How to Find the Best Mobile Phone Plans in NZ

 

Are you in the market for a new mobile phone plan? With many of New Zealand’s top mobile and roaming plan providers offering a wide range of plans, it can be hard to know where to look.

 

CompareBear can help you  compare mobile phone plan prices and benefits online. Once you’ve found the right fit, it’s only too easy to make the switch to your new provider. 

 

Whether you’re after a prepaid, monthly or contract type plan, there are a number of things to consider before signing up to a new provider. To make this process easier for you, we’ve gathered our top tips on how to find the best mobile phone plans in NZ.

What do you need from your phone plan?

The first step to finding the right mobile phone plan is to ask yourself the question - what do you need from your phone plan? The details of a phone plan can be trickier than you might think, so it’s important to sit down and figure out exactly what you need.

 

Most standard mobile phone plans will include texts, minutes and data, however nowadays, many plans have some great additional features such as Netflix and Premium Spotify.

 

There’s no point paying big bucks for a mobile plan where you’re not using half the data or minutes - so put some time into calculating just how much you’ll need. While the idea of free Spotify or Netflix might sound appealing, these benefits usually come with being on a more expensive phone plan.

 

How many TXTs do you send every month?

 

If you’ve spent any time comparing mobile phone plans, you may have noticed that some packages include unlimited text messages, where others many only include a set amount.

 

In order to determine the right mobile phone plan for you, have a think about how many texts you actually send each month. Do you really need unlimited texts as part of a package? If not, you’ll likely be able to choose a cheaper phone plan than you may have anticipated. 

 

How much data do you use each month?

 

A few decades ago, people required a computer or laptop to use the internet; in today’s world, people are using their smartphones to access the internet. As many of us have replaced the need for a computer with our mobile phones, we generally require a lot of data to support our daily use.

 

Most mobile phone plan providers have an app you can download (or a website you can visit) where you can access your internet usage history. If you’re exceeding your monthly allowance, you may want to consider an unlimited data mobile plan. 

 

If you use heaps of data one month but not so much the next, a roll-over data mobile plan may be the best option for you. Having roll-over data means that any data you don’t use in the month will stay in your account and can be used the next month.

 

How many call minutes do you use each month?

 

Even the biggest texters out there need some call time! Call minutes are a standard part of a phone plan, with some mobile plan providers even offering international minutes as part of the package deal.

 

The average amount of call minutes on a standard mobile phone plan is around between 50-100 minutes, but for those who use their phone on a daily basis, there are now phone plans that offer unlimited call time.

 

With the roll-out of carryout data, carryover call time soon became available. With some mobile phone packages, you can enjoy “roll-over minutes” - meaning that any minutes you don’t use one month can be accumulated and used the following month/s.

 

Mobile phone package deals and benefits

 

With New Zealand’s top mobile phone plan providers all competing to get customers on board, many of them are offering fantastic sign up deals for new customers. When searching for your next phone plan, be sure to look for additional benefits such as free TV subscriptions and free account credit.

 

Some companies are now offering ‘unlimited group’ mobile plan packages -  this is where up to 4 people can enjoy an unlimited text, call and data plan under the same account. You’ll pay a fixed monthly price for the first person, and then a heavily reduced monthly cost for each other person that you want on the plan.

 

Are cheap mobile plans just as good as expensive ones?

 

It all depends on what you need from your mobile phone plan - there’s no point in paying for the most expensive mobile phone plan if you don’t actually need all of the text, data and minutes that comes with it. The best mobile phone plans in New Zealand are the plans that have the best value, instead of the cheapest or the most features. 

 

The most expensive mobile phone plans out there are generally the ‘unlimited’ ones, which are roughly around $80 per month. So if you’re not using a heap of data and minutes, you can easily opt for a cheap phone plan. 

 

Cheap mobile phone plans start from just $12 a month, and includes all the basics ones would need to get through the month (500MB data, 200 minutes and unlimited texts).

 

Prepay or pay monthly phone plan?

 

Prepaid phone plans are a ‘pay as you go’ type plan, where you purchase credit in advance of using any data, call minutes or texts. This plan is best suited to those who are on a budget and are wanting an easy to set up and ‘no commitment’ deal with their phone plan.

 

Pay monthly plans is where you pay a fixed cost at the end of the month in exchange for a ‘mobile phone package bundle’, which typically includes texts, data and call minutes. This plan is ideal for those who are happy to sign up to a minimum contract, where they’ll likely enjoy added bonuses such as free TV subscriptions.

 

Find and compare mobile phone plans with Compare Bear

 

Once you’ve figured out exactly what you need from a mobile phone plan, you can begin the search to find the right plans for your needs and budget.

 

Here at Compare Bear, we’re dedicated to helping Kiwis save money on their everyday bills. With our free and easy to use online comparison tool, you can easily compare the latest mobile phone plans from the country’s leading mobile phone and roaming providers.