2018 Mobile Phone Plans & Providers

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Canstar Blue reviews & compares phone plan providers 2Degrees, Spark and Vodafone based on factors including value for money, their customer service, accessibility, billing, network coverage, assistance managing data and overall customer satisfaction.

See our Ratings Methodology.

2degrees rated highest for phone plans

Mobile phone plans these days are more than just calls and texts – data is often the key battleground among telcos. With data, you can stream Netflix and the All Blacks, watch cat videos, catch up on social media and read the news. When you’re out and about, a decent phone plan can be incredibly handy, and Kiwis are increasingly getting good value and more data out of their plans.

One way Kiwis stay on top of the latest and greatest is to bundle their phone plan with a new phone, which the three biggest providers – 2Degrees, Spark, and Vodafone – offer. With many smartphones retailing for over $1,000, it’s little wonder many of us are bundling a phone with a plan, to stem that hefty upfront cost.

So what provider ranks best for mobile phones on a plan? Canstar Blue annually reviews customer satisfaction with phone plan providers and in 2018 we found the following:

• 2degrees generally smashed the competition with five stars in every category except for network coverage.
• Spark was the only other telco to get top marks in any category, where it achieved five stars for network coverage.

It’s the fourth year in a row that 2degrees has topped these ratings – a remarkable achievement in the face of tough competition. The market can move very quickly, especially when new handsets come out, so it pays to shop around and regularly compare offers from different providers. But in recent years, the Kiwis who have taken part in our research are reporting that 2degrees is ahead of the game.

To help you decide which provider and plan is the best fit for you, here is an overview of what 2degrees, Spark, and Vodafone currently have to offer.

NZ Phone Plans Compared

30% of Kiwis report keeping track of their phone usage to get the best value for money. So, what are the providers offering and where can you find a great deal? To bundle a phone on a plan you generally need to stick with the three biggest providers – 2degrees, Spark, and Vodafone – especially if you want the latest phones. Review some of the options below.

2degrees Phone Plans

2degrees offers a staggering range of plan and phone options. It has access to the latest and greatest iPhones and Samsung Galaxy models, with an even wider variety of plans you can bundle your phone with.

• The latest iPhone 8, for example, can be bundled from about $74 per month over 36 months, which includes a $40 plan that comes with 3GB data.

2degrees ticked most boxes in this year’s user ratings, including key areas such as value for money and customer service. There’s a good chance you’ll find the right plan for your needs with one of NZ’s largest phone providers.

Spark Phone Plans

Spark was another competitive brand, achieving four stars for overall satisfaction and indeed in many other categories. It also stood out with five stars for network coverage – the only network to do so.

• Spark also provides the latest and greatest phones, with iPhones and Galaxy S9s available from around $90 a month.

You can then bundle these phones with a choice of ‘terms’. Open term plans run month-by-month, but you will get many more perks and features if you commit to 24 months. You’ll also get access to more than 1000 Wi-Fi zones with Spark, and you are afforded unlimited data on these hotspots so you don’t have to worry about using your data all the time. Spark also includes many other perks such as included Netflix, Lightbox and more on some plans.

Vodafone Phone Plans

Vodafone was rated three stars overall by New Zealand customers, but the global telco still has plenty to offer. For example, Vodafone is the only phone provider of the three in our ratings to offer an explicit ‘plan builder’ on its website, where you first choose your plan, then choose your phone, then pay – and voila!

• iPhone 8 plans tend to cost around $100 a month, but you’ll get a stack of data inclusions for your troubles, plus unlimited talk and text, as well as calls to Australia.
• A number of handsets are available for $0 upfront, but for the latest and greatest you should expect to pay a nominal amount to kick things off.

Vodafone also has stuff such as included streaming from time to time, so it pays to check back in regularly to see what you can get. Vodafone NZ was rated three stars overall.

How are Kiwis using mobile phones?

The way we are using our mobile phones is changing, with an increased emphasis on apps and things that use data, rather than just straight calls and texts. In fact, mobile phones are increasingly becoming the sole source of a phone:

• More than a third of households have ditched their landline to solely use their mobile phone.
• Communication is also changing, with over half of survey respondents reporting they use their phone for Facebook Messenger, Snapchat or Whatsapp as their chat functions.

Nearly a quarter also admitted to using their phone while driving and not using handsfree capability. With the way car technology is going, we hope this figure goes down over time!

Should I buy a phone on a plan?

Choosing a phone on a plan is a great way to get your hands on the latest smartphones, without having to stump up the full price outright. However, it’s important to check out the full terms and conditions of your plan before diving into a lengthy contract.

• Plans with the latest phones bundled in can easily exceed $100 per month – so you’ll have to consider if you can afford that.
• If you can, you do stand to receive tasty benefits such as included streaming, Wi-Fi hotspots and more, and you usually can’t get these perks on other types of plans.

Also make sure that you understand what you might be charged for exceeding your plan’s limitations, and how much it will cost you to break the contract early. Even if you’re reasonably satisfied with your existing provider, it’s worth comparing offers from all of those mentioned in this report, to make sure you’re getting the right deal for your specific needs.

Prepaid Plan Providers & Ratings