at stops thanks to the platform display - Your TICKETS and SWISSPASS in your SMARTPHONE - Pay by CREDIT CARD, MOBILE PAYMENT or SMS - Authentication and management of the INDIVIDUAL PROFILE or FAMILY ACCOUNT - DOOR to DOOR routing and ROUTE through CONNECTION AREAS SCHEDULES • Immediately see the next departures in your vicinity • Choose the route that suits you best according to travel time and expected arrival time • Zoom in, zoom out or move the map, the application recalculates the next departures according to the display ITINERARY • Click on the "Route" icon and enter your destination. Your route is immediately calculated • Filter the display by departure or arrival time • Filter your preferred modes of transport with the "Options" icon • Let yourself be guided from door to door and easily find your way through the transfer zones thanks to the walking guide and the platform information • Buy the ticket corresponding to your route in a few clicks GEOGRAPHICAL MAP • Immediately see your location on the network and the next departures nearby • Zoom in, zoom out or move the map, the application automatically recalculates the next departures • Display the map in full page or in combination with the next departures • Display an entire route on the map and follow your progress in real time ETICKET AND SWISSPASS in your smartphone • Buy with your credit card, by mobile payment or by SMS, in a few clicks all your tickets on the Greater Geneva network (Switzerland and France) • Choose the payment currency CHF or EUR and avoid bank charges (according to the conditions of your bank) • Buy tickets for accompanying persons • Create your account in a few clicks with a unified process in the online shop PAYMENT METHODS • SMS charged by your phone operator • Apple Pay • Google Pay • Twint • Credit cards in CHF: VISA, Mastercard, Maestro international, Post-Finance, American Express, Diners • Credit cards in EUR: VISA, Mastercard, Maestro international, Post-Finance, American Express, Diners MY TICKETS • Find all your tickets for the last 30 days • All your tickets can be consulted off-line and can be presented even off-line during a control TRAFFIC INFO Find out in real time about the state of the network and any disruptions MENU • All the functions and information available in the application • My account": manage your profile, preferences and notifications directly on the same platform FAVORITES • Directly on the map in "Departures" (top right): manage your favourite stops • Trigger route searches by linking two favourite tiles with a swipe of your finger EVOLUTIONS The official tpg application is available in an upgradeable version. Download the latest update to your phone now to benefit from the latest features and performance improvements.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: tpg+ at 1.8 against SBB FreeSurf's 1.2. tpg+ also leads on update cadence (every 2 months vs every 3 months) and review sentiment (13% vs 4%). SBB FreeSurf's advantage is ratings volume (36 vs 11). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.
Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS
Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
tpg+ holds the better App Store score, 1.8 against 1.2. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 36 and 11 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 4% of SBB FreeSurf's written reviews are positive against 13% of tpg+'s.
SBB FreeSurf ships an update every 3 months, tpg+ every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on September 14, 2026 and September 28, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | SBB FreeSurf | tpg+ |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 1.2 (36 ratings) | 1.8 (11 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 3.6% of reviews | 13.2% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 36 — better | 11 |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | Every 2 months — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better | iPhone, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 14.0 — better | 15.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 53 MB | 45 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | SBB AG | Transports publics genevois |
Customer experience
SBB FreeSurf
tpg+
In-app purchases
SBB FreeSurf
No in-app purchases
tpg+
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is SBB FreeSurf free?
Is tpg+ free?
Which has better reviews, SBB FreeSurf or tpg+?
Do SBB FreeSurf or tpg+ have ads?
Which is updated more often, SBB FreeSurf or tpg+?
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