How we compare plans
Where our data comes from
We collect plan details from each provider’s own website and record the date we last checked them. Prices are the standard prices shown to new customers, including GST. Limited-time promotions are shown separately.
Monthly equivalent pricing
Many prepay plans renew every 28 days, which is 13 times a year. To compare them fairly with monthly plans, we work out a monthly equivalent: price × (365 ÷ 12) ÷ days in the plan period. For example, $30 every 28 days works out at about $32.59 a month.
The SmartScore
Every plan gets a SmartScore out of 10: up to 6 points for value for money plus up to 4 points for features. Every plan page shows exactly how its score was worked out.
Value for money (up to 6 points)
We compare each plan’s monthly price with the cheapest comparable plan we list:
- Plans with a data allowance are compared with every plan that gives at least as much data a month. Unlimited plans at 10Mbps or faster count as more data than any allowance, because 10Mbps is enough for HD video on a phone.
- Unlimited plans are compared with unlimited plans at the same or a faster speed.
- Only like-for-like plans are benchmarks. Monthly and 28-day plans aren’t compared with plans you pay a year upfront, and no plan is compared with one that needs another service (like a power account).
The cheapest comparable plan gets the full 6 points. Other plans lose 1 point for every 10% they cost above it, down to zero.
Example: Skinny $27 Plan (4GB Rollover Data) costs $29.33 a month. The cheapest comparable plan is Mighty Mobile Starter Plan at $25.00. That’s 17% more, so it scores 6 − 1.7 = 4.3 value points.
Features (up to 4 points)
| Feature | Points |
|---|---|
| Unlimited NZ calls | 0.8 |
| Data rollover | 0.7 |
| No fixed term | 0.6 |
| 5G access | 0.6 |
| eSIM support | 0.5 |
| Hotspot/tethering allowed | 0.5 |
| Calls to Australia included | 0.3 |
If a provider doesn’t say whether a plan has a feature, it gets no points for it, and we show it as “Not stated”.
What doesn’t affect our rankings
Commissions. If a provider pays us when you sign up through our site, that never changes a plan’s SmartScore, the default sort order or the plan finder results. Plans from providers that don’t pay us are listed in exactly the same way.
What we don’t cover (yet)
We compare SIM-only plans, not plans bundled with a phone. We may not list every plan from every provider. Always check the final details on the provider’s website before you sign up.