Compare Mobile Plans
Compare Monthly, Prepay and Unlimited Data Mobile Plans, including offers from Spark, Vodafone, 2degrees, Skinny, Slingshot Warehouse Mobile and more
Updated 26 April 2019
Our guide reviews:
Our overall recommendations:
- Best Prepaid Plans - we compare 1.25 GB and 2-2.5 GB data plans offered by 2degrees, Spark and Vodafone.
- Best Open Term Monthly Mobile Plans - our pick is 2degrees' $55/month offer, which offers unlimited calls, 10 GB data and unlike Vodafone, allows rollover (with a 12-month expiry).
- Best Unlimited Mobile Data Plans - our pick is 2degrees' $85/month offer, with generous maximum speeds, hotspot and tethering use, and the option to add people to an account and share data.
- Best specialst SIM-only options, covering Warehouse Mobile, Skinny and other providers, are outlined here.
Our overall recommendations:
- Best prepaid cell phone plan - Spark 1.25 GB Data Rollover ($19/month)
- Best phone plan for the average user - 2degrees' 10 GB ($55/month)
- Best unlimited data plan - 2degrees' Unlimited Data ($85/month)
- Best network for families and groups - 2degrees (from $32.50/person)
- Best network for international roaming - Vodafone (our roaming comparison guide has more details)
Best Prepaid Plans
Most prepay phone customers use between 1GB to 3GB of data per month, according to various media stories and industry data. We have shortlisted prepay packs that meet those data needs while minimising costs. We have compared 1.25 GB and 2-2.5 GB options.
1.25 GB + 200 Minute Rollover Plans
Plan Details |
2degrees 1.25 GB Data Carryover |
Spark 1.25 GB Data Rollover |
Vodafone 1.25 GB Data Carryover |
Price |
$19/month |
$19/month |
$19/month |
Data |
1.25 GB |
1.25 GB |
1.25 GB |
Minutes (NZ) |
200 |
200 |
200 |
TXT (NZ) |
Unlimited |
Unlimited |
Unlimited |
Perks |
Free daily data hour Unlimited calls to 2degrees mobile |
50% off Spotify 1 GB WIFI Hotspot/day |
- |
Rollover Terms |
Unused data valid for 12 months |
Up to 500 minutes and 3.5 GB data |
Up to 500 minutes and 3.5 GB data when, for 360 days |
Hotspot/Tethering? |
Allowed |
Allowed |
Allowed |
Further details |
2 GB - 2.5 GB and 200 - 300 Minute Rollover Plans
Plan Details |
2degrees 2.5 GB Data Carryover |
Spark 2 GB Data Rollover |
Vodafone 2 GB Data Carryover |
Price |
$29/month |
$29/month |
$29/month |
Data |
2.5 GB |
2 GB + 2 GB Bonus Data |
2 GB |
Minutes (NZ) |
200 |
300 |
300 |
TXT (NZ) |
Unlimited |
Unlimited |
Unlimited |
Perks |
Free daily data hour Unlimited calls to 2degrees mobile |
50% off Spotify 1 GB WIFI Hotspot/day |
- |
Rollover Terms |
Unused data valid for 12 months |
Up to 500 minutes and 3.5 GB data |
Up to 500 minutes and 3.5 GB data when, for 360 days |
Hotspot/Tethering? |
Allowed |
Allowed |
Allowed |
Further details |
Three Must-Know Prepay Facts
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Rollover and Carryover allowances are only valid if you renew your pack when it expiresYou may have 2GB owed and countless minutes, but if you don't renew your pack when it expires, you will lose all your balances. This means you can't get a plan, save balances and use them afterwards. There is no exception to these terms.
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Casual rates can be very expensiveIf and when you use up all of your pack's allowances, you can either buy a new pack, stop using your phone or pay 'casual' rates. These rates can be very expensive and generally offer poor value for money for any extended use. Sample rates from the networks include:
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Prepay credit expires if it's not used - and you can lose your phone number2degrees, Spark and Vodafone credit all expires after 365 days, without exception.
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Best Open Term Monthly Mobile Plans
Monthly plan phone customers demand more data and minutes, and we estimate their needs to be between 5GB and 10GB of data per month. We based this on media stories and industry data. We have shortlisted plans that meet those data needs while minimising costs. We have compared 8 GB and 10 GB data options.
Unlimited Calls, Data 8 GB to 10 GB
Plan Details |
2degrees 10 GB Carryover |
Spark 4 GB Rollover |
Vodafone 10 GB Red+ Lite |
Price |
$55/month |
$59.99/month |
$59.99/month |
Data |
10 GB |
4 Gb (+ 4 GB bonus data) |
10 GB |
Minutes (NZ & AU) |
Unlimited |
Unlimited |
Unlimited |
TXT (NZ & AU) |
Unlimited |
Unlimited |
Unlimited |
Perks |
Free daily data hour |
24 months Spotify Free Lightbox Subscription 1 GB WIFI Hotspot/day |
Free Netflix for 1 year Free Social Pass for 1 year |
Rollover Terms |
Unused data valid for 12 months |
Up to 3.5 GB of data (bonus data excluded) |
No Rollover |
Hotspot/Tethering? |
Allowed |
Allowed |
Allowed |
Further details |
Our review and 2degrees.co.nz |
Our review and vodafone.co.nz |
Our Pick - 2degrees 10 GB Mobile Plan
What you get: 10 GB New Zealand data, unlimited calls and TXT to New Zealand and Australian numbers.
Price: $55/month
Our view: With a monthly 10 GB data allowance, generous 12-month rollover period for unused data and the lowest price in its class, 2degrees comes first in its offering.
Need-to-knows:
Price: $55/month
Our view: With a monthly 10 GB data allowance, generous 12-month rollover period for unused data and the lowest price in its class, 2degrees comes first in its offering.
Need-to-knows:
- One-month rolling contract (making switching to another provider easy).
- Unused data valid for 12 months (with the oldest data used first).
- You can keep your existing number.
- Hotspot and tethering allowed.
- 2degrees may increase the price at any time.
- You'll need to pass the credit check to get the plan.
Other Options: Vodafone and Spark
Vodafone 10 GB + Unlimited Minutes Red+ Lite Plan
What you get: 10 GB New Zealand data, unlimited calls and TXT to New Zealand and Australian numbers.
Price: $59.99/month
Our view: Vodafone, unlike Spark and 2degrees, doesn't offer data rollover, compensating this with unlimited data for social media sites (Social Pass) and a 12 month free Netflix subscription.
Need-to-knows:
Price: $59.99/month
Our view: Vodafone, unlike Spark and 2degrees, doesn't offer data rollover, compensating this with unlimited data for social media sites (Social Pass) and a 12 month free Netflix subscription.
Need-to-knows:
- One-month rolling contract (making switching to another provider easy).
- No data rollover
- Hotspot and tethering allowed.
- You can keep your existing number.
- Vodafone may increase the price at any time.
- You'll need to pass the credit check to get the plan.
Spark 4 GB + Bonus Data Plan
What you get: 4 GB New Zealand data, 4 GB of monthly 'bonus data' (valid for 12 months), unlimited calls and TXT to New Zealand and Australian numbers.
Price: $59.99/month
Our view: The least generous data offering from the three networks, but bonus data and rollover benefits (3.5 GB) help make Spark's plan competitive, as does the free Spotify and Lightbox subscriptions.
Need-to-knows:
Price: $59.99/month
Our view: The least generous data offering from the three networks, but bonus data and rollover benefits (3.5 GB) help make Spark's plan competitive, as does the free Spotify and Lightbox subscriptions.
Need-to-knows:
- One-month rolling contract (making switching to another provider easy).
- Up to 3.5 GB of unused data rolls over to the next month.
- You can keep your existing number.
- Perks include a free 24-month subscription to Spotify Premium, free ongoing Lightbox subscription and 1 GB WIFI hotspot/day
- Hotspot and tethering allowed.
- Spark may increase the price at any time.
- You'll need to pass the credit check to get the plan.
Best Unlimited Mobile Data Plans
Three New Zealand networks offer 'unlimited data', but 'unlimited' means different things to different companies. We compare the current plans from 2degrees, Spark and Vodafone.
Plan Details |
2degrees Unlimited Data |
Spark Unlimited Data |
Vodafone Unlimited Data |
Price |
$85/month |
$79.99/month |
$79.99/month |
Data Limit (before speed slows down) |
40 GB |
22 GB |
22 GB |
Minutes (NZ & AU) |
Unlimited |
Unlimited |
Unlimited |
TXT (NZ & AU) |
Unlimited |
Unlimited |
Unlimited |
Perks |
- |
24 months Spotify Free Lightbox Subscription 1 GB WIFI Hotspot/day |
Free Netflix for 1 year Free Social Pass for 1 year |
Group or Family Option? |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Hotspot/Tethering? |
Allowed |
$10/month additional |
$15/month additional |
Further details |
Our review and 2degrees.co.nz |
Our review and vodafone.co.nz |
Our Pick - 2degrees Unlimited Mobile Plan
What you get: Unlimited New Zealand data, unlimited calls and TXT to New Zealand and Australian numbers.
Price: $85/month
Our view: Unlike Vodafone and Spark, 2degrees permits tethering and hotspot use on its unlimited plan. It also allows up to 40 GB of data before speeds reduce (Vodafone and Spark throttle customers down after 22 GB).
Need-to-knows:
Price: $85/month
Our view: Unlike Vodafone and Spark, 2degrees permits tethering and hotspot use on its unlimited plan. It also allows up to 40 GB of data before speeds reduce (Vodafone and Spark throttle customers down after 22 GB).
Need-to-knows:
- One-month rolling contract (making switching to another provider easy).
- Maximum speeds reduce to 1 Mbps after 40GB/mth, and hotspotting speeds may be reduced further during periods of network congestion.
- You can keep your existing number.
- Member of a group or family? 2degrees allows add-ons so you can share the data together.
- 2degrees may increase the price at any time.
- You'll need to pass the credit check to get the plan.
Other Options: Vodafone and Spark
Vodafone Unlimited Data Plan (data throttles down after 22 GB)
What you get: Unlimited New Zealand data, unlimited calls and TXT to New Zealand and Australian numbers, streaming perks.
Price: $79.99/month
Our view: Unlike 2degrees, speeds slow down after 22 GB is used, and you can't tether or hotspot without paying an additional $15/month fee. Perks include 12 months of Netflix (worth $18/month) and Social Pass (meaning Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest etc are excluded from the 22 GB data cap).
Need-to-knows:
Price: $79.99/month
Our view: Unlike 2degrees, speeds slow down after 22 GB is used, and you can't tether or hotspot without paying an additional $15/month fee. Perks include 12 months of Netflix (worth $18/month) and Social Pass (meaning Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest etc are excluded from the 22 GB data cap).
Need-to-knows:
- One-month rolling contract (making switching to another provider easy).
- Maximum speeds reduce to 1 Mbps after 22GB/month.
- You can keep your existing number.
- Member of a group or family? You can upgrade to the Red+ group plan for $99.99/month.
- Vodafone may increase the price at any time.
- You'll need to pass the credit check to get the plan.
Spark Unlimited Mobile Plan (data throttles down after 22 GB)
What you get: Unlimited New Zealand data, unlimited calls and TXT to New Zealand and Australian numbers, streaming perks.
Price: $79.99/month
Our view: Unlike 2degrees, speeds slow down after 22 GB is used, and you can't tether or hotspot without paying an additional $10/month fee. Perks include 24 months of Spotify Premium (worth $15/month) and Lightbox.
Need-to-knows:
Price: $79.99/month
Our view: Unlike 2degrees, speeds slow down after 22 GB is used, and you can't tether or hotspot without paying an additional $10/month fee. Perks include 24 months of Spotify Premium (worth $15/month) and Lightbox.
Need-to-knows:
- One-month rolling contract (making switching to another provider easy).
- Maximum speeds reduce to 1 Mbps after 22GB/month.
- You can keep your existing number.
- As a Spark customer, you have access to 1 GB data/day with hotspots New Zealand-wide.
- Member of a group or family? You can upgrade to the Unlimited Group plan for $99.99/month.
- Spark may increase the price at any time.
- You'll need to pass the credit check to get the plan.
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.
