Skinny

Skinny’s whole reason for being is to strip everything back, so you only pay for stuff you actually want at super low prices. It’s based on a model called common sense. Skinny broadband only does award-winning mobile and broadband, and it’s all prepay.

Skinny Mobile is a division of Spark New Zealand Trading Limited, and Skinny happily uses Spark's 4G network.

Do I need to use the Skinny router (modem)?
Yes, you do but if you sign up on their 12-month term contract plan, you will get a modem for free. If you prefer to keep things simple and stay out of contracts then you will need to buy it for $99. This router has been configured and works right out of the box with a very simple setup to make things super easy. You cannot bring your own modem to connect to them.

Is it really unlimited?
Correct, their Unlimited Broadband is a fixed-line connection (as opposed to the 4G wireless broadband), which means you can stream all the movies you want and not worry about your data. There is no data limits or caps!

Is Skinny Unlimited Broadband available everywhere?
Anyone who can get a fixed-line internet connection in New Zealand can get ADSL or VDSL plans. You can also get fibre connections in the main centres, including Auckland, Wellington, Hamilton, Tauranga, Palmerston North, Whanganui, Christchurch, Dunedin and many others.

How fast is the connection?
After you enter your address in the address checker, we will show you the best connection type available at your property. Their base plans are the same price, no matter what type of connection you can get, and your speed will totally depend on the connection type. With standard (VDSL or ADSL) connection your maximum speed will be around 10 to 50Mbps (average throughout New Zealand). If fibre is already installed in your house or your address is fibre ready, you will be able to get speed up to 900Mbps. As soon as fibre becomes available at your street, just get in touch with them and they will look at upgrading your connection to fibre.

** Note: The information above is sourced from providers or their websites. Skinny has chosen not to contribute towards the funding of NZ Compare but we continue to share publicly available details to help Kiwis make more informed decisions.**

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Reliability	5.7
Speed	5.7
Support	5.1
Features	5.0
Value	6.5

Average from 91 reviews

Showing 1-5 of 91 items.

2025-07-04 11:10:45

Shay 1.4

Absolutely terrible experience. We've been without internet for over 36 hours, and Skinny has shown no urgency or accountability. Support is disorganised, slow to respond, and clearly not equipped to resolve issues efficiently.

We recently upgraded to Fibre 500, and honestly, it’s no better than the Fibre 300 we had before. If anything, it's been more unstable. We’d be switching providers immediately if we weren’t locked into a 12-month contract — really gutted we made the ...read more

Pros

None

Cons

Turn Around If You Want a Reliable Connection, Zero Stars If I Could

2025-07-02 15:41:09

Rob 3.4

In all my years, I'm not sure I have ever experienced a company as terrible as Skinny. Their service is abysmal. Their software is abysmal. Their wireless service is abysmal (we received a 2nd hand modem which was missing a code making it unusable). Cancelling is abysmal as they refuse to refund or transfer 4 weeks of pre-payment. Avoid at all costs!

Pros

Nothing good about them.

Cons

Absolutely. The. Worst. I. Have. Experienced.

2024-09-14 16:05:13

Kanon 7.0

Worst customer service ever. I regret going to them. I've had to wait days and weeks on end to resolve Internet issues. Their chat support is terrible and so is their phone support. They say they're going to do something and never do, which leaves you having to push them and constantly following up with them and the fibre providers. Terrible service, don't be fooled by how cheap they are it's not worth the stress.

Pros

Nothing

Cons

Everything

2024-06-14 19:27:33

Anon 2.8

This provider is a disgrace. Pray nothing goes wrong with your service. Support is woeful and grossly incompetent. Find another provider.

2024-03-08 18:44:26

MG 5.2

Been with them for a few years. Noticed connection issues for quite some time but was bareable. Until lately it got pretty bad and disconnects every a few minutes. Reached out, staff was not sensible and I have spend a lot of time online/over the phone with their support staff, tried all the touble shooting method and lastly got told it is likely the modem issue (as I told their staff when I first reached out as my modem was old and I didn't ask for a replacement when I renew ...read more

Pros

Cheap and stable with cable

Cons

very poor customer services and don't get issue resolved.

Showing 1-5 of 91 items.

27/03/2019

Share No Evil browser extension launches to tackle online terror in NZ

NZ Compare is proud to support Share No Evil. Share No Evil is a movement to make sharing terrorist content culturally unacceptable in Aotearoa. With the tap of a button, people can take a small step to help starve terrorism of the oxygen it needs to survive.

12/09/2018

SPOTLIGHT: Skinny

Check out our latest Spotlight on Skinny Broadband. Skinny offer a stripped-back wireless broadband service.

6/12/2017

Broadband Deals for University Students in NZ

We’re very fortunate that the big Universities in New Zealand are now all fibre broadband enabled. All well and good when on campus… but what about in your digs? Check out these Student broadband deals for 2018

15/03/2017

Fixed Wireless Broadband versus Fixed Line Broadband (ADSL, VDSL, Cable or Fibre)

Internet providers in New Zealand offer different connection options to broadband subscribers. These different broadband options are ADSL, VDSL, Cable, Fibre, and now Fixed Wireless.

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