10 Best Internet & Broadband Provider in NZ (2023)
Compare broadband plans and deals from top internet providers in NZ with Glimp!
We've researched the top service providers and the latest broadband plans to get you the best value for your money. Use Glimp's Broadband Compare tool to find all the info you need, including prices, speeds, data, contract lengths, installation costs, and more!
Top 10 Internet Providers in New Zealand
Here are the top 10 internet providers according to our research and satisfied customer reviews and ratings:
1. Orcon
Orcon broadband was one of the first broadband providers to supply ultra-fast, unlimited fibre plans to Kiwis all over New Zealand. They offer unlimited fibre-pro and hyper-fibre plans with data speeds up to 7,700 Mbps, perfect for power users and households with multiple devices.
Orcon is NZ's fourth largest internet service provider, with an excellent New Zealand-based customer service team. You're almost guaranteed to find some of the best broadband deals in NZ with Orcon.
2. Vodafone
Vodafone is an international broadband service provider servicing New Zealanders for over 20 years. It has all types of broadband connections, such as Fibre, VDSL, and ADSL (depending on what's available in your area).
As a major broadband provider in NZ, Vodafone also has bundles with add-ons and extra services.
Vodafone has one of the widest coverage in New Zealand - over 98.5% of the country - with over 3 million connections in both residential and commercial areas.
3. Spark
Spark Broadband is a massive NZ's internet provider. It offers Fibre, VDSL, mobile, and ADSL. Their Everyday Wireless plan is especially popular, being one of the cheapest unlimited broadband in NZ.
Spark also offers BYO modem packages, optional landlines, and options for bundling broadband with a mobile plan.
4. 2degrees
2Degrees is one of New Zealand's biggest telecommunications providers.
Since 2009, they've provided significantly lower costs for Kiwis nationwide. Fast forward to today, 2degrees is among the most trusted internet service providers in NZ, with over 1.4 million active customers and over 76,000 business users!
2Degrees' Ultimate Unlimited Fibre is a Kiwi favourite with fast speeds, promotional discounts, and free Prezzi gift cards. They also allow you to rent a free modem with a fixed contract.
5. NOW
NOW provides excellent customer service and after-sale follow-up. All their customer care, including local sales and service hubs, are close to Kiwi households thanks to their many local fronts.
If New Zealanders have any issues with their internet or experience outages, they can just knock on their doors and solve the problem.
Whether you want broadband services for home or work, whether in Hawke's Bay, Tauranga, Wellington or Rotorua, NOW is an excellent choice!
6. Slingshot
Slingshot are committed to making broadband simple to use and suitable for the whole household. They have a wide range of plans perfect for online gaming, streaming services, and more!
Customers can even choose to have a phone line included in their connection or go naked. In both cases, Slingshot's internet plans are highly affordable and can be customised to your needs.
7. Skinny
Skinny offers one of the cheapest broadband plans in NZ since they remove all the unnecessary fees, even the installation one. You only pay for essentials.
They also have bundled services for mobile and internet that can save you money in the long run.
Skinny broadband offers a powerful 4G connection for those living in rural areas, making it one of the excellent rural broadband providers.
8. Nova Energy
Nova Energy is primarily known as a power provider in New Zealand, so it may shock most Kiwis to know they offer broadband too.
However, that's their most significant selling point! They offer broadband and power deals that bring together unlimited broadband, electricity, and natural gas all in one. For Kiwis, this means great value for money on utility costs.
They supply copper (ADSL and VDSL) and fibre-pro connections with speeds reaching 828 Mbps! Nova has thousands of satisfied customers with high-speed internet throughout the North Island, all the way down to Timaru on South Island.
9. Sky
Sky started as New Zealand's leading satellite TV company and became one of NZ's top satellite broadband providers in just a few years.
Millions of Kiwis enjoy Sky entertainment services, awesome sports and movie channels with Sky TV, and now, Sky Broadband. The company offers bundled plans that give you lightning-fast internet speed and entertainment features while saving money!
Other NZ Internet Providers
Here are a few other NZ internet providers with excellent network performance worth checking out.
Farmside
Farmside is New Zealand's leading internet provider connecting Kiwis throughout rural areas. They offer RBI Wireless network, fixed line broadband (ADSL and VDSL), satellite, and fibre options.
As part of the patchwork of rural NZ, this internet provider has partnered with Farmlands, PGG Wrightson, Farmsource and Ruralco - giving you the option to either charge your Farmside service to your supply account or pay them directly.
Flip
Flip is one of NZ's newer broadband providers, dedicated to giving you cheap and reliable broadband plans. They allow you to pay your fibre plans weekly, fortnightly, or monthly. You can get unlimited fibre broadband deals with speeds reaching 50 Mbps for as little as NZ $14/week!
They only offer one straightforward broadband plan, but they boast a super-fast set-up, and you only need to pay a one-time set-up fee of NZ $25.
Gravity
Gravity is New Zealand's only dedicated satellite internet provider. They provide fast, reliable satellite internet to every corner of the country, making them one of the best providers for Kiwis in remote locations.
Their customers enjoy excellent customer service, unlimited broadband plans, and Farmlands payment options.
Gravity provides internet solutions for both businesses and organisations, too. Their options include backup internet, planned events and festivals connection, emergency and disaster coverage, portable equipment, and more.
Compass
Compass Communications is a 100% Kiwi-owned independent internet and telecommunications service provider. Dating back to 1995, they're the longest-standing competitor to Spark in the New Zealand telecommunications and broadband market.
Compass offers affordable internet packages for businesses and households to cover your every need.
Bigpipe
Bigpipe Broadband provides fast, unlimited internet connections, including ADSL, VDSL, and ultra-fast fibre broadband. They have some of the cheapest rates in NZ!
The biggest advantage of Bigpipe is that their plans have no data caps, no throttling, and no contracts! As a leading internet service provider in NZ, they primarily focus on naked broadband plans where you don't need a landline.
Bottom line, Bagpipe is one of the best internet providers for naked broadband and unlimited plans!
Wireless Nation
Wireless Nation offers high speeds and reliable broadband to most New Zealand areas. Whether you're in an urban centre like Auckland CBD, or the remote Chatham Islands, they can assist you with connecting to broadband.
Wireless Nation is primarily known as a rural internet service provider in NZ. If you use a fibre checker and find out it's unavailable at your location, Wireless Nation will probably have the next best thing for you!
Contact Energy
Contact Energy is more popular as a power and gas provider, but they offer some of the best broadband bundle plans in New Zealand. They provide a cheaper and easier alternative for Kiwis who like simple billing for all their utilities at home.
Their provide unlimited, naked, rural, no contract, copper, and fibre plans. Contact Energy NZ was named ‘The Most Diverse Company in NZ' out of 6,000 companies by Thomson Reuters Diversity & Inclusion in 2017 thanks to their diverse offerings.
They're bound to have a broadband plan to suit your budget and needs! You can read contact energy review for more detail of what customers think about their services!
Voyager
Voyager is a Kiwi-owned and operated telecommunications provider that delivers ultra-fast broadband voice, domain name, and hosting services to thousands of homes and businesses across New Zealand.
They boast an efficient, NZ-based help desk, which aims to answer all support calls within 60 seconds.
Voyager offers unlimited data plans at affordable prices and free installation, so you'll get the most value for your money.
Freedom Internet
Freedom Internet is a unique broadband provider that focuses on pre-installing Internet in apartments and buildings across New Zealand.
Their mission is to connect you to the internet as soon as you move to your new home or business – no waiting time and no hefty connection fees.
The company has only been in the industry for a decade, and they've expanded in New Zealand and Australia. Their business broadband plans are carefully curated with plenty of security features like a disaster backup system so you can continue your operations amidst a power outage.
Inspire Net
Inspire Net offers personalised broadband plans with excellent network coverage, especially in Manawatu and neighbouring areas. They have over two decades of trusted experience, with a solid local presence, especially in remote locations.
Their internet plans are extremely varied, with options including fibre, rural, unlimited, naked, landline, and no-contract deals, so there's something to cover your every need.
Megatel
Megatel became New Zealand's first telco and energy provider in 2011 with broadband and power bundle offerings. Because of their innovations, they were recognised as the Best Service Provider for three consecutive years from 2017 to 2019.
Megatel's team is continuously innovating their broadband offerings, and most recently, they included premium mesh WiFi routers, which improve your home WiFi coverage. Their plans include plenty of benefits and add-ons, such as VoIP and PSTN, so Kiwis can fully utilise their internet connection.
Unifone
Unifone offers efficient, personalised internet services that fit every Kiwi's need. Their broadband plans are especially popular in homes and businesses in Dunedin, Otago, Southland, and neighbouring areas.
Unifone pioneered Gigatown broadband services, so you can always trust the best speeds and stability in your broadband. As they're also a part of the Rural Broadband Initiative, you can get stable internet access even in your rural abode.
Worldnet
Worldnet has been offering unique broadband plans for over twenty years. As one of the pioneers of broadband in New Zealand, they have a wide range of broadband services ranging from ADSL, VDSL, fibre, and ultra-fast fibre.
They have an elite customer service team that ensures all your concerns are resolved immediately.
Worldnet's most affordable broadband plans start as low as $55 a month.
Aside from offering specialised household broadband, they also offer cheap business broadband plans for as low as $140 a month. This business plan gives you up to 1Gbps and comes with a 24-month contract.
EA Networks
EA Networks is one of New Zealand's trusted fibre networks with operations in Mid Canterbury's electricity and fibre optic communications. They provide internet access to urban and rural areas with fibre cables extending from Ashburton to Rakaia, Hinds, Mt. Somers, Lake Hood, Chertsey and Mayfield.
EA Networks offers a world-class fibre connection that guarantees fast internet speeds even if you have multiple devices on your network. It's perfect for watching your favourite movies, playing games without lag or glitches, and hosting long hours of video calls any time you like.
Enable Networks
Enable is a fibre broadband network affiliated with Christchurch City Council.
They're a part of New Zealand's UFB initiative that has connected more than 200k homes, businesses, and schools across the region and towns in the Selwyn and Waimakariri areas.
Enable offers fibre to individual users and business owners who rely on the power of high-speed internet.
Evolution Wireless
Evolution Wireless has provided users in East Cape, Matawai, Wairoa, and all areas in between with ultrafast wireless internet for everyday transactions.
They are the provider of choice for rural communities, households, and businesses, when it comes to digital banking.
They offer extremely affordable broadband plans and an outstanding local support team that handles all issues at all times.
KiwiWifi
KiwiWifi is a leading wireless broadband provider in the Nelson and Tasman regions of New Zealand.
They extend to rural households, farms and businesses using a custom-made wireless network that enables multiple users to connect to the internet instantly.
KiwiWifi continues to work towards improving broadband plans and solutions to provide every rural customer with a stable internet connection. Their plans are more expensive than most internet providers', but they cover areas some providers don't reach, so it might be worth it.
Martinborough
Martinborough is a local internet service provider that delivers high-speed broadband to Kiwis in the South Wairarapa region. Over the years, they've developed broadband for homes and businesses in Martinborough, Longbush, Tora, and Ruakokapatuna and plan to expand services nationwide.
Martinborough offers affordable, easy-installation hardware packages you can set up without a technician. This saves you the installation fees, and you also get a portable device to improve your WiFi connection throughout the house.
Northpower Fibre
Northpower provides elite-grade electricity, alternative energy, and fibre broadband services in Whangarei, Kiarapa, Mangawhai and other areas throughout Northland.
They're one of the most reliable NZ broadband networks, continuously expanding their fibre infrastructure to nearby regions and towns.
Northpower Fibre supports students of the Taitokerau Education Trust, making a difference in the education of children and families of Northland.
Primo
Primo NZ is based in Taranaki and has served Taranakis with ultrafast broadband since 2006. Their objective is to provide Kiwis with reliable and excellent wireless broadband solutions through their customer-oriented team and wireless plans.
They have affordable fibre connections for homes and businesses in urban locations. They also provide rural wireless connection options for those living outside copper and fibre network areas, making it possible for remote households to access city-quality internet.
Tpnet
Tpnet, or Thepacific.net, is an independent internet service provider with a background in software development. They put their tech-savviness to good use, providing unique internet solutions to Kiwis in the Nelson region.
Tpnet began a multi-site, fixed wireless network in the South Island, hoping to reach more users nationwide.
When you switch to Tpnet, they guarantee faster and more seamless internet connectivity in seconds. Tpnet has capped and unlimited data options that start from NZ $75/month.
Ultrafast Fibre
Ultrafast Fibre provides Kiwis with ultrafast fibre broadband across Whanganui, Hamilton, New Plymouth, and Tauranga urban areas.
As part of RBI projects, they've connected over 209,000 homes to ultrafast fibre networks, proving themselves a reliable, consistent fibre network provider.
Purelink
Purelink (formerly Wanna Internet) is a local broadband network based in Waikato that has provided innovative internet services to Kiwi customers since 2010. They've reached hundreds of households and business owners outside the region, providing affordable ultra-fast fibre, copper and mobile broadband plans.
Wanna Internet is especially popular in Raglan, Te Mata, Aotea, Te Pahu, Whatawhata, Ohaupo, Ngaruawahia, and neighbouring towns.
WiFi Guys
WiFi Guys is one of New Zealand's WiFi specialists offering unique services to local Christchurch and Canterbury customers.
They've been helping individuals, students, and office workers with WiFI repair and installation for over a decade. Although they specialise in hardware services, they also offer temporary WiFi plans that span from one day to a year.
Best Internet Providers in NZ for Businesses
Large Business Broadband Plans
As businesses have different needs than households, business broadband plans are becoming more popular in New Zealand. These broadband plans are specifically designed to cater to businesses' security and productivity needs.
While these are more popular in city centres – like Auckland, Wellington, and Christchurch – where big companies house their headquarters, there are also plenty of rural business broadband plans to support local businesses like cooperatives, restaurants, and resorts.
Orcon, Spark, NOW, Freedom Intenet, WorldNet, and 2Degrees offer many business plans to cover your corporate needs. You can choose from business fibre broadband deals, business VDSL broadband plans, business ADSL broadband deals, and business wireless broadband plans.
Small Business Broadband Plans
Small businesses can't afford the same internet expenses as large corporates. That's why broadband providers offer much more affordable small business broadband plans for companies located in remote locations.
These broadband plans are also equipped with advanced security features like EFTPOS, Guest WiFi, VLAN transparency, and more.
You can get consistent speeds as fast as 2Gbps, depending on your location and the nature of your business.
Some of the best internet providers for small businesses include MyRepublic, Slingshot, Vodafone, and Spark.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best WiFi provider?
The best WiFi provider depends on the purpose of usage. If you’re using it for personal and small households, consider internet providers with advanced security features, reasonable pricing plans, and VLAN transparency.
Recommended service providers for small businesses include MyRepublic, Slingshot, OneNZ, and Spark.
For large businesses, a WiFi provider that offers business fibre deals, VDSL plans, ADSL plans, and wireless plans—all of these work best with large users, are recommended.
What is the fastest Internet provider in New Zealand?
In the mentioned service providers above, Orcon guarantees a speed of up to 7,700Mbps through its ultra-fast, unlimited fibre plan. It can benefit power users and households with multiple devices.
How much does the internet cost per month?
The internet cost varies depending on the telecommunications company you’ve partnered with and the plan bundle you have availed with them. Another thing to consider is the plan term, usually a 12-month and 24-month term.
If you exceed the capped internet usage of your bundle, you will be charged an excess amount. This is why there’s no universal internet spending, it varies from user to user.
Is the internet expensive in New Zealand?
New Zealand’s internet cost is a bit higher compared to other countries, considering its geographical isolation. That’s why it’s surprising how the listed Internet providers above are able to offer plan bundles at a reasonable price starting at $60 monthly.
