Skinny Broadband Provider Review- Everything You Need to Know Before Switching

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Skinny is one of New Zealand's most popular broadband providers. They offer everything from copper-based internet to wireless and fibre-based broadband plans.

If you're thinking of switching to Skinny Broadband, you should consider their plans, pricing, pros and cons, and customer service.

In this Skinny broadband review, we'll go over all of these things and more so you can make an informed decision!

Skinny Broadband NZ Plans Overview

Skinny Broadband is owned by Spark, one of NZ's leading broadband providers. Skinny offers lightning-fast internet plans at affordable prices, making it an excellent choice for Kiwis on a tight budget.

They offer both fixed-term and open-term broadband plans, so you can choose the level of commitment you're comfortable with.

Skinny Broadband offers three main types of internet connections: copper-based (ADSL/VDSL), wireless 4g broadband, and fibre broadband plans.

With any of these plans, if you opt for a fixed-term contract of at least 12 months, you'll get a free modem and free installation. Skinny usually doesn't allow you to use your own modem with wireless plans, unlike fibre and copper-based plans.

With a fixed-term contract, you'll also need to pay early exit fees if you decide to terminate your contract early. If more than six months are left on your contract, the early exit fees are typically NZ $249. If you've got six months or less on your contract, the fees get reduced to NZ $124.

Alternatively, if you decide to go for an open-term contract, you might need to pay for installation, the Skinny modem, and shipping (NZ $10), depending on the plan you choose. Here's the breakdown of open-term contract fees according to the broadband plans:

• Fixed Wireless 4G Broadband: No connection fee plus NZ $199 for the modem
• Copper-based Broadband (VDSL/ADSL): A connection fee of NZ $49 plus NZ $150 for the modem
• Fibre Broadband: A connection fee of NZ $49 plus NZ $150 for the modem

Here are Skinny's latest broadband deals.

Skinny Copper-Based Plans

Skinny Broadband offers two copper-based plans for those who prefer traditional wiring over wireless and fibre-based connections. If you sign up for a 12-month contract for either plan, you'll get one month free.

Here's a breakdown of their plans.

ADSL Unlimited Plan

The ADSL Unlimited plan gives you download speeds of up to 9 Mbps, which is relatively slow compared to the average internet speed in New Zealand. This kind of speed is good for basic browsing and watching videos in SD quality.

For reference, Netflix usually requires at least 5 Mbps for HD video streaming, so there might be a lot of buffering and lag if you're streaming while other devices are connected.

The ADSL Unlimited Plan costs NZ $75/month, which is relatively expensive since you can get faster speeds at a cheaper price with wireless plans.

VDSL Unlimited Plan

The VDSL Unlimited Plan is a much faster copper-based connection that gives you speeds of up to 36 Mbps. You can stream in HD, download files quickly, video conference, and more.

However, as with all copper-based connections, your speed depends on the integrity of your copper wires. If you think you're not getting around 36 Mbps, you can use Glimp's Speed Test to check your speed before contacting Skinny's customer service.

The VDSL Unlimited Plan costs NZ $75/month, which is the same price as the ADSL plan but about four times faster.

Skinny Wireless 4G Broadband Plans

Skinny offers three wireless broadband plans that operate on its 4G network. They provide excellent cell coverage thanks to their extensive cell tower arsenal, which has expanded even further since Spark acquired Skinny.

Skinny is currently offering two months free when you sign up for any of their wireless plans with a 12-month contract.

Here's a breakdown of their 4G wireless plans.

60GB Wireless Plan

The 60GB wireless plan is the most basic 4G internet plan Skinny has to offer. It gives you a download speed of up to 33 Mbps, which is great for basic browsing, video streaming, basic gaming, and sending emails.

However, this plan comes with a 60GB data cap, so you won't be able to stream and download as much as you'd like.

The 60GB Wireless Plan costs NZ $45/month, which is perfect for tight budgets.

120GB Wireless Plan

The 120GB Wireless Plan offers the same 4G download speed of up to 33 Mbps as the previous plan but comes with a 120 GB data cap.

This plan costs NZ$ 50/month. That's only NZ $5 more than the previous plan but double the data allowance.

Unlimited Wireless Plan

If you don't want to worry about running out of data or having to monitor your data consumption, check out the Unlimited Wireless Plan. It gives you the same 4G speeds of up to 33 Mbps without a data cap.

This Skinny unlimited broadband plan costs NZ $55/month.

Skinny Fibre Broadband Plans

Skinny offers two unlimited fibre broadband plans with speeds ranging from 319 Mbps to 914 Mbps. Both are affordable and reasonably priced compared to fibre broadband plans from other NZ broadband providers.

Skinny is currently giving away one month free when you sign up for any of their unlimited fibre plans with a 12-month contract.

Here's a breakdown of Skinny's fibre plans.

Ultrafast Fibre Plan

The Ultrafast Fibre Plan gives you download speeds of up to 319 Mbps, which is great for live streaming in 4K, online gaming, and households with multiple devices connected simultaneously.

This unlimited fibre plan costs NZ $75/month, which is the same price as the copper-based plans, but almost nine times faster! You should definitely consider replacing your copper-based internet with fibre if your home is fibre-ready.

Max Fibre Plan

The Max Fibre Plan is Skinny's fastest broadband service. It gives you lightning-fast internet speeds of up to 914 Mbps with unlimited data usage.

It's perfect for heavy multiplayer online gaming, live streaming in 4K, and households with more than nine devices connected simultaneously!

The Max Fibre Plan costs NZ $90/month, making it the most expensive of all the plans.

Skinny Broadband Pros and Cons

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Pros

• Several Broadband Options: Skinny offers different broadband connections ranging from ADSL/VDSL to wireless and fibre.
• Contract Options: Skinny offers both fixed and open-term contracts, which gives you the freedom to choose your level of commitment
• Affordable Monthly Prices: Skinny's plans are much more affordable than many NZ broadband providers.
• Discounts: Skinny offers an NZ $10 discount for any active Skinny mobile plan you have.
• Limited and Unlimited Plans: Skinny offers both limited and unlimited broadband plans based on your preference and monthly data consumption

Cons

• BYO Router Options: Skinny Broadband doesn't allow you to use your own router for wireless plans, unlike fibre and copper-based plans.
• Hyper-Fibre: Skinny doesn't offer hyper-fibre connections, which means you can't get 1000+ Mbps internet speeds with their broadband options.
• No Bundle Options: Skinny doesn't offer broadband/power bundle options or add-ons, unlike most NZ broadband providers.

Is Skinny Broadband Right for You?

Choosing a broadband provider depends on your budget and internet needs. Luckily, Skinny offers almost every kind of broadband connection you can think of, except for satellite internet plans.

They're bound to have an affordable broadband plan that's perfect for you.

However, if you decide to go with fibre plans, make sure you first check that fibre is available at your address. You can use Glimp's Fibre Availability Checker or the address checker on the Skinny Jump website.

Also, Kiwis living in remote areas of NZ should consider rural broadband plans since fibre, copper-based, and fibre connections might not be readily available in rural areas.

If you're having trouble deciding on a plan, use Glimp's broadband comparison tool to compare other top broadband deals available to you.

Skinny Broadband Customer Service

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Skinny has an excellent NZ-based customer service team that replies to broadband customers' inquiries around the clock. If you have any questions before you join Skinny, you can contact them, and they'll help you make the switch and choose the right plan.

You can chat with them via their website 24/7 or contact their call centre during working hours which are:

• Monday to Friday: 8 am to 7 pm
• Saturday and Sunday: 9 am to 5:30 pm

Skinny Broadband FAQs

Can I Use My 4G Wireless Skinny Router at Another Home?

No. Your Skinny router isn't portable. Once registered at your home address, it won't work at any other location.

What if I Run Out of Data on My Limited Plan?

If you run out of data, for example, with the 60GB Wireless Plan, you can purchase an additional 10GB for NZ $20 or repurchase your 60GB plan anytime.

Conclusion

Skinny is an excellent broadband service provider that offers several internet connections at affordable prices.

No matter what you need internet for, whether gaming, work, or video streaming, there's bound to be a Skinny Broadband plan to suit your needs!