Skinny review

Updated September 30, 2026 · TariffCue Editorial Team · Facts checked September 30, 2026

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Our verdict

Skinny suits readers in NZ who want prepaid cover they can stop paying for whenever they like. Entry begins at NZD 5 on a short weekly plan, and 5G, hotspot sharing, wifi calling and data rollover sit on the range rather than being sold as extras.

Key facts

Best for
Short prepaid mobile in NZ with sim only plans from NZD 5.
SIM-only
Yes (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
Price from
NZ$5 (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
Reference plan prices
$439 52-Week Endless: $439 upfront, 10GB max speed + endless per 28 days, 52-week prepay; $75 4-week Unlimited: $75 per 28 days, unlimited data, no contract; $5 7-day: $5 per 7 days, 500MB, no contract (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
Unlimited plan price
NZ$75 (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
5G
Yes (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
Wi-Fi calling
Yes (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
EU roaming
Paid (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
Data rollover
Yes (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
Hotspot sharing
Yes (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
Markets
NZ (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
Support channels
Email, Phone (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
Billing
Prepaid
Contract length
1
Official website
skinny.co.nz

Apps and profiles

Get the app
App Store

Pros and cons

Pros

  • Data rollover is included, so unused data carries into the next cycle rather than disappearing.
  • Hotspot sharing is supported, so a prepaid phone can act as a backup connection for a laptop or tablet.
  • Wifi calling is included, which helps when the mobile signal indoors is weak.
  • Support runs on email and phone, so questions can be sent in writing or raised by phone.
  • Readers who want a contract term alongside prepaid billing can look to GETESA, which lists prepaid and contract, while yesss! adds a rolling option through contract, rolling and prepaid.

Cons

  • Roaming is paid and the plans run in New Zealand, so using the SIM abroad adds cost rather than coming with the plan.
  • Support runs on email and phone only, so there is no counter or in-person option listed.
  • Billing is prepaid only, so there is no contract price that holds a lower rate or brings a subsidised handset.
  • The unlimited plan at NZD 75 sits at 140 of 173 brands on that price, so heavy data users can find cheaper unlimited plans.

Ready to try Skinny?

Scored 9.0 / 10 by TariffCue.

See alternatives

Who it suits

  • Readers in NZ who want a sim only plan on 1-month plan terms and a handset they already own.
  • People who use data in bursts, since data rollover is included and the phone can double as a hotspot.
  • Anyone who wants help in writing or by phone, since support runs on email and phone.

Who should look elsewhere

  • Readers who want a contract term as well as prepaid billing should shortlist GETESA, which lists prepaid and contract.
  • Anyone after rolling billing should look at yesss!, whose range lists contract, rolling and prepaid and adds that option to the prepaid mix.

What it does well

The range covers the extras that decide a lot of prepaid comparisons. Sim only options let you keep the handset you already have, 5G is available on the network, and wifi calling is included so indoor calls hold up. Data rollover moves unused data into the following cycle, and hotspot sharing lets the phone work as a backup connection rather than a dead end when the main line drops.

Where it sits among rivals

Entry price is where Skinny performs and unlimited data is where it slips. Its price from ranks 44 out of 258 brands tracked, near the front of that field, while the unlimited plan price ranks 140 out of 173. Readers who want cover for a short stretch weigh the first number far more than the second.

Pricing

Pricing starts at NZD 5 on the short weekly plan, which suits anyone buying cover for a few days without a long tie in. The unlimited plan runs NZD 75 for the billing cycle, and a longer prepay option sits between the two for people who prefer to pay in one go. These are recurring prepaid charges rather than introductory offers, so the rate you start on is the rate you keep paying.

How Skinny compares

Where Skinny is available

Available
New Zealand

Countries from the brand (Source, checked September 30, 2026)

Frequently asked questions

What does Skinny cost to start with?+

Entry pricing starts at NZD 5 on the short weekly plan, which is prepaid and charged on its own cycle. Longer plans sit above that for anyone who would rather pay ahead, and plan terms are listed as 1 month, so the commitment stays short rather than stretching into a long agreement.

What does the unlimited plan cost?+

The unlimited plan runs NZD 75 for its billing cycle and comes with unlimited data rather than a capped allowance. Billing is prepaid, so the charge is taken the same way each cycle and nothing needs renegotiating. A longer prepay option exists for anyone who would rather commit in one go.

Can I bring my own phone?+

Sim only is part of the range, so you can pair a handset you already own with a prepaid plan from NZD 5. Hotspot sharing and 5G are included, and wifi calling helps when the indoor signal is weak. Nothing in the setup depends on buying a phone from the brand.

What happens to data I do not use?+

Data rollover is included, so unused data moves into the following cycle instead of disappearing. That makes the shorter plans easier to live with, since you are not paying for an allowance you never touch. It applies across the prepaid cycle, and the range is prepaid throughout.

Is roaming included?+

Roaming is listed as paid, and the plans run in NZ only, so any data or calls used abroad are billed separately. Wifi calling can keep messages moving where coverage is thin, but it does not remove the roaming charge. Travellers should budget for the extra cost rather than assume the home plan travels with them.

Does Skinny offer 5G and hotspot sharing?+

5G is available, and hotspot sharing lets the phone act as a backup connection for other devices. Wifi calling is included too, which helps anyone working from home on a weak indoor signal. Plans start at NZD 5, and the range includes an unlimited option at NZD 75 for heavier use.

How do I contact Skinny support?+

Support runs on email and phone, so a question can be sent in writing or raised by phone and still get an answer. That covers most account work, though no in person option is listed for anyone who prefers to deal with someone face to face. Roaming setup and prepaid balance checks tend to go faster with a call.

Where is Skinny available?+

The plans run in New Zealand, a single market, so coverage and pricing are aimed at people travelling inside the country. Roaming is paid, which keeps a holiday abroad a separate cost. The range is prepaid throughout, on 1-month plan terms, with a longer prepay option for those who want to pay ahead.

Sources

  • skinny.co.nz/mobile checked September 30, 2026

    Backs: Billing, Data rollover, 5G, Hotspot sharing, Markets, Contract length, Price from, Reference plan prices, SIM-only, Unlimited plan price

    “Prepay Mobile Plans”

  • skinny.co.nz/roaming checked September 30, 2026

    Backs: EU roaming, Support channels, Wi-Fi calling

    “As soon as you head overseas, NZ rates or plans don't apply”

Compiled from 2 source pages, checked September 30, 2026. We did not open an account.

Not confirmed yet: Seller type.

Skinny

Short prepaid mobile in NZ with sim only plans from NZD 5.

9.0/10See alternatives

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