Stripe vs. Airwallex: Which is Best for US Businesses in 2025?

Stripe and Airwallex are two leading payment platforms for US businesses, but while Stripe focuses on developer-friendly payment processing, Airwallex specializes in low-cost international transfers and multi-currency accounts. Both companies offer strong global payment infrastructure, but their strengths differ depending on whether your business prioritizes developer tools, international reach or cost efficiency.

This guide breaks down Stripe vs. Airwallex for US businesses, looking at their features, fees, integrations and overall suitability for scaling companies.

We'll also discuss the Wise Business account. The global account that can help your company with all things cross-border.

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What Is Stripe? A Leading Payment Processing Company

Stripe is a US-based financial technology company that provides payment processing, APIs (Application Programming Interfaces), and a full suite of tools for online and in-person transactions.¹ Known for its developer-first approach, Stripe supports card payments, ACH (Automated Clearing House) transfers, digital wallets, subscription billing and fraud prevention.

Stripe’s major advantage lies in its robust API, extensive integrations and ecosystem of financial services such as Stripe Atlas for company formation and Stripe Capital for financing.^{2 3}

What Is Airwallex? A Global Business Account

Airwallex is an Australian-founded, Hong Kong-headquartered company that has quickly grown as a global payments platform.⁴ Airwallex specializes in multi-currency accounts, international transfers and foreign exchange (FX) services. For US businesses, Airwallex offers a way to collect payments globally and pay suppliers abroad while minimizing currency conversion fees.

Unlike Stripe, which started as a developer tool, Airwallex was designed with cross-border businesses in mind. It provides virtual business accounts in multiple currencies, international debit cards and competitive FX rates for global transactions.

Stripe vs. Airwallex: Features Comparison

When comparing Stripe vs. Airwallex, it becomes clear that both companies serve very different priorities for US businesses.

Stripe: Developer-Focused Flexibility

Stripe has earned its reputation as the most developer-friendly payment processor. Its APIs allow businesses to build fully customized checkout flows, automate billing, and integrate payments into complex systems. US companies that run subscription models, SaaS platforms or marketplaces often rely on Stripe because of its flexibility and extensive documentation.

Beyond online payments, Stripe also supports in-person transactions through Stripe Terminal, giving US merchants the ability to unify online and offline sales.⁵ This makes Stripe especially useful for hybrid businesses that need a consistent payment experience across multiple channels.

Airwallex: International Payment Efficiency

Airwallex approaches payments from a different angle. Instead of focusing on developer customization, its core strength lies in helping US businesses manage money across borders. With Airwallex, companies can open multi-currency accounts that come with local bank details in markets such as Europe, Asia and Australia.⁶

This means an American business can invoice a client in London in GBP, receive funds directly into its Airwallex account, and pay suppliers in Asia in local currencies, all while avoiding costly conversion fees. By staying close to mid-market exchange rates, Airwallex reduces the hidden costs that often accumulate in international trade.

Which Features Matter Most for US Businesses?

For many American entrepreneurs, the choice comes down to priorities:

• Integration and flexibility: Stripe is ideal if your company needs powerful APIs, advanced reporting, and seamless connections to platforms like Shopify, Salesforce or QuickBooks.
• Global financial management: Airwallex is better suited if your company sells or sources internationally, relies on overseas contractors or wants to save on FX costs.

Stripe vs. Airwallex ultimately highlights the difference between building a highly customizable domestic payments system and managing global transactions efficiently.

Stripe vs. Airwallex: Costs and Fees

For American entrepreneurs and expats, costs are a key factor when comparing Stripe vs. Airwallex. Stripe’s domestic pricing is predictable but international transactions add extra fees. Airwallex is designed to keep FX costs low, which can translate into savings for global operations.

The costs to activate an account:

Activation Costs	First Tier	Second Tier	Third Tier
Stripe 7	Per Transaction Charge (Common Domestic Charge: 2.9% + 30¢ per transaction)	Custom Pricing	N/A
Airwallex	Free	$99/mo	Custom Pricing

Here’s how the costs compare:

Cost Category - Incoming Payments	Stripe7	Airwallex8
Domestic Card Transactions	2.9% + 30¢ per transaction	2.8% + $0.30
International Card Surcharge	+1.5% for international cards	4.30% + $0.30 for international cards
Currency Conversion Fee	+1% on foreign currency transactions	0.5% for selected currencies to 1% for all others

For businesses selling mainly to US customers, Stripe’s pricing is straightforward. For companies with international clients or suppliers, Airwallex often results in significant cost reductions.

Stripe vs. Airwallex: Ease of Use and Integration

Stripe is considered the gold standard for developer-friendly APIs, making it ideal for businesses that want to build customized payment flows. It also integrates with hundreds of platforms, from Shopify to Salesforce, providing flexibility for US startups and enterprises.

Airwallex, while less extensive on the integration front, excels in providing ready-to-use tools for managing international accounts. US business owners can open local currency accounts in markets like Europe, Asia and Australia, allowing them to invoice customers in their local currency without losing money to conversion fees.

Stripe vs. Airwallex: Which One Should US Businesses Choose?

The decision between Stripe and Airwallex depends on your business model:

• If you’re primarily selling to US customers and need advanced integrations, Stripe is the better option. Its ecosystem is unmatched for domestic and hybrid online/offline operations.
• If your company is scaling internationally, paying overseas suppliers or collecting revenue in multiple currencies, Airwallex offers lower FX costs and more efficient global money management.

Many US businesses even use both: Stripe for customer payments and Airwallex for international supplier payments.

Final Thoughts

Stripe and Airwallex are two distinct approaches to business payments. Stripe excels in domestic US payment processing and integration flexibility, while Airwallex provides cost savings and efficiency for businesses operating across borders. For many American entrepreneurs and expats, the right choice will depend on whether their primary challenge is building scalable online checkout systems or optimizing international transactions.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Is the Main Difference Between Stripe and Airwallex?

Stripe is focused on payment processing and developer integrations, while Airwallex is built around international payments and currency management.

Is Stripe Available in the US?

Yes. Stripe is US-based and widely adopted by American startups and enterprises.

Can US Businesses Use Airwallex?

Yes. Airwallex is available to US businesses and offers features like multi-currency accounts, international transfers, and FX services.

Which Platform Is Cheaper for International Payments?

Airwallex is generally cheaper due to its lower FX markup compared to Stripe’s additional international fees.

Does Stripe Support In-Person Payments?

Yes, through Stripe Terminal. Airwallex does not focus on physical point-of-sale solutions.

Save Time and Hassle With Wise Business

Wise is not a bank, but a Money Services Business (MSB) provider and a smart alternative to banks. Wise makes it easy to send, hold, and manage business funds in currencies. You can get major currency account details for a one-off fee to receive overseas payments like a local. Simply add the local account details when billing international customers to receive international payments with no fees.

Account opening is 100% online, with no need to visit a branch or book appointments.

Once you’re set up, you can connect to software such as Wave, FreshBooks, and more. You can also withdraw funds from Stripe without currency conversion fees.

Open a Wise Business account online

Some key benefits of Wise Business include:

Major local account details to receive international payments with ease No monthly account fees just a simple one-off fee for account details Receive payments from e-commerce platforms such as Amazon or via Stripe. Free invoicing tool to generate and send invoices. Create invoices using the Wise invoice generator or invoice templates. Accounting integrations, including a QuickBooks Bill Pay connection. Bill payments will be synced, matched, and categorized in QuickBooks for simple reconciliation. Access to BatchTransfer. Fast payment of up to 1,000 people.

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Sources:

1. Stripe - Stripe
2. Stripe Atlas - Stripe
3. Stripe Capital - Stripe
4. Airwallex - Airwallex
5. Stripe Terminal - Stripe
6. Airwallex Global Accounts - Airwallex
7. Stripe Pricing - Stripe
8. Airwallex Pricing - Airwallex