Best SIM Card for New Zealand: Which one to buy?

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New Zealand is full of outdoor adventures with its exceptional islands and national parks. Plus, a wealth of activities to do such as stargazing, learning about Maori culture, and searching for the “Lord of the Rings” region.

We know you like to share unique moments and need to be connected to the Internet all the time, maybe you find a Hobbit and want to show it to your friends right then and there.

Therefore, we will help you find the best SIM card for New Zealand. We will show you the advantages, disadvantages, where and how to buy it to travel to New Zealand overloaded with cellular data.

If your cell phone is compatible, do not hesitate to buy a digital card or eSIM. All you need is your email address, scan the code, and boom! Connection successful!

esim New Zealand

Contents

Which SIM card for New Zealand offers me the most data at the best price?

Together we will find the best New Zealand SIM card option that offers the most data at a price that fits your pocket.

Also, we have to consider the main features, such as how much data they offer, coverage, quality, and above all a low price. That is to say, the one that meets our internet needs during our trip to New Zealand.

A little ahead of time, I would like to tell you that Holafly’s New Zealand SIM card offers us good alternatives to stay connected to the Internet, with free shipping and 24-hour assistance.

Where to buy the best prepaid SIM card for New Zealand

Certainly, the easiest and most convenient way to shop is on online stores like Holafly, for example. These online stores offer you the ease of purchasing from your computer, without the need to wait in long lines in physical stores. On the contrary, you can do it when you arrive at your destination at the airport or supermarkets such as Pak n’Save, New World, and different Convenience Stores.

internet with sim card in Hobbiton, Matamata, New Zealand
Hobbiton, Matamata, New Zealand. Source: Nikhil Prasad on Unsplash

Buy a New Zealand SIM card before traveling

In fact, this is the most recommended option by many travelers today. You can do it from the comfort of your home and safely. In addition, many companies offer free and fast shipping.

That is why here I show you some options to find the one that best suits our trip.

Holafly New Zealand Data SIM Card

The New Zealand data SIM card has two options with 30 days coverage. Also, you can choose between 10GB or 12GB at 3G and 4G speed. These two have the benefit of free shipping and 24-hour support.

DaysDataPrice (USD)Price / Day (USD)
3010 GB$391.2 / day
3012 GB$511.6 / day
Opciones de tarjetas SIM para Nueva Zelanda de Holafly.

Advantages of Holafly:

  • Easy to use, just place the card in your phone, activate data roaming and that’s it!
  • You can receive unlimited calls without roaming charges.
  • 24-hour support.
  • You can also use it in Australia.
  • This SIM includes a phone number and you can use this number to receive calls.

Holafly disadvantage:

  • It does not allow national calls. For this reason, you should use apps such as WhatsApp.

Sim Card Conecty

Conecty presents its international prepaid SIM Card with data from 500MB. However, the shipping cost varies between USD 9 and USD 11 extra.

Advantages:

  • You can use it in other destinations such as Australia and USA.

Disadvantages:

  • International shipping can take up to 5 business days with quite high costs.
  • They have a reduced amount of data with costs of up to USD 6 per day.
  • The customer must certify that the cell phone has GSM connectivity and that the device has open bands.

Cellular Abroad Sim Card

Advantages:

  • New Zealand local phone number
  • Free incoming calls, text and voice messages.

Disadvantages:

  • International shipments are quite expensive.

How much does a SIM card for New Zealand cost?

Now that we know a little more about the benefits offered by SIM data card stores for New Zealand, we will show you a summary of the final price with the following chart:

Card cost (USD)Cost data (USD)Shipping cost (USD)Amount of data (USD)FINAL PRICE (USD)
Holafly $5112GB$51
Sim Card Conecty$6$46$1110GB$63
Cellular Abroad$37$35$275GB$99
Comparison of SIM card prices for travel to New Zealand.

As a result, we found that the Holafly card offers us more data at a lower price and has no extra shipping or card fees.

Buy my SIM card in New Zealand

You can buy the SIM card at airports, local operator stores, and supermarkets. This option is probably the least recommended during the current pandemic. You will have to wait in long lines and enter crowded places. You’re better off avoiding these type of situations.

sim card in Mount Eden Summit, Auckland, New Zealand
Mount Eden Summit, Auckland, New Zealand. Source: Aaron Birch on Unsplash

Vodafone New Zealand

It is one of the most widely used operators in New Zealand, offering promotions with cellular starting at 500MB.

Advantages

  • Vodafone stores are easy to find as there are many of them.

Disadvantages:

  • You must top-up a data pack when you buy the card.
  • Of course, if you travel outside New Zealand the roaming cost will be USD 8 per MB consumed.

Spark

Spark is the new version of Telecom and is one of the operators with the largest customer base in New Zealand. They have similar tariffs to Vodafone.

Advantages:

  • Its data packages last up to 30 days.

Disadvantages:

  • They only have two prepaid data plans.
  • You buy the card and data separately.

2Degrees

This company offers prepaid plans of 250 MB and 2.5 GB monthly. They include minutes for national calls.

Advantages:

  • Data packages last 30 days.
  • There are Hotspots or Wifi hotspots in different places where you can connect with your phone or computer.

Disadvantages:

  • Hotspots will only give you access once a day.
  • The phone must be compatible to insert the SIM, otherwise they will only do this through your IMEI in their physical store.

SIM card for New Zealand, which one to buy?

In conclusion, Holafly’s New Zealand SIM card is the one that offers us more data and a better price. In addition, they facilitate the purchase without moving from our place of comfort and above all without shipping costs.

With their two-card options, they offer 30 days of coverage with 5GB or 12GB at 3G and 4G speed. The New Zealand data SIM card also offers these benefits:

  • Easy to use, just insert the SIM, activate “data roaming” and that’s it.
  • You keep your WhatsApp number, to stay connected with friends and family.
  • Help 24 hours a day in Spanish and through different channels like email, chat and WhatsApp.
  • Free shipping, and you will receive your card within 72 business hours.

Land and start surfing the Internet with your New Zealand SIM-card!

Frequently asked questions about Internet and SIM card for New Zealand

How to have Internet in New Zealand?

You can have Internet in New Zealand with a data SIM card, use your carrier’s roaming, pocket Wifi or search for free Wifi in cafes or hotels.

How much does roaming cost in New Zealand?

It all depends on the contract you have with your cellular operator, most of them are very expensive and exceed 12 € per MB used. For more details visit our entry Roaming in New Zealand.

How to choose a data SIM card for Internet and phone in New Zealand?

First, you must consider the amount of data, coverage, and speed. Then you should look for a card that covers the days of your trip to New Zealand. Finally, that offers you pre-sales and post-sales technical support.

Where to buy a data-only SIM card?

We recommend you make the purchase before your trip. You can order it through online stores like Holafly. And if you did not have time you can do it on your arrival in New Zealand, although we don’t recommend this option as it will take a long time.

How much does a SIM card for New Zealand cost?

SIM card prices vary according to the amount of GB you choose. For a price of 44 €, you will have 12 GB to use for 30 days, for example. Holafly allows you to use the card in Australia and they offer free shipping.

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