So, you want to tip your Uber driver? You want to take a photo at your favourite beach and share it instantly on Instagram? You want to order a pizza using Domino’s augmented reality? Then you need a well-priced phone plan with plenty of data to get through day-to-day living.
Fortunately, there are a number of bargain phone plans now available, all boasting plenty of data and opportunities for add-ons so you can stay connected 24/7. Here’s Canstar Blue’s wrap-up of affordable plans with ample data:
Skinny Mobile
Skinny is known for being modestly priced and it has a number of prepaid phone plans for less than $30 a month. The best-value ones include:
- $16 every 28 days for 1.25Gb data, 200 minutes calling and unlimited texts.
- $26 every 28 days for 2.5GB data, 300 minutes calling and unlimited texts.
Both plans come with free calling to other Skinny mobiles. Calls are to Australia and New Zealand, and both minutes and data roll-over to the next month if not used. With both plans, you can also buy add-ons if you need more data or minutes in a month, including 500Mb over 28 days for $8, or 600Mb over seven days for $8.
Skinny benefits also include plans having no lock-in timeframe, being able to use your existing number and an easy-to-use online dashboard.
Warehouse Mobile
A branch of The Warehouse stores, Warehouse Mobile is a relative newcomer to the mobile phone market. Like its stores, Warehouse Mobile specialises in low-cost prepaid plans with any expensive bells and whistles. There are a number of different combinations available for monthly plans but the best bargain plans with lots of data are:
- $16 every 31 days for 1.25GB data, 200 minutes calling and unlimited texts.
- $30 every 31 days for 5GB data.
Calls and texts are to New Zealand and Australia, and data rolls over for up to 90 days (but minutes do not roll over). Warehouse Mobile offers cheap rates outside of these combos, if you run out or you want to buy the data-only pack. This includes 4c per minute calling, 2c per text and 6c per MB data.
The Warehouse Mobile’s $16 combo auto-renews after 31 days but the $30 data “Pick ‘n’ Go pack” does not, so you need to remember to renew it. Customers can bring over their existing number, and top-ups can be done through an app or by texting. Affordable phones can also be bought either through The Warehouse or Warehouse Stationery.
2degrees
2degrees is best known for its carry-over prepaid plans, being the first in the country to offer credit that rolls over to the next month if it’s not used. It now offers both prepaid and pay monthly plans, with the most well-priced plans being the prepaid ones:
- $19 per month for 1.25Gb data, 200 minutes calling and unlimited texts.
- $29 per month for 2.5Gb data, 200 minutes calling and unlimited texts.
Both plans including calling and texts to Australia and New Zealand, unlimited calls to 2degrees mobiles and a free hour of data every day. Plans auto-renew after a month but there are no long-term contracts, with both minutes and data carrying over if unused.
2degrees also offers a number of add-ons which can be added to your combo. This includes a Data Clock which gives unlimited data for a set amount of time – ranging from 40c for 15 minutes to $6 for 24 hours.
Spark
Spark is New Zealand’s largest telecommunications company, and it offers both prepaid and monthly on-account plans. Its most economical plans with lots of data are from its Prepaid Value Packs range:
- $19 every four weeks for 1.25GB data, 200 minutes calling and unlimited texts.
- $29 every four weeks for 2GB data, 300 minutes calling and unlimited texts.
With both plans, Spark offers 50% off Spotify Premium and 1GB of free data per day through its Wi-Fi zones. Data and minutes roll-over if unused, but there is a cap of 3.5GB of data and 500 minutes calling that can carry over. The $29 plan currently includes a bonus 2GB of data each month.
Spark now offers what it calls Data Lovers prepaid plans, although the benefits do not seem to be as good as the Value Packs. This includes a $20 pack every four weeks for 1.5GB roll-over data, plus 1GB of socialiser data to be used exclusively on Facebook, Twitter, Messenger and Spotify. Calling costs 49c per minute, texts are 20c each and additional data is $1 per day for the first 10MB, followed by 30c per MB thereafter.
Spark also offers a range of monthly add-ons or extras, covering data, calls, text and international data. Again, these packs are not as economical as the Prepaid Value Packs, but can be handy if you need something extra for a one-off occasion. This includes $9 every four weeks for 1GB of socialiser data, $5 every four weeks for 100MB of data and $15 every four weeks for 1GB of data.
Spark’s prepaid plans offer the chance to bring your own number if you want.
Vodafone
Vodafone is New Zealand’s second-largest telecommunications company, offering both prepaid and on-account monthly mobile plans. For those on a budget, it offers MyFlex prepaid plans, which comes with endless combinations to best suit your needs. Good-value combinations with lots of data include:
- $28 every 28 days for 2.5GB data, 50 minutes calling and 50 texts.
- $30 every 28 days for 2.5GB data, 200 minutes calling and 500 texts.
Data and texts roll-over on these plans, up to a maximum 3.5GB unused data and 500 unused minutes. Plans can easily be changed with a MyVodafone app or website.
Outside of these plans, calls cost 49c per minute, texts are 20c each and casual data is 20c per MB. However, Vodafone offers a range of add-ons if you need a top-up, including $3 for 300MB over a day to $20 for 1GB over 30 days. Vodafone allows you to bring your existing number and it offers a range of handset deals for prepay customers.
Slingshot
Slingshot is best known for offering modest broadband plans but the company is now moving into the mobile phone market. Customers must have a broadband plan with Slingshot to access its mobile plans, but $5 is taken off the monthly broadband cost for each mobile plan joined on. Slingshot offers two affordable mobile plans:
- Basic plan: $20 every 30 days for 1.25GB data and 200 calling minutes.
- Value plan: $25 every 30 days for 2.5GB data and 300 calling minutes.
Both plans include unlimited texts, with calls to New Zealand and Australia. Customers can buy 1GB of additional data for $12 as an add-on: this lasts for 30 days and does not roll over.
Slingshot mobile plans are easy to set-up and customers can use their existing number. Plans use the Spark network, offering good coverage across the country.
Picture credit: Alim Yakubov/Shutterstock.com
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