On this page 13 sections
Recommended plans for New Zealand
Cheapest in each category from this guide’s price tables · checked
Best value
Ubigi
10 GB · 30 days
$16
Lowest 10 GB price in our table, for most one- to two-week trips.
See Ubigi plans (affiliate link, opens in a new tab)Unlimited week
Nomad
Unlimited · 7 days
$25
Lowest 7-day unlimited price among the plans in our table.
See Nomad plans (affiliate link, opens in a new tab)Light use
Ubigi
3 GB · 30 days
$7
Lowest 3 GB price in our table, for a short stay or light use.
See Ubigi plans (affiliate link, opens in a new tab)
Prices in USD from each provider’s official page; confirm at checkout. Some buttons are affiliate links. Compare every plan below.
Plan size
Not sure how much data you need? Try our free eSIM data calculator — maps, messaging, streaming, hotspot and hotel Wi‑Fi, sized to a common plan. Or weigh a carrier day pass on the eSIM vs roaming comparator.
New Zealand at a glance
Checked 5 November 2026- Cheapest plan listed
- $3.001 GB / 30 days, Yesim
- 7 days unlimited
- $19.99Maya’s global plan; Nomad’s NZ plan is $25
- 10 GB for 30 days
- $16Ubigi on 2degrees and Spark (Nomad: $18)
- Before you fly
- NZeTA (from NZD $17) and the free NZTD
These New Zealand plans are data-only, with no local phone number. Keep your home SIM on for bank and app SMS codes.
Why New Zealand is different
Spark is everywhere. Airalo and Nomad list Spark; Ubigi lists 2degrees and Spark, the only provider here naming two networks.
Fixed data beats unlimited for most trips. 10 GB for 30 days is $16 at Ubigi and $18 at Nomad; a week of unlimited starts at $25 for an NZ-only plan.
Paperwork first. Most visa-free visitors need an NZeTA before flying, and GOV.UK says to complete the free NZ Traveller Declaration (see entry).
Quick picks
Two to four weeks, normal use
A 10 GB / 30-day plan: $16 at Ubigi or $18 at Nomad. Yesim’s 20 GB is $26.40.
Heavy use or tethering
Maya’s global plan: $19.99 a week, $49.99 for 30 days. Among NZ plans, Nomad is lowest for a week ($25) and Ubigi for 30 days ($65).
Rural roads
Ubigi lists both 2degrees and Spark, which can help where one network is weak. Download offline maps either way.
Two countries
Many trips combine the two. Compare our Australia guide before buying.
Step 1: Size your plan for New Zealand
Maps, ride-hailing, transit apps and messaging use little data. Uploading photos and videos and making video calls use much more. As a rough guide, maps and messaging use hundreds of megabytes a day, while video and video calls can use several gigabytes. These are general estimates, not measurements.
Under a week, maps, messages and transport apps
3–5 GB fixed plan
1–2 weeks, photos, social apps and video
10–20 GB fixed, or unlimited
Remote work, video calls, tethering a laptop
Unlimited, after checking its fair-use and hotspot rules
Step 2: Compare published prices
Unlimited plans by trip length
| Days | Airalo | Nomad | Holafly | Ubigi | Yesim |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 days | $11.50 | $11 (lowest listed) | $11.90 | — | $12.60 |
| 5 days | $18.50 | $18 (lowest listed) | $20.50 | — | $21.00 |
| 7 days | $27.00 | $25 (lowest listed) | $27.50 | $29 | $29.40 |
| 10 days | $34.50 | $33 (lowest listed) | $37.50 | — | $35.93 |
| 15 days | $48.00 | — | $51.50 | $44 (lowest listed) | $46.80 |
| 30 days | $71.00 | — | $76.50 | $65 (lowest listed) | $68.40 |
Lowest listed price in the row — means no plan of that length was listed. Holafly ($3.90) and Yesim ($4.20) also sell a single day. Holafly allows 1 GB a day of hotspot sharing. Maya sells one global unlimited plan at the same price for every country: $9.99 for 3 days, $19.99 for 7, $27.99 for 14 and $49.99 for 30 (see Maya). Official pages, checked 5 November 2026.
Fixed-data plans
| Data | Airalo | Nomad | Saily | Ubigi | Yesim |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 GB | $4.003 days | $4.507 days | $3.997 days | — | $3.0030 days (lowest listed) |
| 3 GB | $10.007 days | $930 days | $9.9930 days | $730 days (lowest listed) | — |
| 5 GB | $14.0030 days | $1330 days | $13.9930 days | — | $11.5230 days (lowest listed) |
| 10 GB | $24.0030 days | $1830 days | $23.9930 days | $1630 days (lowest listed) | $19.2030 days |
| 20 GB | $38.0030 days | $2830 days | $37.9930 days | — | $26.4030 days (lowest listed) |
| 50 GB | $49.0030 days | — | — | — | — |
Lowest listed price in the row Validity differs, so compare the small print as well as the price. Where a provider sells the same data amount for several lengths, we show the longest. Airalo also lists shorter versions (for example 10 GB for 7 days at $23.00). Ubigi also lists 10 GB for 7 days ($14) and 25 GB for 30 days ($35). Yesim also lists 30 GB for 30 days at $33.60. Official pages, checked 5 November 2026.
Step 3: Check the fine print
- Networks. Airalo and Nomad: Spark. Ubigi: 2degrees and Spark. Holafly, Saily, Yesim and Maya didn’t name one.
- Unlimited isn’t always unlimited. Ubigi says a fair-use policy may apply. Holafly’s New Zealand page limits hotspot sharing to 1 GB a day (a 7-day plan includes 7 GB to share).
- Activation windows. Nomad starts a plan automatically 60 days after purchase if you haven’t used it. Saily says all plans have a 180-day activation period; after that the plan starts automatically. Ubigi’s plan starts when you arrive.
- Hotspot. Yesim says hotspot depends on the operator, and gives 180 days from purchase to activate.
- Saily unlimited. Saily sells unlimited plans here, but we couldn’t read a price for each length, so check at checkout.
- No local number. These plans are data-only. Saily sells an optional US phone number, and Yesim offers a 20-minute calling add-on.
The seven providers
Airalo
- New Zealand from
- $4.001 GB / 3 days
- Unlimited
- $27.007 days; $71.00 for 30 days
- 10 GB / 30 days
- $24.00
What stands out
Lists Spark, with unlimited from 3 to 30 days ($27.00 a week) and the most short plans.
What to watch
10 GB for 30 days is $24.00, more than Ubigi, Nomad or Yesim.
Nomad
- New Zealand from
- $4.501 GB / 7 days
- 10 GB / 30 days
- $18
- Unlimited
- $113 days; $33 for 10
What stands out
Lists Spark. 10 GB for 30 days is $18, and a week of unlimited $25, the lowest NZ-only price.
What to watch
Unlimited stops at 10 days, and plans start automatically 60 days after purchase.
Holafly
- New Zealand from
- $3.901 day unlimited
- Unlimited
- $27.507 days; $76.50 for 30 days
- Fixed data
- Not sold
What stands out
Unlimited by the day from $3.90, with hotspot sharing of 1 GB a day.
What to watch
No network named, and 30 days costs $76.50.
Saily
- New Zealand from
- $3.991 GB / 7 days
- 10 GB / 30 days
- $23.99
- Unlimited
- Sold; check current price
What stands out
Fixed plans from $3.99 (1 GB for 7 days) with 180 days to activate.
What to watch
10 GB costs $23.99, more than Ubigi or Nomad, and we couldn’t read its unlimited prices.
Ubigi
- New Zealand from
- $73 GB / 30 days
- 10 GB / 30 days
- $16
- Unlimited
- $297 days; $44 for 15; $65 for 30
What stands out
Lists 2degrees and Spark. The lowest price here for 10 GB over 30 days ($16), and the lowest NZ-only 30-day unlimited ($65).
What to watch
Ubigi says a fair-use policy may apply to unlimited plans.
Yesim
- New Zealand from
- $3.001 GB / 30 days
- 10 GB / 30 days
- $19.20
- Unlimited
- $29.407 days; $68.40 for 30
What stands out
The cheapest small plan (1 GB for $3.00) and 20 GB for $26.40, both for 30 days.
What to watch
No network named, and Yesim says hotspot depends on the operator.
Maya
- 3 days
- $9.99unlimited data
- 7 days
- $19.99unlimited data
- 30 days
- $49.99unlimited data
What stands out
The lowest price we found for 7 or 30 days of unlimited data. It’s one global plan, so the same eSIM keeps working if New Zealand is one stop of several. Maya’s page says "No caps, no throttling."
What to watch
It renews automatically while Travel Mode is on, so turn it off when you get home. The page we read doesn’t name the local networks or spell out a fair-use policy, and we haven’t tested the no-throttling claim.
Will your phone work?
- eSIM-capable and unlocked. Apple lists iPhone XS, XS Max, XR or later. Settings → General → About should say "No SIM restrictions" next to Carrier Lock (full checklist).
- Bought in mainland China? Apple says that in China mainland only the iPhone 18 Pro, 18 Pro Max, iPhone Duo, iPhone 17e and iPhone Air support eSIM. Many older mainland models use two physical SIM cards instead, so check for Add eSIM in your settings before you buy a plan.
- Bought in Hong Kong or Macau? Apple notes that certain iPhone models sold there have two nano-SIM slots. Check for Add eSIM in your settings first.
- Install before you fly. Install the eSIM at home on Wi-Fi and leave the line switched off until you land (install guide).
Entry: NZeTA, NZTD and biosecurity
- NZeTA. Visa-waiver visitors need a New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority before travelling, even in transit. Immigration New Zealand lists it from NZD $17, says to allow 72 hours, and says it’s valid for 2 years; the official app is cheaper than the website. GOV.UK says you also pay the International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy (IVL) when you apply.
- NZ Traveller Declaration. GOV.UK says to complete the free NZTD online, no earlier than 24 hours before you travel.
- Passport. GOV.UK says it must be valid for at least 3 months after the date you plan to leave.
- Funds and onward travel. Immigration New Zealand says visitors need at least NZD $1,000 a month (NZD $400 if accommodation is paid), and GOV.UK says you may need an onward or return ticket.
Biosecurity
GOV.UK says New Zealand’s biosecurity rules are strict: declare food and other risk items, or you could be fined up to NZ$100,000.
Our take
For most trips, Ubigi’s 10 GB for $16 on 2degrees and Spark or Nomad’s 10 GB for $18 on Spark are the best value. For unlimited, Maya’s global plan beats every NZ plan we checked. Get your NZeTA through the official site or app.
Affiliate links. Prices are set by the provider and confirmed at checkout.
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Before you buy: the free pre-trip checklist
The four checks to do before any trip, from phone compatibility to the moment your plan starts counting days. Sign up and it opens straight away.
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You’re on the list
Your checklist is ready: phone check, install, roaming settings and activation timing, on one page.
Open the checklistBefore you fly
Get your NZeTA
Request it on the official Immigration New Zealand website or app at least 72 hours before you fly.
Buy and install at home
Check your phone is unlocked and eSIM-capable (how to check), then install on Wi-Fi before departure. With Nomad, don’t buy more than 60 days ahead.
Switch on when you land
Turn on the travel line, enable data roaming for that line, and set it as your mobile-data line.
Declare food
Fill in the NZTD within 24 hours of travel and declare anything you’re unsure about.
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Get the free pre-trip eSIM checklist
The four checks to do before any trip, from phone compatibility to the moment your plan starts counting days. Sign up and it opens straight away.
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Your checklist is ready: phone check, install, roaming settings and activation timing, on one page.
Open the checklistFrequently asked questions
What’s the cheapest New Zealand eSIM?
On the official pages we checked (5 November 2026), Yesim’s 1 GB for 30 days was $3.00. For 10 GB over 30 days, Ubigi was lowest at $16, then Nomad at $18.
Which network do New Zealand travel eSIMs use?
Airalo and Nomad list Spark. Ubigi lists 2degrees and Spark. Holafly, Saily, Yesim and Maya didn’t name one.
What’s the cheapest unlimited eSIM for New Zealand?
Maya’s global plan: $19.99 for 7 days and $49.99 for 30. Among NZ plans, Nomad was lowest for a week ($25) and Ubigi for 30 days ($65).
How much does an NZeTA cost?
Immigration New Zealand lists it from NZD $17, cheaper in the official app. GOV.UK says the IVL levy is paid at the same time.
Can I take food into New Zealand?
Declare it. GOV.UK says biosecurity rules are strict and fines can reach NZ$100,000.
Sources and method
Last checked 5 November 2026
All prices and plan facts on this page were read from these official pages on 5 November 2026. We have not purchased or tested these plans ourselves; we summarize what the providers publish, in our own words. Read our method.
- Airalo — New Zealand eSIMsChecked 5 November 2026
- Nomad — New Zealand eSIMChecked 5 November 2026
- Holafly — New Zealand eSIMChecked 5 November 2026
- Saily — New Zealand eSIMChecked 5 November 2026
- Yesim — New Zealand eSIMChecked 5 November 2026
- Maya — New Zealand eSIMChecked 5 November 2026
- Ubigi — New Zealand data plansChecked 5 November 2026
- Immigration New Zealand — NZeTAChecked 5 November 2026
- GOV.UK — New Zealand entry requirementsChecked 5 November 2026
- Apple Support — Use eSIM while traveling internationally with your iPhoneChecked 5 November 2026
- SafetyWing: Nomad InsuranceChecked 5 November 2026