Top 5 Airwallex Alternatives in 2025 (and What They Do Better)

2025-03-06

7 minute read

Airwallex card compared to its alternatives

Airwallex offers a wide international reach, broad currency support, multi-currency wallets, and developer tools, making it a decent choice for cross-border teams doing international transactions. However, SMEs may find the platform complex and lacking in personalised support. Receiving fees could add up, and users will need to manually set up each local account, which is an extra step required after successfully signing up.

Whether you’re a small startup or a global business seeking a simpler experience, more consistent features, or stronger regional support, these Airwallex alternatives could be a better fit.

What Makes a Good Alternative to Airwallex? 

There is no one-size-fits-all approach to what is considered a "good" alternative to Airwallex. What matters most is what you need for your business today and for the future.

For many SMEs, a good alternative is one that’s easier to use and offers more hands-on support, while others value lower fees or more currencies.

Since there's no "right" answer for everyone, here are some of the things you should think about when looking for an Airwallex alternative:

  • Does it have all the currencies I need? – You don't need a business account with access to 20+ currencies when you only use 2 or 3 currencies regularly. The number of currencies offered should match your actual needs. Having too many options can complicate your finances and may come with unnecessary fees or management hassles.
  • Do I need to talk to a real person when I need help? – Not all providers will offer on-demand access to real-human customer support. If you know that you want access to human support, make sure to choose a provider that can offer you that.
  • Does it offer ATM withdrawals? – If you or your team need quick access to cash while traveling or managing expenses, having the option to withdraw money from ATMs worldwide can be a convenience.
  • Are the fees transparent? – Transparent, straightforward pricing helps you know exactly what you’re paying and manage your budget more effectively.
  • Is it SME-friendly? – If you run a small or medium business with moderate payment volumes, you will likely benefit more from a service that’s straightforward and easy to use than complicated setups full of features that require a technical team to manage.
  • Does it have FX tools? – FX tools help you convert money at better exchange rates and protect you from big rate swings, so you don’t lose money when the market changes.

Considering these factors, here’s a quick overview of the top alternatives to Airwallex:

Provider Best For Key Advantage Over Airwallex Notable Features
Statrys SMEs incorporated in Hong Kong, Singapore, or BVI looking for a primary or secondary business account to manage international payments. Transparent fees, competitive FX fees as low as 0.15%, and a dedicated account manager. 11 major currencies in one account, real-time tracking, local payout, business cards
Currenxie Ecommerce businesses selling globally ATM-compatible Visa card with cashback, FX based on mid-market rate with lower fee 15+ currencies in local accounts, Visa card, marketplace integrations
Wise Freelancers and lean teams managing global payments Transparent mid-market FX rates with no markup 40+ currencies, batch payments, open API
Aspire Digital startups and marketers, especially in Southeast Asia ATM-compatible card with cashback, FX with potentially lower fee Multi-currency cards, SaaS cashback, NetSuite integration
ZA Bank HK-based SMEs in need of banking services Licensed bank with deposit protection and loans HKD/CNY/USD accounts, time deposit accounts

Everything You Need in a Business Account

Get a multi-currency account, real support from real people, and transparent FX rates 

Screenshot of the Statrys payment platform's business account dashboard. The interface displays account details for "Happy Client Limited," showing a total balance of HKD 886,277.52 across multiple currencies (HKD, USD, EUR). The left sidebar contains navigation options such as Accounts, Transfer, Convert, Secure your FX Risk, Payees, Cards, Team, Statements and documents, and Integrations. A prominent "Add a payee" and "View Account Details" call-to-action section is visible.
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Disclaimer: The information in this article is accurate as of 16 May 2025. Details are subject to change. For the latest updates, please visit each provider’s official website.

1

Statrys

Statrys is a licensed payment service provider in Hong Kong that offers global payment solutions to businesses registered in Hong Kong, Singapore, and the British Virgin Islands (BVI). The services include multi-currency business accounts, low-cost international transfers, business payment cards, seamless integrations with marketplace and payment processer, FX tools and more.

Supporting over 5,000 companies globally, Statrys has facilitated more than $5 billion in transfers and over $2 billion in FX volume. Statrys is tailored for modern business needs, with dedicated, human-led support.

Key Services Offered by Statrys

  • Multi-currency business account that can hold and manage 11 different currencies under a single account number, including HKD, CNY, USD, AUD, EUR, GBP, SGD, JPY, CHF, NZD, and CAD.
  • Send international payments via SWIFT and track them in real-time.
  • Make cross-border payments as local transfers in 12 currencies (e.g., USD, EUR, GBP) for lower fees and faster delivery.
  • Physical and virtual Mastercard® prepaid cards to use at POS terminals and ATMs; manage all cards via your dashboard.
  • FX services with real-time mid-market rates and the option to lock in rates
  • Sync with Xero for automated bookkeeping and transaction tagging.
  • Connect to marketplaces and payment processors, such as Shopify, Stripe and PayPal.
  • Personalised support from your dedicated account manager via email, WhatsApp, WeChat, or phone.

Statrys Pricing

More details

Pros and Cons of Statrys

Remote onboarding, after which you receive a single account number to start using the multi-currency account right away 

FX rates and tools built to reduce costs from currency exchange fluctuations.

❌ Statrys’ primary customers are companies registered in Hong Kong. 

❌ No checkout page or advanced API capability

Statrys vs Airwallex

Fee Type Amount
Account Opening Fee Free*
Fee Type Amount
Domestic Payments in Hong Kong HKD/CNY
Receive: HKD 0
Send: HKD 5**

USD
Receive: HKD 0
Send: HKD 75
Send Local Payments HKD 25: USD, AUD, INR, EUR, GBP, SGD, IDR, PHP
HKD 35: THB, TRY, KRW
HKD 50: VND
International Payments via SWIFT Receive: HKD 60
Send: HKD 85
Foreign Exchange Rate and Fee FX rate: Based on real-time mid-market rates
FX fee: as low as 0.15%
Cards ATM Fee: 1.99% or min. HKD 31
Conversion: 1.5%
Inactivity Fee HKD 88 if you have less than five outgoing payments that month
Feature Statrys Airwallex
Multi-Currency Support 11 major currencies in one multi-currency account 60+ currencies in multiple global accounts combined
Customer Support Dedicated account manager available via email, phone, WhatsApp, and WeChat FAQ, email, and phone support only in the US and China; no live chat
FX Rates Based on the mid-market rate A markup of about 0.2%–1% above interbank rates
FX Fees Fees as low as 0.15%, plus FX tools Any applicable fees will be shown on the app
Cards Prepaid Virtual & physical Mastercard® card (HKD only).

Delivered to most countries. Shipping costs applied.
Virtual & physical debit cards for businesses and employees that let you spend directly from your held balances and currencies.

Ship to Australia, Hong Kong, New Zealand, Singapore, the UK, and the US only.
Card Expense Management Features Free HKD 40/month
ATM Withdrawals

Open a Hong Kong Business Account

No minimum deposit. No maximum transaction. Support from an account manager.

Screenshot of the Statrys payment platform's business account dashboard. The interface displays account details for "Happy Client Limited," showing a total balance of HKD 886,277.52 across multiple currencies (HKD, USD, EUR). The left sidebar contains navigation options such as Accounts, Transfer, Convert, Secure your FX Risk, Payees, Cards, Team, Statements and documents, and Integrations. A prominent "Add a payee" and "View Account Details" call-to-action section is visible.

2

Currenxie

Currenxie is a financial services provider licensed in Hong Kong, Canada, Australia, Ireland, South Africa, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Its core service enables businesses to open local currency accounts in major markets such as the US, UK, and EU. This makes it a simple tool for businesses that need to manage multiple currencies, pay international suppliers, and collect local payments.

In addition, Currenxie accounts can integrate with popular ecommerce platforms and payment gateway providers. As such, it is another interesting option for ecommerce businesses with international operations. 

Key Services Offered by Currenxie

  • Multi-currency wallet supporting over 15 currencies, including USD, EUR, HKD, GBP, JPY, AUD, CAD, and more.
  • Local currency accounts with unique account details in over 40 countries, such as the US, UK, EU, Hong Kong, Australia, Japan, Canada, and Mexico
  • Virtual and physical Visa debit cards are available for Hong Kong companies. Set spending limits, use your card online, in-store, or at ATMs. Earn 1% cashback on eligible purchases.
  • Connect to Xero for automatic bookkeeping and real-time transaction syncing.
  • Collect payments from ecommerce platforms and payment gateways like Shopify, eBay, Etsy, Stripe, Alipay, Amazon, Adyen, PayPal and more.

Currenxie Pricing

Fee Type Amount
Account Opening Fee Free
Monthly Fee Free
Local Payments Receive: USD 0.75 per transfer
Send: USD 3 per transfer
International Payments via SWIFT Send and Receive: USD 8 per transfer
Foreign Exchange Rate and Fee FX rate: Based on mid-market exchange rates
FX fee: 0.1% - 0.6%
Cards ATM Fee: 2% or min. HKD 30 (Intl: HKD 50, whichever is higher)
Overseas Transactions: 1.95%

Pros and Cons of Currenxie

Strong integration for collecting payments from various ecommerce platforms and gateways

✅ A Visa card with cashback, usable online, in-store, and at ATMs

✅ Competitive FX rates

❌ Only one payment card per account 

1.95% fee on overseas card transactions is less competitive than Airwallex

❌ Support is mostly ticket-based

Currenxie vs Airwallex

Feature Currenxie Airwallex
Multi-Currency Support 15+ currencies in wallet, 40+ currency with local account 60+ currencies
FX Rates Rate based on midmarket rate A markup of about 0.2%–1% above interbank rates, which varies by region
FX Fees 0.1% - 0.6% fee Any applicable fees will be shown on the app
Card Cashback
ATM Withdrawals
Receive Payments USD 0.75 per local transfer and USD 8 per international transfer. 0.3% fee if receiving from an account not owned by you
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Interested? Explore how Currenxie and Airwallex compare in detail.

3

Wise

Wise is primarily recognised as an international money transfer service for personal use, but it also provides business accounts. With Wise, businesses can receive payments locally from over 30 countries and send money to more than 70 countries worldwide.

Wise operates globally and offers a variety of business-friendly features, including batch payments and API integrations. However, some features, such as business debit cards used to spend abroad, are only available in certain regions.

Key Services Offered by Wise

  • A multi-currency business account that allows you to hold and manage over 40 currencies 
  • Local account details in 9+ currencies, including GBP, EUR, USD, SGD, and CAD, to receive payments as if you had domestic bank accounts.
  • Send international payments to more than 70 countries.
  • Make up to 1,000 payments at once by uploading a single CSV file. 
  • Exchange currencies across more than 40 currency pairs
  • Integrate with platforms like Shopify and QuickBooks or create custom connections using Wise APIs.
  • Open API, which you can use to automate your payment and streamline your workflows.
  • Wise business debit cards, with no foreign transaction fees and cashback on eligible purchases. (Only for selected regions) 

Note: Wise’s products and services vary depending on location. For example, Wise debit cards are not available to Hong Kong businesses.

Wise Fees

Fee Type Amount
Account Opening Fee Depending on your business jurisdiction.
For example:
Hong Kong, Singapore and US companies: Free
UK companies: GBP 45
Monthly Fee Free
Local Payments Receive: Free
Send: Starting 0.26%
International Payments via SWIFT Receive: Fixed fee depending on currency, for instance:
HKD - HKD 30.80
USD - USD 6.11
GBP - GBP 2.16

Send: Starting 0.26%
Foreign Exchange Rate and Fee FX rate: Based on mid-market rates
FX fee: Shown on the app if applied

Pros and Cons of Wise

Strong global reach for both payments and collections

✅ No monthly costs 

✅ Competitive FX rates

❌ Wise cards are not available to Hong Kong-based businesses

Fees differ depending on your business’s country of registration

Wise vs Airwallex

Feature Wise Airwallex
Multi-Currency Support 40+ currencies 60+ currencies
FX Rates Wise claims they don't have a markup on foreign currency conversion. Rate based on mid-market exchange rate. A markup of about 0.2%–1% above interbank rates, which varies by region
Receive Payments Free for local payments; international payments incur HKD 30.80 in HKD or vary by currency. 0.3% if you receive from non-owner accounts
ATM Withdrawals ✅ Available in locations where the Wise card is supported

4

Aspire

Aspire is a financial platform that provides business payment solutions for startups, small and medium-sized enterprises, and mid-sized businesses (up to 1,000 employees). It is known in Southeast Asia with offices in Singapore and Hong Kong, but it offers multi-currency business accounts to companies globally.

The platform offers services such as multi-currency accounts, virtual corporate cards, expense tracking, and integration with accounting software. A standout feature is cashback on SaaS and marketing purchases, making it an attractive card option for marketers.

Key Services Offered by Aspire

  • Open local and international account numbers to receive payments in multiple currencies. Available currencies depend on your business location, for example, HKD, USD, and CNY in Hong Kong; SGD, USD, GBP, and EUR in Singapore.
  • Send and receive international payments in over 30 currencies across 130+ countries.
  • Issue unlimited virtual corporate cards and request physical cards
  • Use multi-currency cards and enjoy 1% cashback on eligible SaaS and digital marketing expenses
  • Integrate cards with Apple Pay and Google Wallet for digital payments
  • Gain control over spending with built-in expense management tools
  • Sync with accounting platforms like Xero, QuickBooks, Oracle NetSuite, Deskera, and SAP

Aspire Fees

Pros and Cons of Aspire

$0 monthly fees, no initial deposit, and no minimum balance

Unlimited virtual cards with cashback benefits

❌ Fewer eligible countries compared to Airwallex

Features and fees may vary depending on your business’s registration location

❌ Significantly fewer supported currencies than Airwallex

Aspire vs Airwallex

Fee Type Amount
Account Opening Free
Monthly Fee Free
Local Transfers Receive: FPS – Free, CHATS – HKD $15
Send: FPS – Free, CHATS – HKD $55
Some countries: Free
International Transfers Receive: USD $8, HKD $60, CNY ¥55, SGD $35
Send: SHA – USD $15, OUR – USD $30
FX Rate From 0.18%
Card FX Fee 1.5%
Feature Aspire Airwallex
Multi-Currency Support Mainly supports HKD, USD, CNY, SGD, GBP, and EUR (varies by country) 60+ currencies in multiple global accounts combined
Support Channels Live chat is available via the Aspire app, WhatsApp, and email. FAQ, email, and phone support available in the US and China (no live chat)
FX Rates FX rates from 0.18% A markup of about 0.2%–1% above interbank rates, which varies by region
Cards Physical cards, unlimited virtual cards, cashback for SaaS & marketing spend Virtual & physical cards for business and employees; currency depends on account balance
Card Expense Management Features Free HKD 40/month
ATM Withdrawals
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Tip: Want to learn more? Check out our Aspire review article and our comparison of Airwallex vs Aspire.

5

ZA Bank

Suppose you're looking for something beyond a fintech solution and want more than just a money transfer service, in other words, a banking experience with digital operations. In that case, ZA Bank may be a good option to consider. ZA Bank is the first virtual bank in Hong Kong, offering business bank accounts that support 3 currencies: HKD, CNY, and USD. Clients can receive money, deposit funds, earn interest, and initiate bank transfers in these 3 currencies 24/7.

In addition, ZA Bank provides foreign exchange services, payroll services, and business loans to support business growth. As a member of the Deposit Protection Scheme (DPS), deposits are protected up to HKD 800,000.

Key Services Offered by ZA Bank

  • Hold and earn interest in HKD, CNY, and USD
  • Time deposit accounts in HKD, CNY and USD
  • Send and receive transfers within Hong Kong via FPS and CHATS 
  • Send and receive internationally in HKD, CNY and USD.
  • Access business loans for small businesses operating for at least 1 year
  • Set up and send payroll with batch payment features
  • Manage finances in a digital banking platform designed for Hong Kong businesses
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Note: ZA Bank doesn’t offer payment cards for businesses at the time of review.

ZA Bank Fees

Pros and Cons of ZA Bank

✅Earns interest

Licensed bank with deposit protection

✅Open 24/7, fully digital

✅ Express online application for eligible businesses, as fast as 6 minutes, no face-to-face or document submission

❌ Only supports HKD, CNY, and USD

Only for Hong Kong tax residents

❌ No business payment cards

❌ Mainly designed for Hong Kong-based businesses, with limited global use

ZA Bank vs Airwallex

Fee Type Amount
Account Opening Fee Via website: HKD 1,200
Via account manager: HKD 10,000
Company Search Fee (if applicable)* Via the website: HKD 300
Via account manager: HKD 1,000
Monthly Fee Waived
Inward Transfer CHATS (local): HKD 15
Telegraphic transfer (international): HKD 50

Intermediary or correspondent bank charges may apply
Outward Transfer CHATS (local): HKD 50
Telegraphic transfer (international): HKD 100
Using Bank's standard form: HKD 150

Intermediary or correspondent bank charges may apply
Inward Faster Payment System (FPS) Non-Merchant payments: Waived

Merchant payments: 0.6%
Outward Faster Payment System (FPS) Below HKD/CNY 1,000,000: HKD/CNY 1

HKD/CNY 1,000,000 or above: HKD/CNY 10
Feature ZA Bank Airwallex
Multi-Currency Support HKD, CNY, and USD under one account 60+ currencies in multiple global accounts combined
Customer Support Online chat on the website, in-app contact details, and call 24/7 customer service hotline FAQ, email, and phone support only in the US and China; no live chat
FX Rates Exchange rates are shown in the app A markup of about 0.2%–1% above interbank rates, which varies by region
FX Fees No handling fees Any applicable fees will be shown on the app
Banking License & Deposit Protection under the Hong Kong Deposit Protection Scheme (DPS)
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Useful: Check out our in-depth review of ZA Bank Business Account to learn more about their features, fees and how to open ZA Bank business accounts.

Final Note

By now, you may have a clearer picture of which payment service provider aligns best with your business needs. You might need more than one solution to meet all your requirements.

Weigh the benefits and drawbacks of each option based on your business priorities to ensure your choice drives your business forward.

Open a Multi-Currency Business Account in Hong Kong

Receive and make payments in all major currencies.

A dropdown of some supported currencies by the Statrys business account.

FAQs

What are the best alternatives to Airwallex?

The best alternative depends on your specific needs. Some good contenders include Currenxie, Wise, Aspire and ZA Bank. However, if your business is registered in Hong Kong, Singapore or the BVI, we recommend considering Statrys to manage your cross-border payments and FX risks efficiently.

What is Airwallex?

Is Airwallex a bank?

Which is better, Airwallex or Wise?

Which is better, Airwallex or Payoneer?

Is Airwallex a Chinese company

Disclaimer

More info

Statrys competes directly with Airwallex in the Hong Kong payment industry. However, we're committed to providing an unbiased, thorough review to help you make an informed choice.

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