Airwallex vs Aspire Singapore: Which Is Better for SMEs in 2026?

Airwallex and Aspire have both made bold claims when they compared themselves against each other. They’re highlighting what they do best, downplaying their weaknesses, or even not mentioning them. 

That’s fair game in marketing, but that’s not helping business owners who are trying to make a real decision.

This comparison aims to give you an unbiased view of where these platforms deliver and where they fall short. We’ll lay out the numbers, the features, and the user experiences in plain terms so you can judge for yourself which provider is better for your business. 

Ultimately, it comes down to whether your operations are global or centred in Singapore.

If your business often sends or receives money from overseas, Airwallex is usually the better choice because it supports more currencies and more countries. If most of your work happens in Singapore and you rely on PayNow to bill clients or pay suppliers, Aspire will fit your needs better. SMEs selling on platforms like Shopee, TikTok, Stripe or PayPal may also find Aspire easier to use because of its integrations.

In short, choose Airwallex for frequent cross-border payments and choose Aspire for mainly local, SGD-based operations.

Both Airwallex and Aspire give SMEs most of what they need with the free plan, so many businesses will not need to pay for the higher tiers.

Looking at the free plan alone, Airwallex usually works out cheaper for overseas payments because outgoing local transfers (to over 100 countries) are free, and you can hold 20+ currencies, which helps you avoid conversion and SWIFT fees. Aspire’s FX rates are lower, but since it only supports 4 currencies, you may end up converting more often and paying extra over time.

If your team pays suppliers or subscriptions in multiple currencies, Airwallex cards will suit you better because you can choose from 11 base currencies and avoid extra FX charges each time you pay. However, if most of your spending is in SGD or USD and you just need multiple cards to manage team expenses, Aspire is the better choice.

If your company is registered outside Asia, Airwallex offers broader eligibility, while Aspire mainly focuses on Singapore and nearby markets. Both platforms offer a fully online process, and your account can be opened in 3 business days.

For SMEs that prefer speaking to someone directly, Aspire is the better fit because it offers phone support, while Airwallex relies mostly on online channels unless you're on the highest plan.

Most SMEs find both platforms easy to use, but Airwallex often faces complaints about support and account freezes, while Aspire sees more issues around delayed transfers. Keep these points in mind when comparing the two.