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Mercury Broadband Review

We review Mercury broadband's plans and outline the pros and cons, benefits, and how to get the best price
Updated 28 September 2023

Summary: 
  • Mercury in a Nutshell: Mercury has recently acquired Trustpower and is one of the largest broadband, power, and gas provider in New Zealand and is focused on delivering convenience to its customer base by including all household services in one easy-to-understand bill.
  • Coverage: Mercury broadband services are not available in all areas. To find out what type of service is available in your area, visit their website and enter your address.

How to get the best price on a Mercury broadband plan: 
  1. New Customers: Plans with Mercury are the cheapest when you sign up for 24-months and bundle broadband with a power plan. This works if you don’t plan to change providers for at least 24 months (therefore avoiding the early exit fee).
  2. Renewing: If you're happy with Mercury and would like to continue, the best approach is to compare the pricing when your contract comes up for renewal. If Mercury offers a better deal than the renewal rate, contact their support team and ask for them to apply it to your account.
 
Our review: 
This guide details the five plans pros, and cons compare the plans side-by-side and outline how to choose the best Mercury 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.
Christopher Walsh
MoneyHub Founder

Mercury Broadband Plans, Setup Charges and Add-ons

Plan
Monthly Cost
Download Speed (Mbps)
Contract Type
Wireless broadband 120 GB
$84
23
Open / Fixed
Wireless broadband 300 GB
$89
23
Open / Fixed
Wireless broadband 1000 GB
$94
23
Open / Fixed
Unlimited FibreClassic [UFB]
$109
314
Open / Fixed
Unlimited FibreMax [MAX]
$124
870
Open / Fixed
Know this first: When comparing broadband providers, service setup charges are an essential part of the deal. In the case of Mercury, the installation cost will depend on the type of plan you choose – Wireless Broadband, or the Fibre broadband plans (Ultra-Fast Broadband or FibreMax).
  1. Connection cost: There is no cost for a Wireless connection or a standard fibre connection. Non-standard connections (more than 200 meters away from the fibre cable access point or if your house requires additional wiring) may incur an installation fee.    
  2. Modem cost: All of Mercury's plans include a Modem. For wireless broadband, the rental is included; for fibre plans, you can rent a modem that covers 140 square meters for $7.50 per month. A shipping fee of $14.95 applies in either case; you also have the option to Bring your own router.
  3. Exit Fees:  An early disconnection fee applies, depending on when you exit the contract. It can be as high as $1,440. The fee for terminating the agreement depends on your chosen broadband service and the Joining Reward you receive. Additionally, this fee will decrease by a fixed amount every month throughout the duration of the agreement.
  4. Data Caps: If you are on a plan that is capped, you will receive an alert when you've used 80% of your allowance and another one when you've reached the cap. You can purchase data packs of 10 GB for $10 per pack (you can buy a maximum of 4 packs). Mercury will automatically activate a pack at the same price of $10 for 10 GB if you've reached your cap but have not purchased any data packs already. 
  5. Add-ons: You can add a homeline to your Mercury Broadband. The price depends on your type of connection: for Wireless Broadband it's an additional $10 per month; if you have a fibre plan you only have to pay an extra $5 per month.
  6. Discounts and perks: 
  • You can save $15 per month on any broadband plan by bundling this service with an energy contract.
  • You can save $5 per month on your broadband plan when adding a mobile number with Mercury and sometimes they offer free months on your mobile account as well
  • Mercury offers an elaborate scheme of Joining Rewards, split into various Tiers. The rewards in the lower tiers are free and you can choose between several Samsung appliances, ranging from a 43" Smart TV to a washing machine to a cordless vacuum cleaner. You can also pay a "top up" to access a range of more premium appliances from the upper tiers. A minimum of a 24-month term, terms and conditions and exit fees apply; for more information, visit Mercury's website or read the Terms and Conditions.
  • Mercury runs various seasonal promotions, but you'll likely find a discount if you bundle your broadband with energy or with energy and gas. The longer the fixed term you commit to, the larger the discount will be. For example, at the time of writing, there were special offers for fixed-term energy and broadband bundles, you receive a $50 joining credit plus: with a 12-month contract you get 6 months of free broadband; with 24-month contracts you can receive a Joining Reward (a Samsung appliance).

Mercury Broadband Customer Service and Outage Support

  • Mercury's Customer Support Hours are from Monday to Friday, 8 am - 6:30 pm via their free number (0800 10 18 10). Also, you can chat online in real time with a member of their customer service team from Monday to Friday, 8 am - 6:30 pm, and weekends from 8 am - 5 pm. 

Comparing Mercury Plans - Wireless Broadband vs Fibre Classic vs FibreMax Plan

Mercury offers various broadband plans: Capped and Unlimited Wireless Broadband Plans, and the Unlimited Fibre Classic and FibreMax Plans. We outline the offering of each, as well as the pros and cons.

Mercury Wireless Broadband Plan Review

Summary: Mercury's Wireless Broadband plans offer a relatively inexpensive alternative for households with basic internet needs where fibre connections are not available.   
The Pros: 
  1. Low-cost, high-speed 4G wireless broadband
  2. Average speed, good for basic online tasks
  3. Once the data cap limit is reached, a 10GB pack will be automatically activated. After that, you can manually top up your account with more 10GB packs
  4. Phone landline, mobile, and gas plans are available in addition to power
  5. Good value in areas where copper-based and fibre-based broadband connections are not available
  6. Free modem rental (you only pay postage and handling fees)
  7. No installation fees
  8. Great joining perks as customers on a broadband and power bundle for 24-month term get to choose between a free Samsung appliance or discounted broadband.
 
The Cons: 
  1. No unlimited plans available (though the 1000 GB cap is very generous)
  2. Lower data caps might be limiting for families in need of bandwidth-intensive applications
  3. You have to bundle broadband with power to enjoy a discounted price
  4. If you cancel the fixed-term contract before it ends, you will have to pay an early termination fee that can vary depending on the months remaining on your fixed term agreement and the joining reward you chose (if any). For more details, read Mercury's Terms & Conditions.

Mercury Unlimited FibreClassic Plan Review

Summary: The FibreClassic Plan provides an excellent cost-benefit ratio along with enough bandwidth to meet the demands of large families, content creators, and home-based professionals.   
The Pros:
  1. Unlimited data transfer and high speed connection
  2. Phone landline, mobile, and gas plans are available
  3. Ideal for bandwidth-hungry households
  4. No installation fees (certain Terms & Conditions apply)
  5. Great joining perks for customers signing up for a power and broadband bundle plan on a 24-month term
 
The Cons:
  1. Welcome deals require bundling broadband with power and signing up for 24 months with Mercury
  2. You will have to pay a hefty early termination fee depending on which Joining Reward you have picked and the amount of time since you signed up with Mercury. For more details, please read Mercury Terms & Conditions
  3. Non-standard installation fees may apply if your home is more than 200 meters from the fibre access point

Mercury FibreMax Broadband Plan Review

Summary: This plan offers super-fast speeds and allows you to enjoy multiple 4K video streamings and the convenience to work with applications that require high bandwidth.   
The Pros: 
  1. Unlimited data transfer, no caps
  2. Phone landline, mobile, and gas plans are available
  3. Good value for large families and online professionals
  4. Ideal for content creators, developers, and professionals working from home
  5. No installation fees  (certain terms and conditions apply)
  6. Great joining perks for customers signing up to a broadband and power bundle on a 24-month term, with this plan you get access to a higher tier of rewards and the top-up fee to go up in tiers is lower
 
The Cons: 
  1. Welcome deals require bundling broadband with power and signing up for 24 months with Mercury
  2. You will have to pay a hefty early termination fee, depending on which Joining Reward you have picked and the amount of time since you signed up with Mercury. For more details, please read Mercury Terms and Conditions
  3. Non-standard installation fees may apply if your home is more than 200 meters from the fibre access point

Which Mercury Broadband Plan is the Best?

Our view is that the Unlimited FibreClassic Plan is good for those who seek the best value. However, for large families and professionals requiring above-average bandwidth in their homes, the Ultra-Fast FibreMax Broadband Plan is a good alternative.

Choosing the Right Mercury Plan

Mercury's broadband plans are not the fastest or cheapest on the market. However, when combined with other services such as power, gas, home phone, and mobile, they give you the convenience of having all your services on a single bill. Moreover, by combining all these services, you obtain additional savings not only on your broadband bill but also on gas and electricity services, which is an advantage that few other providers can offer. Concerning broadband, though, given the similarity of prices and rewards between different plans, choosing a plan has a lot to do with the connection speed you need.
 
1. Connection Speed: In general terms:
  • Mercury’s Wireless Broadband Plans: These plans are not intended for households that want to use multiple Netflix screens or run bandwidth-intensive applications as they offer lower speeds. These are plans designed for couples and families who are just looking for a quick solution to meet their basic needs, such as checking email, browsing the web, or watching occasional YouTube videos.
  • Mercury's FibreClassic Broadband Plan: This is a good plan for large families who consume lots of data; think of multiple HD streaming services such as Netflix, Amazon Prime, or Disney+ used at once.
  • Mercury’s FibreMax Broadband Plan: In our view, the 900/450Mbps speed offered by this plan is ideal for developers, content creators, and families looking for a service capable of streaming multiple 4k Netflix screens simultaneously. Keep in mind, though, that this plan is not available in all of New Zealand yet.
 
2. Flexibility:
  • Mercury offers open-term plans but to get the most out of the prices and rewards, you must sign a 24-month contract. This can be a real drawback for many Kiwis who do not want to commit to a broadband provider for 2 years. However, if it is okay with you to contract power and broadband with Mercury, then you could save some money during those two years, in addition to taking advantage of the incredible rewards for new customers.
 
3. Set-Up Charges:
  • Unlike many other broadband providers, Mercury offers almost zero setup costs. If your home already has a connection or you only require a standard connection, then the only thing you will have to pay is the modem shipping costs.
 
4. Monthly Costs:
  • From the point of view of monthly costs, deciding on a plan is really easy. The difference between Mercury's various broadband plans is relatively small, with Mercury's Wireless and Fibre plans being in a very narrow price range. In other words, it doesn't make much sense to subscribe to Wireless if the Fibre or FibreMax services are available in your area.
 
5. Additional perks:
  • Mercury currently has two of the most exciting welcome promotions in New Zealand. Both the half-price broadband option and the welcome rewards are very attractive. Note, however, that to enjoy any of these promotions, you must sign a 24-month contract (broadband and power).

Mercury Broadband Frequently Asked Questions

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

Is Mercury available at my address?

There is a good chance that broadband service is available at your address as Mercury is one of the top service providers in New Zealand. To verify what type of plans is available in your area, you just have to enter your address on the Mercury page.

​Does Mercury offer a free modem?

Yes, on some of their plans. Mercury offers  a free modem for Wireless but you have to rent a modem for their Fibre plans. Alternatively, you can bring your own modem (BYO) as far as it’s compatible with the service. To set up your own modem, you can follow the Configuring your modem settings FAQ on Mercury ’s website.

Does Mercury offer additional perks?

Yes, it does. You can choose between discounted broadband or free joining rewards when signing up. A minimum of a 24-month term, terms and conditions and exit fees apply, though.

Does Mercury offer an open term contract?

Yes, Mercury offers open-term contracts on their plans but access to discounts and perks are exclusive to fixed-term contracts.

Does Mercury offer discounts for broadband plans?

Mercury offers a discount on their plans when bundling broadband and power. Additionally, you can opt for additional perks depending on the type of broadband service you choose.

Who owns Mercury?

51% of Mercury is owned by the New Zealand Government

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

Yes, you can add a homeline to any of Mercury's broadband plans.​
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