choosing a phone plan nz's cheapest phone plans

NZ’s Cheapest Phone Plans

NZ’s Cheapest Phone Plans. Canstar Blue reveals all the major phone plans $50 and under.

Below is a round-up of the current mobile plans costing $50 per month and below (all figures correct as of (13/08/24). Or, if you’d rather get an overview of the best endless data plans, regardless of price, read our article Best Endless Data Mobile Plans.

2degrees logo

2degrees

Pay Monthly

$40 Plan

  • Features: 300 Rollover Minutes & Unlimited Texts to NZ & OZ ­– 5GB Rollover Data
  • Extras: Daily free hour of data, shared data, hotspotting

$50 Plan

  • Features: Unlimited Calls & Texts to NZ & OZ ­– 10GB Rollover Data
  • Extras: Daily free hour of data, shared data, hotspotting

Prepaid (calendar month)

$8 Plan

  • Features: 100 Rollover Minutes & Unlimited Texts in NZ & OZ– 150MB Rollover Data
  • Extras: Daily free hour of data, hotspotting

$13 Plan

  • Features: 100 Rollover Minutes & Unlimited Texts in NZ & OZ– 600MB Rollover Data
  • Extras: Daily free hour of data, hotspotting

$19 Plan

  • Features: 200 Rollover Minutes & Unlimited Texts in NZ & OZ– 1.5GB Rollover Data
  • Extras: Daily free hour of data, 7.5GB of free Rollover Data on join-up, hotspotting

$25 Plan:

  • Features: 250 Rollover Minutes & Unlimited Texts in NZ & OZ– 3GB Rollover Data
  • Extras: Daily free hour of data, 7.5GB of free Rollover Data on join-up, hotspotting

$35 Plan:

  • Features: 300 Rollover Minutes & Unlimited Texts in NZ & OZ– 4.5GB Rollover Data
  • Extras: Daily free hour of data, 7.5GB of free Rollover Data on join-up, hotspotting

$45 Plan:

  • Features: Unlimited Calls & Texts to NZ & OZ – 10GB Rollover Data
  • Extras: Daily free hour of data, 7.5GB of free Rollover Data on join-up, hotspotting

NB: All plans offer unlimited calls to other 2degrees mobiles, free voicemail and are 5G ready. 2degrees also offers fortnightly (14 days) prepaid plans, although they work out more expensive.


spark_logo

Spark

Pay Monthly

$15 Rollover Plan

  • Features: 100 Rollover Minutes & 100 Texts in NZ ­– 100MB Rollover data
  • Extras: Hotspotting, Spark Voicemail App, unlimited minutes to Spark mobiles

$27 Rollover Plan

  • Features: Unlimited Minutes & Texts in NZ ­– 750MB Rollover data
  • Extras: Hotspotting, Spark Voicemail App, Eligible Team Up Plan

$45 Rollover Plan

  • Features: Unlimited Minutes & Texts in NZ ­– 4GB Rollover data
  • Extras: Hotspotting, Spark Voicemail App, $7 discount on Spotify Premium

$45 Endless Data Plan

  • Features: Unlimited Minutes & Texts in NZ ­– 4GB at max speed, unlimited at reduced
  • Extras: Hotspotting, Spark Voicemail App, $7 discount on Spotify Premium

Prepaid (28 days)

$20 Plan:

  • Features: 200 Rollover Minutes & Unlimited Texts in NZ – 1.25GB Rollover data
  • Extras: Hotspotting, save $7 on Spotify Premium, Data Stack

$30 Plan:

  • Features: 300 Rollover Minutes & Unlimited Texts in NZ – 2GB Rollover + 2GB Socialiser Data
  • Extras: Hotspotting, save $7 on Spotify Premium, Data Stack

$50 Plan:

  • Features: 300 Rollover Minutes & Unlimited Texts in NZ – 4GB Rollover + 2GB Socialiser Data
  • Extras: Hotspotting, save $7 on Spotify Premium, Data Stack

Skinny mobile phone

Skinny:

Prepaid (four-weekly)

$8 Plan:

  • Features: 100 Minutes & Unlimited Texts in NZ & OZ – 250MB Data
  • Extras: N/A

$17 Plan:

  • Features: 200 Rollover Minutes & Unlimited Texts in NZ & OZ – 1.5GB Rollover Data
  • Extras: Unlimited minutes to other Skinny mobiles

$27 Plan:

  • Features: 300 Rollover Minutes & Unlimited Texts in NZ & OZ – 4GB Rollover Data
  • Extras: Unlimited minutes to other Skinny mobiles

$40 Plan:

  • Features: Unlimited Calls & Texts to NZ & OZ ­– Endless Data (speeds reduce after 10GB)
  • Extras: Hotspotting

$50 Plan:

  • Features: Unlimited Calls & Texts to NZ & OZ ­– Endless Data (speeds reduce after 20GB)
  • Extras: Hotspotting

NB: Skinny also offers similar weekly plans, although they work out more expensive.


Electric Kiwi

Electric Kiwi’s mobile plans deliver unlimited data, capped at download speeds of of 1.2Mbps once you hit one of five data caps, two of which are under $50: 5GB and 10GB.

The plans are unique because once you hit your data cap, if you don’t want your data speed slowed to 1.2Mbps, you can opt to move up to the next data tier. You can do this manually through the Electric Kiwi app, or do it automatically. If you opt to increase your data limit, the daily cost of your plan rises accordingly.

However, whatever data/price tier you end up on by the end of the month, when the next billing cycle comes around (there are 12 per calendar year), your plan automatically resets back down to the 5GB $1.30/day plan.

If there are two linked plans, both receive a discount of 15c per day, and if you link three or four plans that saving increases to 30c per day:

Plan  Cost
5GB $1.30/day ($39.54/m)
10GB $1.60/day ($48.67/m)

Plan features:

  • Endless data – all plans have endless data till max speed limit, then reduced to 1.2Mbps
  • Talk & Text – unlimited NZ/OZ
  • 5G – plans are 5G ready
  • Hotspot – included with all plans

→ More info: What is Electric Kiwi Mobile?


Mighty Mobile

Mighty Mobile has two mobile plans that offer unlimited data at capped speeds:

Plan Data Talk & Text Cost (monthly)
Fast Plan Unlimited data capped at 10Mbps Unlimited NZ/OZ $40
Faster Plan Unlimited data capped at 50Mbps Unlimited NZ/OZ $50

Mighty Mobile’s plans all offer hotspotting. And there’s also the option to pay for 365 days upfront, which earns extra savings:

  • Fast Plan: $399/365 days ($33.25 p/m)
  • Faster Plan: $499/365 days ($41.58 p/m)

warehouse mobile logo new

The Warehouse

Prepay (four-weekly)

$9 Combo:

  • Features: 100 Minutes & Unlimited Texts to NZ & OZ (and 13 other destinations*) – 300MB rollover Data

$15 Combo:

  • Features: 200 Minutes & Unlimited Texts to NZ & OZ (and 13 other destinations*) – 1.25GB rollover Data

$25 Combo:

  • Features: Unlimited Calls & Texts to NZ & OZ (and 13 other destinations*) – 3GB rollover Data

$35 Combo:

  • Features: Unlimited Calls & Texts to NZ & OZ (and 13 other destinations*) – 6GB rollover Data

$45 Combo:

  • Features: Unlimited Calls & Texts to NZ & OZ (and 13 other destinations*) – 15GB rollover Data

All plans feature voicemail and free calls to other Warehouse Mobile numbers

*Other destinations include standard landline or mobile numbers in: NZ, Australia, China, England, Scotland, Wales, the US, India, Canada, Germany, Israel, Puerto Rico, Brazil, Mexico, Malaysia, Singapore and South Korea. Exclusions apply including Alaska and Hawaii.


Rocket Mobile

Rocket Mobile offers a unique range of prepaid unlimited data plans that use One’s mobile network:

Rocket Starter $30/month

  • Features: Unlimited data at 2Mbps, unlimited talk/text across NZ/OZ
  • Extras: 10GB hotspotting

Rocket – $40/month

  • Features: unlimited data at 10Mbps, unlimited talk/text across NZ/OZ
  • Extras: 20GB hotspotting

Rocket Plus $45/month

  • Features: unlimited data at 40Mbps, unlimited talk/text across NZ/OZ
  • Extras: 20GB hotspotting

One NZ

One NZ’s MyFlex prepay plans allow you to customise your text, minutes, and data allocations. The plans below are default suggestions, provided by One NZ, but they can all be customised to better suit your needs. However, note that changing the mix of text/talk and data can alter pricing.

For example, reducing the text allowance on the $15 plan to 100 texts, while increasing the data allowance to 1.25GB changes the price to $17.

Prepay (four-weekly)

$15 Plan:

  • Features: 100 Rollover Minutes & Unlimited Texts to NZ & OZ – 1GB Rollover Data
  • Extras: Data Up (up to 100% free data if your plan renews regularly)

$20 Plan:

  • Features: 200 Rollover Minutes & Unlimited Texts to NZ & OZ – 1.5GB Rollover Data
  • Extras: Data Up

$30 Plan:

  • Features: 300 Rollover Minutes & Unlimited Texts to NZ & OZ – 3GB Rollover Data
  • Extras: Data Up

$40 Plan:

  • Features: 100 Rollover Minutes & 100 Texts to NZ & OZ – 8GB Rollover Data
  • Extras: Data Up

Pay Monthly

One NZ has one endless plan under $50:

$45 Plan: Endless Data Capped Max Speed 5GB

  • Features: Unlimited calls & texts to NZ and OZ

All One NZ plans offer hotspotting, fee voicemail, One NZ rewards and are 5G ready.


orcon logo mobile phone

Orcon

For every mobile plan that you bundle with a Orcon broadband plan, you will receive a $5 discount.

Prepay (30-day period)

$20 Basic Plan:

  • Features: 200 Rollover Minutes & Unlimited Texts to NZ & OZ – 1.5GB Rollover Data

$25 Value Plan:

  • Features: 300 Rollover Minutes & Unlimited Texts to NZ & OZ – 2.5GB Rollover Data

$43 Unlimited Texts & Calling:

  • Features: Unlimited calls & texts to NZ and OZ – 6GB Rollover Data

Kogan

Prepay (30-day period)

Kogan offers a discount if you pay for a 12-month plan upfront, as shown:

$15 Plan:

  • Features: Unlimited Calls & Texts to NZ & OZ – 1.5GB Data
  • $160 per year ($13.15 per 30 days)

$25 Plan:

  • Features: Unlimited Calls & Texts to NZ & OZ – 4GB Data
  • $250 per year ($20.55 per 30 days)

$35 Plan:

  • Features: Unlimited Calls & Texts to NZ & OZ – 15GB Data
  • $330 per year ($27.12 per 30 days)

Nova’s unlimited data plans

Nova has two unlimited mobile plans that feature max data speed caps. It also offers discounts for bundles and group plans:

Plan Data Talk & Text Cost (monthly)
5GB Endless – 1.2 Mbps speed cap after 5GB Unlimited NZ/OZ $39
10GB Endless – 1.2 Mbps speed cap after 10GB Unlimited NZ/OZ $49
  • Hotspot – included with all plans
  • Bundle and save save extra $10 per person per month by bundling with power/gas/broadband

Group plans

Add up to four more people to your plan for only $39/month per person.

→ More info: Cheapest Shared Endless Data Plans in NZ


Cheapest phone plans: things to consider

Regardless of your choice of provider, if you are paying for an expensive plan with unlimited data, calls and text, when you only need a basic, cheaper package, you are not getting true value for your money.

So before you go hunting for a cheaper mobile plan more suited to your needs, consider the following points:

Do you want a monthly plan, or to go prepaid?

If you’re uncertain about your budget and don’t want to commit to a monthly plan, then prepaid gives you the freedom to top up your account when you want and by how much. Cheap prepaid plans are perfect if you’re a light phone user who doesn’t burn through GBs of data while away from home or work wi-fi.

→ Related article: Best Endless Data Mobile Plans

How much data do you really need?

Knowing that you’ve endless data can be reassuring, but if you’re only using a couple of GBs per month, why pay for more? Review you usage over the past few months and change your plan accordingly.

Looking at how much you’re using can help you pinpoint data-hungry apps and adjust your usage. For example, by disabling functions or apps that operate in the background, chewing through data.

For a clearer picture of your data usage, check out our story How Much Mobile Data Do I Need?

Do you call or text abroad?

Keeping in contact with friends and family overseas can be expensive if you rely on traditional texts and phone calls. While many NZ plans offer unlimited calls and texts to OZ, some don’t. And only Warehouse Mobile offers free calling/texts to other overseas destinations.

Remember that by far the cheapest way to talk to people abroad is to use apps such as Whatsapp, Skype, iMessage, FaceTime and Facebook Messenger while connected to wi-fi.

Do you already pay for Spotify Premium?

Spotify Premium starts at $16.99 per month. Spark offers the service for free on its most expensive plan, and a $7 discount across cheaper plans.

Hotspotting

Hotspotting allows you to use your phone’s data allowance on other devices via wi-fi. Some plans include it, some make you pay extra for it.

Adding other mobiles to your plan

Most providers allow you to add additional plans to your own at a discounted rate.

For example, One NZ allows you to add up to three companion plans for $35/m each on its Medium Monthly mobile plan. Or, add up to three companion plans for $40/m each on its uncapped endless One Plan.

Do note that the details of group plans vary between providers. For example, some companion plans come with less data.

→Related article: Cheapest Shared Data Plans in NZ

Prepay billing cycles

If you’re going prepay, you need to be award of billing cycles. 2degrees makes a big deal of the fact that, over a year, if you’re on its prepay, you only have to buy 12 top-ups – this is because each lasts a calendar month.

But other providers have different billing periods:

  • Spark, Skinny, One NZ and Warehouse Mobile’s prepaid packs: 28 days
  • Kogan‘s packs: 30 days

If you do the math, you can see different levels of value: 28 (days) x 12 (months)= 336. But there are 365 days in a year, meaning on Spark, Skinny, One NZ and Warehouse Mobile‘s prepaid plans, you’ll need to buy an extra pack to cover those missing 29 days.

However, Kogan‘s packs renew every 30 days (30 x 12 = 360) so you’re only losing five days each year.


For the full rundown of our mobile phone and prepaid providers, click on the buttons below.


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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.

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