2016 Mobile Phone Plans

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2016 Award Mobile Phone Plan Providers

Most Satisfied Customers | 2 degrees

2degrees has taken top spot in our ratings for the second year in a row, earning five stars for value for money and customer service, as well as overall customer satisfaction. 2degrees also holds our award for broadband providers and scored four stars for overall satisfaction in the prepaid mobile category.

2degrees rated No.1 for phone plan satisfaction

Gone are the days when a mobile phone was simply for making calls. Today, mobiles can do seemingly anything, so it’s perhaps no surprise that 57% of plan holders can’t function properly without their mobile. This number jumps to 76% of Generation Y Kiwis, our research found.

If you’re one of these people, then a post-paid mobile plan is probably the best option for you. Most plans offer an allowance of talk, text and data in exchange for a monthly fee, while you can also choose to include your latest favourite handset. Post-paid plans generally offer better long-term value than prepaid recharges, although both options have their pros and cons. Sure, going prepaid gives you the luxury of missing a monthly payment if you’re short on cash, but if you’re a heavy phone user, you might find yourself spending more in regular top-ups. Really, you need to understand your usage and find a plan, be it prepaid or post-paid, that really works for you.

Being that mobiles have come to play such a central role in our lives, we expect nothing less than quality service from our provider – but who can you trust? That’s where we can help. Canstar Blue has surveyed mobile plan holders across New Zealand to see how they rate their provider against several criteria. In 2016, we can announce that 2degrees has taken top spot in our ratings for the second year in a row, earning five stars for value for money and customer service, as well as overall customer satisfaction. 2degrees also holds our award for broadband providers and scored four stars for overall satisfaction in the prepaid mobile category.

What are we looking for in a mobile plan?

There are a few things to consider when it comes to signing up to a mobile plan, especially if it’s for a fixed-term. So what’s driving satisfaction for New Zealand plan holders?

  • Customer service 26%
  • Value for money 24%
  • Network coverage 16%
  • Accessibility of the plan provider 13%
  • Billing information 11%
  • Assistance managing data 10%

The brands we rated

2degrees

At the time of writing, 2degrees offers five open plan contracts with prices beginning at $29.95 for 1GB of data, 300 minutes of NZ & Aussie talk, and unlimited text. Customers who sign up to the $69.95 plan or greater will also receive a NEON subscription for the entire life of the contract. If you only need internet, 2degrees also offer two data-only plans of 1GB and 3GB for $20.95 and $50.95 respectively.

Spark

Spark offers five plans, three as open contract and two in a 24-month fixed contract with handset included. Prices begin at $39.95 for 1GB of data, 300 minutes of NZ talk and unlimited NZ text on an open plan contract. Those who sign up to the $59.99/month plan or greater will also receive a free Spotify Premium subscription.

Vodafone

Vodafone offers customers a number of fixed and open term contracts with prices beginning at $39.99 for 1GB of data, 300 mins of talk and unlimited text on an open contract. Customers who sign up to a 24 month plan will also receive free NEON access.

Frequently asked questions

Canstar Blue commissioned Colmar Brunton to use the ConsumerLink panel to survey 2,500 New Zealand consumers across a range of categories to measure and track customer satisfaction. The outcomes reported are the results from customers within the survey group who have currently have an active mobile phone plan and pay the bills – in this case, 875 New Zealanders.

Brands must have received at least 30 responses to be included. Results are comparative and it should be noted that brands receiving three stars have still achieved a satisfaction measure of at least six out of 10. Not all brands available in the market have been compared in this survey. The ratings table is first sorted by star ratings and then alphabetically. A rated brand may receive a ‘N/A’ (Not Applicable) rating if it does not receive the minimum number of responses for that criteria.