NZ’s Best Broadband Deals

In this article, we take a look at what you need to consider when seeking out a cheap broadband deal. Beyond just the price, keep in mind other factors, from data limits and speeds, to equipment costs, connection fees, customer service and contract length. Also, are retailers offering any additional incentives to sign you up?

For most households (up to four people) a 300/100Mbps broadband plan is enough to cater to all online gaming, streaming and browsing needs.

If you live in a large household, or churn through data faster than a standard 300/100 plan can keep up with, you should consider Fibre Max.

Broadband deals: factors to keep in mind

Of course, the monthly cost of a broadband plan is a primary consideration for most consumers. However, it’s important that the plan offers the value you need. If the cheapest plan has slower speeds that hinder its use, or data limits that you exceed every month, then it’s not providing you good value for money. Even if it is the cheapest on the market.

So it’s important before you consider price, you consider your needs. Once you’ve done that, you can start comparing like-for-like plans. Of these plans, you’ll want to find a plan that provides the best value for money, not just the best price.

For example, a plan may be more expensive on paper, but it might include a free Netflix subscription, saving you the $18.49/month you currently spend on Netflix. Or you may find that your electricity provider offers a great discount when you bundle it with your broadband, while another provider offers free Nest wi-fi routers, giving you fantastic coverage even when you’re in the garage.

Some factors that you should consider when selecting a broadband plan are:

• Speed and data caps – Do you just browse social media or are you into gaming? Is it just for you or for the whole family? Consider whether you’ll need an unlimited plan, and how fast a plan you need. Depending on what you choose, you could get download speeds anywhere between about 30Mbps up to 8000Mbps!
• Type of broadband – Fibre is pretty much the standard, and offers the best speeds. But it requires a fibre network, which not all areas of the country have. If so, you may need an ADSL or VDSL or a wireless/satellite broadband connection. You can check out our latest Wireless Broadband Award here.
• Contract – Broadband is a fast-moving industry, with new plans, pricing, and singing on bonuses arriving by the week. If you lock yourself into a long term contract, you risk missing out on great new deals. On the other hand, many of the best deals are only available if you commit to a fixed-term contract.
• Additional incentives – What else comes with the plan? Some retailers include free subscriptions to streaming services, or initial sign-up incentives, providing reduced monthly rates.
• Bundling – If your broadband provider offers other services, like electricity or phone plans, you may be able to get better deals and discounts.
• Router – A router can be a costly expense, and should be considered carefully. Some providers will charge you upfront for one, others will rent it at a monthly expense, and some will give you one for free (although it may be factored into the monthly broadband price). Or can you simply use an existing router you have at home? Furthermore, is the router provided a basic router, or a nest router that provides better connection and range, as well as smart features?
• Everything else – Does your provider have a good app that allows you to track usage, pay bills, and make changes to your plan? Are the plans and bills easy to understand? Is there good customer service, with easy to reach phone help or in-person stores?

When you consider all the above, the cheapest plan may not be the best for you. Sure, your plan should come at a great price, but paying a few dollars more may prove to be better value in the long run.

→Related article: NZ’s Cheapest Broadband Plans

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About the author of this page

This report was written by Canstar Content Producer, Caitlin Bingham. Caitlin is an experienced writer whose passion for creativity led her to study communication and journalism. She began her career freelancing as a content writer, before joining the Canstar team.