No-contract Broadband Plans NZ

Open-term (no-contract) vs. fixed-term (contract) broadband

As you’ll see from the plans below, even on an open-term broadband plan there are still plenty of deals to be had. Especially if you bundle your phone plan with the same provider. So opting for no-contract broadband doesn’t mean you have to forego a good deal.

However, it’s definitely worth noting that while there are plenty of deals on offer, there are also plenty of deals to miss out on by opting for an open-term contract.

Most notably, many providers waive the cost of a modem when you sign a fixed-term contract. Furthermore, several providers also offer one or more months of free broadband on the house and/or other sweeteners like free subscriptions to streaming services.

And, depending on the provider, this can make a big difference to the value on offer.

For example, Trustpower has the most expensive Fibre 300 plan in the country, at $94/month. However, if you sign up for a 12-month contract you get six months free, making it easily the cheapest Fibre 300 plan in the country ($47/month when averaged out over 12 months).

You then have 2degrees who are happy to give you Fibre 300 for $72/month, a year’s worth of Prime Video, a $100 Prezzy card, free installation and a free modem, as long as you sign up for 12 months. For those that want to keep it open term, that $72/month price is now $92/month, your free modem now costs $199, and you’ll also be hit with a $99 installation fee.

Oh, and you can kiss the free Prime Video subscription and that Prezzy card goodbye, too.

Is an open-term broadband plan a good idea?

This really comes down to a few different factors.

Is signing up for a 12-month contract going to save you a few dollars a month or $20 a month? Is the free Prime Video subscription saving you $8/month because you currently pay for it out of your own pocket, or will it just be an additional subscription you don’t need? Will an open-term plan force you to cough up $199 for a modem, or do you already have one sitting at home you can use for free?

And, importantly, how proactive are you when it comes to reviewing your broadband? The beauty of an open-term plan is it provides you with the flexibility to chop and change whenever better deals arrive. But if you’re not proactive and not comparing the market regularly, you won’t know about any new deals anyway!

At the end of the day, broadband is a fast-moving industry, and plans are regularly changing. Being locked into a long-term plan could result in you missing out on new deals and discounts as they arise. It can also result in hefty break fees should you need to call it quits early. But an open term may result in missing out on many of those benefits, benefits which often make a massive difference in the value on offer (as highlighted with Trustpower and 2degrees above).

Neither option is necessarily better or worse. You simply need to consider whether you value the freedom to shift plans as deals arise, or whether getting the cheapest deal now is of more importance.

Best no-contract broadband plans NZ

Below is an outline of what open-term broadband plans are available in New Zealand. While we have made special mention of benefits, costs, terms and more, be sure to visit individual retailer websites for further details. All prices are correct at the time of writing (November 2022).

As mentioned above, certain providers offer bucketloads of freebies and benefits only when on a fixed-term contract. So while they may not appear good value on the below list, they may still be worth considering (if you’re open to the idea of fixed-term broadband).

Our story, NZ’s Best Broadband Deals, provides an overview of all the deals on the market including fixed-term deals, electricity bundles and more. Comparing that list with the offers below could help you decide whether sticking to an open-term broadband plan is right for you, or whether the sweeteners on offer from a fixed-term deal are more up your alley.

Providers have been listed in order of our latest Most Satisfied Customers | Broadband Award results.

Skinny

Skinny has a range of wireless 4G plans, unlimited ADSL/VDSL and unlimited fibre plans available with different speeds. Plans can be taken out on a fixed-term or open-term basis.

When joining on a no-contract, open-term basis:

• Modem – $199 (wireless) $99 (fibre) + $10 shipping fee
• Additional costs – $49 standard install fee
• Extras/benefits – $10 discount for customers on a $26 or above 4-weekly Skinny mobile plan (not included in prices shown below)

2degrees

2degrees offers broadband plans across fibre, wireless 4G, wireless 5G, VDSL and ADSL.  Plans can be taken out on a fixed-term or open-term basis.

When joining on a no-contract, open-term basis:

• Modem – $199 + $15 shipping fee or BYO
• Additional costs – $99 connection fee
• Benefits – $10 discount for customers on an eligible 2degrees Pay Monthly mobile plan (not included in prices shown below)

Spark

Spark has a range of Wireless 4G and Fibre plans for customers to choose from. All Spark plans are open-term, meaning no locked-in contract.

• Modem – $106.20 or BYO
• Additional costs – $99 connection fee
• Benefits – Netflix Standard subscription (usually $18.49/month) and McAfee Security Standard ($4.95/month) included on all Plus plans. Spark Broadband customers are also eligible for discounts on Spotify, Neon, and Spark Sport subscriptions.

Contact

Contact is one of the biggest electricity generation companies in the country. It ONLY offers broadband when bundled with an accompanying electricity plan. Its plans vary in price depending on whether bundled with electricity, or electricity and gas. All plans are open-term.

• Modem – $14.99 shipping fee or BYO
• Additional costs – N/A
• Benefits – N/A, however, Contact does offer benefits and promotions on its electricity plans

NB: The above prices are for Contact’s fibre + power plans. Bundling broadband, power and gas earns an extra discount of $5 p/m per plan.

Nova Energy

Nova Energy is primarily an energy provider, offering electricity as well as bottled and natural gas plans. With Nova Energy you can get a standalone fibre broadband plan, however, you can access discounts and deals by bundling it with electricity or electricity and gas.

Depending on the plan/bundle chosen, your plan may be on an open or fixed-term contract.

When joining on a no-contract, open-term basis:

• Modem – Free rental ($15 delivery fee) or BYO
• Additional costs – N/A
• Extras/benefits – $20 discount on broadband when bundled (not included in price below)

MyRepublic

MyRepublic has a strong focus on super fast and reliable wi-fi designed for businesses, gamers, and internet-intensive users. It is one of only two major broadband providers (alongside Orcon) currently offering hyperfibre plans.

When joining on a no-contract, open-term basis:

• Modem – Rental starting from $1/month
• Additional costs – $189 ONT installation fee on any of its three hyperfibre plans (free under current promotion)
• Extras/benefits – $30 discount on HyperFibre 2000 and 4000 plans, all its plans can be upgraded to Gamer plans for an additional $10/month (includes Gamer Support and Static IP)

Trustpower

Trustpower is one of the largest energy companies in New Zealand. It offers electricity, gas, and wireless/fibre broadband which can be purchased individually or bundled together for significant savings. It’s worth noting that Trustpower’s open-term plans are likely not of the best value, with the company structuring its offerings in a way that heavily encourages you to sign a fixed-term contract.

When joining on a no-contract, open-term basis:

• Modem – Eero 6 router for an additional $7.50/month paid over 24 months ($180 total). A one-off $14.95 shipping fee applies and the remaining balance must be paid in full if you leave before 24 months is up.
• Additional costs – N/A
• Extras/benefits – Discounts for bundling utilities.

The below prices may require you to bundle one or more utilities to access which may, in turn, affect the open-term nature of your broadband contract.

Vodafone

Vodafone’s Fibre plans are available on an open-term (it’s wireless and HFC plans are 12-month minimum term only). However, if opting for an open-term plan, you are required to BYO modem. Note that Vodafone’s Super Wifi promotion is not available on open-term plans.

When joining on a no-contract, open-term basis:

• Modem – BYO
• Additional costs – N/A
• Extras/benefits – $10 discount for Vodafone Pay Monthly customers (not included in price below)

*Further information on pricing can be found at individual retailer websites. Prices are correct at time of writing (1st November 2022). This should be used as a starter guide and not considered an actual quote.

About the author of this page

This report was written by Canstar Content Producer, Andrew Broadley. Andrew is an experienced writer with a wide range of industry experience. Starting out, he cut his teeth working as a writer for print and online magazines, and he has worked in both journalism and editorial roles. His content has covered lifestyle and culture, marketing and, more recently, finance for Canstar.