Compare
Side by side from each provider's own published terms: who can apply, what it costs, the accounts and cards, and how your money is held. Nobody pays to be listed, and Finzil doesn't rate providers.
Airwallex
E-money institution · UK business account
Global business account with local account details in 15 currencies, free local transfers, low-cost FX and Visa company cards. Accepts companies from 69 countries.
Payoneer
E-money institution · UK global business account
Global business account with local receiving details in 13 currencies, payouts from marketplaces and platforms, payments to suppliers and contractors, and Mastercard business cards.
From the two provider profiles on Finzil, latest check 8 October 2026: each provider's own website, price list and terms.
The short answer
Side by side
A gap means the provider doesn't publish it; ask before you apply.
| The basics | Airwallex | Payoneer |
|---|---|---|
| Account | UK business account | UK global business account |
| Provider type | E-money institution | E-money institution |
| Licence | E-money institution in the UK; also licensed in Australia, Canada, China and 9 more | E-money institution in the UK; also licensed in Ireland, the US, Singapore and 4 more |
| Licensed company | Airwallex (UK) Ltd | Payoneer Payment Services (UK) Limited |
| Headquarters | United Kingdom | United States |
| Who can apply | Airwallex | Payoneer |
|---|---|---|
| Where the company is registered | 69 countries | Not published |
| Legal forms | Limited companies, Limited liability partnerships, Partnerships, Sole traders | Not published |
| Businesses not supported | 15 kinds on its list | 18 kinds on its list |
| What it costs | Airwallex | Payoneer |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly fee | from £0 | Free |
| Setup fee | Free | Free |
| Plans | Explore: £19 a month; Grow: £49 a month; Accelerate: custom | Business account: free |
| Currency exchange | 0.5–1% | 0.5% |
| SEPA transfer out | Free | Not published |
| Faster Payments out | Free | Not published |
| SWIFT transfer out | £10 | Not published |
| Physical card | Free | Not published |
| Card spending abroad | 1% | Up to 3.5% |
| Accounts and payments | Airwallex | Payoneer |
|---|---|---|
| Currencies | 24 | 13 |
| Local account details | GBP, EUR, USD, CAD, AUD, NZD, HKD, CNY, SGD, DKK, PLN, ILS, MXN, IDR, AED | USD, EUR, GBP, JPY, AUD, CAD, SGD, HKD, AED, MXN, BRL, KRW, IDR |
| Payment networks | SEPA, SEPA Instant, Faster Payments, CHAPS, BACS, SWIFT, ACH, Fedwire | SWIFT, ACH, BACS, local bank transfers |
| Cards | Virtual and physical Visa | Virtual and physical Mastercard |
| Opening and safety | Airwallex | Payoneer |
|---|---|---|
| Opening time | 3–5 days | A few days |
| Open remotely | Yes | Yes |
| How money is held | Segregated accounts | Segregated accounts |
| TrustpilotThird-party score, shown for reference. Finzil doesn't rank providers by it. | 2.9 from 2,587 reviews | Not published |
From the profiles
Strong points
Watch out for
Strong points
Watch out for
Our view
Finzil's own opinion, kept apart from the facts above.
Airwallex is one of the best-value accounts for an online or software business that collects and pays in many currencies: free local transfers, FX from 0.5% and free company cards. If you keep £10,000 a month moving through it, the entry plan costs nothing. Eligibility is strict by country, and support is by email only.
Payoneer is the default for getting paid by marketplaces, platforms and overseas clients, and it costs nothing to keep open if you receive enough. The costs sit at the exit: withdrawing to your bank and spending in other currencies. Use it to collect income and move the money on; it is not a full business account, and its prohibited list is long.
It depends on how you use the account. Monthly fee: Airwallex from £0, Payoneer free. Currency exchange: Airwallex 0.5–1%, Payoneer 0.5%. Transfers and cards are priced line by line in the table on this page, from each provider's own price list.
Neither is a bank. Airwallex is an e-money institution, licensed in the UK. Payoneer is an e-money institution, licensed in the UK. Airwallex: segregated accounts. Payoneer: segregated accounts.
Airwallex: 69 countries. Payoneer: not published as a list. Each provider's profile on Finzil lists the countries in full.
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Read articleOne Finzil profile
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How this page is built: every row comes from the two provider profiles on Finzil, which are taken from each provider's own website, price list and terms (latest check 8 October 2026). Prices and rules change; check them with the provider before you apply. Meeting a provider's published rules does not mean it will approve a particular application. General information, not legal or financial advice.
