Mobile data

Mobile data is the data included when you purchase a pay monthly plan, prepaid plan, or a data only SIM. You need a certain amount of mobile data to browse the web and use apps or services that require an internet connection.

Why do you need mobile data?

Mobile data is essential for staying connected when you’re away from your home or office WiFi. Whether it’s for background tasks like security updates or everyday essentials like navigating with Google Maps and looking up a phone number while you’re out and about, data keeps your phone “smart.”

Info! Mobile data is measured in gigabytes (GB). Usually, the main difference between a provider’s various plans is the amount of GB included. Generally, the more data you choose, the higher the monthly cost or top-up fee will be.

Exactly how much data you need depends on your online habits. While scrolling social media is relatively light, streaming high-definition video or gaming on the go eats through your allowance much faster. This is particularly relevant now that 5G has become the standard across New Zealand. While these lightning-fast speeds make for a seamless experience, they also make it easier to consume large amounts of data in a very short time without even realising it.

Because of this shift toward higher consumption, most 2026 pay monthly plans are now “endless” as standard. This means you have a set amount of max-speed data, and once that’s used up, you can still use as much data as you want at a reduced speed without being charged extra. However, if you prefer to pay only for what you use, a prepaid plan still offers the best flexibility.

What is the difference between mobile data and WiFi?

Both mobile data and WiFi allow you to get online, but they work differently. When you use mobile data, your device connects to a mobile network, such as 4G or 5G. Mobile data works anywhere there is network coverage, and using it consumes the data allowance included in your plan.

If you use a WiFi network, your device receives signals from a router instead. Most Kiwi households pay for a home broadband connection (typically via fibre/UFB) and use a router to create a WiFi network at home. You pay for that broadband separately, and when you use your mobile on WiFi, it doesn’t use any of the data from your pay monthly or prepaid plan.

How to check your mobile data usage

It’s a good idea to keep an eye on your usage each month. This helps you decide if you’re on the right plan or if you should switch to a different data tier.

In your phone settings 

If you have a pay monthly or prepaid plan, you can check your usage directly in your settings.

• On iPhone: Go to Settings > Mobile Data/Mobile Service to see your total usage and a breakdown of which apps are using the most data.
• On Android: Go to Settings > Connections > Data usage. You can view your total consumption for a specific period and see which apps are the “data hogs”. Note that these steps might vary slightly depending on whether you have a Samsung, Google Pixel, or another brand.

Via your provider’s website or app

• Website: You can usually log in to your My Account or customer portal on your provider’s website to see your remaining balance.
• App: Most New Zealand telcos have their own apps. Downloading your provider’s app is usually the easiest way to check your data balance and manage your plan on the go.

By SMS 

Many providers allow you to check your balance by sending a quick text (e.g., texting ‘BAL’ or ‘DATA’ to a specific number). You’ll get an immediate reply showing your remaining data.

Should mobile data be on or off?

If you have a limited data allowance, it’s a good idea to turn off mobile data when you aren’t using it. Some apps can run in the background and “sip” data even when your phone is in your pocket.

However, if you have a plan with a high data limit or an endless plan (where speeds are just slowed down after you hit your data limit), you can safely leave it on all the time.

How to turn off mobile data

• iPhone: Go to Settings > Mobile Data/Mobile Service and toggle the switch off.
• Android: Go to Settings > Connections > Data usage > Mobile data and toggle it off.

What is carryover data?

Carryover data (sometimes called data rollover) allows you to save your unused data from one month and use it later. In New Zealand, this is a very popular feature, especially with prepaid and budget-friendly plans. While some providers allow you to keep your unused data just for a month, many of them now allow you to carry over gigabytes indefinitely as long as you keep your plan active.

Please note! While some providers still have a cap on how much you can save, many 2026 plans offer significant rollover limits, meaning your data stays with you as long as you maintain your subscription.

Carryover data is a great safety net if your data needs change from month to month. However, if you notice your “data bank” is constantly full and never gets used, you might save money by switching to a cheaper plan with a smaller data allowance.

Are there prepaid plans with carryover data? 

Yes, many prepaid plans now offer carryover data, provided you renew your plan or top up before the expiry date.

What to do if your mobile data isn’t working

• Check your settings: Make sure Mobile Data is actually turned on.
• Check coverage: If you are in a remote area or inside a thick-walled building, you might have no signal. Check the bars at the top of your screen. Keep in mind that since the 3G networks were decommissioned, you must have a 4G or 5G compatible device to access any mobile data in New Zealand. However, if you are with a provider that offers satellite-to-mobile messaging, you may still be able to send emergency texts even without a traditional 4G or 5G signal.
• Check for outages: Sometimes the network goes down. Check your provider’s website for a “Network Status” page to see if there is an outage in your area.
• Check your balance: You may have simply run out of data. Log in to your app to check. If you have run out, you can usually buy a “data add-on”, though these can be more expensive than the data included in your regular plan.

Using mobile data overseas

When you travel outside of New Zealand, you can’t connect to your local provider’s towers. To use the internet, you have to use international roaming, which allows your phone to “borrow” a network in the country you are visiting.

In New Zealand, many providers offer a daily roaming rate that lets you use your local plan’s data while overseas in many popular destinations.

This is how mobile data overseas works with each service type

• Pay monthly plans: Most major NZ providers offer daily roaming or roaming passes. For a flat daily fee, you can use your home data allowance in specific countries. This is often the most convenient option for short trips.
• Prepaid plans: On a prepaid plan, roaming is often disabled by default. You usually need to buy a specific “roaming pack” or “add-on” via your provider’s app before you leave. If you don’t buy a pack, your data simply won’t work overseas.
• Data only SIMs: Most mobile broadband/data only plans are restricted to use within New Zealand. If you need mobile broadband while travelling, you will usually need to buy a local SIM card.
• Pay as you go (PAYG): This is the “default” rate if you haven’t purchased a daily pass or a roaming pack. PAYG rates charge you for every single megabyte (MB) you use. These rates are incredibly high and are the most common cause of “bill shock”. We strongly recommend avoiding PAYG roaming altogether.

Before you hop on a plane, always check your provider’s app to see which roaming options are supported for your destination. Most savvy Kiwi travellers now opt for a travel eSIM. This allows you to download a digital SIM card and access local data rates instantly upon arrival, bypassing the more expensive daily fees charged by the major NZ providers.