Netflix rankings: How your internet speed compares

How New Zealand internet providers stack up in the Netflix ISP Speed Index for April. Photo / Netflix

Netflix is now offering New Zealanders a chance to see how their internet speed compares with other networks.

The Netflix ISP Speed Index has ranked New Zealand internet providers for the first time, allowing consumers to see which companies offer Netflix content at the fastest speed.

The survey shows average streaming speeds during peak viewing time for the month of April.

Snap, an internet service provider (ISP) recently bought by 2degrees, came out on top with an average of 3.77 megabits per second (Mbps).

Vodafone came in close second (3.76 Mbps), followed by Orcon (3.55 Mbps) and Bigpipe (3.45 Mbps).

Bigpipe is an Ultra-Fast Broadband provider owned by Spark.

Spark itself lagged behind in last place with an average speed of 2.39 Mbps, over 1 Mbps slower than the top provider.

The rankings are based on average streaming speed during prime time use of Netflix.

Plans and devices for which Netflix cannot get accurate readings aren't recorded in the table.

The speed rankings do not reflect the maximum speed of each provider's network, but do give a picture of how well each provider streams online video.

Faster streaming means better loading, fewer interruptions and more reliable picture quality.

Speeds of internet providers overseas have been ranked for years, with ISPs in European countries such as Belgium, the Netherlands and Switzerland consistently coming out on top.

The fastest average streaming speed in the latest rankings was recorded in Switzerland by ImproWare (4.50 Mbps).

Netflix only records speeds in countries which use the service, meaning many Asian countries with high streaming speeds are not included.