Stripe vs Airwallex: Comparison for Singapore businesses

If you run a business in Singapore you may need a third party service to help you take customer card payments and manage billing or invoicing. You might also need a provider which can handle multi-currency holding and cross border payments.

The good news is that there are many providers which may fit a Singapore business - but that does mean you’ll need to do your own research to decide which is the best fit. This guide looks at the similarities and differences of two popular options - Stripe¹ vs Airwallex². We’ll also touch on Wise Business which can be a handy alternative for some globally focused companies in Singapore.

What is Stripe?

Stripe¹ operates globally and offers business customers convenient ways to manage customer card payments, take payments through local payment methods, and issue invoices and recurring bills. Stripe offers physical POS terminals as well as digital solutions such as no-code payment links.

While Stripe’s core focus is on taking customer payments, they can also provide adjacent services such as fraud prevention, dispute resolution and company incorporation in the US if you need it.

Here are some highlights of Stripe’s services, which we’ll look at in more detail in this guide:

• On and offline payments
• Recurring revenue and subscription management
• Tax automations
• Global reporting tools for data driven decisions
• Send one off and mass payouts as needed

What is Airwallex?

Airwallex² focuses on helping global businesses receive, hold, send and spend a range of local and foreign currencies. You can take customer card and local payments, hold a balance in 20+ currencies, issue corporate cards to manage business expenses, and send transfers overseas using local payment methods for free.

Airwallex has a focus on digital businesses and offers physical POS terminals⁸ for in-person payments, while also providing a broad range of international financial tools for growing businesses.

Here are a few of the popular services Airwallex can provide Singapore companies⁴:

• Open global business accounts in 20+ currencies
• Choose from full PAYG or monthly subscription models⁴
• Take local and global card payments
• Access low cost currency conversion and send money to 120+ countries for free
• Issue corporate cards to manage business expenses

Stripe vs Airwallex: Feature comparison

As we’ve seen, Stripe and Airwallex don’t have exactly the same focus. This means the features they offer vary significantly - and probably means that one is a better fit for your business than the other.

We’ve selected some of the core features Singapore businesses tend to need here, to look at what’s on offer from each provider. Both services also have their own unique features on top of these, so compare the full range on the provider websites before you decide.

*Details correct at time of review - 7th August 2026

Broadly speaking, Stripe may be a better fit if your focus is on accessing a very broad range of ways to take customer payments, in person and online. Stripe has extensive tools from checkout integrations and no-code options for digital card transactions, to physical POS terminals and mobile phone solutions for in person card payments.

Airwallex also supports most online payment types, but doesn’t have the same range of offline solutions. Instead, the Airwallex product could work better for businesses which need a broader financial solution for receiving, holding, and spending foreign currencies, including corporate cards.

Ease of setup

Both Stripe and Airwallex operate primarily digitally, and so your onboarding and setup can be managed from wherever you happen to be. With both you’ll need to register an account, provide business details and get verified.

You can then start to use your accounts including no code solutions for payments. However if you’re thinking of some of Stripe’s more complex products you might need some development support to get everything up and running.

Global coverage

Stripe and Airwallex allow you to take customer payments locally and with international cards, and both support local payment methods like PayNow for Singapore use.

Airwallex has the additional option of global business accounts in 20+ currencies which lets you manage your money flexibly without needing to convert back to SGD too frequently.

Debit cards and expense management

Airwallex has corporate card options which are provided depending on your account tier, and also offers expense management tools to make business spending seamless.

This isn’t really a focus of Stripe - you can’t get a Stripe debit card for example, so you would need to withdraw your funds to your local SGD account to spend.

Integrations

To manage your end to end finances more smoothly both Airwallex and Stripe offer multiple integrations.

You can choose to integrate your provider account with a cloud accounting system like Xero for example, with options on Airwallex for integrated expense management and billing. You can also use each service with marketplace sites and platforms like Shopify, to make ecommerce selling simple.

Stripe vs Airwallex: Fee comparison

Because the services offered by Airwallex vs Stripe aren’t exactly the same, it can be tricky to compare the fees side by side. When you’re deciding between providers make sure you’re comparing like with like, and check the provider offers all the services you need for your growing Singapore business.

To give a feel we’ve picked out some core costs for the most important services for many companies, focusing mainly on features that both providers offer. To get a full rundown it’s important that you review the specific fee pages for each provider yourself to make sure you’re clear on the costs you may incur.

*Details correct at time of review - 7th August 2026

Stripe vs Airwallex: Review comparison

It’s worth looking for feedback and reviews of either provider before you decide to use them. Both Stripe and Airwallex have live Trustpilot profiles which allow users to leave reviews and ratings.

To get a feel for the specific issues and concerns - as well as what the five star raiders love about these services, head to the Trustpilot website to read the comments left:

*Details correct at time of review - 7th August 2026

What to consider when choosing a global finance solution

Each business needs different features when it comes to managing your finances across countries and currencies. From digital first providers selling on ecommerce stores around the world, to freelancers and contractors invoicing only occasionally overseas, your choice of provider will be dictated by your unique situation.

A few things to check when deciding on your preferred provider:

• Are there any ongoing fees - and what do you pay for the transactions you make most, such as taking card payments or issuing an invoice?
• What currencies are supported for receiving and sending, and does this cover all your needs now or in future?
• What exchange rates are used when you need to switch currencies to and from SGD? If fees apply here they can eat up your profit quickly.
• Can one provider give you everything you need for global financial management - or do you need to work with several to cover all your bases?
• What’s the provider’s reputation for service and customer satisfaction?

Wise Business: An alternative for your growing business

Finding the right financial provider is an important step for Singapore companies dealing with foreign revenue and international transactions. Businesses need a reliable mix of payment processing, multi currency holding, and global transfer capabilities to operate efficiently overseas.

Wise Business serves as an alternative to traditional business account as you can hold, send, receive and exchange 40+ currencies all in one place. You’ll always get the mid-market rate with low, transparent fees. Even better, you can connect Wise Business cards to your account to control team spending in real time and reduce admin.

Here's what you get with a Wise Business account:

• Hold and manage 40+ currencies for all your international transactions.
• Get account details to receive in 8+ currencies for a one-time fee of 99 SGD
• Pay foreign currency bills and ad-hoc business travel expenses using the Wise Business card without hefty foreign transaction fees.
• Get your first Wise Business card for free when you open a Wise Business account.
• Always get the mid-market rate with transparent conversion fees.
• Seamless integrations with popular accounting software.
• Earn a variable return** on SGD, GBP, EUR, and USD through Wise Interest

➡️Get started with Wise Business today

** Growth is not guaranteed. Capital at risk.

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Sources:

1. Stripe
2. Airwallex
3. Stripe pricing
4. Airwallex pricing
5. Stripe Global Payouts
6. Trustpilot: Stripe
7. Trustpilot: Airwallex
8. Airwallex: POS Regional Coverage
9. Stripe: Atlas
10. Airwallex: Automatic Tax Calculation Supported Regions
11. Airwallex: Payment Gateway