Spark Broadband Review
We review Spark broadband's plans and outline the pros and cons of each, benefits and how to get the best price
Updated 28 March 2024
Summary:
How to get the best price on Spark broadband plan:
Our review:
In this guide, we detail the pros and cons of all Spark plans, compare the plans side-by-side, and outline how to choose the right Spark broadband plan for you. We cover:
Summary:
- Spark in a Nutshell: Spark is the largest broadband provider in New Zealand with over 41% market share. As such, it specializes in providing all kind of broadband solutions to kiwis, including Fibre, 4G, 5G wireless broadband and rural broadband.
- Coverage: Spark provides broadband services nationwide, including some rural and remote areas of New Zealand.
How to get the best price on Spark broadband plan:
- New Customers: Plans with Spark are cheapest when you sign up for open-term and take advantage of the additional benefits, like a subscription to Netflix.
- Renewing: If you're happy with Spark and would like to continue, the best approach is to monitor their prices every now and then. If Spark offers a better deal than the one you're on, contact their support team and ask if they can apply it to your account.
Our review:
In this guide, we detail the pros and cons of all Spark plans, compare the plans side-by-side, and outline how to choose the right Spark broadband plan for you. We cover:
Christopher Walsh, Founder of MoneyHub, shares his views on comparing broadband providers:
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Christopher Walsh
MoneyHub Founder |
Spark Broadband Plans, Setup Charges and Add-ons
Plan |
Monthly price |
Download Speed (Mbps) |
Contract Type |
Basic Wireless (40GB) [4G] |
$ 45 |
30 |
Open |
Lite Wireless (120 GB) [4G] |
$ 55 |
30 |
Open |
Everyday Wireless (4G Unlimited) |
$ 60 |
30 |
Open |
Max Wireless (5G Unlimited) |
$ 80 |
5G |
Open |
Everyday Fibre [Fibre] |
$ 81 |
50 |
Open |
Essential Fibre [UFB] |
$ 91 |
322 |
Open |
Max Fibre [MAX] |
$ 106 |
881 |
Open |
Everyday Wireless Plus (4G Unlimited) |
$ 65 |
30 |
Open |
Max Wireless Plus (5G Unlimited) |
$ 85 |
5G |
Open |
Essential Fibre Plus [UFB] |
$ 97 |
322 |
Open |
Max Fibre Plus [MAX] |
$ 112 |
881 |
Open |
Lite Fibre (120GB) [Fibre] |
$ 60 |
50 |
Open |
Know this first: When comparing broadband providers, service setup charges are an essential part of the deal.
- Set-up fee: Spark currently does not charge any fees for Standard installations, but this could change as it’s mentioned on their website as a “limited-time offer”.
- Modem: All of Spark’s plans require a compatible modem, which is not provided. You have the option to Bring Your Own (BYO) Modem, or purchase one from them for $150, plus postage and handling fees ($14.95). You can check on their site that your modem is compatible.
- Exit Fees: All the plans from Spark that we considered for this review are Open-term so there are no exit fees to be paid. Terminating a Rural or ADSL/ VDSL plan early might incur in exit fees, though.
- Discounts: From time to time, Spark offers seasonal discounts like Spark gift cards of different values depending on the plan selected. Additionally, Spark’s “Plans with benefits” include various subscriptions (like Netflix and McAfee) and additional services can be added at discounted rates.
- Add-ons:
- A landline can be added for $10 per month.
- You can also include additional subscriptions at discounted rates like: McAfee ($4.95/month), Spotify Premium ($13.49/month). Neon ($13.99/month), Spark Sport ($19.99/month).
- There is the option to sign up for Premium Support, called Tech Wizard Support ($15/month for 12 months) that includes services such as helping you set up Smart TVs, install your own modem, storing information online, playing videos, setting up your home network, enhancing network security & performance, and more. If you only need technical support for a specific issue, you can also pay $120 for a one-off visit.
Spark Broadband Customer Service and Outage Support
- You can contact Spark Tech Wizards from 8 am - 8 pm, any day of the week. There is a Live Chat and free phone number designed to help you if your internet is not working. Outside of those hours, you can contact Spark via Tech Wizard email.
Comparing Spark Plans - Wireless Capped Plans vs Fibre Plans vs 4G / 5G Wireless vs Rural Broadband Plans
Spark offers several broadband plans, that we have grouped into Capped 4G Wireless Broadband Plans, Fibre Broadband Plans, Wireless Broadband Plans, and Rural Wireless Broadband Plans. We outline the offering of each, as well as the pros and cons.
4G Capped Broadband Plans Review
The Pros:
The Cons:
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Spark Wireless 4G and 5G Unlimited Broadband Plans Review
The Pros:
The Cons:
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Spark Fibre Broadband Plans Review
The Pros:
The Cons:
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Spark Rural Broadband Plans Review
The Pros:
The Cons:
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Which Spark Broadband Plan is the Best?
- Not all plans offered by Spark are available throughout New Zealand. However, our opinion is that the Essential Fibre Plus offers the best price/value ratio, and that all of Spark's Plans with benefits are attractive as they include a discounted Netflix subscription and antivirus protection.
- If a fibre connection is not available at your location, our suggestion is to opt for the Everyday Wireless Plus 4G Broadband plan. And ultimately, for remote areas of New Zealand without fibre or ADSL/VDSL lines, we suggest the Rural Wireless Broadband 200GB plan.
Choosing the Right Spark Broadband Plan
To determine which plan best suits your needs, consider the following specifications and features:
1. Connection Speed: In general terms:
2. Flexibility:
3. Set-Up Charges:
4. Monthly Costs:
1. Connection Speed: In general terms:
- ADSL/VDSL Plans offer adequate connection speed for families, couples, and individuals with basic/moderate needs including checking email, reading news, watching YouTube videos, light video streaming from services such as Netflix, Amazon Prime, Disney+ etc and browsing the web.
- Wireless 4G Plans have the potential to offer much higher speeds than their ADSL/VDSL counterparts. Depending on the wireless signal’s strength, you can expect better results when streaming videos and browsing the web.
- Wireless 5G Plans are the future of telecommunications. Depending on signal strength, they can offer broadband speeds on par with Fibre plans meaning they can easily handle multiple Netflix 4K screens, as well as almost any bandwidth-hungry application you throw at it.
- Standard Fibre Plans can offer you the best value for your money depending on your household requirements. The connection speed offered by Spark's plans is more than adequate to enjoy video streaming services, gaming, content creation and more.
- Fibre Max Plans area step up over standard fibre, offering higher speeds. These plans are ideal for large families and content creators, developers, or anyone requiring the fastest connection possible while working from home.
- Rural Wireless Plans offer a cost-effective solution to many kiwi families living in remote areas of New Zealand. The 4G broadband connection offered by this plan is adequate for almost any use case. However, due to data caps, this plan might not be the best option for people working from home or families with huge bandwidth requirements.
2. Flexibility:
- One of the factors that separate Spark from its competitors is the enormous flexibility it offers its customers. All of Spark's plans are open-term, so there are no exit fees to worry about when terminating their services.
3. Set-Up Charges:
- Despite requiring its customers to purchase a modem on many of its plans, Spark offers one of the lowest entry costs in New Zealand. This is because it does not charge for installation services (except for a few plans) and because it finances the price of its modems to make it easier to acquire.
4. Monthly Costs:
- Spark offers really competitive rates, both in fibre plans and in wireless plans, which works to customers' benefit. The discounted subscriptions to other services like Spotify, Netflix, etc. is a good option for people who consume this type of content.
Spark Broadband Frequently Asked Questions
To help you decide if Spark is right for your home, we've included several frequently asked questions to help you know more about the service.
Is Spark available at my address?
Spark specializes in providing broadband and phone services to kiwis across NZ - you'll need to type in your address to see if any of their broadband services cover you. You can do that here under See Availability.
Does Spark offer a free modem?
No, you will have to Bring Your Own, or purchase a modem compatible with the Spark network. You can do that by checking Spark’s modem compatibility page.
Does Spark offer additional perks?
Yes, Sparks offers a huge selection of additional perks ranging from landlines to entertainment services, sports networks, premium support service, and more.
Does Spark offer an open term contract?
Yes, currently all plans offered by Spark are open-term
Does Spark offer discounts for broadband plans?
Spark does not offer direct discounts on any of its plans; however, it does offer discounted prices for many online services such as Netflix, Spark Sports, Neon, Sky Sports, and more.
Who owns Spark?
Spark New Zealand Limited is listed on the NZX, with the general public owning just over half of its shares. Institutions own most of the remaining shares.
Does Spark offer a home phone add-on with its broadband plans?
Yes – Spark provides the option to include phone voice services, either wired or wireless, with all its plans.