Airwallex vs Wise business account – which one should you choose?

But when you look closely, their pricing and features tell quite different stories. This guide compares Wise’s pay-as-you-go business account with Airwallex’s tiered plans – covering everything from fees and FX rates to cards, integrations, and who they’re best for.

And because we’re ANNA, we’ll also show you how we stack up – especially if you’d prefer your business account to come with admin support, tax tools, and real humans on hand 24/7.

Airwallex vs Wise at a glance

If you want the short version, here it is: Airwallex offers structured pricing plans that scale with your business, while Wise keeps things simple with transparent pay-per-transaction fees.

Takeaway: Airwallex gives you more advanced business tools under higher plans, while Wise wins for simplicity and transparent, usage-based pricing.

Who are these accounts best for?

⚡ The cheapest

If you’re after a no-strings business account, Wise is the most affordable. There are no monthly fees – you simply pay a small charge each time you convert or send money abroad. You can hold over 40 currencies and move funds using the real mid-market rate.

Airwallex also offers a free tier, but its more advanced tools (like multi-user access, virtual cards and spend controls) sit behind paid plans. Those fees can add up quickly if your business doesn’t use the advanced tools regularly.

Verdict: Wise is the cheapest option for businesses that value simplicity and low-volume international transfers.

⚡ Best value for money

When it comes to value, Airwallex starts to shine once your business scales. If you send frequent payments abroad, receive funds from overseas clients or manage multiple currencies, Airwallex’s unified platform can save time and reduce complexity.

The ability to hold balances in 20+ currencies and pay suppliers directly from those balances helps avoid unnecessary conversions. And the built-in expense management tools add value for growing teams.

Wise, on the other hand, keeps pricing transparent and predictable but lacks some of the advanced spend management or automation features.

Verdict: Airwallex offers better long-term value for larger or globally active businesses.

⚡ Best for sole traders

For freelancers or small one-person businesses, Wise is usually the simpler and cheaper choice. You can open an account in minutes, get local account details in multiple currencies, and send or receive payments with no ongoing subscription costs.

Airwallex can work for sole traders too, especially if you regularly invoice international clients, but its platform is more tailored to businesses with higher transaction volumes.

Verdict: Wise is best suited to freelancers and solo operators who need flexible multi-currency payments without monthly fees.

⚡ Best for limited companies

Limited companies often need team access, spend tracking, and integration with accounting software – areas where Airwallex performs strongly. Its team cards, approval flows, and expense reporting tools simplify financial management for companies with multiple employees.

Wise supports team access and debit cards as well, but its focus remains on transparent FX and transfers rather than broader financial control.

Verdict: Airwallex is the stronger choice for limited companies that manage multiple team members or overseas suppliers.

⚡ Best for global businesses

If your company operates across regions or invoices in several currencies, Airwallex is purpose-built for you. Its international infrastructure, corporate cards, and unified dashboard make global payments seamless.

Wise also supports cross-border business, but its main strength lies in competitive FX rates rather than scaling operations across multiple entities.

Verdict: Airwallex is the go-to for scaling international companies; Wise works best for smaller global players.

Who can open an account?

Both providers are open to UK-based and international businesses, but their verification processes differ slightly.

Verdict: Both are quick to open, though Wise’s process is slightly more streamlined.

Pricing and fees

Airwallex pricing

Airwallex offers several plans in the UK:

• Explore – Free plan for startups and smaller businesses.
• Grow – £99/month, adds more features and card controls.
• Accelerate – £999/month, designed for high-volume international companies.

Domestic transfers are free, and international payments start from 0.5% above the interbank rate. You can hold balances in 20+ currencies and issue physical or virtual cards to your team.

Wise pricing

Wise doesn’t charge a monthly fee. You only pay for transactions – typically around 0.4–0.6% for currency conversions and small fixed fees for international transfers. Holding and receiving funds in different currencies is mostly free, with a one-time charge to access local account details for some currencies.

Verdict: For pay-as-you-go flexibility, Wise is unbeatable. For predictable monthly spend and advanced tools, Airwallex makes more sense.

Takeaway: Airwallex offers more enterprise-grade tools, while Wise keeps things clean and efficient for smaller operations.

App and user experience

Both providers are app-based and highly rated for usability.

Wise focuses on transparency and simplicity – everything is clearly priced and accessible in a few taps.

Source: App store

Airwallex’s interface feels more like a full-scale financial platform, providing dashboards for FX exposure, team spend, and transaction analytics.

Source: App store

Verdict: Wise wins for ease of use, Airwallex for depth of control.

You can explore both apps yourself:

• Wise on the App Store / Google Play,
• Airwallex on the App Store / Google Play.

Customer support and reviews

Support can make or break your day. Here’s how Airwallex and Wise compare.

Both apps are praised for their stability and ease of use, with Wise slightly ahead in total number of reviews.

Both have strong reputations, though Wise benefits from a much larger customer base and more user feedback.

Trustpilot complaints

Airwallex: occasional mentions of longer onboarding for high-risk industries and slower regional support response times.
Wise: reports of temporary account freezes during additional verification or large transfers.

Security and trust

Your money’s only as safe as the company that holds it. Both Airwallex and Wise are well-regulated and take security seriously.

FSCS protection

Neither Airwallex nor Wise is a traditional UK bank, so FSCS protection doesn’t apply. Both are authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) as electronic money institutions. Client funds are safeguarded in separate, secure accounts.

Fraud prevention and controls

Both use strong customer authentication, biometric login, and 3D Secure for card transactions. Wise sends instant notifications for every transaction, while Airwallex adds role-based permissions and spend limits for team members.

Company stability and licensing

Wise is one of the most established fintechs in the UK with millions of customers worldwide. Airwallex, founded in 2015, has rapidly expanded across global markets and holds multiple financial licences, including FCA authorisation in the UK.

Which is best for your business?

• Freelancers and consultants: Wise is ideal – no monthly fees and straightforward international payments.
• Growing startups: Airwallex’s free tier gives room to expand without heavy admin.
• Limited companies with teams: Airwallex offers better tools for team management and spending control.
• High-volume international traders: Airwallex’s scalable infrastructure handles multi-currency operations efficiently.
• Occasional overseas invoicing: Wise’s transparent, low-cost transfers make it the simpler choice.

Alternatives to consider

ANNA – your business account and admin sidekick

Here’s where we do things differently.

ANNA isn’t just a business account – it’s your admin assistant in your pocket. You get smart financial tools designed for real businesses:

• Create and send invoices in seconds
• Capture receipts and automatically categorise expenses
• File VAT and Corporation Tax automatically
• Add your team – not just co-directors
• 4 free SWIFT payments a month on our Big Business plan
• Real humans, 24/7 support
• Plans start at £0/month

And yes, ANNA starts at £0/month. Check the current plans →

Revolut Business

A solid option for global operations with multi-currency accounts and FX at interbank rates. Not covered by FSCS in the UK.
How to open Revolut Business Account →

Tide

Ideal for small UK businesses that want quick setup and simple financial management, though limited for international use.
How to open Tide business account →

Mettle by NatWest

A completely free account for sole traders and small limited companies – good for testing the waters but lacking advanced tools.
How to open Mettle business account →

Verdict: Airwallex vs Wise

Checklist:

• Low-volume, low-cost global transfers → Wise
• Advanced controls and scalable global operations → Airwallex
• Built-in admin and tax tools → ANNA

Whichever you choose, make sure your business account works for you – whether that’s lowering FX costs, simplifying bookkeeping, or automating your admin.

Disclaimer: All info accurate as of October 2025. Always check official websites for the latest details.