Outgrow Mercury. Scale Globally with Airwallex.
Mercury is optimized for the domestic U.S. ecosystem. Airwallex is built for global markets. Open local currency accounts instantly, eliminate 1% international wire fees, and accept global cards natively—with zero minimum balances.
Understand exactly what you'll pay
See exactly how Airwallex replaces limited platforms to deliver wider global clearing, native corporate cards, and zero-friction accounting.
| Local Payouts | FX Markup | International Card Spend | Treasury / Yield Access | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Free to 120+ countries | 0.5% - 1.0% (Others) | No Fee | No Minimum |
 | Domestic USD only | 1.0% Flat Fee | 3% Fee | $250,000 minimum |
| Local Payouts | |
|---|---|
| Free to 120+ countries |
| Domestic USD only |
| FX Markup | |
|---|---|
| 0.5% - 1.0% (Others) |
| 1.0% Flat Fee |
| International Card Spend | |
|---|---|
| No Fee |
| 3% Fee |
| Treasury / Yield Access | |
|---|---|
| No Minimum |
| $250,000 minimum |
Reasons growing companies choose Airwallex
Stop Forced Double Conversion
Mercury forces international revenue into USD. Airwallex lets you keep your revenue in 20+ native currencies to pay global vendors directly.
Zero international transfer fees
Airwallex charges no transfer fees on local rails, utilizing a tight FX margin. Mercury provides free international wires for USD, but charges a flat 1% conversion fee for non-USD global transfers.
Faster Than SWIFT
Traditional SWIFT wires route through intermediary banks, causing delays and hidden fees. Airwallex bypasses this by using integrated local payment rails, allowing you to pay global teams locally in near-real-time and at a fraction of the cost.
Built-in Spend Control
Issue multi-currency virtual cards with custom spending limits and multi-layer approvals. Airwallex logs every transaction on a real-time ledger, giving you instant visibility and total control over global expenses.
What businesses are saying about Airwallex
You don't need a bank to run your business
Start winning new markets today. Open an account in minutes, and join thousands of businesses already using Airwallex to streamline their finances globally.
FAQs about upgrading from Mercury
How do Airwallex and Mercury compare when receiving international revenue?
Mercury is primarily built for domestic US banking; it automatically converts all incoming international transfers into USD. This forces a conversion fee on your global revenue before you even touch it. Airwallex provides global accounts that let you hold and receive 20+ currencies natively as if you were a local entity in each market , allowing you to keep your foreign revenue intact and pay international vendors directly.
Does Airwallex charge a foreign transaction fee on corporate cards?
No. While Mercury charges a 3% foreign transaction fee on international card transactions , Airwallex offers $0 international card spend fees due to native multi-currency settlement. You can instantly issue physical and virtual corporate cards to your US or global teams without accumulating hidden card fees.
Can I accept customer payments directly through my account?
Yes. Mercury lacks native payment acceptance capabilities, meaning you must set up and pay for a third-party service like Stripe to collect revenue. Airwallex has a built-in merchant gateway that lets you accept credit cards and 160+ local payment methods in 180+ countries directly via your website, checkout plugins, or easy-to-use Payment Links.