Top Wise Business alternatives for international payments [2025]
Last updated: 16 April 2025
Looking for a Wise Business alternative? Compare the best multi-currency accounts for managing international payments.
Key takeaways
- Wise Business offers a multi-currency account for a one-time fee of AUD 22, allowing businesses to send, receive and hold funds in 23 currencies
- Wise Business alternatives include WorldFirst, Airwallex and Payoneer
- WorldFirst provides access to 20+ local currency accounts with competitive exchange rates and no monthly fees
- Airwallex supports 20+ currencies for a monthly fee, offering payment links and integration with checkout solutions
- Payoneer offers a multi-currency account with support for 9+ currencies
Wise is an international payment provider that lets users send and receive funds in multiple currencies. Businesses can open a multi-currency account with Wise Business for a one-time fee of AUD 22 [1]. You get local bank account details for 23 currencies, including AUD, USD, CAD, EUR and GBP.
The multi-currency account lets you collect payments from customers, send payments to business partners and hold funds in your account.
While it’s free to receive local payments, you’re charged for CAD SWIFT and USD wire transfers. There are also separate fees for sending payments, funding your account and converting currencies. For a more detailed look, check our Wise Business account review.
If you’re unsure about Wise, here are the top alternatives to Wise Business, so you can choose the right foreign currency account for your fast-growing global business.
Table of Contents
1. WorldFirst
As an authorised and regulated payment provider, WorldFirst helps businesses make secure, fast and reliable international payments. A World Account is a multi-currency account that gives you access to 20+ local currency accounts, including USD, GBP, EUR, JPY, CNH, HKD, AUD, SGD, CAD, NZD and MXN, with no overseas address needed.
With your World Account, you can receive customer payments, send payments to suppliers, tax authorities or business partners, and hold funds in your account. Withdraw your funds to your bank account any time. You get access to competitive exchange rates and can even lock in exchange rates for up to 24 months using forward contracts.
A part of Ant Group, WorldFirst helps businesses manage international payments and expand globally while protecting their profit margins.
| Key features | - Get local bank account details for 20+ currencies - Send same-day or next-day payments at competitive rates (cut-off times apply) - Securely pay 1668 suppliers through World Pay, the only authorised international payment solution for 1668.com - Make free and instant payments between World Accounts - Send payments in 40+ currencies - Collect payments from 130+ global marketplaces and 30+ payment gateways - Access transparent and competitive transaction fees to collect, convert, and manage funds in multiple currencies |
|---|---|
| Main fees | - Monthly fee: Zero - Multi-currency account: Zero - Receiving payments: Zero - Holding funds in multiple currencies: Zero - Sending payments: Free for local payments in AUD or NZD; cross-border payments and local payments in other currencies start from 0.4%, capped at AUD 15 - Sending payments to other World Account holders: Zero - Paying 1688.com suppliers: Up to 0.8% currency conversion fee - Getting a World Card: Zero for card issuance; other transaction fee may apply |
| Trustpilot rating | 4.2 out of 5 stars |
2. Airwallex
Airwallex is an international payment provider that supports cross-border payments, marketplace collections and core APIs to streamline financial operations. You can open local currency accounts in 20+ currencies for a monthly fee of AUD 29 [2]. Fees for sending payments can be up to AUD 30, depending on the currency and payment method.
Take a look at our detailed Airwallex review and head-to-head comparison of WorldFirst vs Airwallex.
| Overview | Description |
|---|---|
| Key features | - Get paid in 20+ currencies with one multi-currency account [2] - Receive payments through shareable payment links or add a checkout solution to your website [3] - Virtual and physical cards are available [4] - Core APIs allow you to white-label Airwallex’s payment solution, but using them requires developer support |
| Main fees [2] | - Monthly fee: Starts at AUD 29 (fee waived if you deposit at least AUD 5k per month or hold a minimum balance of AUD 10k) - Multi-currency account: Zero - Receiving payments: Zero - Holding funds in multiple currencies: Zero - Sending payments: Free for local transfers. For SWIFT transfers, a fixed fee of AUD 10-30 may apply (plus up to 1% margin over interbank rates) - Sending payments to other Airwallex accounts: Zero - Getting virtual/ physical cards: Free for the number of cards supported in your subscription plan. The AUD 29 plan supports 2 employee cards and 10 company cards |
| Trustpilot rating [5] | 3.8 out of 5 stars |
3. Payoneer
Payoneer is a payment platform that lets users add funds, pay business partners, and receive payments from customers. There are different multi-currency accounts available for businesses and freelancers. Receiving payments from non-Payoneer accounts can attract a fee of up to 3.99% [6]. There are also separate fees for Payoneer accounts that haven’t been used in over 12 months.
Take a look at our detailed Payoneer review
| Overview | Description |
|---|---|
| Key features | - Access 9 currencies with one multi-currency account [7] - Send payments in 70 currencies across 190+ countries - Collect payments from marketplaces or your own online store - Get Payoneer business cards powered by Mastercard [8] |
| Main fees [6] | - Monthly fee: Zero - Multi-currency account: Zero - Receiving payments: Up to 3.99% - Holding funds in multiple currencies: Zero - Sending payments: Up to 3% of the transaction amount - Sending payments to other Payoneer accounts: Zero - Getting Payoneer cards: An annual fee of USD 29.95 for the first card |
| Trustpilot rating [9] | 4 out of 5 stars |
- Open 15+ local currency accounts and get paid like a local
- Pay suppliers, partners and staff worldwide in 100+ currencies
- Collect payments for free from 130+ marketplaces and payment gateways, including Amazon, Etsy, PayPal and Shopify
- Take control of spending with the World Card, a business expense card that saves you more with 1% cashback. Learn more
- Save with competitive exchange rates on currency conversions and transfers
- Lock in exchange rates for up to 24 months for cash flow certainty
Choose the right Wise alternative for your business
The right multi-currency account for business will depend on your specific requirements and the type of currencies you usually send and receive payments in. Fees, number of supported currencies and speed are the three most important factors you should consider when choosing a payment service provider. Ideally, your payment provider should offer competitive exchange rates to help you protect your profit margins.
To help you make the right decision, here’s a detailed fee comparison of the most popular multi-currency accounts in Australia.
| Wise [1] | WorldFirst | Airwallex [2] | Payoneer [6] | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly fee | Free | Free | AUD 29 (Zero if you deposit at least AUD 5k per month or hold a minimum balance of AUD 10k) | Free |
| Opening a multi-currency account | AUD 22 | Free | Free | Free |
| Account maintenance fee | Free | Free | Free | 29.95 USD (Fee is charged if 12 months pass and you have received less than 2,000.00 USD or equivalent in payments) |
| Receiving funds | Free for AUD, CAD, EUR, GBP, HUF, NZD, RON, SGD, TRY and USD (non-wire)USD wire payments cost USD 6.11 and CAD SWIFT payments cost CAD 10 | Free | - Direct debit funds are free - Payments using local payment methods are charged a minimum AUD 0.30 fee** |
- From Payoneer customers: Free - From non-Payoneer customers: Up to 3.99% |
| Holding funds in multiple currencies | Free | Free | Free | Free |
| Sending payments to users in the same network | Free and instant | Free and instant | Instant; regular fees apply | Free |
| Sending payments to other accounts | From 0.65% (fee varies by currency) |
- Local payments in AUD or NZD: Free - Cross-border payments and local payments in currencies other than AUD or NZD: From 0.4%, capped at AUD 15 |
Local payment methods: AUD 0.30 + payment method fee (fee varies based on the currency and method of payment) |
Up to 3% of transaction amount (a minimum fee may apply) |
*Fees as checked in January 2025
Sources
- https://wise.com/au/pricing/business
- https://www.airwallex.com/au/pricing
- https://www.airwallex.com/au/payments
- https://www.airwallex.com/au/spend-management/cards
- https://au.trustpilot.com/review/airwallex.com
- https://www.payoneer.com/about/pricing/
- https://www.payoneer.com/multi-currency-account/
- https://www.payoneer.com/commercial-card/
- https://au.trustpilot.com/review/www.payoneer.com?page=3
Disclaimer: The information contained is general only and largely our views. Before acting on the information you should consider whether it is appropriate for you, in light of your objectives, financial situation or needs. Although information has been obtained from and is based upon multiple sources the author believes to be reliable, we do not guarantee its accuracy and it may be incomplete or condensed. All opinions, estimates, mentioned products/services and referenced material constitute the author’s own judgement as of the date of the briefing and are subject to change without notice. WorldFirst shall not be responsible for any losses or damages arising from your reliance of such information.
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