Compass Broadband Review

We review Compass broadband's three plans and outline the pros and cons of each, benefits and how to get the best price

Updated 18 July 2021
Summary: 
  • Compass in a Nutshell: Compass is one of New Zealand's largest broadband providers, noted for offering enormous flexibility in their plans
  • Coverage: New Zealand-wide broadband using fibre technology
  • Plans and Pricing: Compass offers three plans, the Fibre 30 Plan (from $74.95/month), the Fibre 100 Plan (from $79.95/month), and the Fibre MAX Plan (from $99.95/month).
 
How to get the best price on Compass broadband plan:
  1. New Customers: Plans with Compass are cheapest when you sign up for 12-months or 24-months and don't plan to change providers for at least 12/24 months (therefore avoiding the early exit fee).
  2. Renewing: If you're happy with Compass and would like to continue, the best approach is to compare the pricing when your contract comes up for renewal. If Compass is offering a better deal than the renew rate, contact their support team and ask for them to apply it to your account.
 
Our review: 
In this guide, we detail the pros and cons of the three plans, compare the plans side-by-side, and outline how to choose the right Compass broadband plan for you. We cover:

Christopher Walsh, Founder of MoneyHub, shares his views on comparing broadband providers:

  • Broadband plans have never been cheaper or faster, thanks to a nationwide fibre rollout, more competition and better technology.
  • That being said, we believe what matters is reliability, speed, price and support.
  • Our best broadband providers guide and this review help you make an informed choice. Our research team is committed to keeping everything up to date so you can easily find the best deal. 
  • We don't publish complicated tables or tools for comparing broadband. Instead, we focus on making you aware of the best deals where the pricing is fixed for at least 12 months.
  • If you have something we need to know about, please contact our research team - we would love to hear from you.
  • Unlike other broadband comparison websites, we have no relationship with any broadband company, and we're proud that our guides are 100% independent.

Compass Broadband Set Up and Installation Charges

Know this first: When comparing broadband providers, service setup charges are an essential part of the deal. In the case of Compass, the installation cost will depend on the type of contract you choose – the three choices are open term (prepaid), 12-month fixed-term and 24-month fixed-term. The differences in cost are significant: 
  1. Open Term (prepaid): The installation is free, however, you will have to pay for your modem (or use a compatible modem that you have available)
  2. Fixed Term (12 months): Free standard connection, however, you will have to buy a compatible modem or rent one (or use a compatible modem if you already have one)
  3. Fixed Term (24 months): Free standard installation and free D-Link DIR-853 Wi-Fi Router (currently valued at $180)
 
Important: 

Compass Broadband Customer Service and Outage Support

  • Compass' Customer Service Hours are 8 am - 7 pm, 7 days. You can submit your support request by email or by using Compass helpdesk. Additionally, there’s a freephone number where you can contact support: 0800 640 840.

How Fast is a Compass Broadband Connection?

The speed of your internet connection will be determined by the type of line available in your area. Depending on your location, Compass may have ADSL, VDSL, or Fibre lines available. Below is a reference of what to expect from Compass current Fibre line offerings: 
  • Compass’ Fibre 30 Speed: Up to 30Mbps download speed / 10Mbps upload speed
  • Compass’ Fibre 100 Speed: Up to 100Mbps download speed / 20Mbps upload speed
  • Compass’ Fibre MAX Speed: Up to 900Mbps download speed / 450Mbps upload speed

Comparing Compass Plans - Fibre 30 vs Fibre 100 vs Fibre MAX Plan

Compass offers three fixed-line broadband plans, the Fibre 30 Plan, the Fibre 100 Plan, and the Fibre MAX Plan. We outline the offering of each, as well as the pros and cons. 

​Compass Fibre 30 Broadband Plan Review

Summary: The Compass Fibre 30 plan is a good option for NZ households looking for an inexpensive broadband plan with unlimited data and reasonable speeds 
  • Pricing: $74.95/month – up to 30Mbps download speed / 10Mbps upload speed
  • Discount: When you sign up on a 12-month term contract you get free installation. When you sign up on a 24-month term contract you get free installation and a free modem.
 
The Pros: 
  1. Low-cost plan with adequate speeds for basic web browsing and other light tasks
  2. Unlimited data
  3. Above-average upload speed when compared to similarly priced ADSL2 and VDSL plans offered by other companies
  4. Fibre technology, which enables up to 30 Mbps download speed and up to 10 Mbps upload speed
  5. Free installation when choosing a 12-month fixed-term contract
  6. Free installation and a free modem rental when choosing a 24-month fixed-term contract
  7. Receive a welcome credit of $150 if you sign up on a 24-month term, or $100 if you sign up on a 12-month term
 
The Cons: 
  1. No free modem rental if you sign up to a 12-month or open term contract
  2. Unlike the Fiber 100 and Fiber MAX plans, you must pay your bill monthly. The weekly and daily options are not available
  3. If you cancel the fixed-term 12-month or 24-month contract, you will have to pay an early termination fee of $199

Compass Fibre 100 Plan Review

Summary: The Compass Fiber 100 plan is a solid option for families who need enough bandwidth to enjoy a lag-free experience when using multiple video streaming services like Netflix or Disney+ simultaneously. 
  • Flexible Pricing: $79.95/month,  or $19.95/week, or $3/day (prepaid without a landline), or $4/day (prepaid with landline) – up to 100Mbps download speed / 20Mbps upload speed
  • Discount: When you sign up on a 12-month term contract you get $100 welcome credit and free installation. When you sign up on a 24-month term contract you get $150 welcome credit, free installation, and a free modem. The customer credit is subject to Compass's special terms and conditions regarding promotions
 
The Pros: 
  1. Competitive priced when compared to similar fibre plans from other companies
  2. Fast enough to meet the needs of most Kiwi families
  3. Flexible, your choice of monthly, weekly, or prepaid payment options
  4. Unlimited data
  5. $100 or $150 customer credit when signing up 12-month or 24-month fixed-term contracts respectively
  6. The Fibre 100 Prepaid offers no fixed terms, no credit checks, and no penalties or late fees
  7. Fibre technology, which enables up to 100 Mbps download speed and up to 20 Mbps upload speed
  8. Free installation when choosing a 12-month fixed-term contract
  9. Free installation and a free modem rental when choosing a 24-month fixed-term contract
 
Cons: 
  1. If you are on a Fibre 100 Prepaid plan and your balance is $0 for more than 8 days you will be disconnected and will have to pay a $65 reconnection fee. You can learn more about Compass Prepaid broadband visiting their website
  2. Both the weekly and daily payment options cost you more compared to the monthly plan
  3. If you cancel the fixed-term 12-month or 24-month contract, you will have to pay an early termination fee of $199

Compass Fibre MAX Plan Review

Summary: The Compass Fiber MAX plan is hands down the best option for professionals, gamers, and content creators in need of the fastest connection possible 
  • Flexible Pricing: $99.95/month or $24.95/week – up to 900Mbps download speed / 450Mbps upload speed
  • Discount: When you sign up on a 12-month term contract you get $100 welcome credit and free installation. When you sign up on a 24-month term contract you get $150 welcome credit, free installation, and a free modem. The customer credit is subject to Compass special terms and conditions regarding promotions
 
The Pros: 
  1. Competitive priced when compared to top tier fibre plans from the competition
  2. Offers one of the fastest connection speeds available in New Zealand
  3. Flexible, with your choice of monthly or weekly payment options
  4. Unlimited data
  5. $100 or $150 customer credit when signing up 12-month or 24-month fixed-term contracts respectively
  6. Fibre technology, which enables up to 900 Mbps download speed and up to 450 Mbps upload speed
  7. Free installation when choosing a 12-month fixed-term contract
  8. Free installation and a free modem rental when choosing a 24-month fixed-term contract
 
Cons: 
  1. No prepaid option available for this plan
  2. The weekly payment option costs you more compared to the monthly plan
  3. If you cancel the fixed-term 12-month or 24-month contract, you will have to pay an early termination fee of $199

Which Compass Broadband Plan is Best?

Our view is that, for most homes, the 'mid-tier' Compass Fibre 100 Plan offers the best value for your money. However, if you are a content creator or your work requires the fastest broadband connection, the Fibre MAX may be a better option.

Choosing the Right Compass Plan - Fibre 30 vs Fibre 100 vs Fibre MAX Broadband Plan

To determine which plan best suits your needs, consider the following specifications and features:
 
1. Connection Speed: In general terms:
  • The Fibre 30 Plan is suitable for couples without children or small families with basic needs such as checking emails, reading the news, watching YouTube videos, or watching Netflix on a single screen at a time.
  • The Fibre 100 Plan is more suitable for larger families who require additional bandwidth to simultaneously enjoy 2-3 streaming services such as Netflix, Amazon Prime, Disney+ etc. 
  • The Fibre MAX Plan is definitely the best alternative for creative professionals and/or gamers and streamers that require very fast download and upload speeds.
​
2. Flexibility:
  • Compass is currently one of the broadband providers offering more flexibility in New Zealand. Among the available options, there the option of a prepaid plan or fixed-term plans with 12 months or 24 months duration. Moreover, the Fibre 100 Plan is notable for offering monthly, weekly, and daily (prepaid) payment options. However, the truth is that the benefits of the 24-month fixed-term arrangement are unrivalled.
 
3. Set-Up Charges:
  • The price structure used by Compass reinforces the difference between a fixed term and an open term.
  • If you decide to opt for an open term (prepaid), you will have to pay for everything from the connection installation to the modem.
  • In contrast, if you decide to sign up for a one year contract, the installation will be free of charge. Furthermore, if you decide to sign up for a two-year contract, both the installation and the modem will be free.
  • However, If you sign up for a fixed term and terminate the contract before the agreed 12 or 24 month period, you will have to pay an early termination fee of $199.
  • Our view is simple - opting for the open term contract only makes sense if you are willing to use your own modem and don’t plan to be a customer within 12 months. 

Compass Broadband Frequently Asked Questions

To help you decide if Compass is right for your home, we've included several frequently asked questions to help you know more about the service.

Is Compass available at my address?

Most likely - you'll need to type in your address to see if you're covered. You can do that here under See Availability.

​Does Compass offer a free modem?

Yes, Compass offers the option of free modem rental when you sign up for a 24-month contract. If you prefer, you could also set up your own modem using these guides.

Does Compass offer additional perks?

Compass does not offer free streaming services as other broadband providers do. However, it does offer discounts and interesting payment options. Compass also offers 4G Mobile plans as add-ons if you are a Broadband customer. These Mobile plans range from $28.95 - $69.95 per month, depending on how much mobile data, minutes and text you want in your Mobile package. You can browse the Mobile plans here.

Does Compass offer an open term contract?

Yes, Compass offers an open-term contract (prepaid), but to access it you will have to pay several additional fees. Our view is that this may be impractical for most customers. 

Does Compass offer discounts for broadband plans?

​Yes - Compass does offer discounts for its fixed-term plans. In that regard, the Fibre 100 Plan is arguably the most appealing option.

Who owns Compass?

Compass is owned by Compass Communications, a 100% kiwi owned independent telecommunications group

Does Compass offer a home phone add-on with its broadband plans?

Yes – you can opt for a landline add-on when contracting the Fibre 100 prepaid plan.
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