Airwallex vs Payoneer Comparison for the UK

As a business owner in the UK who has international customers, you need a good payment platform for transactions. You can save some time and money by choosing the right tool. Whether you’re starting from scratch or an established business looking to switch accounts, you might want to consider a digital account with global capabilities - Airwallex and Payoneer are both two popular options.

To help you decide, this guide compares Airwallex and Payoneer by digging into their pricing and features.

It also looks at Wise Business as a great alternative for easy international transactions. Wise lets businesses effortlessly manage payments across 40+ currencies, including GBP, USD and EUR - for low and transparent fees.

💡 Learn more about Wise Business

Airwallex vs Payoneer - Comparison summary

Airwallex and Payoneer enable users to hold multiple currencies and process payments worldwide. Both solutions differ in pricing models, currency options and available features. Use this table to compare both platforms before you decide.

Airwallex review

Airwallex was founded in 2015 in Melbourne, Australia, to cut high foreign exchange (FX) costs. It now runs from Singapore with offices across the world, including in London, where the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) regulates its UK operations.

With Airwallex, you can hold 20+ currencies,³ send money worldwide and accept payments in a huge number of local payment methods from 180+ markets.⁴ Virtual multi-currency cards help manage employee expenses, while the Airwallex API enables time-saving automated payments and connections with platforms such as Shopify and Xero.

Unlike Payoneer, Airwallex skips transaction and withdrawal fees and keeps FX rates low, at 0.5% to 1% above mid-market rates.³ However, it does have monthly fees which vary by plan and monthly deposit value.

Trustpilot rates it 2.9/5 from over 2,500 reviews as of August 2026. Users praise the dedicated account managers, onboarding process and the easy-to-use platform, but some complain about slow support and account freezes.¹

Airwallex features

Here's what you get when you use Airwallex.

• Fast local and international transfers: send via SWIFT to 200+ countries, local transfers to 120+ countries³
• Security: Airwallex safeguards your funds with regulated banks, and multi-user access with custom permissions adds control.
• Multi-currency support: Hold 20+ currencies through Global Accounts³
• Payment acceptance: Receive from 180+ markets via gateways (Visa, Apple Pay)⁴, local payment methods or custom payment links for one-time/recurring charges.
• Expense management: Issue virtual/physical debit cards and track expenses with receipt uploads in-app.
• Bulk payments: Make multiple payments across countries in one go.
• Integrations: Use the API for automated payouts, and link with accounting software and merchant platforms
• Low-cost FX: Convert currencies at 0.5% to 1% above mid-market, with no withdrawal fees.³

Airwallex customer service

You can reach the Airwallex support team via email at support@airwallex.com or through the in-app ticket system, available 24/7.

Airwallex pricing

Airwallex keeps costs straightforward for UK micro businesses. You can pick from three plans - Explore, Grow, or Accelerate - charged per business entity, not per account.

The £19/month Explore plan waives its fee if you deposit or hold £10,000 (or equivalent) monthly.³ The table below breaks it down:³

There are no fees for opening global accounts or UK domestic transfers between Airwallex’s network.

Your business can accept card payments for a fee of 1.30% + £0.20 for UK cards, 2.40% + £0.20 for EEA cards and 3.15% + £0.20 for other international cards. Local payment methods are charged at £0.20 plus a method-specific fee.³

Cash withdrawals aren’t supported, as ATM access is unavailable.

Payoneer review

Payoneer serves freelancers, small businesses, and online marketplace sellers, especially those on Amazon, Fiverr, or Upwork.

It lets you receive, hold, and send funds in 70+ currencies across 190+ countries,⁵ with payouts via bank transfers or a branded prepaid Mastercard. It also offers customer support in 22+ languages.⁶

Founded in 2005 in New York by Yuval Tal, Payoneer now supports many users and has become a popular cross-border business payment platform.

Trustpilot scores for Payoneer are currently unavailable.²

Payoneer features

Below are some of the features of Payoneer:

• Secure accounts: Hold 70+ currencies with fraud protection and chargeback tools.⁵
• Batch payouts: Pay multiple vendors at once.
• Invoicing: Create invoices, track payments, or request funds via email.
• Payout options: Use bank transfers or prepaid Mastercard.
• Marketplace integration: Connect with Amazon, Fiverr, Upwork, or QuickBooks.
• Real-time FX: Convert currencies at competitive rates on the spot.
• VAT management: Simplify VAT for international sales
• Mobile app: Manage funds and track transactions anywhere.
• 24/7 support: Get help via live chat, email, or phone.

Payoneer customer service

You can get support from Payoneer at any time, as it’s all online with no physical branches. Jump into 24/7 live chat or submit a ticket through their ‘Contact Us’ form. You can also send an email to the support team, or browse the help centre for quick guides on payments or account issues.

Payoneer fees

Payoneer keeps it relatively simple for UK businesses with no subscription plans - you just pay for what you use. There are no setup or monthly fees, but an annual 29.95 USD fee kicks in if your account receives less than 6,000 USD (or currency equivalent) in 12 months.

Here’s a breakdown of the fees:⁵

Expect 0.5% to 4% above mid-market rates for currency conversion (depending on whether you’re making a payment or transferring between your own accounts).⁵

Card purchases cost up to 1.8% without currency conversion, and 3.5% with conversion. ATM withdrawals are £1.95, plus up to 1.8%/3.5% (no currency conversion/with currency conversion).⁵

The Payoneer Mastercard has a £29.95 annual fee for the first card.⁵

Airwallex vs Payoneer fees - Head to head comparison

Check out the comparison of Airwallex and Payoneer fees in the table below.

Fees are a big deal when picking a payment platform, so it’s important to compare them carefully - based on how your business needs to use the account.

For example, if you’re an online retailer, card payment acceptance fees will be a top priority.

Here, Airwallex could have the edge - charging 1.30% + £0.20 for UK cards, 2.40% + £0.20 for EEA cards and 3.15% + £0.20 for other international cards.³ This is compared to Payoneer fees of up to 3.99% + $0.49 USD or currency equivalent.⁵

Consider an Alternative to Payoneer and Airwallex: Wise Business

If you are looking for an alternative to Payoneer or Airwallex, the Wise Business account is another powerful option. It’s quick and easy to open online, and gives you a powerful platform for sending, receiving and managing your business finances in over 40+ currencies.

You can easily pay suppliers and employees all over the world, for low fees and the mid-market exchange rate. What’s more, you can get paid for your products or services quickly and easily, accepting payments in 8+ major currencies.

Get local account details in 8+ currencies, to get paid in currencies your customers and suppliers trust - with no FX conversion fees. Connect Wise Business to your favourite accounting tools, such as Xero or Quickbooks. This makes keeping track of your company’s finances a breeze.

Send batch payments to over 1,000 users at once, and make the most of flexible large transfer limits of up to 20 million in GBP and other currency equivalents.

You can also make your money work harder with eligible GBP, EUR, USD (and more) balances with Wise Business Interest. Growth not guaranteed. Your balance will go down in the event of a government default or interest rates going negative. Taxes may apply. Investments are offered by Wise Assets UK Ltd. (FRN 839689).

Wise Business offers a free Essential plan for basic spending and transferring. If you need to receive money, set up direct debits, or generate invoices, you'll pay a one-time £50 setup fee to unlock the Advanced features.

Get started with Wise Business 🚀

Here’s everything you need to know. With Wise Business, you can:

• 🌍 Send money to 70+ countries and pay overseas invoices at the mid-market exchange rate with low, transparent fees and no hidden exchange rate markups (product availability varies by region)
• 📥 Receive payments in 24 currencies and counting
• 💵 Get local account details for 8+ currencies, including USD and EUR, to let your customers pay in a currency they know and trust - convenience for them and peace of mind for you
• 💰 Hold money in 40+ currencies
• 🔁 Convert currencies anytime at the mid-market exchange rate with low, transparent fees
• ⚡ Use the batch payments tool to create and send up to 1,000 payments in a single transfer
• 👥 Run payroll and make international payments for up to 1,000 employees all over the world - including paying suppliers using local payment methods like ACH, SEPA, and Faster Payments
• 💳 Get business debit cards with 0.5% cashback for you and your team to keep track of team expenses and spend all over the world, with real-time visibility and categorisation. See full cashback terms and conditions
• 🏢 Manage cash in 55+ currencies across international offices from a single business account and move money between business accounts in seconds (exact speeds can vary depending on individual circumstances and may not be the same for all transactions)
• 🧾 Connect and sync every business transaction to your favourite accounting software, including Xero, Quickbooks, and more
• 🔐 Create your own payment approvals process to manage your team better with customised access for different team members, roles and permissions
• 📑 Create custom professional invoices and schedule invoice payments for future dates
• 📈 Earn variable returns on GBP, USD and EUR with Wise Interest (Growth not guaranteed. Your balance will go down in the event of a government default or interest rates going negative.)
• 🔗 Create payment links and QR codes to get paid easily (Card payment acceptance for new Wise Business customers is currently unavailable. Payment methods subject to eligibility and availability.)
• ⚙️ Automate payouts with the Wise API (comes with 24/7 customer support, a sandbox account to test integrations, API tokens, and clear documents on how to implement and make the most of our API)

Make the wise choice when selecting a business account for your domestic and global needs.

Be Smart, Get Wise.

Register for Wise Business ✍️

Airwallex vs Payoneer FAQs

Can I use Airwallex or Payoneer with my UK business bank account?

Yes. You can withdraw funds from both platforms into your UK business bank account.

Payoneer enables GBP withdrawals, yet users must pay fees based on their selected withdrawal method and currency. Airwallex enables GBP withdrawals to UK bank accounts through local rails without charging additional fees. Verify with your bank if they will impose any separate fees for incoming transactions.

Do Airwallex or Payoneer offer physical cards in the UK?

Airwallex provides its users with virtual and physical Visa cards that function in multiple currencies. Users can handle business expenses through the Airwallex dashboard by using these business-ready Visa cards.

Payoneer provides a Mastercard which users can use for shopping and withdrawing cash at ATMs but requires an annual payment. The issuance of cards depends on both account usage and successful verification procedures.

Can I automate payments with Airwallex or Payoneer?

Airwallex offers full API access for automating payouts, FX conversions, and account functions, which is useful for tech-savvy businesses or platforms.

Payoneer also provides API access, but it's more limited and mainly geared toward marketplace partners. For most freelancers and small businesses, automation tools are limited unless integrated with third-party platforms.

Sources used in this article:

1. Trustpilot - Airwallex
2. Trustpilot - Payoneer
3. Airwallex - Pricing
4. Airwallex - Payments
5. Payoneer - Pricing
6. Payoneer - Payoneer Account
7. Airwallex - Business Expense Card

Sources last checked 13-Aug-2026