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NOW Broadband Review

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

Summary: 
  • NOW in a Nutshell: NOW is one of the largest broadband providers in the country, and its differentiating factor is its immense commitment to offering the best broadband technical support in New Zealand.
  • Coverage: NOW offers ADSL, VDSL, and Fibre broadband nationwide. To find out what type of service is available in your area, visit their website.

How to get the best price on NOW broadband plan: 
  1. New Customers: Plans with NOW are cheapest when you sign up for an unlimited data plan, and if on a fixed term plan, don't break the contract early so you can avoid any exit fees).
  2. Renewing: If you're happy with NOW, are on a fixed-term plan would like to continue, the best approach is to compare the pricing when your contract comes up for renewal. If NOW 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: 
This guide details the plans offered by Now, their pros and cons and compares them side-by-side. 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

NOW Broadband Plans, Setup Charges and Add-ons

Plan
Monthly cost
Download Speed (Mbps)
Contract Type
ADSL/VDSL 125GB
$85
ADSL: 9.8 / VDSL: 42.5
Open / Fixed
ADSL/VDSL Unlimited
$95
ADSL: 9.8 / VDSL: 42.5
Open / Fixed
125GB [UFB]
$85
315
Open / Fixed
Unlimited [UFB]
$95
315
Open / Fixed
Ultra [MAX]
$105
842
Open / Fixed
Know this first: By default, the plans offered by Now are open-term, but from time to time they offer fixed-term plans with attractive discounts. When comparing broadband providers, service setup charges are an essential part of the deal so we outline the most relevant costs below.
  1. Connection cost: There is no cost for a standard fibre connection or for a fixed-term ADSL /VDSL plan. For open-term plans, an ADSL or VDSL connection costs $79. 
  2. Modem cost: You have the option to Bring your own router, or you can purchase one from Now NZ at the following prices: an ADSL / VDSL router costs $150, a fibre router costs $120, plus a postage charge of $14 for either of them. When buying a router from Now, you can choose to pay upfront or in monthly instalments.
  3. Exit Fees:  If you're on a fixed-term contract and terminate it early, an early disconnection fee applies. Depending on when you exit the contract, it can range from $199 to $299.
  4. Data Caps: If you are on a plan that is capped and you reach your data limit, a “handbrake”  is applied and your speed will be reduced to 128 Kbps until the next calendar month, or you can disable the handbrake and pay $1 per GB used.
  5. Discounts: From time to time, Now NZ will have promotional offers like months free or at half price when committing to fixed-term contracts.
  6. Add-ons: You can add a homeline that includes local calling for $10, additional calling packs that are individually priced. You can also purchase access to enhanced support through their Home Tech assist membership, it costs $9.95 per month for remote assistance or $19.95 per month for in-person assistance (up to two one-hour home visits per year plus unlimited remote support). You can also purchase a static IP address.

NOW Broadband Customer Service and Outage Support

  • You can contact NOW's Customer Support by phone from 8 am - 9 pm, during weekdays and from 8:30 am to 5 pm during weekends.
  • You can also contact support by sending an email, or in person at their Napier HQ at office hours from Monday to Friday, or in Christchurch (you have to call first for an appointment).
  • It’s worth mentioning that you can also include a Remote Assist Membership for an additional cost, as mentioned above in the add-ons section. 

Comparing NOW Plans - 125GB vs Unlimited vs Ultra Plans

NOW offers various fibre and VDSL/ADSL plans, we describe them below in detail.

NOW 125GB Broadband Plan Review

Summary: NOW's 125GB Plan is available on Fibre and ADSL/VDSL connections, and offers a good starting point to enjoy fast and stable broadband connection for tasks that consume little to moderate bandwidth.  
The Pros: 
  1. Phone landline plans are available
  2. Access to NOW’s dedicated broadband tech support team
 
The Cons:
  1. The data cap of 125GB may be limiting for many New Zealanders, the speed reduces considerably once the cap is reached and overage charges can be expensive
  2. For a few dollars more, you can get an unlimited plan
  3. If you cancel the fixed term contract before it ends, you will have to pay an early termination fee
  4. You pay the same amount of money regardless of the available broadband line in your area (ADSL, VDSL, or Fibre)

NOW Unlimited Broadband Plan Review

Summary: As its name suggests, NOW's Unlimited Broadband Plan has no data transfer limitations so it is an excellent upgrade over the 125GB plan, ideal for large families and content creators. As the previous plan, this is available for ADSL/VDSL and fibre  
The Pros: 
  1. Good value for your money (assuming that you can opt for fibre speeds)
  2. Enough broadband bandwidth and speed for moderate/intensive internet usage (fibre)
  3. NOW’s dedicated broadband tech support team

The Cons: 
  1. You pay the same amount of money regardless of the available connection type in your area (ADSL, VDSL, or Fibre)
  2. If you cancel the 12-month contract before it ends, you will have to pay an early termination fee

NOW Ultra Broadband Plan Review

Summary: NOW's Ultra plan provides one of the fastest broadband connections in New Zealand at a reasonable price, making them attractive to professionals who work from home and large families with high bandwidth demands.   
The Pros: 
  1. Great value considering the high speed
  2. Ideal for intensive internet usage and work from home
  3. Phone landline plans are available.
  4. NOW’s dedicated broadband tech support team
 
The Cons: 
  1. If you cancel the 12-month contract before it ends, you will have to pay an early termination fee
 
Important: If you are interested in the In-Home Assist Membership, you can either add it to your ULTRA plan (at a discounted rate) during the sign-up process, or contract the Epic Unlimited Plan which already includes this membership. Either option works out to be the same price overall.

Which NOW Broadband Plan is the Best?

Our view is that the middle and upper tier plans offered by Now NZ, Unlimited Fibre and the Ultra Plans, are the best value for your money.  Which one you should choose depends on the data demand of your household.

Choosing the Right NOW Plan

To determine which plan best suits your needs, consider the following specifications and features:
 
1. Connection Speed: In general terms:
  • The ADSL/VDSL Plan offer a connection speed adequate to perform most usual online tasks at home, from reading the news and emails to watching YouTube videos or streaming services. In other words, when signing up for 125GB or Unlimited plans, you can choose this technology if your home does not require heavy use of bandwidth-consuming applications.
  • The Standard Fibre Plans allow you to enjoy higher speeds that are more suitable for larger families requiring more bandwidth to enjoy HD streaming services such as Netflix, Amazon Prime, or Disney+ etc. This speed also offers more than enough bandwidth for most content creators and online professionals.
  • Ultra Unlimited Plan: This is an excellent choice for professionals who work from home, content creators, and large families with huge bandwidth requirements.
 
2. Flexibility:
  • Now's plans listed on the website are all Open-term but fixed-term plans are also available, you just need to contact the sales team.
 
3. Set-Up Charges:
  • If you have an existing ADSL or VDSL connection at your home, require a standard fibre connection or select a fixed-term plan, there are no connection fees.
  • You have the option to bring your own modem (BYO), or buy one from NOW, and pay for it monthly or upfront.

4. Monthly Costs: From a cost point of view, it is clear that ADSL and VDSL plans are not a good alternative. You end up paying the same rate as fibre plans, which provide greater speed, stability, and bandwidth. The Unlimited and Ultra plans offer great value for money as mentioned earlier in this guide.
 
5. Additional perks: NOW is a provider that offers the best possible technical support to its customers. In this sense, it offers two unique subscriptions: the Remote Assist Membership and In-Home Assist Membership. Solving all customer problems and providing live support is certainly an advantage that other providers do not have. In that sense, if you are looking for a broadband provider with a premium level of support, then NOW is a good alternative to consider. On the other hand, if you are the type of person used to dealing with WiFi technology, these services are unlikely to interest you.

NOW Broadband Frequently Asked Questions

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

Is NOW 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 NOW offer a free modem?

No, unfortunately NOW does not offer a free modem in any of its plans. However, you can bring your own modem (BYO) using NOW’s recommended setting.

Does NOW offer additional perks?

Yes, NOW offers two technical support subscriptions at an additional cost, the Remote Assist Membership and the In-Home Assist Membership. You can also add a Static IP address to any plan.

Does NOW offer an open term contract?

Yes, all plans can be open or fixed-term

Does NOW offer discounts for broadband plans?

No, NOW does not offer discounts for broadband plans; however, it does not charge any set-up fee for households that already have an ADSL/VDSL/Fibre connection.

Who owns NOW?

NOW is a Hawke's Bay-owned broadband company, with Mercury Energy owning 48% of its shares.

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

Yes, you can add a homeline to your plan and purchase individually priced calling packs.
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