Where Airwallex wins over Wise
- Better expense management software (cards with policies, approvals)
- Stronger API for fintech-style integrations
- Tier higher non-resident approval rate for established businesses
- Multi-currency expense reporting
- Better support for businesses with EU/Asia client mixes
Where Wise wins over Airwallex
- Better consumer brand recognition (customers trust Wise)
- More integrated with major payment platforms
- Lower setup fees
- Stronger recurring payment support
- More countries supported overall
Pricing comparison
- Airwallex: $0/month flat, FX spread 0.4-0.6%, card transactions vary
- Wise Business: $0/month, $31 one-time setup, FX 0.4-0.6%, lower payout fees
- For most non-resident LLCs, the two are roughly equivalent on pricing
When to pick Airwallex
You have multiple EU and Asia clients billing in EUR, GBP, SGD, AUD. You need expense management tools beyond basic card spend (team cards with approval workflows). You want stronger API for fintech integration. Otherwise, Wise is the more common choice in our intake.
Application process
Submit LLC documents, EIN, beneficial owner info. Approval typically 2-5 business days. Slightly slower than Wise (1-3 days) but faster than Mercury (1-7 days). Country profile matters less for Airwallex than for chartered US banks.