Are you planning your trip to New Zealand and would like to stay connected with an eSIM card? This is a complete guide with everything you need to know about using an eSIM card when traveling to New Zealand including a comparison of the best New Zealand eSIM cards for 2024.
Don't waste money on high roaming charges, read my recommendations below and order an eSIM card for New Zealand on the internet and get connected in just a couple minutes. Below you will find up to date prices as per October 2024, including all specifications per tourist eSIM card.
This guide will explain how eSIM cards work, show you where and when to order an eSIM card for New Zealand, answer all FAQ about using eSIMs, more about the network coverage and 4G/5G, data speed, a comparison with local prepaid sim cards for New Zealand and of course links to directly order your eSIM card for traveling to New Zealand online.
Table of Contents
- My recommendation
- 1. Jetpac eSIM for New Zealand for $28 USD
- 2. Three HK eSIM card from SimOptions for $34.90
- Unlocked phones only
- eSIM compatible phones only
- Comparison of the best eSIM cards for New Zealand
- Why ordering an eSIM card for traveling in New Zealand
- Where to buy an eSIM card for New Zealand?
- When to order/activate an eSIM card for New Zealand?
- How to activate an eSIM card
- Things to know before ordering an eSIM card for New Zealand
- Make sure your phone is unlocked
- Which smartphones support eSIM cards?
- Can I trust these eSIM card providers?
- Can I keep my phone number from home with a New Zealand eSIM card?
- Can I make phone calls with a New Zealand eSIM card?
- Does a New Zealand eSIM card come with a phone number?
- Can I use 5G on a New Zealand eSIM card?
- Are there eSIM cards for New Zealand with unlimited data?
- Are eSIM cards the best way to stay connected when traveling to New Zealand?
- eSIM cards vs. local prepaid sim cards
Since 2012 I am already traveling the world full time and throughout the years I turned my passion for traveling into a lifestyle and became a full time nomadic travel blogger. That is why I constantly get to a different country and pretty much every week I need to look for a new sim card to stay connected.
In 2022 I visited 62 different countries and in 2023 I visited 34 countries so imagine how many different prepaid and eSIM cards I used throughout the last two years.
In the past I used to buy a local prepaid sim card on arrival in every country, but nowadays I mostly use eSIM cards to stay connected when traveling abroad. On my latest trips to New Zealand I tested the below recommended New Zealand eSIM cards for tourists.
Helping other travelers to save money while traveling the world is one of the reasons I started this travel blog. Providing essential travel tips is what made me start writing sim card guides from every country I visited and now on Traveltomtom you can already find more than 200 sim card guides from all over the world.
Of course Traveltomtom also wrote a complete guide for buying a prepaid sim card for New Zealand in 2024 as well as a guide for buying a tourist sim card at Auckland Airport.
Traveltomtom also wrote specific and in-depth guides for buying eSIM cards in: Australia, Hong Kong, China, Indonesia, Thailand, Asia, Turkey, Egypt, Dubai, Europe, United Kingdom, Italy, France, Spain, USA, Canada, international eSIM cards and many more.
So next time you are planning your adventure abroad come check out Traveltomtom for the latest prepaid sim card and eSIM card advice for your holiday destination. Bookmark me and let me help you save money while traveling!
Some links in this article about the best eSIM cards for New Zealand are affiliate links. If you buy any product after clicking on an affiliate link I will earn a small commission. Don't worry this is at absolutely no extra cost to you!
My recommendation
Let me start with giving you my eSIM card recommendation for New Zealand. These are my favorite eSIM cards for traveling to New Zealand in 2024.
1. Jetpac eSIM for New Zealand for $28 USD
- 20 GB data-only eSIM
- Valid in New Zealand, Australia & 13 other countries
- Valid for 30 days
- Operates on the Spark & 2Degrees
- 4G/LTE network
- Only $1.4 USD per Gigabyte
The best value tourist eSIM for New Zealand is from Jetpac. The Jetpac eSIMs for New Zealand operates on the mobile data network of Spark, the best 4G/5G data network in New Zealand, as well as the 2Degrees network. No other eSIM provider can beat the Jetpac rate of only $1.4 USD per Gigabyte.
2. Three HK eSIM card from SimOptions for $34.90
- 20 GB data-only eSIM
- Valid in New Zealand, Australia, UK, USA, Canada and Hong Kong
- Valid for 30 days
- 4G/LTE
- $1.75 USD per Gigabyte
A good second best is an eSIM card for New Zealand from Three Hong Kong. You can order this international eSIM card via SimOptions and it is valid in 6 countries. It is perfect if you combine your trip to New Zealand with visiting Australia as well.
Traveltomtom has always had very good experiences with eSIM cards from SimOptions. However, readers have reported that TikTok is blocked on this eSIM as it is a Hong Kong based sim card and TikTok is blocked in Hong Kong.
Both eSIM cards are data-only eSIM cards and incoming and outgoing calls or sms are not supported.
Is New Zealand one of your stops on a trip to the Pacific or around the world then you can also look into getting an eSIM card for world travelers. There are a bunch of eSIM cards that cover multiple countries.
There are 2 very important things to check before ordering an eSIM card for New Zealand or in general before using an eSIM card.
Unlocked phones only
Make sure your phone is unlocked. eSIM cards for tourists only work in unlocked phones. If you are not sure if your phone is unlocked then contact your mobile internet provider in your home country.
In general phones from Europe, Asia and the Middle East tend to be unlocked. Phones from North America are often locked.
If your smartphone is locked that means it does not allow another prepaid sim card or eSIM card to operate in the device. You can easily unlock your phone, but depending on your mobile internet provider you will be charged a fee for unlocking your phone.
eSIM compatible phones only
Second, and equally important: eSIM cards only work if your smartphone supports eSIM cards, also called eSIM compatible. All newer smartphones support eSIM cards. If you are not sure if your phone is eSIM compatible then simply go to Google and type in your mobile phone model in the search bar and ask if it is eSIM compatible. You will get the answer instantly.
If your phone is NOT eSIM compatible then there is no other solution and you can NOT use an eSIM card for traveling to New Zealand.
However, you can still order a sim card for New Zealand on the internet before your trip. Check out Traveltomtom’s complete guide for buying a prepaid sim card for New Zealand in 2024 or find out everything you need to know about international sim cards for traveling abroad in 2024.
Comparison of the best eSIM cards for New Zealand
Buying an eSIM card on arrival in New Zealand is still not possible at the international airports, nor in phone stores around the country. As per October 2024 the mobile internet providers in New Zealand only provide physical prepaid sim cards in phone stores as well as on international airports.
Luckily there are multiple eSIM providers on the internet that sell New Zealand eSIM cards for tourists. Traveltomtom recommends ordering an eSIM card for traveling in New Zealand from one of the well-known eSIM card providers like Airalo, SimOptions, Nomad, Jetpac, Holafly, Sim Local, etc. that have proven to be reliable operators.
Traveltomtom has been using SimOptions and Airalo for more than 5 years, but there are many more eSIM operators nowadays. Are they still the best and cheapest? The competition is fierce...
So before you buy an eSIM card first read all my tips below!
SimOptions is the only eSIM provider that also offers international prepaid sim cards for New Zealand. These are pre-activated physical prepaid sim cards that will be delivered to your home address before your trip and it is plug and play when you arrive in the New Zealand.
Airalo and Nomad only sell eSIM cards for New Zealand.
Airalo
Airalo is a very reliable eSIM card provider and Traveltomtom has used Airalo uncountable times in more than 50 countries around the world. I can totally recommend using Airalo for ordering an eSIM card.
Normally Airalo is always one of my top recommendations but the Airalo eSIM card plans for New Zealand are more expensive compared to SimOptions and Jetpac.
Here are the Airalo data-only eSIM card plans for New Zealand for 2024:
- 1 GB data for 7 days = $4.5 USD
- 2 GB data for 15 days = $8.5 USD
- 3 GB data for 30 days = $11 USD
- 5 GB data for 30 days = $16 USD
- 10 GB data for 30 days = $27 USD
- 20 GB data for 30 days = $44 USD
Click here to order an eSIM card for New Zealand from Airalo.
The Airalo eSIM cards for New Zealand are from Nzcom and they operate on the 4G/LTE network of One. Unfortunately the Airalo Nzcom eSIM cards for New Zealand are not 5G ready. Side note, there isn't much 5G yet in New Zealand as of 2024 apart from the big cities.
In the most famous places to visit in New Zealand you will find a 4G/LTE signal and the data speed is reasonably good these days.
New Zealand is not the most advanced country when it comes to the mobile data network. Facts.
For more info about the best 4G/5G network in New Zealand check my complete guide for the best prepaid sim card for tourists for New Zealand in 2024, including network coverage maps of all the mobile internet providers.
All the Airalo eSIM cards are data-only sim cards without a phone number, so any phone/sms service is NOT supported. An Airalo eSIM card has to be installed within 1 month and after activation the credit validity starts when it connects the first time to a supported network. For more info check out the Airalo website.
SimOptions
SimOptions is another very reputable eSIM card provider that is very much recommended by Traveltomtom. Ordering your tourist eSIM card for New Zealand through SimOptions is done fast and easy. Traveltomtom has used SimOptions uncountable times for staying connected when traveling abroad. Very reliable, never an issue and often some of the cheapest eSIM card deals.
Why using SimOptions? When it comes to New Zealand eSIM cards SimOptions has much better eSIM card plans than Airalo and is therefore also recommended as one of the best eSIM cards for New Zealand.
Here are the international eSIM card plans from SimOptions for 2024:
- 1 GB data for 7 days = $4.5 USD
- 10 GB data for 30 days = $24.90 USD
- 20 GB data for 30 days = $34.90 USD
Click here to order a SimOptions eSIM card for New Zealand.
The Three HK eSIM cards that you can order through SimOptions are international eSIM cards that are valid in: Australia, New Zealand, UK, USA, Canada and Hong Kong. Since it is a Hong Kong based eSIM card it has been reported that TikTok is blocked on this eSIM card. The advantage of these Three HK eSIM cards are that they come with a phone number that starts with +852. Incoming phone calls and sms are supported.
Unfortunately SimOptions doesn't specify exactly which mobile network operator in New Zealand they use. These international eSIM cards are not 5G ready, so the max data speed on the eSIM cards from SimOptions is 4G/LTE.
The SimOptions eSIM cards for New Zealand do NOT come with a phone number and they do not offer incoming/outgoing calls or sms services. The validity of these eSIM cards is 1 year and the credit validity starts instantly after installing the eSIM card, even if you are not in New Zealand. For more info check the SimOptions website.
Jetpac
Jetpac is a fairly new eSIM provider that offers eSIMs valid in multiple countries, not just New Zealand. The Jetpac eSIMs for New Zealand are also valid in: Australia, Bangladesh, China, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Macau, Malaysia, Philippines, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam.
Jetpac is a perfect eSIM card for traveling to Asia. Since Australia is also included it is also the perfect eSIM for visiting Australia and New Zealand.
Here are the Jetpac New Zealand eSIM plans:
- 1 GB data for 4 days = $1 USD
- 3 GB data for 7 days = $11 USD
- 5 GB data for 30 days = $15 USD
- 10 GB data for 30 days = $23 USD
- 15 GB data for 30 days = $26 USD
- 20 GB data for 30 days = $28 USD
- 30 GB data for 30 days = $45 USD
- 40 GB data for 30 days = $65 USD
Click here for more info or to order the Jetpac New Zealand eSIM card.
The Jetpac New Zealand eSIM plan with 20 GB data for just $28 USD makes it also the best value eSIM card for New Zealand as well as for Asia/Pacific with a rate of only $1.4 USD per Gigabyte.
The Jetpac New Zealand eSIM cards are data-only and incoming and outgoing calls and sms are not supported. These eSIMs do not come with a phone number and they operate on the Spark and 2degrees 4G/LTE network in New Zealand.
You can instal your Jetpac eSIM card before your trip to New Zealand, but it only activates from the moment it connects to a supported network in New Zealand or one of the other supported countries. That moment your days also start counting. The Jetpac eSIMs have to be installed within 1 year.
An extra advantage of Jetpac eSIM cards is that they provide a free VPN as well as free lounge access if your flight is delayed. However, you will have to register your flight before you travel and in case of a delayed or canceled flight a LoungeKey voucher will automatically be provided. This is a complimentary service that no other eSIM provider offers. For more info check the Jetpac website.
Nomad
Nomad is another eSIM provider that has loads of different eSIMs and plans for New Zealand and many other countries around the world. The Nomad eSIM cards for New Zealand are from JoyTel and Nomad Red.
Here are the Nomad eSIM card plans for New Zealand:
- 1 GB data for 7 days = $4 USD
- 3 GB data for 30 days = $11 USD
- 5 GB data for 30 days = $13 USD
- 10 GB data for 30 days = $20 USD
- 15 GB data for 30 days = $24 USD
- 20 GB data for 30 days = $30 USD
- 30 GB data for 30 days = $60 USD
- 40 GB data for 30 days = $75 USD
- 50 GB data for 30 days = $90 USD
Click here for more info or to order an eSIM card for New Zealand via Nomad.
The Nomad website is a bit messy for finding the best eSIM cards for traveling to New Zealand and it is not as easy to spot some of the great eSIM card deals instantly, especially on desktop.
Some of the Nomad eSIM cards are from Joytel and some are from Nomad Red. Both eSIM card operators use the Spark 4G/LTE network in New Zealand.
The Nomad eSIM cards are data-only and incoming and outgoing calls and sms are NOT supported. They do not come with a phone number. Neither are these eSIM cards 5G ready, only 4G/LTE is supported.
But as I mentioned before these Nomad eSIM cards for New Zealand have great value and they go as low as $1.5 USD per Gigabyte.
The Nomad New Zealand eSIM cards have to be installed on your phone within 60 days and after installation its validity starts when it connects for the first time to a supported network in New Zealand. Basically when the plane lands. For more info check the Nomad website.
Holafly
Holafly is another well-known eSIM provider but unlike other eSIM providers they only offer eSIMs with unlimited data. However, there is a catch and that is a so-called FUP (Fair Use Policy). More about it later, but it could mean that you suddenly have a very slow data connection for a whole day until the data speed restores.
Here are the Holafly unlimited data eSIM plans for New Zealand:
- 1 day 'unlimited' data = $6 USD
- 2 days 'unlimited' data = $10 USD
- 3 days 'unlimited' data = $13 USD
- 4 days 'unlimited' data = $16 USD
- 5 days 'unlimited' data = $21 USD
- 6 days 'unlimited' data = $25 USD
- 7 days 'unlimited' data = $29 USD
- 8 days 'unlimited' data = $31 USD
- 9 days 'unlimited' data = $35 USD
- 10 days 'unlimited' data = $37 USD
- 11 days 'unlimited' data = $40 USD
- 14 days 'unlimited' data = $48 USD
- 20 days 'unlimited' data = $64 USD
- 30 days 'unlimited' data = $75 USD
As you can see the Holafly eSIMs are significantly more expensive than Jetpac, Airalo, Nomad and SimOptions. The Holafly eSIM cards for New Zealand are data-only and incoming and outgoing calls/sms are NOT supported. These eSIMs do also not come with a phone number.
According to the Holafly website these Holafly New Zealand eSIMs are 5G ready and they operate on the Spark and Vodafone network in New Zealand.
You can use a hotspot on the Holafly eSIM cards, but it is capped at 500 MB per day.
Why 'unlimited'? Because there is a Fair Use Policy and Traveltomtom has had bad experiences with this in the past. Suddenly your data speed is slowed down for 24 hours because you apparently used too much data. More info later.
Imagine being on a 10 hour bus or train ride and after 2 hours you will get a message that you used too much data for the day. Then you have to wait 24 hours for the data speed to be reset to normal.
If I hate something then it is slow data speed. Therefore Traveltomtom's is not a fan of eSIM cards with 'unlimited' data with an FUP and therefore it is not my first recommendation when looking for an eSIM for New Zealand.
Also, the Traveltomtom Team tested Holafly in some another countries and was pretty disappointed with the overall performance. In a certain country Holafly was using the weakest mobile data network operator and while people all around constantly had a proper data connection, the Holafly eSIM did not even have signal. Even in big cities the struggle was real and we constantly had to ask for the public WiFi of the hotel or restaurant because the Holafly eSIM was super slow.
I understand it could be a different story in New Zealand but Traveltomtom was put off a bit by Holafly eSIMs.
What is the cheapest eSIM card for New Zealand?
Unbeatable are the Jetpac eSIM deals for New Zealand for just $1 USD. You get 1 GB data for 4 days.
Other cheap eSIM cards for New Zealand is an eSIM from Nomad for just $4 USD, it will give you 1 GB data for 7 days. Airalo and SimOptions offer the same eSIM card plan but charges $4.5 USD. These eSIMs are only valid in New Zealand and do not support calling and texting.
Why ordering an eSIM card for traveling in New Zealand
eSIM cards are the easiest way to stay connected when traveling to New Zealand in 2024 and you can arrange everything online in just a couple clicks. No more visiting a sim card shop and swapping physical sim cards. Order online, scan the QR code, follow the steps and you are connected in less than 2 minutes.
The most important reason to get an eSIM card is because we would like to stay connected on our trip to New Zealand without wasting money on high roaming costs. Our smartphones are pretty useless without a working data connection. Think about ordering a taxi through an app, finding nearby friends, restaurants and bars. Get directions from Google Maps or simply staying in touch with family back home, check your social media apps on long bus rides or your banking apps when paying contactless.
One of the best things about arriving in New Zealand with an activated eSIM card is that you are online as soon as the plane lands. More about when to instal your eSIM card later.
There are so many reasons to stay connected when traveling to New Zealand, but the most important reason is that it makes your trip to New Zealand so much more convenient and fun!
At the same time we don't want to waste money on high roaming charges. Many mobile internet operators still charge $3 USD per MB for data roaming, that means just opening the Instagram app will already cost you 20 MB * $3 USD = $60 USD! Not kidding… it still is very common in 2024.
eSIM cards are the easiest way to avoid high roaming charges!
Overseas data roaming plans
So what about overseas data roaming plans? Well, not recommended! Why? Did you read the small letters at what data speed you can use data roaming? Pretty much all mobile internet operators limit the data speed for overseas data roaming plans, which means you end up with 3G data speed. Do you have the patience to handle 3G? It is frustrating when all around you in pretty much every amazing tourist destinations in New Zealand there is 4G/LTE available.
And price-wise it should be a no brainer since you have seen how affordable the eSIM cards for New Zealand are.
Uncountable times travel friends have asked me: “Tom, can I use your hotspot? My data roaming plan is so slow, it is barely working!” Trust me, get yourself an eSIM card or an international prepaid sim card for traveling to New Zealand. Spend a couple dollars extra and be connected all the time instead of begging for WiFi or a hotspot from friends.
Where to buy an eSIM card for New Zealand?
Online
You can only buy an eSIM card for New Zealand on the internet through an eSIM card provider. There are uncountable eSIM providers for New Zealand. Traveltomtom compared multiple eSIM providers and concluded that the above mentioned ones are the best and mot reliable eSIM providers in 2024.
When buying an eSIM card for New Zealand through one of the above recommended eSIM providers you only need your email address and the eSIM card is instantly ready to use after installation. There is no ID registration needed.
On arrival in New Zealand
There are 3 main mobile internet provider in New Zealand: One (former Vodafone), Spark and 2degrees. Unfortunately as per October 2024 none of these operators offer eSIM cards for tourists, only physical prepaid sim cards.
For more info about buying a prepaid sim card for tourists in New Zealand in 2024 click on the link to read my complete guide and comparison of all the mobile internet providers in New Zealand, including a comparison of the 4G/5G network.
Flying into New Zealand and landing in Auckland then you can buy a tourist sim card for New Zealand on arrival at the airport. Although you will find sim card shops from Spark and One (former Vodafone) you can only buy a physical prepaid sim card, tourist eSIM cards are not available at Auckland Airport.
When to order/activate an eSIM card for New Zealand?
You can order an eSIM card for New Zealand pretty much any time you want. Most eSIM cards have to be installed on a phone within 1 month after purchasing, some even within 1 year, so you have time.
More important therefore is when do you instal/activate the eSIM card. The validity of some eSIMs start straight after the installation, other eSIM cards only start their validity when they connect the first time to a supported network.
Traveltomtom advices to instal your eSIM card on the day of departure to New Zealand or before. When in New Zealand you will need an internet connection to instal your eSIM card. Every international airport in New Zealand has free WiFi so you could use that to install your eSIM card. Just make sure it is a stable internet connection and therefore Traveltomtom advices you to install/activate your eSIM card in your home country.
My personal advice is to instal your tourist eSIM card for New Zealand before you get into the plane and as soon as the plane lands you will be connected without any problems.
How do I know all this? Traveltomtom has visited New Zealand twice and traveled around the North and South Island in a mobile home for 1 month.
I also wrote a blog about buying a sim card at Auckland Airport and there is also a vlog on my YouTube channel about my arrival at Auckland Airport and buying a prepaid sim card for traveling in New Zealand.
How to activate an eSIM card
Installing and activating an eSIM card is made as simple as possible. Everyone can activate an eSIM card and the instructions on how to are very detailed and will be send to you instantly by email. But wait, it gets even easier. Just scan the QR code.
When you order an eSIM card plan for New Zealand you instantly receive a summery of your order including a QR-code after the payment is processed.
You will see a summary of your eSIM card order including a QR code on your screen and at the same time you will also receive an email with the same QR code. The email contains instructions on how to instal and activate your New Zealand eSIM card.
But installing an activating an eSIM card is as easy as scanning the QR code with the same phone where you want to activate the eSIM card on. The QR contains all the information about your New Zealand eSIM card.
Once you scan the code you will be guided through a couple simple steps and within less than 1 minute your eSIM card is successfully installed.
Very important is that you are connected to the internet when installing your eSIM card otherwise you will get an error and issues can occur.
Tip: if you order an eSIM card with the same phone where you want to instal the eSIM card on then ask a friend or someone nearby to take a photo of the QR code and then you scan the QR code from his/her phone and start the installation.
Things to know before ordering an eSIM card for New Zealand
Here are some general tips for using eSIM cards when traveling abroad. These tips do not only apply for New Zealand eSIM cards, but are things you have to know before buying an eSIM card in general.
Make sure your phone is unlocked
To make sure you didn’t miss this, let me say this again: eSIM cards only work in UNLOCKED phones. If your phone is unlocked then you can use any eSIM card without any problems.
If your phone is locked then ask your mobile internet provider from your home country to unlock your phone before your trip to New Zealand. It is likely that your mobile internet provider will charge you a fee for unlocking your smartphone.
If you are unable to unlock your phone you can look into getting a portable WiFi for staying connected when traveling to New Zealand or better… bring a second unlocked phone on your trip to New Zealand and use it as a portable WiFi device.
Which smartphones support eSIM cards?
Another very important thing you have to check before buying an eSIM card is if your smartphone supports eSIM cards. If you have any of the latest smartphones then there is no need to worry, all new smartphones of the well known brands support eSIM cards.
The fastest way to find out if your phone is eSIM compatible is by asking Google the question: is my (your phone model) eSIM compatible? Simple as that!
Can I trust these eSIM card providers?
All the eSIM card providers for New Zealand recommended above are reputable eSIM card providers reviewed and tested by Traveltomtom. All of them are licensed third party companies and resellers that partner or work directly with the mobile internet providers in New Zealand.
Traveltomtom has used Airalo and SimOptions sim cards now for more than 5 years and never really faced a major issue.
The Traveltomtom Team has extensively tested and reviewed Nomad and they have proven to be a reliable eSIM card provider. However, some mixed reviews have come back from the Traveltomtom Team about connectivity and activation.
Jetpac is a fairly new eSIM provider, but Traveltomtom only received positive feedback and excellent reviews about the eSIMs and services of Jetpac.
Since Traveltomtom is not a fan of eSIM cards with unlimited data and an FUP I hardly use Holafly, but when I did I was not happy. So now I let the Traveltomtom Team randomly test Holafly and just like myself, mixed reviews have come back. Some positive, some negative.
Traveltomtom does NOT sell New Zealand eSIMs, Traveltomtom only compares and recommends you to use eSIM cards for traveling to New Zealand.
All eSIM card providers have their own Helpdesk which you can contact may you encounter any problems or in case you want to claim a refund.
Can I keep my phone number from home with a New Zealand eSIM card?
Yes, you can and this is for many people a reason to order an eSIM card to stay connected when traveling to New Zealand. An eSIM card can be used next to your physical or eSIM card from your home country at the same time. You do not need a dual-sim phone for using an eSIM card.
So you can have multiple eSIM cards installed on your phone? Yes, no problem at all!
For example: you can turn off the mobile data from your sim card from home but still use it for texting and calling. Your new New Zealand eSIM card you can be used at the same time just for data to ensure you are not wasting money on high roaming costs.
This is also the trick to keep receiving sms for example for OTP (one time password) sms to login to applications.
Switching between physical and eSIM cards is a matter of turning them on/off in the settings. Just always make sure your sim card from home is switched off for data roaming.
Can I make phone calls with a New Zealand eSIM card?
No, unfortunately all the tourist eSIM cards for New Zealand available on the internet do NOT include calling and texting. The eSIM cards from Nomad, Airalo and SimOptions are data-only eSIM cards and any incoming/outgoing calls/sms are not supported.
If you buy a prepaid sim card for tourists on arrival in New Zealand in a store or at the airport then you get calling and texting included.
Does a New Zealand eSIM card come with a phone number?
In general the eSIM cards for New Zealand that you buy on the internet do not come with a phone number, which also means you can not receive any phone calls or sms.
But there is one exception and that is the Three HK eSIM card that you can buy via SimOptions. This eSIM card comes with a phone number from Hong Kong that starts with +852 and it allows you to receive phone calls and sms.
In the above New Zealand eSIM card comparison you can find all the specifications per eSIM card.
Can I use 5G on a New Zealand eSIM card?
Yes, some of the eSIMs for New Zealand are 5G ready. According to the Holafly website their New Zealand eSIMs are 5G ready, but the Traveltomtom Team has not tested this themselves yet.
SimOptions also offers a 5G ready eSIM for New Zealand, but all eSIMs from Airalo, Nomad and Jetpac are not 5G ready. Which means the max data speed is 4G/LTE.
That said, there is also still not much 5G available in New Zealand as of October 2024, although 4G/LTE is widespread in most tourist destinations in New Zealand and data speed is ok. In general the data speed in New Zealand is definitely not spectacular!
Are there eSIM cards for New Zealand with unlimited data?
Yes, the Holafly eSIM cards for New Zealand include unlimited data. However, Traveltomtom is not a big fan of unlimited data sim cards.
Always ask yourself is unlimited truly unlimited. Is there a catch? If the unlimited data is not on max data speed, then there is a so called FUP. Which means that your data speed will be capped after you used an X amount of Gigabytes.
Holafly is an eSIM provider that sells eSIMs with unlimited data for New Zealand and uses a so-called Fair Use Policy (FUP). Holafly does NOT specify what the FUP is. Which is very concerning!
Traveltomtom does NOT recommend New Zealand eSIM cards with unlimited data plans with an FUP. On Holafly sim cards I experienced a reduce in data speed after using more than 2 GB per day. After I contacted support they explained me that I had to wait for 24 hours until my data speed was restored to normal.
Those 24 hours were a nightmare as my data speed was barely enough to use WhatsApp. Social media was not even loading!
Especially on days that you have a long bus or train ride and you need a lot of data, you definitely don't want any data speed restrictions that day.
Again, Traveltomtom does NOT recommend eSIM cards for New Zealand with unlimited data. But if you think you will never use more than 2 GB per day, then Holafly might be your favorite eSIM card.
However, if you don't use so much data per day then what's the point of an eSIM with unlimited data!?
The Jetpac eSIM card for New Zealand for $28 USD gives you 20 GB data. There is no real need for an eSIM card with unlimited data unless you want to upload your whole camera roll to Google Drive or iCloud via 4G/LTE instead of WiFi.
There are a lot of different specifications per eSIM card. Another reason why I advice you to take a close at my comparison of the best eSIM cards for traveling to New Zealand in 2024 before choosing your favorite.
Are eSIM cards the best way to stay connected when traveling to New Zealand?
eSIM cards are the easiest and fastest way to get data on your phone when traveling to New Zealand, but what is the best way?
There are 3 ways to stay connected when traveling to New Zealand:
- Local prepaid sim cards
- International prepaid sim cards
- eSIM cards
Let's compare eSIM cards, local prepaid sim cards and international prepaid sim cards, for you to find out what is your preferred way of staying connected.
Local prepaid sim cards
In general if you use a lot of data then local prepaid sim cards are a cheaper way to stay connected, depending on the length of your trip. However, not in New Zealand.
The local prepaid sim cards for tourists you can buy in stores or at the airport on arrival in New Zealand are more expensive than prepaid and eSIM cards that you buy on the internet.
The big difference is that a local New Zealand prepaid sim card can only be purchased on arrival in New Zealand in a phone store and NOT on the internet.
The advantage of local prepaid sim cards is that they come with calling minutes for New Zealand and Australia and unlimited texting to both countries.
More info about the best New Zealand sim cards for tourists can be found in my complete guide for buying a prepaid sim card for New Zealand in 2024.
International prepaid sim cards
If your smartphone is not eSIM compatible you can order an international prepaid sim card for traveling to New Zealand. Some of them are great for New Zealand as well as in all other countries in for example Europe, Americas and Asia and you can easily order them online.
If after visiting New Zealand you are traveling onwards in Asia then check Traveltomtom's list of the best sim cards for traveling internationally in 2024.
A pre-activated physical sim card will be delivered to your home address before your trip. You put this physical sim card in your phone and as soon as the plane touches the ground and the sim card connects to a supported network you are online. Plug and play!
Click here to order an international prepaid sim card for New Zealand directly online.
eSIM cards
As explained throughout the article there are two different eSIM cards:
- eSIM cards that you buy on the internet through a third party
- eSIM cards that you buy in New Zealand in a mobile internet provider store
However, as of October 2024 eSIM cards are still not available for prepaid tourist sim cards in New Zealand.
Traveltomtom personally shopped around in New Zealand to find out if eSIM cards were available for tourists and the answer is: NO!
On arrival at the international airports in New Zealand they only sell physical prepaid sim cards for tourists and in every phone store of Spark, One and 2degrees they told me eSIM cards weere not available for tourists.
Read all about it in my detailed guide about buying a sim card at Auckland Airport.
eSIM cards vs. local prepaid sim cards
Getting an eSIM card on the internet is the easiest way to stay connected when traveling to New Zealand, no doubt! You arrange everything online within just a couple clicks. Right here, right now and you are all set for your trip to New Zealand. You arrive prepared and there is no need to visit a sim card shop on arrival in New Zealand.
As soon as the plane lands, you are online!
Price difference
But what is cheaper? An eSIM card or a local prepaid sim card for tourists?
Surprisingly, eSIM cards are the best value sim cards for New Zealand. The eSIM cards that you order on the internet are cheaper than the local prepaid sim cards.
Local prepaid sim cards charge around $4 to $6 USD per Gigabyte and on the internet some of the eSIM cards for New Zealand go down to only $1.67 USD per Gigabyte.
This definitely isn't always the case, New Zealand is one of the few exceptions. But this makes it very easy for the conclusion: buy your sim card for staying connected when traveling to New Zealand on the internet!
Local prepaid sim cards can only be bought in New Zealand in a sim card shop and a tourist eSIM card can only be bought on the internet, it literally takes jest 2 minutes.
The best New Zealand prepaid sim card plan for tourists gives you 8 GB data for $29 USD, but for just $25 USD you get an eSIM card with 15 GB data.
For more info check out my article about the best prepaid sim cards for New Zealand in 2024.
After a long flight you just want to go to your hotel and it is often a big task to go to a sim card store and get connected. With eSIM cards you buy on the internet you are connected as soon as the plane lands. For this convenience Traveltomtom definitely recommends to order one of the listed best eSIM cards for New Zealand in the comparison above.
Many reasons why a lot of travelers simply get an eSIM card for New Zealand. Faster, easier, less stress and even cheaper depending on how much data you need.
Data speed
Another difference between a local prepaid sim card and an eSIM card is that eSIM cards are often through a third party, a so called MVNO (Mobile Virtual Network Operator). These MVNO's operate on the network of one of the main mobile internet operators and basically buy bandwidth.
This may sound a little bit too technical, but what it means is that eSIM cards through an MVNO are the last ones in line when the line is busy. Especially during peak times, the performance of an eSIM cards is less compared to a local prepaid sim card from a mobile internet operator.
Bottomline: the data speed of eSIM cards can be less compared to a local prepaid New Zealand sim card.
I am sure some of the above tips for finding the best eSIM card for your trip to New Zealand were helpful. I hope that after reading through my comparison, tips and tricks it was easier to make a decision and order your eSIM card for New Zealand right away.
If you still have any questions about eSIM cards then please leave me a comment below and I am more than happy to help you out.
Curious what the life of a full time nomadic traveler looks like? Go check out my Instagram account @traveltomtom and follow along with daily updates from around the world about the good, the bad and the ugly about traveling.
Traveltomtom is on the road to 197, meaning I would like to travel to every country in the world. As of October 2024 I have visited more than 155 countries, still about 40 to go, but no rush.
Enjoy your trip to New Zealand!