Travelex vs Wise: Which Travel Card is Better for Kiwis in 2026?

Traveling comes with many decisions, and one to pay attention to is which payment card you use. The exchange rate and fees play a part in what your trip really costs, so it’s worth finding a card that’s cost-effective and easy to use. For travellers from New Zealand, two popular options are the Travelex Money Card and the Wise card.

Both choices are designed for international spending, but they take different approaches and suit different types of travellers. In this guide, we compare Travelex and Wise side by side, looking at the features, fees, and exchange rates, to help you decide which card makes the most sense for your next trip.

What is a Travelex Money Card?

Travelex is an international name in the foreign currency business with strong presence in New Zealand.¹ They provide Kiwis with the chance to get foreign cash at one of their storefronts, foreign currency ATMs or online, as well as order a Travelex Money Card.

The consumer opinion of Travelex NZ is quite high, being ranked “Excellent” on Trustpilot, with over 3500 reviews.² Their online and in-person customer service is often highlighted as a positive, especially the clear communication. That said, some do experience frustration with the time it takes for funds to become available, and the minimum deposit rules.

The Travelex Money Card is a pre-paid travel card that allows customers to load up to 9 supported currencies.⁴

• Works wherever Mastercard is accepted
• Hold AUD, EUR, GBP, USD, JPY, NZD, CAD, SGD and HKD
• Manage your card  through the Travelex Travel Money app
• Gain access to exclusive offers from Mastercard Priceless Cities

In terms of security, one of the card’s key advantages is that it isn’t connected to your main bank account. This helps reduce risk, and adds an extra layer of security while you’re travelling.

What is a Wise card?

Wise is a global fintech company that was built to make managing money across borders simpler and more transparent. With a Wise account, customers can hold balances in 40+ currencies, access local account details for major currencies, and use a Wise card for everyday spending overseas and online.

Wise is rated “Excellent 4.3 out of 5 stars” on Trustpilot, with +230,000 reviews worldwide.³ Customers highlight the user-friendly app, fast international transfers, and clear pricing as some of the key strengths, along with the convenience of paying with the Wise card while travelling.

The good news for travellers is the Wise card is designed to work almost anywhere.

• Spend in over 150+ countries and territories
• Hold 40+ currencies in the Wise account and spend in more
• Convert money at the mid-market rate with no hidden fees
• Physical and digital cards are compatible with various digital wallets

On the security side of things, Wise has multiple layers of protection, including industry-leading safeguards, 24/7 fraud monitoring, and the ability to instantly freeze or unfreeze your card in the app whenever you want to.

👉🏻 Learn more about the Wise card

Travelex vs Wise travel card: Main comparison

Both Travelex and Wise offer cards designed for spending overseas, but which is the better option depends on how you travel and manage your money. Comparing the features, fees, and exchange rates side by side is the easiest way to see which one is more suitable for your travel plans.

To start, here’s how the key features of the Travelex Money Card and Wise card compare.

As you can see there’s a vast difference in the number of currencies you can store. One of the benefits of being able to store currencies is you can choose the optimal time to convert between them, and with a Wise account, you can actually receive certain foreign currencies straight into the account, ready to spend when you want.

Travelex vs Wise travel card - Fees and charges

When figuring out the true cost of using a card abroad, the fees and charges are a key part of the equation. These are some of the main fees charged by Travelex and Wise for using their respective cards.

As well as the fees, it’s also worth being aware of the** limits that apply to Travelex Money Card**.

• Minimum initial load is 250 NZD and maximum is 10,050 NZD
• Minimum top-up is 100 NZD
• Maximum top-up is 10,050 NZD per top-up and 24-hour period, with a maximum of 20,000 NZD per 21 day period

Limits like this don’t apply to the Wise card, and you can add and hold as much NZD as you want.

Travelex vs Wise travel card - Exchange rates

The other part of the equation for figuring out the true cost of using a card overseas, is the exchange rate.

For all currency conversion, Wise uses the mid-market rate. This rate is the midway point between the buy and sell prices on the currency market, with no margin or hidden fees.

Travelex uses two different exchange rates, depending on the situation.

• For conversions between currency balances Travelex uses their own rate, which is a combination of the Mastercard rate and a margin determined by Travelex
• For payments or withdrawals in a currency that’s not loaded on the card or has an insufficient balance, Travelex uses the Mastercard rate with a 4% fee

To see the real-life impact these exchange rates can have on your money, here’s an example, converting 100 NZD to the USD balance with Travelex and Wise.

When converting 100 NZD the difference might not seem large, but start thinking about how much you’ll be spending while away and it can quickly add up. Plus, keep in mind that if you use your Travelex Money Card and there’s not enough money to fund the transaction, you will get hit by that 4% fee.

Summary: Which is a better travel card for NZ residents?

Which card is better, Wise or Travelex, really depends on you and your needs. Assessing the pros and cons of each option, and how they relate to your travel plans, can help you make the right choice.

Looking at the bigger picture, Travelex can be a sensible choice for short trips or holidays, particularly if you’re travelling to destinations covered by its supported currencies. It suits travellers who prefer a prepaid card that’s separate from their bank account, with the reassurance of in-store assistance if they need it.

The Wise card tends to be a better fit for people who are planning longer stays, are travelling across multiple countries, or who simply want more control over their spending while overseas .It supports significantly more currencies, uses the mid-market exchange rate for conversions, and offers more tools to manage your money on the go.

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Please see Terms of Use and product availability for your region or visit Wise Fees & Pricing for the most up to date pricing and fee information.