Compare Mobile Plans

Compare Monthly, Prepay and Unlimited Data Mobile Plans, including offers from Spark, Vodafone, 2degrees, Skinny, Slingshot Warehouse Mobile and more

Updated 05 September 2020

Our guide reviews:

• 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 specialist SIM-only options, covering Warehouse Mobile, Skinny and other providers, are outlined here.

Our overall recommendations:

1. Best prepaid cell phone plan - Spark 1.25 GB Data Rollover ($19/4 weeks)
2. Best phone plan for the average user - 2degrees' 10 GB ($55/month)
3. Best unlimited data plan -  2degrees' Unlimited Data ($85/month)
4. Best network for families and groups - 2degrees  (from $32.50/person)
5. Best network for international roaming - Vodafone (our roaming comparison guide has more details)

Looking specifically for a new iPhone with a 24 or 36-month plan? Use our Best iPhone Plan Review. 

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	$19/4 weeks	$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 Data Stack (100 MB/month)	-
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 unused, for 360 days
Hotspot/Tethering?	Allowed	Allowed	Allowed
Further details​	2degrees.co.nz	​spark.co.nz	vodafone.co.nz

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	$30/month	$29/4 weeks	$29/month
Data	2.5 GB	2 GB + 2 GB Bonus Data	2 GB
Minutes (NZ)	300	300	300
TXT ​ (NZ)	Unlimited	​Unlimited	Unli​mited
Perks	Free daily data hour Unlimited calls to 2degrees mobile	50% off Spotify 1 GB WIFI Hotspot/day ​Data Stack (100 MB/month)	-
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 unused, for 360 days
Hotspot/Tethering?	Allowed	Allowed	Allowed
Further details​	2degrees.co.nz	​spark.co.nz	vodafone.co.nz

Three Must-Know Prepay Facts

Rollover and Carryover allowances are only valid if you renew your pack when it expires

You 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. 
​

Casual rates can be very expensive

If 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:

1. 2degrees: Voice or video calling (44c/min), texting (20c/text), data (50c per MB)
2. Spark: Voice calling (49c/min), texting (20c/text), data ($1/ day for 10 MB, additional data is 30c/MB)
3. Vodafone: Voice calling (30c/min), texting (10c/text) and data (20c per MB)​ 

​

Prepay credit expires if it's not used - and you can lose your phone number

2degrees, Spark and Vodafone credit all expires after 365 days, without exception.

Looking specifically for a new iPhone with a 24 or 36-month plan? Use our Best iPhone Plan Review. ​

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 8 GB Rollover	Vodafone ​15 GB Red+ Lite
Price	$55/month	$59.99/month	$59.99/month
Data	10 GB	4 Gb (+ 4 GB bonus data)	10 GB + 5GB Bonus data
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 Pas s 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 ​spark.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:

• 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. 

More details: Visit 2degrees' 10 GB data plan offer

Other Options: Vodafone and Spark

Vodafone 10 GB + Unlimited Minutes Red+ Lite Plan

What you get: 15 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:

• 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. 

More details: Visit Vodafone's 10 GB data Red+ Lite plan offer

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:

• 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. 

More details: Visit Spark's 4G data pay monthly offer

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 Large Endless Data
Price	$85/month	$79.99/month	$80/month
Data Limit (before speed slows down)	40 GB	40 GB	40 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 Social Pass for 1 year
Group or Family Option?	Yes	Yes	Yes
Hotspot/Tethering?	Allowed	$10/month additional	Allowed
Further details​	Our review and 2degrees.co.nz	Our review and ​spark.co.nz	Our review and vodafone.co.nz

Our Pick - Vodafone Large Endless Data Pay Monthly Plan

What you get: Unlimited New Zealand data, unlimited calls and TXT to New Zealand and Australian numbers, streaming perks. 
Price: $80/month
Our view: Vodafone already allows up to 40GB data before the speed slows down to 1.2 Mbps. Their new Endless Data plan allows for a hotspot without additional cost. Perks include a Social Pass (meaning Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest etc are excluded from the 40GB data cap). 
Need-to-knows:

• One-month rolling contract (making switching to another provider easy).
• Maximum speeds reduce to 1.2 Mbps after 40GB/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. 

More details: Visit Vodafone's unlimited data offer

Other Options: Vodafone and Spark

What you get: Unlimited New Zealand data, unlimited calls and TXT to New Zealand and Australian numbers. 
Price: $85/month
Our view: Like Vodafone, 2degrees permits tethering and hotspot use on its unlimited plan. It also allows up to 40 GB of data before speeds reduce.  
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. 

More details: Visit 2degrees' unlimited data offer

Spark Unlimited Mobile Plan (data throttles down after 40 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:  Spark already allows up to 40GB data before the speed slows down but 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 40GB/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. 

More details: Visit Spark's unlimited data offer

Looking specifically for a new iPhone with a 24 or 36-month plan? Use our Best iPhone Plan Review. ​

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

• 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.

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Related guides:

• 2degrees Mobile Review
• Spark Mobile Review
• Vodafone Mobile Review
• SIM-only Mobile Plans
• Mobile Data Roaming
• Credit Scores and Credit Checks