Contact Broadband Review

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

Updated 18 July 2021
Summary: 
  • Contact in a Nutshell: Contact is one of the largest broadband providers in New Zealand. As we will see in this guide, the broadband services provided by Contact are largely an add-on of the electric power plans provided by its parent company, Contact Energy.
  • Coverage: Contact provides broadband services to the whole of New Zealand
  • Plans and Pricing: Contact offers five plans, the ADSL Plan (from $89.99/month), the VDSL Plan (from $89.99/month), the Fast Fibre Plan (from $89.99/month), the Faster Fibre Plan (from $114.99/month), and the Max Fibre Plan (from $129.99/month).
 
How to get the best price on Contact broadband plan: 
  1. New Customers: Plans with Contact are cheapest when you sign up to the Broadband Bundle plan, or if you are an existing Contact Energy customer, you add broadband onto your current energy plan.
  2. Renewing: If you're happy with Contact and would like to continue, the best approach is to compare the pricing when your contract comes up for renewal. If Contact 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 five plans, compare the plans side-by-side, and outline how to choose the right Contact 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.

Contact 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 Contact, the installation cost is completely free of charge.
 
Important: 
  • Keep in mind that if your home does not have an existing fibre connection, your local fibre provider may charge extra for this connection.

Contact Broadband Customer Service and Outage Support

  • Contact' Customer Care Hours are 7 am -  7 pm, during weekdays and 8 am to 5 pm on weekends. There's a free phone number as well as a detailed FAQ designed to help you in case your internet is not working.

How fast is a Contact broadband connection?

The speed of your internet connection will be determined by the type of line available in your area. Depending on your location, Contact may have ADSL, VDSL, or Fibre lines available. Below is a reference of what to expect from each line: 
  • Contact’ ADSL Speed: Up to 10Mbps download speed / 2Mbps upload speed
  • Contact’ VDSL Speed: Up to 70Mbps download speed / 15Mbps upload speed
  • Contact’ Fast Fibre Speed: Up to 100Mbps download speed / 20Mbps upload speed
  • Contact’ Faster Fibre Speed: Up to 200Mbps download speed / 20Mbps upload speed
  • Contact’ Max Fibre Speed: Up to 900Mbps download speed / 500Mbps upload speed

Comparing Contact Plans - ADSL vs VDSL vs Fast Fibre vs Faster Fibre vs Max Fibre Plan

Contact offers five fixed-line broadband plans, the ADSL Plan, the VDSL Plan, the Fast Fibre Plan, the Faster Fibre Plan, and the Max Fibre Plan. We outline the offering of each, as well as the pros and cons.
 
Important: In order to join any Contact broadband plan, you must have a residential electricity account with Contact Energy registered at the same address.

Contact ADSL Broadband Plan Review

Summary: This plan is good for basic internet access, like web browsing, email, and watching occasional YouTube videos. 
  • Pricing: $89.99/month – up to 10Mbps download speed / 2Mbps upload speed
  • Discount: If you sign up to the Broadband Bundle plan, you receive a monthly discount and your broadband plan drops to $69.99/month. When you sign up you get free installation and a free modem ($14.99 postage and handling fee applies).
  • Learn more: For more details regarding the ADSL plan visit the Contact Broadband page
 
The Pros: 
  1. No caps, unlimited data transfer
  2. Open-term contact with no exit fees
  3. Free modem (you only pay a $14.99 postage and handling fee)
  4. Adequate speed for basic internet usage
  5. Free installation when you sign up for broadband with Contact
 
The Cons: 
  1. You cannot sign up to this plan unless you already are a Contact Energy customer
  2. The monthly price is somewhat high when compared to Contact’s Fast Fibre plan or similar ADSL plans from other broadband suppliers

Contact VDSL Broadband Plan Review

Summary: Contact’ VDSL Plan is adequate for light video streaming and other basic internet tasks such as web browsing, checking email, and light online gaming 
  • Pricing: $89.99/month – up to 70Mbps download speed / 15Mbps upload speed
  • Discount: If you sign up to the Broadband Bundle plan, you receive a monthly discount and your broadband plan drops to $69.99/month. When you sign up you get free installation and free modem ($14.99 postage and handling fee applies)
  • Learn more: For more details regarding the VDSL plan visit the Contact Broadband page
 
The Pros: 
  1. Unlimited data transfers
  2. Open-term contact with no exit fees
  3. Free modem (you only pay a $14.99 postage and handling fee)
  4. Adequate speed for basic/moderate internet usage
  5. Free installation when you sign up for broadband with Contact
 
The Cons: 
  1. Same as with ADSL plan, you cannot sign up to this plan unless you already are a Contact Energy customer
  2. The monthly price is rather high when compared to Contact’s Fast Fibre plan

​Contact Fast Fibre Review

Summary: Contact's Fast Fiber plan is a solid option for Kiwis looking for an affordable broadband plan with fast speeds ideal for streaming video, gaming, web browsing, and more. 
  • Pricing: $89.99/month (standard pricing), $64.99/month (when you bundle broadband and power), $59.99/month (when you bundle broadband, power, and gas) – up to 100Mbps download speed / 20Mbps upload speed
  • Discount: Online deal available when you bundle broadband with Contact power or gas. When you sign up, you get free installation and a free modem ($14.99 postage and handling fee applies)
  • Learn more: For more details regarding the Fast plan visit the Contact Broadband page
 
The Pros: 
  1. Unbeatable value when you bundle broadband, power, and gas services
  2. Fast, reliable fibre connection ideal for families of all sizes
  3. Unlimited data transfer
  4. Open-term contact with no exit fees
  5. Free modem (you only pay a $14.99 postage and handling fee)
  6. Adequate speed for all kinds of tasks
  7. Free installation when you sign up for broadband with Contact
 
The Cons: 
  1. Same as with other Contact broadband plans, you cannot sign up to this plan unless you already are a Contact Energy customer and even so, some conditions apply.
  2. This plan is not available in some areas of New Zealand. Visit the Contact website to check availability in your area. 

Contact Faster Fibre Review

Summary: Excellent choice for large families and professionals in need of 2x the speed of conventional fibre plans. Good for content creators, gamers, and other use cases demanding above average download speeds. 
  • Pricing: $114.99/month – up to 200Mbps download speed / 20Mbps upload speed
  • Discount: If you sign up to the Broadband Bundle plan, you receive a monthly discount and your broadband plan drops to $79.99/month. When you sign up you get free installation and free modem ($14.99 postage and handling fee applies)
  • Learn more: For more details regarding the Faster Fibre plan visit the Contact Broadband page
 
The Pros: 
  1. Offers a noticeable upgrade from Fast Fibre Plan
  2. Unlimited data transfer
  3. Open-term contact with no exit fees
  4. Free modem (you only pay a $14.99 postage and handling fee)
  5. Adequate speed for the most demanding tasks
  6. Free installation when you sign up for broadband with Contact
 
The Cons: 
  1. Same as with other Contact broadband plans, you cannot sign up to this plan unless you already are a Contact Energy customer and even so, some conditions apply.
  2. This plan is not available in some areas of New Zealand. Visit Contact's website to check availability in your area.

Contact Max Fibre Review

Summary: Incredibly fast fibre connection, ideal for content creators, professional gamers, and large Kiwi families looking for the fastest internet experience possible. 
  • Pricing: $129.99/month – up to 900Mbps download speed / 500Mbps upload speed
  • Discount: If you sign up to the Broadband Bundle plan, you receive a monthly discount and your broadband plan drops to $79.99/month. When you sign up you get free installation and free modem ($14.99 postage and handling fee applies)
  • Learn more: For more details regarding the Max Fibre plan visit Contact's Broadband page
 
The Pros: 
  1. Outstanding performance, definitely an excellent option for individuals or families in need of the fastest connection speed that Contact can offer
  2. Unlimited data transfer
  3. Open-term contact with no exit fees
  4. Free modem (you only pay a $14.99 postage and handling fee)
  5. Free installation when you sign up for broadband with Contact
 
The Cons: 
  1. Same as with other Contact broadband plans, you cannot sign up to this plan unless you already are a Contact Energy customer and even so, some conditions apply.
  2. This plan is not available in some areas of New Zealand. Visit Contact website to check availability in your area.
  3. The standard price of $129.99/month is rather high when compared to similar plans from other broadband providers.

Which Contact Broadband Plan is the Best?

Our view is that, for most homes, the Fast Fibre Broadband Plan offers the best value for your money. At $59.99 per month (when bundled with power and natural gas), the price/speed ratio offered by Contact’s Fast Fibre Broadband Plan is a strong offering.

Choosing the Right Contact Plan - ADSL vs VDSL vs Fast Fibre vs Faster Fibre vs Max Fibre Plan

To determine which plan best suits your needs, consider the following specifications and features:
 
1. Connection Speed: In general terms:
  • The ADSL Plan offers enough speed for small families, couples, and individuals with light internet usage, basically, checking email, reading news, and browsing the web.
  • The VDSL Plan is more suitable for small and medium sized families that require additional bandwidth to enjoy light video streaming from services such as Netflix, Amazon Prime, Disney+ etc. 
  • The Fast Fibre Plan offers more than adequate speed for enjoying 4k video streaming, high-quality audio streaming, VoIP services, content creation, gaming, and more.
  • The Faster Fibre Plan has twice the download speed of the Fast Fibre plan, which might be a deciding factor for professionals who require downloading large files.
  • The Max Fibre Plan is a top-tier plan, offering one of the fastest connections available in NZ. This plan will definitely meet the expectations of content creators, developers, gamers, and Kiwi families who require blazing fast download and upload speeds.

2. Flexibility:
  • All Contact broadband plans are open-term. Since there are no exit fees, you can stay for as long as you like and switch to another broadband provider anytime.
  • Contact does not offer "naked plans". All of their plans are subject to whether you already have a contract for electricity or gas (or both) at the address where you want the broadband service.
 
3. Set-Up Charges:
  • One of the great advantages that Contact offers is that the charges for setting up the service are practically non-existent. Both the installation and the modem are completely free, the only thing you have to pay is $ 15 for shipping and handling of the modem.
 
4. Monthly Costs: Although Contact offers advantages that are difficult to overlook, such as offering both the installation and the modem free of charge, it is also true that their rates are not the most competitive on the market. With the notable exception of its "Broadband Bundle Plan", prices for ADSL, VDSL, Faster Fiber, and Max Fiber plans are higher than the competition.

Contact Broadband Frequently Asked Questions

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

Is Contact 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 Contact offer a free modem?

Yes, Contact offers a free modem with every plan. If you prefer, you could also set up your own modem. For further information regarding using your own modem read this FAQ.

Does Contact offer additional perks?

No, unlike other broadband providers, Contact does not offer additional perks.

Does Contact offer an open term contract?

Yes, in fact, Contact does not offer fixed-term contracts. All its plans are open term with no exit fees. 

Does Contact offer discounts for broadband plans?

Yes - Contact’s Broadband Bundle Plan offers a discounted price when you bundle any of its Broadband plans with power and natural gas services.

Who owns Contact?

The vast majority of Contact (58.7%) belongs to the general public. Insitutions hold 39.9%.

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

No – Contact does not provide phone lines. It offers electricity and natural gas services instead.
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