Why Hong Kong businesses choose Airwallex over Wise
Airwallex helps Hong Kong businesses manage cross-border payments more easily and cost-effectively. Businesses can open local and foreign currency accounts in 21 countries online within minutes, and make payments to 120+ countries through local payment rails. Airwallex also holds 87 licences and permits globally. With payments, collections, FX, and spend management in one place, businesses can manage global operations on a single platform.
3 reasons why Airwallex is the modern alternative to Wise
Eliminate international fees and accelerate cash flow
Bypass the SWIFT network and get access $0 transfer fees to 120+ countries or regions via our local payment rails.
Frictionless, fully digital onboarding
Skip the branch visits and paperwork. Complete your application entirely online and get approved in as little as 48 hours, so you can start trading immediately.
Accept payments from around the world
Improve checkout conversion with 160+ local payment methods, including FPS, WeChat Pay, and more. Settle like-for-like in 20+ currencies.
Compare Wise and Airwallex features
Wise is primarily built for simple personal and small business transfers, and its limited local account coverage, absence of corporate card services, and lack of online collection capabilities in Hong Kong mean it may fall short as your business scales globally. Airwallex offers a specialized platform designed for cross-border cost efficiency, local payment reach, and operational speed.
Don't limit your business potential. Choose a partner built for growth.
An end-to-end platform engineered for global scale
Airwallex offers a comprehensive financial operating system designed to replace fragmented tools. Manage, send, and receive funds globally without unnecessary FX fees. whether you are paying suppliers or collecting from customers, our extensive network ensures your capital moves with maximum efficiency.
Join 200,000+ companies using Airwallex to simplify finance and fuel expansion.
See how our customers are finding Airwallex
“The 1% extra on every business travel expense used to add up. With Airwallex, I can skip those frustrating foreign transaction fees.”
Rachel Lim
Co-Founder, Love, Bonito
"Airwallex has been a game changer for all our banking needs. As a fast-growing startup, we need a scalable yet cost-efficient batch payment solution to pay our employees and vendors both inside and outside Hong Kong. Airwallex helps us save money on every bank transfer with their near-zero transaction fee and market-beating FX rates. We also use Airwallex’s multi-currency Visa cards for business travel expenses and SaaS subscriptions to avoid hidden bank fees that would otherwise have been difficult to spot. Would highly recommend other startups to get started with Airwallex!"
Henson Tsai
Founder, SleekFlow
“Through Airwallex, Jakewell can easily create Visa Corporate Cards for their team in minutes. Management can set spending limits and assign specific uses for each card to avoid misuse, while the team can quickly handle unexpected expenses. All transactions are automatically recorded, making the reconciliation process a breeze.”
Phyllis
Head of Digital Operations at Jakewell
"I’m so thankful that Airwallex exists! In Hong Kong, it's so hard to find financial service providers that are friendly to small businesses. Airwallex allows me to exchange currencies at really great rates, and the interface is very modern and easy to use compared to my bank. We save so much money with Airwallex! In just a few months, we've already saved more than HK$78,000 in unnecessary fees!"
Jennifer Chong
CEO, Linjer
“To ensure that marketing teams across each market have sufficient funds for daily operations, such as ad placements, KOL payments, and software subscriptions, Grams(28) conducts cross-border transfers on a daily basis. Through Airwallex, we can now easily create employee cards for various teams with just a few clicks.”
Benjamin
Founder of Grams(28)
“Importing the best wine and sake overseas always involve extra costs on transaction fee & FX fee. With Airwallex, we saved 100% of our overseas remittance cost and we could provide the best price for our customers.”
Tomy Wu
Co-Founder, MyiCellar
FAQs about upgrading from Wise
Is Airwallex suitable for Hong Kong startups?
Yes. Airwallex business accounts have no setup fees and no minimum balance requirements. The entire onboarding process is online — no branch visits needed — and can typically be completed within a few business days. Startups can immediately access global collections, foreign currency accounts, and corporate cards, with the flexibility to unlock more advanced features as the business grows.
Which platform has a more comprehensive integration ecosystem — Airwallex or Wise?
Airwallex offers a more extensive range of integrations, supporting leading accounting and e-commerce platforms including Xero, NetSuite, QuickBooks, Shopify, WooCommerce, and Magento, along with a fully open API for businesses that need customised payment workflows. Corporate card transactions are also automatically synced with connected accounting platforms, eliminating manual reconciliation. Wise's integration options are comparatively basic, primarily supporting Xero and QuickBooks, and no corporate card is available in Hong Kong.
How do I open an Airwallex business account?
Opening an Airwallex business account takes just three steps: submit an online application on the website, upload the required business and identity verification documents, and complete the KYC review. The entire process is conducted online with no in-person visits required, and most applications are approved within a few business days.
All comparisons and information reflect Airwallex's own research using public documentation as of 17 June 2026, and have not been independently validated.
This publication does not constitute legal, tax, or professional advice from Airwallex, nor does it substitute seeking such advice, and makes no express or implied representations, warranties, or guarantees regarding content accuracy, completeness, or currentness. Product features, pricing and other details are subject to change.
Airwallex does not guarantee the continued accuracy of this information and is not responsible for any inaccuracies that may arise from such changes. This publication is not intended to be relied on for the purpose of making a decision about a financial product. Users are encouraged to conduct their own verification and seek their own advice.
With the Airwallex credit card, there is no revolving credit carried over – pay your statement balance in full at the end of each repayment period.