Zilch review
Updated September 30, 2026 · DebitCue Editorial Team · Facts checked September 30, 2026
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Our verdict
Zilch suits shoppers in the UK who want points on card spending without paying an annual charge, since the account carries fees of £0 and currency costs of 0%. If you carry a balance, note borrowing costs of 14.9%, so paying in full each cycle matters for keeping rewards worthwhile.
Key facts
- Best for
- UK card shoppers seeking points without an annual charge
- Annual fee
- £0 (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
- APR
- 14.9% (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
- Currency conversion fee
- 0% (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
- Rewards type
- Points (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
- Rewards rate
- Up to 5% back (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
- Card kind
- Credit (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
- Regulators
- Financial Conduct Authority (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
- Legal entity
- Zilch Technology Limited (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
- Headquarters
- United Kingdom (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
- Founded
- 2018 (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
- Support channels
- Chat, Phone, Help-centre (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
- Pricing model
- No annual fee
- Features
- Rewards
- Official website
- zilch.com
Apps and profiles
- Get the app
- Google Play
Pros and cons
Pros
- Annual terms are free with fees of £0, matching €0 at Oney Préstamos
- Currency spending carries costs of 0%, which is free at card level
- Rewards of Up to 5% back come in the form of points for regular spending
- Support covers chat, phone and help centre, giving chat, phone and help centre access
Cons
- Borrowing carries costs of 14.9%, which reduces value if you carry a balance
- Rewards are points of type points, so redemption depends on the points scheme rather than cash
- Currency costs are free at 0%, yet borrowing costs of 14.9% still apply to unpaid balances
Ready to try Zilch?
Scored 9.1 / 10 by DebitCue.
Who it suits
- UK shoppers who want points on routine card spending with fees of £0
- Travellers and online buyers who value currency costs of 0% alongside rewards of Up to 5% back
Who should look elsewhere
- Carriers of balances who would pay less attention to borrowing costs should consider Oney Préstamos for its own pricing and terms
- Shoppers seeking cashback rather than points should consider Qonto for its own card structure and account setup
Fees and currency costs
Zilch keeps the yearly cost position clear for the standard account, with fees of £0. That free annual structure helps comparison because many shoppers weigh fixed charges before looking at borrowing or rewards. When you compare yearly pricing with alternatives such as Oney Préstamos, Qonto and AXI Card Tarjeta y Credito, the headline annual comparison stays direct and easy to place side by side. Borrowing on the card carries costs of 14.9%. That figure matters most when balances roll from cycle to cycle, since interest builds on unpaid amounts and can outweigh rewards value. Shoppers who repay in full keep attention on the annual and currency position, while shoppers who revolve balances should place borrowing costs at the centre of the decision. Spending in other currencies carries costs of 0% at card level. That free conversion position helps travellers and online shoppers who buy from overseas merchants, because no added card conversion charge applies on top of the network rate used at the time. Taken together, the account combines free annual and currency terms with a borrowing rate that rewards disciplined repayment.
Rewards and perks
Zilch issues rewards in the form of points. That points format means earnings collect as points within the Zilch scheme rather than as automatic statement credit, so redemption choices shape the result you receive. Shoppers who engage with points catalogues, offers and redemption rules tend to gain greater clarity on value than shoppers who prefer direct cash style returns. The headline earning level is shown as rewards of Up to 5% back. That level describes the advertised return on eligible activity under the standard terms, while actual results depend on merchants, caps, exclusions and how points convert at redemption. Readers should review which purchases qualify and whether limits apply during promotions or partner activity. Because the reward type is points rather than cash or miles, comparison should focus on earn rate, redemption flexibility and expiry rather than on headline percentages alone. The combination of points with rewards of Up to 5% back suits cardholders who spend regularly through the account and track points, while shoppers who want plain cash returns may prefer a different reward format.
Who runs it
The card is provided through Zilch Technology Limited. That entity is the name to check on agreements, statements and regulatory disclosures when you compare terms across providers. Naming the legal entity helps keep the brand, the website and the contracting party aligned in your records. The home base is shown as GB. That UK base aligns with the licensing position and the support setup described for the standard account. Shoppers comparing UK focused cards often weigh home market presence alongside fees and rewards, since terms, language and redress routes follow the local framework. The firm dates its origin to 2018. That background places Zilch among newer card and credit providers that pair app based account handling with points style incentives. Support is available through chat, phone and help centre. That coverage spans chat for quick queries, phone for account matters that need discussion, and help centre guides for terms, rewards and account care. The UK authorisation is shown as 843421 under the Financial Conduct Authority. That licence reference gives a direct way to confirm regulatory status before applying.
How Zilch compares
9.1 vs 9.0
9.1 vs 8.9
9.1 vs 8.8
9.1 vs 9.2
9.1 vs 8.8
9.1 vs 9.4
9.1 vs 8.5
9.1 vs 8.5
9.1 vs 9.0
9.1 vs 8.8
9.1 vs 8.8
9.1 vs 8.7Qonto may suit account holders who prefer its own card setup, with annual terms of €0 compared with Zilch at £0.
9.1 vs 9.2
9.1 vs 9.0
9.1 vs 9.5
9.1 vs 9.4
9.1 vs 9.4
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9.1 vs 9.2
9.1 vs 9.1
9.1 vs 9.1
9.1 vs 9.1
9.1 vs 9.1
9.1 vs 8.8
9.1 vs 8.8- 9.1 vs 8.8
- 9.1 vs 8.8
- 9.1 vs 8.8
9.1 vs 8.5
9.1 vs 8.5
9.1 vs 8.5
9.1 vs 8.3
9.1 vs 8.2
9.1 vs 8.0
9.1 vs 8.0
Where Zilch is available
- Available
- United Kingdom
- Licence in United Kingdom
- Financial Conduct Authority (843421), checked September 30, 2026
Countries from the brand (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
Frequently asked questions
Does Zilch charge an annual fee?+
Zilch charges fees of £0 for the standard account, so there is no yearly charge to hold the card. That structure suits shoppers who want to keep fixed costs down while earning points. You should still review borrowing terms before you apply.
What APR does Zilch charge?+
Zilch lists borrowing costs of 14.9% for the standard account. That rate matters when you spread repayment across billing cycles. Paying the statement balance in full helps preserve the value of any points earned through Up to 5% back.
Does Zilch charge a fee for spending abroad?+
Zilch lists currency costs of 0%, which keeps spending abroad free of added conversion charges at the card level. Your total cost abroad will still depend on the merchant and network conversion applied at the time. Borrowing costs of 14.9% apply if you do not repay in full.
How do Zilch rewards work?+
Zilch earns points described as points, with rewards of Up to 5% back advertised for the standard account. Points can suit regular card spending when you redeem them carefully. Check the current rewards terms for earning limits, exclusions and redemption choices.
Is Zilch regulated in the UK?+
Zilch Technology Limited operates the card under Zilch Technology Limited, with a home base in the United Kingdom. The firm holds Financial Conduct Authority licence 843421 in the UK. That regulatory status provides a clear route for complaints and oversight.
How can customers contact Zilch support?+
Zilch offers support through chat, phone and help centre, which covers messaging, telephone help and self service guides. That mix suits account queries, billing questions and rewards issues. Use the help centre for terms and use chat or phone when you need account specific assistance.
Who runs Zilch and where is it based?+
Zilch was founded in 2018 and operates from GB through Zilch Technology Limited. That history gives context on the firm behind the card and its UK focus. Readers comparing newer card providers may weigh that background alongside fees of £0 and borrowing costs.
Sources
- zilch.com/uk/about-us checked September 30, 2026
Backs: Founded
“Zilch was born ... 2018”
- zilch.com/uk/contact checked September 30, 2026
Backs: Support channels
“Browse our FAQs ... through Live Chat in the app ... call us on +44 (0)20 3405 9775”
- zilch.com/uk/terms-of-service checked September 30, 2026
Backs: Currency conversion fee, Regulators, Rewards type, Licences
“We will not add any other costs”
- zilch.com/uk/zilch-rewards checked September 30, 2026
Backs: Features
“Get up to 5% back every time you shop”
- zilch.com/uk/zilch-standard checked September 30, 2026
Backs: Annual fee, APR, Headquarters, Legal entity, Pricing model, Rewards rate
“Zilch Standard Free”
- zilch.com checked September 30, 2026
Backs: Card kind
“Apply for a no-interest credit card”
Compiled from 6 source pages, checked September 30, 2026. We did not open an account.