Airwallex vs Amex: A modern business card for fee-free global spending
Airwallex gives Kiwi businesses a card designed for global corporate spending. With Airwallex, you can instantly create multi-currency Visa corporate cards with built-in controls, and stay on top of all purchases from a single dashboard, in real-time.
With an American Express business card, you’ll pay a currency exchange fee for every purchase not in NZD. Approvals become a headache, with limited card controls and visibility over team spend.
Airwallex offers a better way with no-fee international spend, smart spend controls and real-time-spend visibility. Our platform is a game-changer with multi-currency Corporate Cards, Expense Management, bill pay, and a Global Account – all at your fingertips.
Let’s compare Airwallex and Amex to see how the two stack up for Kiwi businesses.
New ZealandNZD3 reasons why businesses choose Airwallex over Amex
Smarter corporate cards and lower card fees
Grow and spend without borders with multi-currency cards that are free to create and can be used instantly. Spend in multiple currencies from held balances and save with zero international card fees. Consolidate team expenses onto a shared card for a smarter way to manage spend.
Expense Management made easy
An end-to-end Expense Management system that gives you real-time visibility of your team’s spend, lets you design multi-layer approval workflows, while AI eliminates manual data entry to help your business go further.
Do more on one platform
Manage your business spend with a Global Account while you grow your idle AUD and USD balances with Yield. You can also accept customer payments, create and send invoices, and send high-speed, low-cost FX transfers.
Go further and gain full control over spend with Airwallex
Airwallex Corporate Cards let you spend globally without barriers. Enjoy fee-free international spend, instant global issuance, a real-time view of employee spend, and advanced card controls.
Compare Airwallex and Amex fees in New Zealand
"Airwallex Bill Pay has given us better control over our finances, and has helped us roll up important strategic budgeting and forecasting capabilities. It’s also improved our relationship with our suppliers, because we now never miss a beat with paying them on time."
Joel Stehr
Chief Operating Officer, Bilue
"One thing we like about Airwallex, which differentiates it from other providers out there, is the team card approach as well as the individual cards. It’s a massive time saver too - to the point that we just wouldn't use a solution that didn't have an integration with Xero, just due to the volume of transactions and manual work that would be required otherwise. It's amazing.”
Georgia Burns
Strategic Finance Director, Auror
"It’s definitely time saving, from mine and our Head of P&C’s perspective as people that prepare payroll are not having to granularly look through each expense item line. The users have taken to it like a duck to water. It's not a difficult system to use. Sometimes people are like ‘oh, another system, another app to download.’ But it wasn’t arduous at all. Once you download the app, it's very straightforward. There's really been no push back whatsoever from anyone because I think people immediately get the buy in.”
Alec Alltimes
APAC Finance Director, Commission Factory
Frequently asked questions about American Express cards in New Zealand
What American Express business credit cards are available in New Zealand?
American Express offers two business cards in New Zealand: the Business Card and the Gold Business Card. Both cards are rewards charge cards and designed for businesses with turnover of less than $10 million. For larger companies, Amex also offers Corporate Cards as part of its Corporate Card program.
What fees are charged with American Express Business Credit Cards in New Zealand?
Amex charges an annual card fee and an optional annual fee to access the Membership Rewards Program. If you want to add any additional cardholders, an annual fee will also apply per cardholder. A currency conversion fee applies to all purchases not in NZD and you will be charged for using overseas ATMs. Late payment fees and statement fees also apply.
What alternative solutions to American Express are there in New Zealand?
There are several alternatives to Amex for Kiwi businesses. This includes Westpac, ANZ, BNZ, ASB, and Wise Business. However, Airwallex stands out for its physical and virtual multi-currency cards, advanced spend controls, expense tools and functionality, competitive pricing, global currency reach, and all-in-one platform which includes a Global Business Account.
Who can open an Airwallex card and Global Account in New Zealand?
Most Kiwi businesses are eligible. You’ll need an active NZBN, a valid ID for all directors or beneficial owners, and basic registration documents.