Guide to the top Revolut alternatives in New Zealand (2026)

Key takeaways

• Revolut Business has launched in New Zealand, but its plan limits and capped free allowances mean many Kiwi businesses may still look for alternatives.

• The top alternatives for NZ businesses are Airwallex, Wise Business, XE, Emerge, and BNZ Business First Transact, each suited to different needs.

• Airwallex is the top choice for NZ businesses that want multi-currency accounts, Corporate Cards, Expense Management, payment acceptance, and Xero integration in a single platform.

Revolut Business recently launched in New Zealand, giving Kiwi companies a new option for multi-currency accounts, corporate cards, and international transfers. But its plans come with monthly fees, various limits, and capped free allowances, so it's worth comparing what else is on the market before you commit.

In this guide, we'll compare the top Revolut alternatives for NZ businesses: Airwallex, Wise Business, XE, Emerge, and BNZ Business First Transact. We'll break down their features, fees, and NZ-specific availability. We'll also explain how local payment networks can save you money compared to traditional SWIFT transfers, which is something most comparison guides skip entirely.

How does Revolut work for businesses in New Zealand?

Revolut Business is now available in New Zealand, with four plan tiers: Basic (from NZ$10/month), Grow (from NZ$50/month), Scale (from NZ$150/month), and Enterprise (custom pricing). Every plan lets you hold and exchange 30+ currencies, issue physical and virtual corporate cards, and manage spend from a single dashboard.

Each plan also comes with a monthly allowance for exchanging currency at the interbank rate, starting with a limit of NZ$1,000 on the Basic plan. Go over that allowance and a 0.6% fee applies, and Revolut adds a further 1% surcharge on FX conversions made outside market hours, including weekends and certain holidays. Free international transfers are capped too, from zero a month on Basic up to 25 on Scale, with a flat NZ$5 fee on anything extra. If your business does a lot of international trade, those costs can add up fast.

Now that Revolut Business has arrived in NZ, businesses still need to weigh up whether its plan tiers and allowances suit them. Those that need multi-currency accounts, corporate cards, or international payment tools without capped allowances have several strong alternatives to consider.

What to look for in the top Revolut alternatives

Before we get into the specific platforms, it helps to know what matters most for your business. Here are the main things to look at:

• FX costs: Look at both the exchange rate markup and any flat fees per transfer. Even small differences can add up fast if you're moving high volumes.

• Multi-currency account support: Can you hold, receive, and pay out in the currencies you actually use?

• Card issuance: Do you need physical or virtual cards for your team? Can you set spend limits and track expenses in real time?

• Accounting integrations: Does the platform sync with Xero or QuickBooks? This matters a lot in NZ, where Xero is the dominant accounting software.

• eCommerce integrations: If you’re an eCommerce business, check whether the platform connects to Shopify, WooCommerce, or the other platforms you use.

• Transfer speed: How quickly do payments arrive? Same-day or instant transfers can make a real difference to cash flow.

The top 5 Revolut Business alternatives in New Zealand

With those criteria in mind, here's a quick overview of the five leading alternatives:

• Airwallex: We bring together multi-currency accounts, Corporate Cards, FX & Transfers, Yield, payment acceptance, and Xero integration in a single platform. Airwallex suits companies of all sizes, from scaling startups to enterprise.

• Wise Business: Known for transparent mid-market rates and Xero integration, Wise offers multi-currency accounts and cards to Kiwi businesses.

• XE: A long-standing leader in international money transfers and currency data, XE also offers a Global Account that holds 20+ currencies.

• Emerge: A New Zealand-built challenger focused on the local market, offering cards and accounts with low to no fees and a digital-first experience.

• BNZ Business First Transact: A traditional banking option for those who prefer an established local institution with branch access.

The table below gives you a side-by-side comparison of these platforms. After that, we'll dig into what each one actually offers.

Compare the top Revolut alternatives

In-depth: Features of the top Revolut Business alternatives in New Zealand

Airwallex

We built Airwallex so businesses can collect, hold, convert, and spend in multiple currencies from one platform, without the friction of traditional cross-border banking. So instead of stitching together separate tools for FX, cards, and payments, you get everything in one dashboard. That means one login, one set of reports, and no reconciling data across three or four different providers.

Key features

• Global Accounts: Open local accounts in minutes for 20+ currencies (including USD, AUD, and HKD) to receive payments like a local. Receive payments from 70+ countries and pay out to 200+ countries.

• Corporate Cards: Issue virtual and physical multi-currency cards to your team across 60+ countries with built-in Expense Management and approval workflows.

• Bill Pay: Automate your accounts payable by uploading invoices and paying international suppliers in their local currency.

• Payment acceptance: Receive customer payments in 130+ currencies and avoid forced conversion with like-for-like settlement in 20+ currencies. Optimise your checkout by offering 160+ local payment methods.

• Xero and QuickBooks integration: Our Xero integration syncs your multi-currency transactions automatically, so there are no manual exports or reconciliation headaches.

• eCommerce integrations: Connect directly to Shopify, WooCommerce, Magento, and BigCommerce through our Payment Plugins.

• Transfer speed: Approximately 93% of transfers arrive same day, with approximately 45% arriving instantly, thanks to our local payment network routing.

Fees

• Account fees: NZ$0 monthly account fees and NZ$0 setup fees.

• FX rates: Access competitive FX rates at just 0.5% to 1.0% above the interbank rate.

Wise Business

Wise is a choice for small businesses and freelancers in New Zealand who want transparent pricing on international transfers. Businesses using Wise can benefit from cost-effective transfers, multi-currency accounts and cards, and accepting customer payments through payment links and QR codes. It's best suited to companies whose main need is moving money at low, predictable cost, rather than businesses that want cards, payments, and expense tools bundled into one platform.

Key features

• Mid-market rate: Wise uses the real exchange rate, the one banks use with each other, with a transparent fee from 0.25%.

• Xero integration: Automatically sync your multi-currency transactions with Xero, so your books stay up to date without manual data entry.

• Batch payments: Pay up to 1,000 people in one click, which is useful for businesses with a global freelance workforce.

• Multi-currency accounts and cards: Access local foreign currency accounts in 22 currencies and accept payments from 40+ countries, and spend using those currencies globally.

Fees

• Setup fee: A one-time fee of NZ$40 to set up local banking details with your business account.

• Transfer fees: Variable fees starting from 0.25%, depending on the currency pair.

• ATM fees: Withdrawals over NZ$400 a month attract a 2.69% fee per transaction on the amount over that threshold.

• E-wallet top up: To top up external e-wallets and other accounts in certain currencies, a 2% fee applies.

XE

XE is a veteran in the foreign exchange space, with a currency data business dating back to the 1990s that most finance teams have used at some point to check exchange rates. It's an option for companies whose main need is moving large amounts of money between countries securely, though it doesn't have the all-in-one business management features platforms like Airwallex offer. Its multi-currency account holds 20+ currencies and moves money to 190+ countries, but it's built for treasury-style FX management rather than day-to-day spend and payment acceptance.⁶

Key features

• Forward contracts: Fix an exchange rate for a future date, protecting your business from currency volatility.

• Expert guidance: Larger business accounts can get dedicated account managers for insights on market trends.

• Global reach: Move money to 190+ countries, with multi-currency accounts available in 20+ currencies.

XE doesn't offer corporate cards or integrated Expense Management, so if you need those features alongside your FX transfers, you'll need separate tools.

Fees

• No transfer fees: XE generally doesn't charge flat transfer fees for business accounts.

• The spread: Like most providers, XE makes money on the spread, which is the difference between the rate they buy currency at and the rate they give to you.

Emerge

Emerge is a New Zealand-built challenger focused on the local market. It takes away the admin-heavy side of traditional business accounts by offering a purely digital experience, built around unlimited sub-accounts, team permissions, and automated spend rules. Emerge isn't a registered bank; it's a registered financial service provider, and customer funds are held in a trust account with a major New Zealand bank.

Key features

• Instant account opening: Skip the branch visits and open an account entirely via the mobile app.

• Expense Management: Built-in tools to track employee spending in real time.

• No FX fees on card spend: Unlike many traditional cards, Emerge doesn't charge additional FX fees when you use your card for international purchases.

Emerge is NZD-focused and doesn't support multi-currency accounts, which makes it more limited for businesses with international operations beyond card spending.

Fees

• Monthly fee: NZ$0 per month.

• Card fees: NZ$0 foreign transaction fees, NZ$0 transaction fees, and transparent pricing for physical card issuance and replacement.

BNZ Business First Transact

BNZ is one of New Zealand's Big Four banks. Its Business First Transact account suits Kiwi SMEs that mainly operate within NZ and want the backing of an established local institution, with branch access and staff-assisted banking on top of the digital tools. It's a stronger fit for domestically-focused businesses than for companies that need to hold or convert foreign currencies day-to-day, since the account is NZD-only and fees apply for international transfers.

Key features

• Zero transaction fees: No BNZ fees on electronic and staff-assisted transactions. Manage your daily cash flow without BNZ electronic or manual transaction fees (service, account, and facility fees may still apply).

• Optional overdraft: Manage your business cash flow by setting up an optional overdraft with BNZ.

• Choice of cards. BNZ gives you the choice of debit cards, purchasing cards, and credit cards, so you can manage spend in a way that best suits your business.

Fees

• Monthly account fee: NZ$0 (available for businesses with an annual turnover under NZ$5 million).

• International payments: NZ$0 BNZ fee when you send foreign currency online via internet banking or the app (self-service). A NZ$5 BNZ fee applies when sending NZD online overseas, and NZ$25 for staff-assisted transfers. BNZ also adds an FX margin to the exchange rate.

• Receiving fees: A NZ$10 fee applies when BNZ receives an international payment and credits it to your BNZ account (NZ$15 if BNZ receives the payment and passes it on to another bank).³

Why New Zealand businesses are considering Revolut alternatives

Now that Revolut Business has launched in New Zealand, it's worth understanding where it might not be the best fit for every business. These are the main pain points NZ businesses tend to run into:

• Monthly fees and capped allowances. Every Revolut Business plan comes with a monthly fee, from NZ$10 for Basic up to NZ$150 for Scale (Enterprise is custom-priced). Each tier also caps how much you can exchange at the interbank rate before fees apply: NZ$1,000 a month on Basic, rising to NZ$25,000 on the Grow tier. Go over that allowance and a 0.6% fee kicks in.

• FX markups outside market hours. Revolut charges an extra 1% on currency exchanges made outside standard market hours. That can catch you out if you're dealing with suppliers or customers in different time zones.

• Capped free transfers. The Basic tier doesn't include any no-fee international transfers, and Grow and Scale cap them at 5 and 25 a month respectively. Anything beyond the inclusions that costs a flat NZ$5 fee.

• Customer support limitations. Support is mainly through in-app chat, with a dedicated account manager reserved for Enterprise customers. If your business needs more hands-on support as it scales, that's worth factoring in.

Airwallex vs Revolut Business: Side by side comparison for New Zealand

If you're comparing Airwallex to Revolut for your scaling New Zealand business, here's how they stack up on the features that matter most.

Why Kiwi businesses choose Airwallex for global growth

Each of these platforms has its strengths. But if you're looking for one platform that covers Global Accounts, Corporate Cards, Expense Management, and payment acceptance, here's why NZ businesses choose Airwallex.

Instead of juggling separate tools for FX, cards, Expense Management, and payment acceptance, you can bring everything together in one place. That means one dashboard, one login, and one set of reports, rather than having to reconcile data across three or four different providers.

• Local presence globally: By providing local account details in 20+ countries, we let you receive payments from customers in the UK, US, or EU as if you had a local office there. This avoids "double-dipping" on FX fees, where both you and your customer get charged for the same currency conversion.

• Modern Corporate Cards: Our Corporate Cards let you empower your team whilst maintaining total control. Set spend limits, track receipts instantly, and pay for international software subscriptions (like AWS or Slack) without losing money on currency conversions.

• Yield for growth: We don't just help you spend and receive. We also help your capital work harder. Through Airwallex Yield, eligible businesses can earn returns on their balances in AUD and USD, so idle cash contributes to the bottom line.

• Accounting integrations and AI expense management. Your Xero or QuickBooks integration syncs automatically, so you're not manually exporting transactions or chasing down discrepancies at month-end. You can also put an AI agent on every expense to ensure your policies are followed automatically. 

• Powerful eCommerce tools.  If you sell online, you will have multiple ways to accept customer payments including low- and no-code checkouts, APIs, and payment links. In-store POS is launching soon. You can accept payments in 130+ currencies across 180+ countries and settle like-for-like in 20+ currencies, and our Shopify and WooCommerce Payment Plugins also connect directly to your store.

Frequently asked questions about Revolut alternatives

Is Revolut Business available in New Zealand?

Yes. Revolut Business launched in New Zealand with four plan tiers: Basic (from NZ$10/month), Grow (from NZ$50/month), Scale (from NZ$150/month), and Enterprise (custom pricing). Each plan comes with its own monthly fee and allowance for fee-free currency exchange and transfers, so it's worth checking which tier fits your volume before you sign up.

Does Airwallex provide local NZD account details?

Yes. Airwallex provides local NZD account details, which lets you receive payments from New Zealand customers and partners via the local clearing system. That means faster and cheaper transfers than the SWIFT network.

What's the cheapest way to send money overseas from NZ?

The cheapest way is usually through a specialist digital provider like Airwallex. These platforms avoid the high flat fees and FX markups common at traditional banks by using local payment networks and offering rates closer to the interbank rate.

What's the best Revolut alternative in New Zealand?

For businesses that need Global Accounts, Expense Management, and card issuance in one platform, Airwallex is a top alternative. For individuals or freelancers focused purely on the exchange rate for small transfers, Wise Business is also a strong contender.

Is Wise better than Revolut for NZ businesses?

Wise offers transparent mid-market rates with no plan-based fee tiers, while Revolut Business now operates on four paid plans in NZ, from Basic through to Enterprise. For simple international transfers, Wise is a strong option. But if you need multi-currency accounts, Corporate Cards, and Expense Management in one platform, Airwallex offers a more complete solution.

Sources

1. https://www.revolut.com/en-NZ/business/

2. https://www.revolut.com/en-NZ/business/business-account-plans/

3. https://www.bnz.co.nz/assets/personal-banking-help-support/rates-and-fees/business-account-and-service-fees.pdf

4. https://www.bnz.co.nz/business-banking/everyday-accounts

5. https://www.emerge.nz/business/business-account

6. https://www.xe.com/en-nz/business/multi-currency-accounts/

7. https://wise.com/nz/pricing/business

8. https://wise.com/nz/business/