Business

Airwallex vs Stripe: Comparison for UK Businesses

Paola Faben Oliveira

27.05.24 (updated more than 1 year ago)

Read time 3 minutes

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Airwallex¹ and Stripe² both offer ways for UK businesses to get paid digitally by customers. However while there’s some overlap in the services offered by Airwallex vs Stripe, they’re not exactly the same. Stripe has more of a focus on a broad range of payment processing options including in person payments, while Airwallex offers digital payments alongside other options like global business accounts.

Ultimately whether Stripe vs Airwallex is better for you may just depend on the services you need. This Airwallex vs Stripe review covers some important aspects to consider.

Airwallex vs Stripe - Comparison overview

Let’s start out with a head to head comparison of both Airwallex and Stripe based on their key features. We’ll look at each option in more detail in just a moment.

Service	Stripe	Airwallex
Pricing	Varied fees per transaction type, plus costs for physical POS terminals Standard fee 1.5% + £0.20 for local cards	Varied fees per card and transaction type Standard fee 1.3% + £0.20 for local cards
Trustpilot rating	2.4 stars, Poor, from 13,000+ reviews³	3.7 stars, Average, from 1,000+ reviews⁴
Invoice payments	Available	Not available
Recurring payments	Available	Available for subscriptions via API
International payments	Available	Available
API integrations	Available	Available
Checkout solution	Available	Not available
Payment links	Available	Available
In-person payments	Available with POS terminals and smartphone solutions	Not available

Airwallex review

Airwallex focuses on digital business services including business accounts, ways to issue payment cards, and also has payment processing solutions for online and in-app payments. Airwallex doesn’t offer in person payment solutions. Features include:

Take local and global card payments

Hold funds in an Airwallex account

Low and no code options for ecommerce

Payment links

Ways to receive payments through marketplace sites

Accounting integrations

Other services available including borderless cards and expense management

Airwallex service overview

Airwallex is not a bank - however, it is a reputable provider which is licensed in the UK by the FCA. Airwallex keeps customer accounts and data safe, and if you have money in an Airwallex account it is safeguarded according to FCA requirements.

Airwallex payment processing

A payment gateway is used by companies which need to take card payments from customers, often online and through mobile apps. Airwallex provides payment processing services for digital payments, although in person payments aren’t offered.

Airwallex pricing

Airwallex products and services have varied fees, which can depend on your specific account type and any other arrangements you have made with Airwallex. Volume discounts may be available for larger businesses, for example. Here are some key costs - be sure to check all the fees that may apply to your specific account carefully.

Transaction type	Airwallex fee⁵
In-person payments	Not available
Online payments	1.3% + £0.20 for UK cards
International	2.4% + £0.20 for EEA cards 3.15% + £0.20 for cards issued elsewhere
Refund	Check directly with Airwallex - fees may vary based on account type
Chargeback	Check directly with Airwallex - fees may vary based on account type

airwallex-vs-stripe

Stripe payment reviews

Stripe UK services can be used for online, in app and in person payments by businesses of all sizes. Features include:

Local and global card payments

Physical card terminals

Online and digital payment methods

Invoicing and recurring billing solutions

Payment links

Low and no code solutions as well as more complex, tailored options

Support with tax, user identification, business management and more

New to Stripe? You can get our full Stripe Payments review here.

Stripe payment fees

What it costs you to use Stripe can vary based on the types of payments you’re taking, as well as where your customers are located. There are also various ways you can get custom pricing models - particularly if you have a high turnover. To see if this is available for you it’s worth reaching out to the Stripe sales team. Here’s an overview of some key and common Stripe costs.

Transaction type	Stripe fee⁶
Local card payments	Standard fee 1.5% + £0.20
International card payments	Standard fee 2.5% + £0.20 for EU cards 3.25% + £0.20 for cards issued elsewhere
Chargebacks (disputes)	£20
Recurring payments (billing)	0.5%
Invoicing	0.4%

Stripe vs Airwallex fees - Head to head comparison

Let’s get a side to side Airwallex vs Stripe comparison just looking at fees. These are the key headline costs for each provider, but bear in mind that other fees may also apply. You may also find you can get discounts or tailor made solutions based on your specific company needs.

Transaction type	Stripe fee	Airwallex fee
In-person payments	Standard fee 1.5% + £0.20 for local cards	Not available
Online payments	Standard fee 1.5% + £0.20	1.3% + £0.20 for UK cards
International	Online, standard fee 2.5% + £0.20 for EU cards 3.25% + £0.20 for cards issued elsewhere Different fees may apply for in person payments	2.4% + £0.20 for EEA cards 3.15% + £0.20 for cards issued elsewhere
Refund	Fees may apply but this varies based on the details of the transaction	Check directly with Airwallex - fees may vary based on account type
Chargeback	£20	Check directly with Airwallex - fees may vary based on account type

There’s no single best option for taking business payments - so whether a solution like Airwallex or Stripe suits you may just depend on how you need to transact. This guide has some handy information to help kickstart your research.

Sources used in this article:

Airwallex
Stripe
TrustPilot - Stripe
TrustPilot - Airwallex
Airwallex pricing
Stripe pricing

Sources last checked 24/05/2024

*Please see terms of use and product availability for your region or visit Wise fees and pricing for the most up to date pricing and fee information.

This publication is provided for general information purposes and does not constitute legal, tax or other professional advice from Wise Payments Limited or its subsidiaries and its affiliates, and it is not intended as a substitute for obtaining advice from a financial advisor or any other professional.

We make no representations, warranties or guarantees, whether expressed or implied, that the content in the publication is accurate, complete or up to date.