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.
Wise Business
E-money institution · UK business account
Multi-currency business account with no monthly fee, the mid-market exchange rate, balances in 40+ currencies and account details in 22.
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 | Wise Business |
|---|---|---|
| Account | UK business account | UK 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 Belgium, Australia, Brazil and 10 more |
| Licensed company | Airwallex (UK) Ltd | Wise Payments Limited |
| Headquarters | United Kingdom | United Kingdom |
| Who can apply | Airwallex | Wise Business |
|---|---|---|
| Where the company is registered | 69 countries | Not published |
| Legal forms | Limited companies, Limited liability partnerships, Partnerships, Sole traders | Sole traders and freelancers, Limited companies, Public companies, Partnerships |
| Businesses not supported | 15 kinds on its list | 31 kinds on its list |
| What it costs | Airwallex | Wise Business |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly fee | from £0 | Free |
| Setup fee | Free | £50 |
| Plans | Explore: £19 a month; Grow: £49 a month; Accelerate: custom | Wise Business: free |
| Currency exchange | 0.5–1% | From 0.24% |
| SEPA transfer out | Free | Not published |
| Faster Payments out | Free | Not published |
| SWIFT transfer out | £10 | Not published |
| Physical card | Free | £3 |
| Card spending abroad | 1% | Not published |
| Accounts and payments | Airwallex | Wise Business |
|---|---|---|
| Currencies | 24 | 40+ |
| Local account details | GBP, EUR, USD, CAD, AUD, NZD, HKD, CNY, SGD, DKK, PLN, ILS, MXN, IDR, AED | GBP, EUR, USD, AUD, CAD, HKD, HUF, NZD, PHP, SGD |
| Payment networks | SEPA, SEPA Instant, Faster Payments, CHAPS, BACS, SWIFT, ACH, Fedwire | SEPA, Faster Payments, SWIFT, ACH |
| Cards | Virtual and physical Visa | Virtual and physical cards |
| Opening and safety | Airwallex | Wise Business |
|---|---|---|
| Opening time | 3–5 days | 3–5 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 | 4.5 from 302,000 reviews |
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.
Wise Business is the benchmark for cheap, transparent currency conversion, and for many small businesses it is all they need. There is no monthly fee and the pricing is easy to understand. It is not built for higher-risk sectors: crypto, gambling, tobacco, alcohol and adult businesses are excluded.
It depends on how you use the account. Monthly fee: Airwallex from £0, Wise free. Currency exchange: Airwallex 0.5–1%, Wise from 0.24%. 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. Wise is an e-money institution, licensed in the UK. Airwallex: segregated accounts. Wise: segregated accounts.
Airwallex: 69 countries. Wise: 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.
