Best Cheap SIM Only Deals (January 2026)
Don't overpay on SIM-only mobile deals - We compare plans to cover all use-types, including low-users wanting 1GB of data, minutes and texts for less than $10/month
Updated 13 January 2026
Summary
Our guide covers:
Our best buy SIM-only plans are grouped by user type:
- Smartphone contracts can end up costing a lot every month – but if you separate your phone from your mobile provider, you can save a lot with a SIM-only deal.
- Whatever your needs and habits, there's a good chance you're paying too much at the moment. Switching to a cheaper provider is easy, and you can keep your number with no hassle.
- This guide lists everything you need to know when looking for a new SIM only plan and our top picks for low, medium and high data users.
- We analysed 60+ SIM-only plans available in New Zealand offered by 11 different providers (2degrees, Zeronet, Contact, Farmside, Kogan, Kiwi Mobile, Mighty Mobile, One NZ (previously Vodafone), Skinny, Spark, Slingshot and Warehouse Mobile). We found that there was no real difference in prices between pre-paid and monthly plans. The only exception was for annual pre-paid plans, which offered savings of over 10% versus the same plan when pre-paid in monthly instalments.
- Please note - Kogan doesn't allow you to reply to short text. This post explains more about why that can be an issue for anyone receiving appointment SMS.
Our guide covers:
- SIM Only Must-Know Facts and Tips
- Our Comparison - Finding You the Best Deal for Your Needs
- Best SIM Only Phone Plans - Low, Medium and High Users
- Telecommunications Dispute Resolution (TDR)
- Frequently Asked Questions
Our best buy SIM-only plans are grouped by user type:
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Our Trusted Mobile Network - Zeronet Mobile - The Game-Changer in Unlimited Data
Why Zeronet is Different from Every Other Provider:
The Zeronet Advantage:
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"SIM Only" Must-Know Facts and Tips
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SIM only means you are not paying for a phoneAll SIM only plans only cover a service which includes data, minutes and/or texts. You don't pay anything with regards to a phone device, as each plan requires you to have an existing phone.
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The known networks are NOT the cheapest in most instancesNew Zealand's recent arrival of Mighty Mobile, Skinny and Warehouse Mobile offer cheaper data and calling bundles than the likes of Spark, One NZ (previously Vodafone) and 2Degrees. If you're with a big network, you're probably overpaying.
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Most SIM-only deals are for 28 days, 30 days or one monthThis means you've got more flexibility to cancel, upgrade or downgrade the plan you pick. You can switch providers without paying penalties.
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Even though contracts are 30 days, you will probably have a credit check doneWhile this is mostly a formality, if you do have bad credit your application may be declined and you will need to stick to a pay-as-you-go SIM provider. See our credit score and credit reporting guide for more information. Also, if you're already paying off a phone you may be flagged as a higher risk customer.
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Check the promotion and special offer detailsThere is no point signing up to an offer that locks you in for 12 months if the offer pricing or bonus data/minutes only applies for the first 3 months. Check out exactly what you’re paying over the entire contract period.
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Pick a SIM Only plan that offers the allowance you NEEDDon’t overpay for things you don’t need. If you have internet at home and don’t watch TV on your phone, it’s unlikely you’ll need 10GB of data and unlimited minutes.
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You'll need to have an unlocked phoneCheck your phone, as some phones from Spark, One NZ, Skinny and 2degrees will be SIM-locked to their networks. You can find out if the phone is locked by putting a SIM from another provider. To unlock your phone, you’ll need an IMEI number - you can find it by dialling *#06# on most phones or look for it on the label in the battery compartment, or on the box the phone came in.
Each provider’s website gives guidance about unlocking a phone, which is free if your phone is out of contract, or around $30 if it’s in a contract. Phones bought from overseas or via Trade Me will specify if they are unlocked or locked, so always buy an unlocked phone to save any hassle and extra costs. |
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Check the signal strength where you live and workThere is no point picking a provider if it doesn’t work in your lounge or bedroom. These links just need your address to show if you’ll get 3G, 4G or 5G
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Switching from a contract to a SIM deal? Tell your current service provider ASAP!Monthly plans usually require notice a month in advance, so as soon as you know you’re leaving the plan, advise your provider. You will have to pay the final month’s bill, so it’s best to buy the new provider’s sim first and organise your new deal to start as your current provider’s billing month finishes, therefore avoiding being stranded and paying twice for two plans at changeover time.
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Keeping your number is easyOnce you have a new provider’s SIM, you can submit a change of number request online via their website. It’s usually processed in one or two working days and you can call the new provider’s support team if you have any issues.
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Our Comparison - Finding You the Best Deal for Your Needs
As explained in our summary, we analysed 60+ SIM-only plans available in New Zealand offered by 11 different providers (2degrees, Zeronet, Contact, Farmside, Kogan, Kiwi Mobile, Mighty Mobile, One NZ (previously Vodafone), Skinny, Spark, Slingshot and Warehouse Mobile). We found that there was no real difference in prices between pre-paid and monthly plans. The only exception was for annual pre-paid plans, which offered savings of over 10% versus the same plan when pre-paid in monthly instalments.
Our methodology
Different people have different needs in terms of data and minutes for calls, so there’s no one-size-fits-all plan that can be singled out as the best option for everyone. Instead, we have looked at the characteristics of each plan and specifically the amount of data per month compared to their monthly price to assess if plans are good value or not. Our comparison process was as follows:
With this information, we have picked the plans that we consider are the best plans in each category, but we present all the plans we evaluated and whether or not we consider them good value.
Our methodology
Different people have different needs in terms of data and minutes for calls, so there’s no one-size-fits-all plan that can be singled out as the best option for everyone. Instead, we have looked at the characteristics of each plan and specifically the amount of data per month compared to their monthly price to assess if plans are good value or not. Our comparison process was as follows:
- First, we categorised the type of user the plans are aimed at, based on their data needs. We defined Low users as those that need less than 4GB per month, Medium users as those that need between 4GB and 8GB and High users as those that require more than 8GB per month.
- Plans have different frequencies, they can be billed every 7, 14, 28, 30 or 365 days. To compare them on an even basis, we divided the cost of the plan by the number of days (cost per day) and then multiplied this by 30 to arrive at a monthly price. We did something similar for the data limit, so we could look at the “Data per month” that would apply over a 30-day period.
- Some plans offered additional data like 8GB upon sign up (Skinny). We prorated these one-off allowances and added them to the “Data per month” mentioned before.
- For plans that provide unlimited data, we used 150GB as the data allowance for our monthly data calculation.
- Finally, we used the Ratio of “Price per month to Data per month”, and sorted all plans based on this ratio. A lower ratio indicates better value.
- For each user category (Low / Medium / High), we looked at the average Price/Data Ratio and rated each plan’s value as “Good”, “Average” or “Below Average”.
- We also include details about each plan, like if it offers endless data, hotspot/tethering capabilities or 5G coverage.
- We have applied any promotional discounts or temporary offers in our price evaluation but display the normal price that the provider advertises in the table below. We list what offers were considered. We have also deducted from the monthly cost the value of benefits in kind like Spotify or Netflix subscriptions.
- We have included Kiwi Mobile in this comparison with different estimated data limits. As our dedicated guide explains, their plan is unique as they only have one "endless" plan and the user selects if they want to navigate at a low speed for the same price or go up to the next tier of consumption and pay a premium per day. For our comparison, we used the rates a user would pay for navigating at maximum speed for the following data limits: 5GB, 10GB, 20GB, 40GB and 100GB. Please note that the prices could be lower if the user chose to navigate at lower speeds or if they reached tier thresholds at a slower pace
With this information, we have picked the plans that we consider are the best plans in each category, but we present all the plans we evaluated and whether or not we consider them good value.
Best SIM Only Phone Plans
Once you know which network(s) cover your home and work locations, and you know how much data you’ll need, look for the best deals that fit this. We present the results of our analysis below and highlight the plans we consider would be the best buys. We categorised users by their data needs as follows:
As 4G covers around 95% of Kiwi homes and workplaces, all the below best buys come with 4G data (unless otherwise stated) and 5G where available.
- Low users: data consumption below 4GB
- Medium users; data consumption between 4GB and 8GB
- High users: data consumption above 8GB
As 4G covers around 95% of Kiwi homes and workplaces, all the below best buys come with 4G data (unless otherwise stated) and 5G where available.
1. Low Users
For light users who want the convenience of a reasonable data limit and enough minutes, these plans provide up to 3GB data per month.
Our favourite SIM-only plans for low users (below 4GB of data per month) are the following:
Our favourite SIM-only plans for low users (below 4GB of data per month) are the following:
These are all the plans we analysed the for this category, sorted by the amount of data they provide. We indicate in the last column if we consider they provide good value or not.
| Prepay / Monthly | Provider | Plan Name | Data Limit (in Gb) | Minutes | Price | Days | Network Provider | Features and discounts | Moneyhub Evaluation |
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| Prepay | 2degrees | 150MB Carryover data | 0.15 | 100 | $8 | 30 | 2degrees | Hotspot; 5G; eSIM; 7.5GB data when migrating your number | Average Value |
| Prepay | Spark | Prepaid value pack $16 | 0.15 | 25 | $16 | 28 | Spark | $1.9 Discount on Spotify Premium per month; Hotspot; 5GB data when migrating your number | Below Average Value |
| Prepay | Skinny | 250MB Data | 0.25 | 100 | $8 | 28 | Spark | Hotspot; 5G; eSIM; 8GB data when migrating your number | Average Value |
| Prepay | Warehouse Mobile | $9 Combo 300MB Rollover Data | 0.3 | 100 | $9 | 28 | 2degrees | 5G | Below Average Value |
| Prepay | Skinny | 100MB Data 7-Days | 0.5 | 60 | $5 | 7 | Spark | Hotspot; 5G; eSIM; 8GB data when migrating your number | Good Value |
| Prepay | 2degrees | 600MB Carryover data | 0.6 | 100 | $13 | 30 | 2degrees | Hotspot; 5G; eSIM; 7.5GB data when migrating your number | Average Value |
| Prepay | 2degrees | 1GB Carryover data | 1 | 100 | $11 | 14 | 2degrees | Hotspot; 5G; eSIM; 7.5GB data when migrating your number | Good Value |
| Prepay | OneNZ | Popular combo 1GB | 1 | 100 | $16 | 28 | OneNZ | Hotspot; 5G | Below Average Value |
| Prepay | Warehouse Mobile | $15 Combo 1.25GB Rollover Data | 1.25 | 200 | $15 | 28 | 2degrees | 5G; 10GB data when migrating your number | Good Value |
| Prepay | Skinny | 1.5GB Rollover Data | 1.5 | 200 | $17 | 28 | Spark | Hotspot; 5G; eSIM; 8GB data when migrating your number | Good Value |
| Prepay | 2degrees | 1.5GB Carryover data | 1.5 | 200 | $19 | 30 | 2degrees | Hotspot; 5G; eSIM; 7.5GB data when migrating your number | Good Value |
| Prepay | Kogan | Small (Monthly) | 1.5 | Unlimited | $15 | 31 | OneNZ | Hotspot; 5G | Average Value |
| Prepay | Spark | Prepaid value pack $21 | 1.5 | 200 | $21 | 28 | Spark | $1.9 Discount on Spotify Premium per month; 5GB data when migrating your number; Free Spotify data | Average Value |
| Prepay | OneNZ | Popular combo 1.5GB | 1.5 | 200 | $21 | 28 | OneNZ | Hotspot; 5G | Below Average Value |
| Prepay | Spark | Prepaid value pack $26 | 2 | 250 | $26 | 28 | Spark | $1.9 Discount on Spotify Premium per month; Hotspot; 5GB data when migrating your number; Free Spotify data | Average Value |
| Prepay | 2degrees | 3GB Carryover data | 3 | 250 | $25 | 30 | 2degrees | Hotspot; 5G; eSIM; 7.5GB data when migrating your number | Good Value |
| Prepay | Spark | Prepaid value pack $31 | 3 | 300 | $31 | 28 | Spark | $7 Discount on Spotify Premium per month; Hotspot; 5GB data when migrating your number; Free Spotify data | Good Value |
| Prepay | OneNZ | Popular combo 3GB | 3 | 300 | $31 | 28 | OneNZ | Hotspot; 5G | Average Value |
| Prepay | Kogan | Small (Annual) | 18 | Unlimited | $160 | 365 | OneNZ | Hotspot; 5G | Good Value |
| Monthly | Kiwi mobile | Choice Lite Plan - Estimate for 1GB (endless) | 1 | Unlimited | $0.59/day | 30.24 | 2degrees | 50% discount for 6 months; Hotspot; 5G | Below Average Value |
| Monthly | Kiwi mobile | Choice Lite Plan - Estimate for 1.5GB (endless) | 1.5 | Unlimited | $0.89/day | 30.24 | 2degrees | 50% discount for 6 months; Hotspot; 5G | Below Average Value |
| Monthly | Kiwi mobile | Choice Lite Plan - Estimate for 2GB (endless) | 2 | Unlimited | $1.19/day | 30.24 | 2degrees | 50% discount for 6 months; Hotspot; 5G | Below Average Value |
| Monthly | Kiwi mobile | Choice Lite Plan - Estimate for 3GB (endless) | 3 | Unlimited | $1.49/day | 30.24 | 2degrees | 50% discount for 6 months; Hotspot; 5G | Below Average Value |
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Our Trusted Mobile Network - Zeronet Mobile - The Game-Changer in Unlimited Data
Why Zeronet is Different from Every Other Provider:
The Zeronet Advantage:
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2. Medium Users
For users wanting 4GB to 8GB of data, we’ve selected below what we considered to be the best plans:
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Our Trusted Mobile Network - Zeronet Mobile - The Game-Changer in Unlimited Data
Why Zeronet is Different from Every Other Provider:
The Zeronet Advantage:
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Worth Considering: Kiwi Mobile
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These are all the plans we analysed the for this category, sorted by the amount of data they provide. We indicate in the last column if we consider they offer good, average or below average value:
| Prepay / Monthly | Provider | Plan Name | Data Limit (in Gb) | Minutes | Price | Days | Network Provider | Features and discounts | Moneyhub Evaluation |
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| Prepay | 2degrees | 3.5GB Carryover data | 3.5 | 150 | $19 | 14 | 2degrees | Hotspot; 5G; eSIM; 7.5GB data when migrating your number | Good Value |
| Prepay | Warehouse Mobile | $25 Combo 4GB Rollover Data | 4 | Unlimited | $25 | 28 | 2degrees | 5G; 10GB data when migrating your number | Good Value |
| Prepay | Skinny | 4GB Rollover Data | 4 | 300 | $27 | 28 | Spark | Hotspot; 5G; eSIM; 8GB data when migrating your number | Good Value |
| Prepay | Kogan | Medium (Monthly) | 4 | Unlimited | $25 | 31 | OneNZ | Hotspot; 5G | Average Value |
| Prepay | 2degrees | 4.5GB Carryover data | 4.5 | 300 | $35 | 30 | 2degrees | Hotspot; 5G; eSIM; 7.5GB data when migrating your number | Average Value |
| Prepay | Spark | Prepaid value pack $41 | 4.5 | 400 | $41 | 28 | Spark | $7 Discount on Spotify Premium per month; 5GB data when migrating your number; Free Spotify data | Average Value |
| Prepay | Warehouse Mobile | $35 Combo 6GB Rollover Data | 6 | Unlimited | $35 | 28 | 2degrees | 5G; 10GB data when migrating your number | Good Value |
| Prepay | OneNZ | Popular combo 8GB | 8 | 100 | $41 | 28 | OneNZ | Hotspot; 5G | Good Value |
| Prepay | Kogan | Medium (Annual) | 48 | Unlimited | $250 | 365 | OneNZ | Hotspot; 5G | Good Value |
| Monthly | Kiwi mobile | Choice Lite Plan - Estimate for 4GB (endless) | 4 | Unlimited | $1.79/day | 30.24 | 2degrees | 50% discount for 6 months; Hotspot; 5G | Below Average Value |
| Monthly | Kiwi mobile | Choice Plan - Estimate for 5GB (endless) | 5 | Unlimited | $1.30/day | 30.24 | 2degrees | 50% discount for 6 months; Hotspot; 5G | Good Value |
| Monthly | Contact | Small | 5 | Unlimited | $35 | 30 | OneNZ | Hotspot; 5G | Average Value |
| Monthly | 2degrees | 5GB Carryover data | 5 | 300 | $40 | 30 | 2degrees | Hotspot; 5G; eSIM | Below Average Value |
| Monthly | Slingshot | 5GB Carryover data | 5 | 300 | $40 | 30 | 2degrees | Hotspot; 5G | Below Average Value |
| Monthly | Farmside | Endless Mobile Lite Plan 5 GB | 5 | Unlimited | $45 | 30 | OneNZ | Hotspot | Below Average Value |
| Monthly | Spark | 6GB Endless Plan $50 | 6 | Unlimited | $50 | 30 | Spark | $1.9 Discount on Spotify Premium per month; Hotspot | Below Average Value |
| Monthly | OneNZ | Endless Starter | 6 | Unlimited | $50 | 30 | OneNZ | Hotspot; 5G | Below Average Value |
3. High Users
Our favourite plans for high data users, who need above 8GB of data per month, are the following:
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Our Trusted Mobile Network - Zeronet Mobile - The Game-Changer in Unlimited Data
Why Zeronet is Different from Every Other Provider:
The Zeronet Advantage:
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Worth Considering: Kiwi Mobile
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Here is a summary of all the plans we analysed, we indicate in the last column if we consider they provide good, average or below average value:
| Prepay / Monthly | Provider | Plan Name | Data Limit (in Gb) | Minutes | Price | Days | Network Provider | Features and discounts | Moneyhub Evaluation |
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| Prepay | 2degrees | 7GB Carryover data | 7 | 250 | $24 | 14 | 2degrees | Hotspot; 5G; eSIM; 7.5GB data when migrating your number | Below Average Value |
| Prepay | Skinny | 10GB Endless Data | 10 | Unlimited | $40 | 28 | Spark | Hotspot; 5G; eSIM; 8GB data when migrating your number | Below Average Value |
| Prepay | 2degrees | 10GB Carryover data | 10 | Unlimited | $45 | 30 | 2degrees | Hotspot; 5G; eSIM; 7.5GB data when migrating your number | Below Average Value |
| Prepay | Spark | Prepaid value pack $51 | 10 | 500 | $51 | 28 | Spark | $7 Discount on Spotify Premium per month; Hotspot; 5GB data when migrating your number; Free Spotify data | Below Average Value |
| Prepay | Kogan | Large (Monthly) | 15 | Unlimited | $35 | 31 | OneNZ | Hotspot; 5G | Below Average Value |
| Prepay | Skinny | 20GB Endless Data 7-days | 25 | Unlimited | $20 | 7 | Spark | Hotspot; 5G; eSIM; 8GB data when migrating your number | Average Value |
| Prepay | Warehouse Mobile | $45 Combo 30GB Rollover Data | 30 | Unlimited | $45 | 28 | 2degrees | 5G; 10GB data when migrating your number | Below Average Value |
| Prepay | Kogan | Extra Large (Monthly) | 32 | Unlimited | $55 | 31 | OneNZ | Hotspot; 5G | Below Average Value |
| Prepay | 2degrees | 40GB Carryover data | 40 | Unlimited | $34 | 14 | 2degrees | Hotspot; 5G; eSIM; 7.5GB data when migrating your number | Average Value |
| Prepay | Skinny | 40GB Endless Data | 40 | Unlimited | $50 | 28 | Spark | Hotspot; 5G; eSIM; 8GB data when migrating your number | Average Value |
| Prepay | 2degrees | 50GB Carryover data | 50 | Unlimited | $60 | 30 | 2degrees | Hotspot; 5G; eSIM; 7.5GB data when migrating your number | Average Value |
| Prepay | Spark | Prepaid value pack $81 | 80 | Unlimited | $81 | 28 | Spark | $7 Discount on Spotify Premium per month; Hotspot; 5GB data when migrating your number; Free Spotify data | Average Value |
| Prepay | Kogan | Large (Annual) | 180 | Unlimited | $330 | 365 | OneNZ | Hotspot; 5G | Below Average Value |
| Prepay | Kogan | Extra Large (Annual) | 384 | Unlimited | $490 | 365 | OneNZ | 40% discount; Hotspot; 5G | Average Value |
| Prepay | Mighty mobile | Fast plan (10Mbps) (Annual) | Unlimited | Unlimited | $399 | 365 | OneNZ | Hotspot; 5G; eSIM; Special prices for Primates | Good Value |
| Prepay | Mighty mobile | Fast plan (10Mbps) (Monthly) | Unlimited | Unlimited | $40 | 30 | OneNZ | $10 Discount of for 6 months; Hotspot; 5G; eSIM | Good Value |
| Prepay | Mighty mobile | Faster Plan (50Mbps) (Annual) | Unlimited | Unlimited | $499 | 365 | OneNZ | Hotspot; 5G; eSIM; Special prices for Primates | Good Value |
| Prepay | Mighty mobile | Faster Plan (50Mbps) (Monthly) | Unlimited | Unlimited | $50 | 30 | OneNZ | $15 Discount of for 6 months; Hotspot; 5G; eSIM | Good Value |
| Prepay | Mighty mobile | Fastest Plan (MAX Speed) (Monthly) | Unlimited | Unlimited | $80 | 30 | OneNZ | $30 Discount of for 6 months; Hotspot; 5G; eSIM | Good Value |
| Prepay | Mighty mobile | Fastest Plan (MAX Speed) (Annual) | Unlimited | Unlimited | $799 | 365 | OneNZ | Hotspot; 5G; eSIM; Special prices for Primates | Good Value |
| Prepay | Skinny | Unlimited Data | Unlimited | Unlimited | $70 | 28 | Spark | Hotspot; 5G; eSIM; 8GB data when migrating your number | Average Value |
| Prepay | 2degrees | Unlimited Carryover data | Unlimited | Unlimited | $85 | 30 | 2degrees | Hotspot; 5G; eSIM | Average Value |
| Monthly | Kiwi mobile | Choice Plan - Estimate for 10GB (endless) | 10 | Unlimited | $1.60/day | 30.24 | 2degrees | 50% discount for 6 months; Hotspot; 5G | Below Average Value |
| Monthly | 2degrees | 10GB Carryover data | 10 | Unlimited | $50 | 30 | 2degrees | Hotspot; 5G; eSIM | Below Average Value |
| Monthly | Slingshot | 10GB Carryover data | 10 | Unlimited | $50 | 30 | 2degrees | Hotspot; 5G | Below Average Value |
| Monthly | Farmside | Endless Mobile Regular Plan 15 GB | 15 | Unlimited | $65 | 30 | OneNZ | Hotspot | Below Average Value |
| Monthly | Slingshot | 16GB Carryover data | 16 | Unlimited | $60 | 30 | 2degrees | Hotspot; 5G | Below Average Value |
| Monthly | Kiwi mobile | Choice Plan - Estimate for 20GB (endless) | 20 | Unlimited | $1.90/day | 30.24 | 2degrees | 50% discount for 6 months; Hotspot; 5G | Below Average Value |
| Monthly | Contact | Medium | 20 | Unlimited | $45 | 30 | OneNZ | Hotspot; 5G | Below Average Value |
| Monthly | Kiwi mobile | Choice Plan - Estimate for 40GB (endless) | 40 | Unlimited | $2.00/day | 30.24 | 2degrees | 50% discount for 6 months; Hotspot; 5G | Average Value |
| Monthly | Farmside | Endless Mobile Premium Plan 40 GB | 40 | Unlimited | $70 | 30 | OneNZ | Hotspot | Below Average Value |
| Monthly | OneNZ | Endless Plus | 50 | Unlimited | $70 | 30 | OneNZ | Hotspot; 5G | Below Average Value |
| Monthly | Contact | Large | 75 | Unlimited | $60 | 30 | OneNZ | Hotspot; 5G | Average Value |
| Monthly | Spark | 75GB Endless Plan $65 | 75 | Unlimited | $65 | 30 | Spark | $1.9 Discount on Spotify Premium per month; Hotspot | Average Value |
| Monthly | 2degrees | 80GB Carryover data | 80 | Unlimited | $65 | 30 | 2degrees | Hotspot; 5G; eSIM | Average Value |
| Monthly | Kiwi mobile | Choice Plan - Estimate for 100GB (endless) | 100 | Unlimited | $2.10/day | 30.24 | 2degrees | 50% discount for 6 months; Hotspot; 5G | Good Value |
| Monthly | Slingshot | 100GB Endless | 100 | Unlimited | $75 | 30 | 2degrees | Hotspot; 5G | Average Value |
| Monthly | Spark | 150GB Endless Plan $75 | 150 | Unlimited | $75 | 30 | Spark | $7 Discount on Spotify Premium per month; Hotspot | Good Value |
| Monthly | Rocket Mobile | Rocket Starter (2Mbps) | Unlimited | Unlimited | $30 | 30 | OneNZ | Hotspot; 5G | Good Value |
| Monthly | Rocket Mobile | Rocket (10Mbps) | Unlimited | Unlimited | $40 | 30 | OneNZ | Hotspot; 5G | Good Value |
| Monthly | Rocket Mobile | Rocket Plus (40Mbps) | Unlimited | Unlimited | $45 | 30 | OneNZ | Hotspot; 5G | Good Value |
| Monthly | Spark | Unlimited Data Netflix Plan $95 | Unlimited | Unlimited | $95 | 30 | Spark | $26 Netflix Standard subscription included per month; Hotspot | Good Value |
| Monthly | Rocket Mobile | Rocket Max (Max Speed) | Unlimited | Unlimited | $70 | 30 | OneNZ | Hotspot; 5G | Good Value |
| Monthly | Spark | Unlimited Data Plan $90 | Unlimited | Unlimited | $90 | 30 | Spark | $19 Discount on Spotify Premium per month; Hotspot | Good Value |
| Monthly | 2degrees | Unlimited Max Speed data | Unlimited | Unlimited | $80 | 30 | 2degrees | Hotspot; 5G; eSIM | Average Value |
| Monthly | OneNZ | One Plan | Unlimited | Unlimited | $85 | 30 | OneNZ | Hotspot; 5G | Average Value |
Complain about your network using the Telecommunications Dispute Resolution (TDR)
Telecommunications Dispute Resolution (TDR) deals with complaints from consumers about any product or service provided by their telecommunications company. As the customer of a New Zealand network, you have the right to make a complaint. It's a free and independent service, but you will need to follow their process to progress a complaint.
Before you complain, you'll need to raise the issue with your network directly via their complaints form or customer service team
The process of complaining with TDR is outlined here. Their helpful FAQs outline what you can expect, and case studies about recent complaints about telecommunication companies in general. The process is impartial, and once a decision is made, Your network will (usually) abide by the ruling should it be in the wrong.
Before you complain, you'll need to raise the issue with your network directly via their complaints form or customer service team
- Once you have done this, you must wait for a response.
- The network will respond, but if you are unable to agree with their response and your complaint becomes deadlocked, after six weeks has passed you can raise a complaint with the TDR.
The process of complaining with TDR is outlined here. Their helpful FAQs outline what you can expect, and case studies about recent complaints about telecommunication companies in general. The process is impartial, and once a decision is made, Your network will (usually) abide by the ruling should it be in the wrong.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I keep my current phone number when switching providers?
Yes - every provider allows number porting. When you sign up with your new provider, request to keep your number - it takes 1-2 working days to transfer. Don't cancel your old plan until the transfer is complete, or you'll lose the number.
Why are some "unlimited" plans so much cheaper than others?
Most "unlimited" plans throttle your speed after 40-50GB to unusable levels (1 Mbps). Truly unlimited plans, like Zeronet and Mighty Mobile, maintain your chosen speed throughout the month. You're comparing different products - throttled vs genuinely unlimited.
What's the catch with these super-cheap annual plans?
You pay the entire year upfront (non-refundable), but the plan's benefits are locked in. Monthly plans cost 10-15% more but offer the flexibility to switch at any time should your needs change.
My phone is locked to Spark/2degrees/One NZ. What now?
Dial *#06# to get your IMEI number. If you're out of contract, unlocking is free - contact your provider. If still in contract, it's typically $30. Phones bought overseas or from Trade Me should specify if they're unlocked.
Which network has the best coverage?
All three networks (Spark, 2degrees, and One NZ) cover over 95% of populated areas with 4G. Rural coverage varies - One NZ is traditionally stronger in rural areas, while Spark is better in cities. Check coverage maps for your specific addresses before making a switch.
What happens if I go over my data limit?
Depends on the plan. Most prepay plans simply stop working until you top up. "Endless" plans slow you down. Plans like Kiwi Mobile let you continue at full speed but charge more. True unlimited plans have no limits to exceed.
What is the situation about Kogan not allowing SMS replies?
Kogan blocks two-way SMS with short codes (like 3333). This breaks appointment confirmations, banking verification, and parking apps. Fine for basic use, problematic if you rely on these services.
