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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 September 2023

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: 
  1. 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.
  2. 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:

  • 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

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
Know this first: When comparing broadband providers, service setup charges are an essential part of the deal. 
  1. 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”.
  2. 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.
  3. 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.  
  4. 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.
  5. 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

  • Summary: These plans (Basic Wireless, Lite Wireless) are good options for those that want broadband access at home but don't stream use too much data per month, as they are capped to a certain limit of GBs.
  • Learn more: For more details regarding 4G capped plans, visit Spark's broadband page.
 
The Pros: 
  1. Lower prices than on unlimited plans, and at higher speed than on ADSL / VDSL
  2. You can complement your plan with a wide variety of add-ons
  3. Extra data can be purchased if necessary (sold in packs of 10GB, maximum of 6 can be purchased per month)
  4. Good for basic internet usage
 
The Cons: 
  1. Capped usage, so you need to monitor how much data you consume
  2. Plans are not available in all areas. You can check availability by visiting Spark broadband page

Spark Wireless 4G and 5G Unlimited Broadband Plans Review

  • Summary: Spark offers two different Wireless Broadband plans that use 4G and 5G technology to provide broadband that is unlimited, fast and convenient. The “Everyday Wireless Plan” provides access to the internet at 4G speeds, which are usually much higher than those offered by ADSL plans. Spark's “Max Wireless plan” is even faster, and uses 5G technology to deliver speeds that were previously only possible with fibre connections, but with the convenience that only wireless plans can offer. 
  • Plans with benefits: Spark offers enhanced versions of both of these plans, called “Everyday Wireless Plus” and “Max Wireless Plus”. These include a standard subscription to Netflix and McAfee’s antivirus protection for a mere $5 extra per month, which make these plans even more attractive.
  • Learn more: For more details regarding these and other plans, visit Spark's broadband page.
 
The Pros: 
  1. Unlimited data transfer, no caps (some restrictions apply, see below cons)
  2. Open-term, no early termination fees
  3. You can complement your plan with a wide variety of add-ons
  4. Recommended for moderate to intensive internet usage (depending on the actual broadband speed in your location)
  5. Quick installation - if you have coverage in your area, you just set up the router and start using broadband
 
The Cons: 
  1. Spark’s Fair Use Policy applies to all 4G and 5G plans. In other words, you should not use the service in a way that is overly excessive or unreasonable
  2. No free modem included. You will have to purchase one from Spark since not all modems are compatible with Spark’s 4G and 5G networks
  3. Although Spark has a solid network nationwide, signal strength and broadband speed can vary from one location to another
  4. Wireless (especially 5G) plans currently have limited availability. You can check if the service is available in your area by visiting the Spark broadband page
  5. The value offered by Wireless plans is debatable, especially if fibre lines are available in your area

​Spark Fibre Broadband Plans Review

  • Summary: Spark’s fibre plans offer enough speed to please even the most demanding Kiwi household, making them an excellent choice for medium to large families, developers, and content creators as they are all unlimited and offer super-fast speeds. The plans offered by Spark are as follows, “Everyday Fibre” slightly on the lower end, then “Essential Fibre” at twice the speed of the previous plan, and finally “Fibre Max” which offers a super-fast connection and can handle many devices simultaneously.
  • Plans with benefits: Spark offers enhanced versions of their two higher-end Fibre Plans, called “Essential Fibre Plus” and “Max Fibre Plus”. These include a standard subscription to Netflix and McAfee’s antivirus protection for a mere $5 extra per month, which make these plans even more attractive.
  • Learn more: For more details about these Fibre plans, visit Spark's broadband page.
 
The Pros:
  1. Unlimited data transfer, no caps
  2. Open-term, meaning no exit fees to worry about
  3. You can complement your plan with a wide variety of addons.
  4. Ideal for intensive internet usage
 
The Cons:
  1. No free modem included. You will have to bring your own (BYO) or purchase one from Spark.
  2. Fibre plans are not available in all areas. You can check availability by visiting Spark broadband page.

Spark Rural Broadband Plans Review

  • Summary:  As their name suggests, Spark’s Rural Wireless broadband plans offer a straightforward solution for kiwis living in remote areas of New Zealand by providing their households with broadband either through the 4G network or with an antenna. 
  • Data Cap: Once you reach your data cap limit you have the option to pay $10 for additional 10GB (maximum of 5 additions allowed)
  • Learn more: For more details regarding broadband plans, visit Spark's broadband page
 
The Pros: 
  1. Fast and reliable 4G broadband for remote areas
  2. Good value for this kind of service
  3. Open-term, meaning no early termination fees apply (only when no antenna is required)
  4. You can complement your plan with a wide variety of add-ons
  5. Recommended for basic to moderate internet usage (depending on the actual broadband speed in your location)
 
The Cons: 
  1. Data cap could be somewhat restrictive depending on the intended usage
  2. Even if you don’t require an antenna, you will have to buy a 4G modem from Spark
  3. If a special antenna is required, you will have to pay an installation fee. For more details, you can read the Terms and Conditions of the Rural Broadband Plan
  4. Although Spark has a solid mobile network nationwide, signal strength and broadband speed can vary from one location to another

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:
  • 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.
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