Switchme Limited
Switchme is a New Zealand-based online comparison and switching platform that helps residential and business customers compare and switch electricity, gas, broadband, mobile, and LPG providers, earning revenue from retailer referral fees and a paid business service.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2009
- HeadquartersChristchurch, New Zealand
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Switchme Limited does
Switchme Limited is a New Zealand-based online energy and utility comparison platform founded in 2009 and headquartered in Christchurch. The company operates a self-serve website (switchme.co.nz) that allows residential customers to compare electricity, gas, and LPG offers from approximately 48+ New Zealand energy retailers, and to initiate provider switches through a three-step process. The platform accepts 15-digit ICP numbers for precise bill-based comparison, supports an 'Estimate My Usage' calculator for properties without bills, and aggregates offers from major retailers including Genesis Energy, Contact Energy, Meridian Energy, Mercury, Electric Kiwi, and Nova Energy. Switchme has expanded its product surface to include mobile plan, broadband, and solar buy-back rate comparisons, addressing adjacent household utility verticals.
The business operates a two-sided model: residential consumers use the service free of charge, while Switchme earns revenue from referral commissions paid by energy retailers when customers complete a switch. A separate business energy comparison service targets commercial customers through a sales-assisted motion with dedicated consultants, priced at a $99 one-time fee that replaced a previously free offering. Distribution is primarily organic, driven by content marketing (a blog covering energy efficiency, price changes, and policy), SEO for high-intent comparison queries, and word-of-mouth referrals, with phone support available for both segments. The company is privately held by co-founders Scott O'Donnell, Andre Althoff, and Brett O'Donnell; Brett remains Managing Director while Taylor, Mat, and Henry handle day-to-day operations. The most significant commercial partnership is the exclusive 2011 arrangement with the Electricity Authority of New Zealand to provide business energy quotes for the 'What's My Number' campaign, which Switchme cites as a key differentiator. Headcount remains in the 1-10 range and the company has not raised institutional capital.
Switchme Limited firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Switchme Limited
- Legal name
- SwitchMe Ltd
- Website
- https://switchme.co.nz
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2009
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Switchme is a New Zealand-based online comparison and switching platform that helps residential and business customers compare and switch electricity, gas, broadband, mobile, and LPG providers, earning revenue from retailer referral fees and a paid business service.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Switchme Limited industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Energy Comparison Services
- akta.pro primary industry
- Auto-Switching & Price Comparison Platforms (EUAGAEAD)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Retail Energy Brokerage (Residential & SMB Switching) (EUAGAEAA), Energy Supplier Partner Networks / White-Label Brokerage Programs (EUAGAEAK)
Keywords
Where Switchme Limited is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Christchurch
- HQ country
- New Zealand
- HQ region
- Oceania
Offices1 record
Markets served
Switchme Limited business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Personnel, Operations
Revenue model
- Referral fees from energy retailers: Switchme earns revenue by facilitating customer switches to energy retailers. When a customer completes a switch through the platform, the receiving retailer pays Switchme a referral fee or commission. This model sustains the free residential service while allowing Switchme to offer exclusive deals and incentives not available elsewhere.
- Business quote service fee: Business customers pay a one-time $99 fee only if Switchme successfully identifies savings. This fee-based model replaced the previously free business comparison service, reflecting increased complexity and time required for thorough business energy comparisons.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Monthly | Free residential energy comparison and switching service |
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | Business energy comparison with success-based fee |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels6 records
Switchme Limited product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Switchme operates a free online energy comparison and switching platform for New Zealand consumers. Users enter an address, 15-digit ICP number, or estimated usage to receive a side-by-side comparison of electricity, gas, and LPG plans from major retailers, and can complete a provider switch through a 3-step process with no service interruption. The platform has expanded to include business energy comparison (NZ$99 success-based fee), broadband, mobile, and solar buy-back rate comparisons, with revenue generated from retailer referral commissions and the business service fee.
Product overview
Switchme Limited operates a free, independent online comparison and switching platform for New Zealand consumers. The core product is the residential power comparison service that allows users to compare electricity and gas prices from multiple retailers and switch providers within minutes. The platform has expanded to include business energy comparison (offered for a $99 fee), LPG bottle comparison, mobile plans comparison, broadband plans comparison, and solar buy-back rates comparison. The company aggregates offers from approximately 48+ energy retail brands (including Genesis Energy, Contact Energy, Meridian, Mercury, Electric Kiwi, Nova Energy, and others) to help consumers find the best energy deals. The service is positioned as completely free for residential users, with revenue coming from retailer referral/commission arrangements and the business comparison fee.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Residential Power Comparison Free online comparison calculator for New Zealand households to compare electricity, gas, and LPG plans from multiple retailers using address, 15-digit ICP number, or estimated usage; users can switch providers through a 3-step online process with no service interruption.
- Business Power Comparison Commercial energy comparison service for New Zealand businesses to compare electricity and gas rates, contracts, and metering options from multiple retailers; delivered via dedicated consultants who negotiate on the customer's behalf. Charged a one-time NZ$99 fee only if savings are identified.
- LPG Bottle Comparison Comparison service for 45kg LPG gas bottles across New Zealand, comparing prices for home delivery and standalone LPG supply options, including bundled dual-fuel deals.
- Mobile Plans Comparison Mobile plan comparison tool for New Zealand consumers to compare calls, texts, and data deals, including prepaid, postpaid, and bundled packages with broadband or power.
- Broadband Plans Comparison
- Solar Buy Back Rates Comparison Comparison tool for solar energy retailers' buy-back rates, showing rates available for selling excess solar energy back to the grid.
Quantifiable outcome
- Average savings of $175 per year for households that switch to the cheapest retailer (Electricity Authority estimate)
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Switchme Limited
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Switchme Limited technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
Switchme Limited partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- Electricity Authority of New ZealandcoreSwitchme was selected by the Electricity Authority of New Zealand as the exclusive provider of business energy comparisons for the 'What's My Number' campaign. This partnership established Switchme as the only service in New Zealand with access to business energy rates and the ability to compare business energy prices in real-time. The partnership continues to differentiate Switchme in the market and provides credibility through government endorsement.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Switchme Limited competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- uSwitch: UK-based price comparison and switching platform covering energy, broadband, and insurance. Comparable to Switchme as the closest international analogue in business model - free consumer comparison funded by retailer referral fees.
- MoneyHub: NZ personal finance comparison and review site covering banking, energy, broadband, and insurance. Comparable to Switchme as a New Zealand consumer comparison platform targeting households with switching and saving content.
- Selectra: European energy and telecom price comparison and switching specialist active across multiple countries. Comparable to Switchme as a dedicated energy-comparison platform that aggregates retailer offers and supports household switching via referral economics.
- Glimp: New Zealand-based comparison platform covering broadband, power, mobile, and insurance. Directly comparable to Switchme as a multi-vertical NZ consumer comparison site with affiliate/referral economics from service providers.
Broad incumbents
- Powershop: Established NZ energy retailer operating in the same deregulated retail market where Switchme aggregates offers. Comparable because Powershop competes for the same switching customers and is one of the brands featured on the Switchme platform.
- Electric Kiwi: NZ independent energy retailer with a distinctive hour-of-power offering. Comparable because Electric Kiwi is featured on Switchme and competes for the same switching customer base, and was highlighted as a fast grower during the 2019 switching period.
- Flick Electric: NZ energy retailer with a wholesale-spot-price-based offering that appeals to comparison-savvy switchers. Comparable as a NZ retail energy brand actively featured on Switchme and competing for the same digitally-engaged customers.
Emerging players
- Compare the Market: Australia-based comparison site covering energy, broadband, and insurance with a similar affiliate model. Comparable as a multi-vertical APAC comparison platform, though it operates in the Australian rather than NZ market.
- Finder: Australia/NZ comparison platform spanning energy, banking, and broadband. Comparable as a comparison site operating in adjacent geographies with overlapping categories (energy, broadband) and similar affiliate revenue model.
- Meerkat Energy: NZ-based residential energy comparison and switching service. Comparable to Switchme as a NZ-focused energy comparison competitor with a similar consumer switching proposition, though smaller and more narrowly focused.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Switchme Limited social profiles
Digital presenceSwitchme Limited financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Switchme Limited leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles6 records
Switchme Limited funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Switchme Limited M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Switchme Limited
What does Switchme Limited do?
Switchme operates a free online energy comparison and switching platform for New Zealand consumers. Users enter an address, 15-digit ICP number, or estimated usage to receive a side-by-side comparison of electricity, gas, and LPG plans from major retailers, and can complete a provider switch through a 3-step process with no service interruption. The platform has expanded to include business energy comparison (NZ$99 success-based fee), broadband, mobile, and solar buy-back rate comparisons, with revenue generated from retailer referral commissions and the business service fee.
Is Switchme Limited a public or private company?
Switchme Limited is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Switchme Limited founded?
Switchme Limited was founded in 2009. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Switchme Limited based?
Switchme Limited is headquartered in Christchurch, New Zealand, in the Oceania region.
How does Switchme Limited make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Referral fees from energy retailers are the primary driver. The others are business quote service fee.
Who are Switchme Limited's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are uSwitch, MoneyHub, Selectra and Glimp. Broad incumbents are Powershop, Electric Kiwi and Flick Electric. Emerging players are Compare the Market, Finder and Meerkat Energy.
Does Switchme Limited have an API?
No public API is recorded for Switchme Limited.
What industry is Switchme Limited in?
Switchme Limited's product category is Energy Comparison Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EUAGAEAD, Auto-Switching & Price Comparison Platforms, with a secondary code of EUAGAEAA, Retail Energy Brokerage (Residential & SMB Switching).