NZ’s Cheapest Broadband Plans

Trying to track down the best and cheapest broadband plans can be confusing. And at Canstar, we should know. It’s part of our job to be across all the broadband deals in the market. And, actually, to be honest, it’s like a full-time job just keeping across all the broadband deals in the market.

For the casual consumer, trying to discover the best deals can be confusing. There is a range of services available, from ADSL to wireless broadband and fibre. Different data allowances, from low to unlimited. Plus a variety of upload/download speeds, and a whole load of bonuses and add-ons offered by broadband providers.

But, ultimately, most Kiwi homes just want basic, unlimited broadband at 300/100mbps, which is plenty fast enough for most households. So to help you get a clearer picture of what’s on offer, in the following table, we’ve compiled all the standard 12-month broadband plans from the main NZ providers that were researched for Canstar’s Most Satisfied Customers Broadband Award, plus bundle providers, such as Electric Kiwi.

Cheapest broadband plans

What’s the deal with the cheapest broadband plans?

As you can see above, most plans cost between $75-$90/m. On paper, Contact’s deal appears cheap. But to take advantage of its low-cost broadband, you must sign up for power, too, which could cost more than your current electricity provider.

Overall Skinny’s broadband plan is the cheapest: $75/m, or $65/m for those with an eligible Skinny mobile plan.

So why would you pay $95 for a similar plan?

No frills vs bonuses + bundles

Skinny is a no-frills provider. All it does is deliver unlimited broadband. Other providers offer bundle deals and incentives that deliver increased value.

For example, Spark’s $105/m plan with Benefits includes Standard Netflix ($18.49/m) and McAfee Security Standard ($4.95/m) and a $5 discount on a Neon subscription. That adds up to a total of $28.44, which brings the overall cost of the internet plan down to $76.56. This is not far off Skinny’s $75 (and, remember, Skinny is a brand owned by Spark). But it’s only good value if you’d otherwise pay for those extras.

The same can be said for Sky Broadband, if you’re a Sky TV customer your broadband will only cost you $80/m. And, likewise, if you’ve a One NZ pay monthly mobile plan, One NZ’s broadband is just $81.

So if you’re willing to bundle your internet, adding either mobile phone plans or power plans, a world of extra savings awaits. But you need to do your homework to see if the discounts represent real savings for you.

NOTE: When chasing the best deals, it always pays to read the small print. Often, discounted rates and deals are only offered for an introductory period, for example 12 months. After that time the plans revert to full-price. So it pays to keep on top of what you’re paying and the other plans in the market.

It’s about more than just the cheapest broadband plans

Ultimately, if you’re after the cheapest broadband plan, it’s always worth shopping around. And don’t forget to check the small print. Locking yourself into a two-year deal at a fixed price might be a good deal now. But will it still offer good value 24 months from now, especially if you foresee your needs changing?

And while bundling broadband and power can offer tempting discounts, it’s only a good deal if both services come at reduced prices.

Customer service is also a huge consideration. If you’re not a tech wizard, it’s reassuring to know that your provider offers great technical advice to ensure your broadband is always up and running.

Compare Broadband with Canstar Blue

To help you get a clearer picture of broadband providers in NZ, Canstar Blue rates all the big providers annually. We survey thousands of broadband customers and ask them to score their providers across categories including Overall Satisfaction, Value for Money and Customer Service. We then award the best broadband providers our Star Ratings and Most Satisfied Customer Award.

See Our Ratings Methodology

The table above is an abridged version of our full research, to find out more about NZ’s best broadband providers, just click on the button below.

Compare broadband providers for free with Canstar!

About the author of this page

This report was written by Canstar’s Editor, Bruce Pitchers. Bruce has three decades’ experience as a journalist and has worked for major media companies in the UK and Australasia, including ACP, Bauer Media Group, Fairfax, Pacific Magazines, News Corp and TVNZ. Prior to Canstar, he worked as a freelancer, including for The Australian Financial Review, the NZ Financial Markets Authority, and for real estate companies on both sides of the Tasman.