A no annual fee credit card is a credit card which charges no annual fee for the privilege of owning the credit card. Most credit cards charge an annual fee ranging from about $10 to $300 but some credit cards do not charge an annual fee and are referred to as No annual fee credit cards or Zero annual fee credit cards or even free credit cards.
We have reviewed and compiled a list of credit cards with no annual fee in NZ (no annual fee credit cards) to help you find the best credit card with no annual fee to meet your needs.
Updated: 14 Oct, 2024
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Card | Description | Purchase Rate (p.a.) | Balance Transfer | Cash Rate (p.a.) | Annual Fee | Interest Free Days |
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The American Express Airpoints Credit Card
Platinum Award | Interest Free (0% P.A.) on purchases for the first 6 months, plus NO ANNUAL FEE and earn 1 Air New Zealand Airpoints Dollar for every $100 you spend. CURRENT OFFER: 50 bonus Airpoints Dollars™ when you apply, are approved and spend $750 on your new Card within the first 3 months. New Card Members only. Reward Points Cash Equivalent: $100 spend earns $1.00 cash equivalent^. | 0% p.a. for 6 months then 22.95% p.a. | N/A | 22.95% p.a. | $0.00 | 55 days
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Westpac Fee Free MasterCard Credit Card
Platinum Award | Comes with a low rate of just 12.90% p.a. plus 5.95% p.a. for the life of the balance transferred to this card. it also comes with no annual fee, no cash advance fee and no foreign transaction fees. | 12.90% p.a. | 5.95% for life of balance transferred | 19.95% p.a. | $0.00 | 55 days
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Kiwibank Zero Visa Credit Card
Platinum Award | A low rate credit card with no annual fee and a 1.99% balance transfer for 6 months | 12.90% p.a. | 1.99% p.a. for 6 months | 12.90% p.a. | $0.00 | 55 days
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ASB Visa Light Credit Card
Gold Award | The ASB Visa Light credit card has no annual fee, a low purchase rate and 0% balance transfer for 6 months plus 0% p.a. for 6 months when you spend $1,000 or more on any single eligible purchase | 13.5% p.a. | 0% p.a. for 6 months | 22.95% p.a. | $0.00 | 55 days
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ANZ Low Rate Visa Card
Gold Award | Features a low interest rate of 13.90% and a balance transfer rate of 1.99% for 24 months | 13.90% | 1.99% p.a. for 24 months | 20.95% | $0.00 | 55 days
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SBS Visa Credit Card
Gold Award | A No annual fee credit card that allows you to earn $1 for every $150 spent on eligible transactions. Reward Points Cash Equivalent: $100 spend earns $0.66 cash equivalent^. | 19.65% | N/A | 22.65% | $0.00 | 55 days
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Farmers Finance Card
Gold Award | Farmers Finance Card has no annual account and you get access to exclusive extended payment deals at Farmers! | 28.50% | N/A | 28.50% p.a. | $0.00 | Up to 55 days
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^ To help you compare reward points across different credit cards and rewards programs, we provide an estimate of the cash-equivalent of the reward points that you will get back for every $100 you spend on eligible purchases with your card. The cash equivalent value given is an estimate only based on a specific redemption example. In some cases you might earn less or more depending on how you redeem your ponts and some reward points cannot be redeemed for cash directly. Click on the card to find out how the estimate was calculated.
A no-annual fee credit card is also referred to as a zero fee credit card or simply credit card with no annual fee. If you intend to pay off your credit card balance on time each month then a no-annual fee credit card might be suitable for you. We have compiled more information about No-fee credit cards below. Keep in mind that even though No-annual fee credit cards are often referred to as No-fee credit cards, the name “no-fee creddit card” can be misleading as some No-annual fee do charge other fees such as late payment fees even though the card itself does not charge an annual fee.
One of the most important things to consider when considering a no-annual fee credit card is the interest rate charged by the credit card. Some no-annul fee cards might have high interest rates to make up for the no-annul fee but it is possible to find credit cards with both no annual fees and low interest rates.
No annual fee credit cards don’t tend to come with much extra benefits such as reward points, complimentary insurance etc. It is important to be aware of these benefits and features just in case you might be better off with a credit card that has an annual fee and includes a feature/benefit that you might be worth paying the annual fee. For example, Interest Free Credit Cards offer several months of interest free on purchases which might be desirable and rewards credit cards offer reward points and some even offer sign-up bonuses.
No fee credit cards offen offer low credit limits. If you need a high credit limit you might need to get an credit card with an annual fee. It might be worth checking with the credit card provider first because credit limits can be changed and tailored to an individual.
It goes without saying having a no-annual fee credit card save you on the annual fee of the card which can go up to hundreds of dollars for some credit cards. This is usually one of the reasons why people get no annual fee cards.
Since it chargnes not fees, a no-annual fee credit card can be a good backup payment card that you can just put away to use in case you loose your wallet especially when travelling. As long as you do not carry a balance on the card you don’t need to worry about paying any bills.
No annual fee credit cards are usually easier to get approval for as they usually come with a low credit limit by default. This might not apply for all no-annual free credit card of course but in general they are easier to get approval for.
If your intention is to save money by not paying an annual fee then it makes sense to pay off your balance each month to avoid incuring interest or late payment fees.
Keeping track of your credit card balance and making repayments on time is time consuming and it’s easy to forget to make your repayment. Most credit card providers will allow you to setup automatic repayments. Make sure you have enough funds in your account if you setup an automatic payment.
Some cards might have penalties if you exceed your credit limit. You might be able to set up alerts to notify you when you get close to your credit limit.
A common misconception with no annual fee credit cards is that they do not come with any benefits. While many no annual fee do not offer any extra benefits, this is not always the case as there are many no fee credit cards that come with reward points.
Another myth is that no fee credit cards are not good at building credit score. This is not true and no annual fee credit cards are just as effective at building your credit score as long as you use it responsibly and pay off your debt in time.
Some people think that because no annual fee credit cards charge no annual fee they must be hidden fees. While each credit card has its own fee structure, this does not mean that all no annual fee credit cards come with hidden fees, and all fees should be disclosed before you purchase your card. If you have any concerns make sure you read the disclosure statments relating to the fees.
Many No-annual fee credit cards come with interest rates so if you intend to carry a balance on your credit card it is important to try and get a card with a low interest rate. Although many of these cards come with high interest rate, some do come with low interest rates.
Most No annual fee credit cards come with limited or no rewards and benefits which are common with credit cards these days. This makes sense since you are not paying any annual fees.
Many no anual fee cards charge foreign transaction fees which might not be ideal for a frequent flyer. These fees are usually around 3% of each transaction. If you travel internationally often, you might want to look for a card that waives these fees, even if it means paying an annual fee.
No annual fee credit cards are good if you are just looking for a backup card to use occasionally but most no annual fee don’t come with any rewards or benefits. If you want to earn rewards then a credit card with rewards might be a good option. If you are frequent flyer you might also want to consider credit cards with trevel insurance, frequent flyer credit card and Airpoints credit card.
A no annual fee credit card is a type of credit card that does not charge an annual fee for possessing the credit card for the lifetime of the credit card.
In our opinion the best no annual fee credit card in New Zealand is the American Express Airpoints Credit Card because it offers rewards points and no interest on purchases for 6 months.
Some no annual fee credit cards offer rewards, but the rewards tend to be basic compared to credit cards that charge an annual fee.
Yes, no annual fee credit cards may come with higher interest rates, limited rewards, and foreign transaction fees.
No annual fee credit cards may not be ideal for frequent travelers as they often impose foreign transaction fees and offer fewer travel-related perks such as complimentary travel insurance.
Yes, no annual fee credit cards can help build your credit score if used responsibly by paying off balances on time and keep your credit utilisation low.
No annual fee credit cards can save you money by avoding the yearly annual fee that many other credit cards charge.
Yes, you can have a no annaul fee credit card as well as other credit cards. For example you can use your no annual fee as a back up but have a travel credit card to use while travelling.
The best credit card for you would depend on your personal circumstance and how you intend to use your credit card. We have put together a list of some of the best credit cards in New Zealand to help you find the best credit card in NZ to suit your individual needs. Alternatively, you can narrow down your search by credit card type such as interest free credit card, low rate credit card, balance transfer, credit card reward or air nz credit card