Airwallex Hong Kong Review [2025]: Pros, Cons & What To Use Instead

Final Verdict

Airwallex offers plenty of features for businesses operating across borders. You get access to local receiving accounts, a multi-currency wallet, and the ability to send payments worldwide. On paper, it ticks a lot of boxes, especially for larger businesses with more complex needs.

In practice, though, it’s not so straightforward. Customer support is limited, and we tested the chatbot by asking about the fee for each deposit received, and it said there is no receiving fee charged. However, once you're inside the account, we see that only deposits received from Linked Bank Accounts are free, and non-linked accounts have a 0.3% fee, which is not listed on the website before signing up.

When dealing with payments, knowing how much it costs is absolutely crucial, and the chatbot providing half of the information is concerning. Additionally, having someone you can reach out to quickly and efficiently is a must. 

If you're a business that prefers more clarity around costs, features, and more customer support options, then it may be worth considering other options in Hong Kong.

Key Highlights

• Local receiving accounts in 60+ locations.
• Multi-currency wallet for holding and converting 60+ currencies
• SWIFT and local transfers to 150+ countries
• Visa expense cards (physical and virtual) with spend controls 
• Accounting integrations (Xero, QuickBooks, HubSpot)
• Batch payments to 1,000 recipients at once

Airwallex Account Features

Airwallex offers a wide range of financial services, and one of its main features is a business account that combines local currency accounts with a multi-currency wallet.

The local currency accounts are called “Global Accounts”. This means when you open a Global Account in a specific country, you get a local bank account number in that country. You can use these accounts to receive payments in over 20 currencies from 180+ countries, whether from PayPal, ecommerce platforms like Amazon, and Shopify or through various international and local payment networks. For example, a USD account in the US supports receiving funds via ACH and Fedwire; a GBP account in the UK supports receiving funds via BACS and CHAPS*

You can open multiple Global Accounts in 60+ locations, which are available in the following locations:

A Global Account does not hold any funds. Its sole purpose is to receive deposits. All incoming funds are automatically routed to a digital wallet called “Multi-Currency Wallet”. From your wallet, you can store funds and make transfers through SWIFT or local payout networks to over 150 countries in more than 60 currencies.

Airwallex supports batch payments, where you can process multiple payments up to 1,000 recipients at once. You can also schedule one-time or recurring transfers. In terms of foreign exchange services, you can convert funds into over 60 currencies. For easier bookkeeping, you can connect your account with software like HubSpot, Xero, and QuickBooks.

Airwallex offers Visa corporate cards, known as Borderless Cards, with functionality that varies by region.**  You can get two types of card: company cards (virtual card) for team and business expenses like software subscriptions and ad spending, and employee cards (physical and virtual card) for individual expenses like business travel. These cards are linked to your business account's balances and currencies. You can set spending limits for each card, reconcile expenses and reimbursements in one place, and monitor spending in real time through the “Expense Management” feature.

On a larger scale, Airwallex offers payment links, platform APIs to automate financial operations and payment solutions, including payment gateways, plugins, and checkout systems.***

Airwallex Fees

Airwallex’s pricing structure varies depending on the country where you open the account. Most countries have a single-package pricing structure, while some countries, such as the UK and Australia, offer a tiered plan where fees and service availability vary by tier.

The following are the fees for Airwallex accounts in Hong Kong. 

For the most accurate and up-to-date information, please visit their fee schedule page.

For businesses with high payment volumes, contact Airwallex to discuss personalised pricing. Their team will assess your statements and design a custom plan.

Airwallex Customer Support

To get support, you’ll have to refer to the Airwallex FAQs page, fill out a support request form to reach the Airwallex team or email support@airwallex.com. 

You can also chat with the Airwallex chatbot at the bottom right of the FAQs page to request information. However, based on my experience, the information is not always accurate. There may be some discrepancies between what the chatbot provides and what's shown on the dashboard.

For example, in the screenshot below, the chatbot states that the standard fee charged by Airwallex on each deposit received in HKD for Hong Kong accounts is 0%.

However, the actual dashboard shows a 0.3% fee on each deposit received, with the clarification that deposits from linked bank accounts are free. Conflicting information like this makes cost management difficult. This unexpected 0.3% fee on every deposit received from non-owner accounts can also quickly accumulate, especially for businesses with large transactions.

In terms of phone support, existing customers based in China and the US can call the following numbers for local customer support:

• China: +86 400 866 3888 (available from 9:00-18:00 CST)
• United States: +1 855 932 3331 (available from 8:00-18:00 PDT / PST)

UK and EU/EEA customers can use the following channels to make a complaint.

• UK Customers: +44 808 196 7574 (available from 7:00-16:00 GMT/BST)
• Netherlands, B.V. customers (EU/EEA): +31 85 0003 369 (available from 8:00-17:00 CET/CEST)
• Lithuania, AWX Lithuania, UAB customers (EU/EEA): +370 5 214 38 24 (available from 9:00-18:00 GMT+2)

Although Airwallex provides its office addresses on its website, it does not provide customer service at any of its office locations. 

Airwallex typically responds via email within one working day.

Opening an Airwallex Account

In this section, let’s explore how easy the account opening process is with Airwallex,  including the requirements you’ll need to meet, the documents required, and the steps to get started.

Eligibility Criteria and What You’ll Need

Airwallex offers Business Accounts strictly for business transactions where goods or services are sold.  If your business is registered in one of the countries supported by Airwallex and operates in non-prohibited industries, you can open a business account with Airwallex. 

Examples of prohibited sectors include arms dealing, gambling, pharmaceuticals, charities, and investment firms. Currently, Airwallex also cannot onboard businesses with Ultimate Beneficial Owners (UBOs) or directors residing in Russia or Belarus.

To set up a business account with Airwallex in Hong Kong, you’ll need

• A Certificate of Incorporation, which is an official document proving your company is legally registered.
• Business Registration, which is a proof that your business is listed with the relevant government authority.
• A valid form of personal identification, such as a passport, national ID, or driver’s license
• Proof of residential and business address, like utility bills or lease agreements, showing your home and business location.
• Identification of the authorised representative 
• Identification for the Ultimate Beneficial Owner (UBO)
• Your company’s Memorandum and Articles of Association, which are documents outlining your company’s structure, purpose, and operating rules.
• A chart showing the ownership or organisational structure, if applicable
• Partnership disclosure and declaration form, if you’re setting up a partnership account

How to Apply 

1. Go to airwallex.com/signup, type in your email and click "Get Started".
2. Airwallex will ask for your company size, from 1-10 employees to 500+ employees
3. Fill in the amount of transaction volume you expect to receive and send. through Airwallex monthly.
4. Select the purpose of using an Airwallex account.
5. Follow the steps to fill in your personal and business details. 
6. Upload the required documents.
7. Airwallex will review your application (1–3 business days). They may contact you for more information and documents.
8. After approval, you’ll get an email confirming your account.

After signing up, you won’t have a local currency account yet. You will need to create local currency accounts separately. Go to Wallet > Global Accounts in the Airwallex web app. Then, click "Create Global Account", choose your location and currency, and confirm. 

A confirmation screen will show your account details. Once approved, your account will be ready to use.

Airwallex Ratings and Reviews

• Apple App Store Rating: 4.9/5 (based 629 reviews)

Airwallex has a high rating on the Apple App Store. While there aren’t many detailed written reviews, the positive one cites the app's functionality and performance. Negative feedback mainly revolves around issues such as funds being held, users not being deemed eligible, and difficulties making transfers.

• Trustpilot: 3.4/5 (based on 1,711 reviews)

On Trustpilot, Airwallex has a moderate rating. Users generally appreciate its ease of use, intuitive interface, and the wide range of features that support many countries. However, common complaints include accounts being blocked, funds being held without explanation, and difficulties in reaching customer service.

There is no review or rating on Google Play Store.

Airwallex receives mixed feedback across platforms with over 2,000 reviews overall, which is a volume that offers a look into user sentiment but not a definitive consensus. It holds a strong rating on the Apple App Store, though written reviews are limited. In contrast, its Trustpilot score is more moderate, but based on a broader pool of users and reflecting a wider range of experiences.

Positive reviews frequently highlight its global financial features. However, recurring concerns, including account blocks and held funds, present significant friction points for users. The absence of reviews on Google Play also creates a gap in feedback from the Android user base.

Looking for an Airwallex Alternative?

If you're looking for an alternative, consider Statrys. 

Statrys provides multi-currency business accounts designed for companies registered in Singapore, Hong Kong, and the British Virgin Islands. With a single account number, you can manage 11 major currencies, send and receive cross-border via local transfers or SWIFT, and use foreign exchange tools like spot orders or forward contracts to hedge against currency risk, along with getting competitive FX rates based on the mid-market rate. You can also apply for a business payment card that supports ATM cash withdrawals.

Every account comes with a dedicated account manager, someone you can actually talk to when you need assistance.

Explore a business account that works without the complexity. See a summary of key features below.