Top 7 Airwallex Alternatives for Freelancers and SMEs

• Uses the mid-market rate for currency exchange, with low, transparent fees

• Access to 10+ local account details, ideal for receiving payments from clients

• Better for ATM withdrawals and in-person card usage (esp. USD, EUR, GBP)

• Offers interest on balances (up to 4.85% in USD accounts)

• Supports more currencies (130+) and more local accounts

• Better suited to large teams with advanced expense and card management tools

• Ideal for developers and scaling businesses thanks to embedded payments & API

• Lower costs for high-volume transfers and integrated workflows

Monthly Fee

$0

$0

FX Margin

0.33% (mid-market)

From 0.5%–1%

Local Account Access

10–19 (US/EU)

12 global

ATM Access

✅ Yes

❌ No

Interest on Balances

✅ Up to 4.85% (USD)

❌

Marketplace Integration

✅ Amazon, Etsy, Upwork

✅ Amazon, Shopify, more

Expense Management

✅ Limited (varies by region)

✅ Advanced with approvals

API & Developer Tools

✅ Strong basics

✅ Advanced + embedded payments

Card Management

Basic (some features limited in US)

Advanced real-time controls

Max Transfer Limit

$50M/day

$5M per transfer (request higher)

• Easier to receive payments from marketplaces like Amazon, Upwork, and Fiverr

• Physical card with ATM access, available in multiple major currencies

• Low entry barrier, meaning it works well for freelancers and sole traders

• Ability to send USD-to-USD transfers to other Payoneer users for $1.50

• Lower FX fees starting from 0.5%, versus Payoneer’s 2% markup

• Supports more currencies (130+) and local accounts (12)

• Advanced API for developers, embedded payments, and automation

• Better control for teams due to real-time expense tracking and card controls

Monthly Fee

None ($29.99/year if inactive)

$0

FX Margin

~2%

From 0.5%

Transfer Fees

Up to 3% (int’l), $1.50 USD-USD

$0 (some SWIFT fees: $10–$25)

Multi-Currency Accounts

9 local accounts, 70+ currencies

12 local accounts, 130 currencies

Marketplace Support

✅ Amazon, Upwork, Etsy, etc.

✅ Amazon, Shopify, Shopee, more

Cards & ATM Access

✅ Physical + virtual (USD, EUR, GBP, CAD)

✅ Virtual & physical, no ATM

Expense Controls

Basic per-card controls

Advanced with approval layers

API Access

✅ Basic automated workflows

✅ Developer-grade API & sandbox

• Easy to start with a free plan and scale up if needed

• Access to interest on balances (up to 3.51%) on Enterprise

• Mobile app is sleek and consumer-friendly

• Built-in spend controls for small teams and freelancers

• Great if your business is UK- or EEA-based and you want ATM access

• Lower and more predictable FX rates beyond plan limits

• More global local account coverage (12 vs 2)

• Stronger API and multi-entity support for scaling

• Full marketplace integration (Amazon, Shopify, Shopee, etc.)

• Designed for companies with global ops and cross-border workflows

Monthly Fee

$0–$119 (by plan)

$0

FX Margin

Mid-market up to limit, then 0.5%–1%

0.5%–1% above mid-market

Local Accounts

2 (GBP, USD only)

12 global accounts

Supported Currencies

25+ hold, 150+ spend

130+ send, receive, and hold

Marketplace Integration

❌

✅ Shopify, Amazon, and more

Expense Tools

Paid plans only

✅ Built-in with approval workflows

Virtual Cards

Up to 200

✅ Unlimited, multi-user

Physical Cards

3 free/user, then $4.99

✅ Free to issue

Interest on Balances

✅ Up to 3.51% (Enterprise only)

❌

API Access

✅ (plan-limited)

✅ Advanced + embedded payments

• Get access to forward contracts and FX strategy support

• No payment size limits making it ideal for large international transfers

• 24/7 phone support with access to real account managers

• Long-standing provider with strong regulatory background

• Trusted partner for businesses needing hands-on guidance

• Lower FX margins (starting from 0.5% vs 1.3%+)

• Built-in virtual and physical cards for spend management

• Better multi-currency account access (12 vs 7 currencies)

• More integrations (QuickBooks, Shopify, Amazon, etc.)

• Scalable API and embedded payments for product-led teams

Monthly Fee

$0

$0

FX Margin

0.5%–1%

From 1.3%

Local Accounts

12

7

Currencies Supported

~130

50+

Forward Contracts

❌

✅

Batch Payments

✅ Up to 1,000

✅ Up to 500

Expense Management

✅ Built-in tools

❌ Not supported

Cards (Virtual/Physical)

✅ Both included

❌ None

Support Availability

Business hours + docs

24/7 phone + account manager

Marketplace Integration

✅ Amazon, Shopify, etc.

✅ Amazon, eBay, Wish

• Lower FX margins (from 0.3%)

• Hold and manage 75+ currencies

• Batch pay up to 5,000 people (vs 1,000)

• Earn 1 - 3% interest on idle funds

• Flat fee-free model, great for predictable budgeting

• Access to physical and virtual cards

• Stronger API, sandbox, and developer tools

• Smarter expense tracking with real-time controls

• Broader currency account coverage (12 vs 4 local accounts)

• More reliable customer support and onboarding

Monthly Fee

$0

$0

FX Margin

From 0.5%

From 0.3%

Local Currency Accounts

12

4 (USD, CAD, GBP, EUR)

Holding Currencies

40+

75+

Batch Payment Limit

1,000 recipients

5,000 recipients

Card Access

✅ Physical + virtual

❌ None

Interest on Balances

❌

✅ 1–3% via Boost Wallet

Expense Tools

✅ Smart controls

✅ Basic (via transfers only)

Marketplace Integration

✅ Amazon, Shopify, etc.

✅ Payment gateway available

API Access

✅ Advanced

✅ Available (limited docs)

Support

✅ Email, phone, docs

❌ No live support

• Receive local payments in countries like India, Malaysia, and the Philippines

• Up to 15 cards per account with ATM access

• Unlimited batch payments (with per-transaction limits)

• 24/7 support via WhatsApp, Telegram, phone, or email

• No outbound or inbound transfer limits

• No monthly or setup fees

• Lower FX margin (0.5–1% vs. 1.5 %+)

• Full local account access in 12 currencies

• Marketplace and accounting integrations

• Robust API with sandbox and developer support

Monthly Fee

$0

$100/month

FX Margin

From 0.5%

From 1.5%

Setup Fee

$0

$500

Local Account Access

12 full accounts

2 full; receive locally in 16

Supported Currencies

40+

70+

Batch Payments

1,000 max

Unlimited (limit: $15k per tx)

Card Access

✅ Physical + virtual

✅ Up to 15, with ATM access

API Access

✅ Advanced + sandbox

❌ Not available

ATM Withdrawals

❌

✅ 1.5% fee, €1,000/mo cap

Customer Support

✅ Business hours

✅ 24/7 via multiple channels

• Lower FX margin (as low as 0.15%) for Hong Kong-based accounts

• No limits on transfers and simple same-day local payments

• Responsive support with assigned account rep

• Works well for freelancers and SMEs dealing with HKD, SGD, CNY

• Lower FX margin (as low as 0.15%) for Hong Kong-based accounts

• No limits on transfers and simple same-day local payments

• Responsive support with assigned account rep

• Works well for freelancers and SMEs dealing with HKD, SGD, CNY

Monthly Fee

$0

HKD 88 (waived with 5+ transfers)

FX Margin

From 0.5%

From 0.15% (HK clients)

Local Account Access

12 currencies

HKD, USD, EUR, CNY, GBP, SGD, etc.

Marketplace Integration

✅ Amazon, Shopify

✅ PayPal, Stripe, Shopify

Batch Payments

✅ Up to 1,000 recipients

❌ Not supported

API & Accounting

✅ Robust with integrations

❌ Not available

ATM Access

❌

✅ With 1.99% fee

Support & Setup

✅ Global + business onboarding

✅ Localised, multilingual reps