BigPay vs Wise Malaysia (2026): Fees, cards and transfers

Key Takeaways:

• BigPay is a consumer e-wallet that holds RM only. It works well for everyday spending, bill payments, and transfers to select countries in Asia.

• Wise gives you a personal multi-currency account that holds 40+ currencies at the mid-market rate — a stronger pick if you send or receive money across borders regularly.

• Neither BigPay nor Wise offers a business account in Malaysia. If you run an SME, Airwallex Global Accounts is purpose-built for multi-currency collection, supplier payments, and interbank FX rates.

If you've been looking for a cheaper way to send money overseas or spend abroad, you’re probably comparing BigPay vs Wise. Both are regulated by Bank Negara Malaysia, both give you a card you can use overseas, and both let you send money internationally without stepping into a bank branch.

But they work quite differently. BigPay is a consumer e-wallet built around everyday spending, local bill payments, and transfers to select countries in Asia. Wise is a multi-currency account built for people who move money across borders often — it holds 40+ currencies and always uses the mid-market exchange rate with no markup.

This guide breaks down both tools across fees, FX rates, cards, and international transfers. If you run a business and want to know whether either tool fits your company's needs, there's a dedicated section at the end for you.

What is BigPay?

BigPay is a digital e-wallet launched by AirAsia in Malaysia. You open an account through the app, load it with RM, and get a Visa or Mastercard that works at over 40 million merchants worldwide.¹ Everything — topping up, paying bills, sending money, tracking spending — happens in the app.

Your balance is held in RM only. There's no option to hold foreign currencies in your account.

What you can do with BigPay

• Spend globally — use your BigPay card anywhere Visa or Mastercard is accepted, in-store or online

• Send money internationally — transfer to bank accounts in Australia, Bangladesh, China, India, Indonesia, Nepal, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam¹

• Pay local bills — settle utilities and other bills directly from the app

• Split bills — the app calculates what everyone owes and sends a payment request automatically

• Track spending — every transaction is categorised so you can see where your money goes

• Apply for a personal loan — BigPay offers a fully digital loan (BigPay Later) with funds disbursed within minutes¹

• Earn AirAsia points — you earn points on card spend, which you can redeem through the AirAsia ecosystem

What BigPay doesn't do

Because your balance sits in RM, a conversion happens every time you spend in a foreign currency or send money abroad. You also can't receive international payments into your BigPay account — it's built for outbound spending and transfers, not inbound collection.

There's no business account. BigPay is a personal product built for individuals.

How to get started with BigPay

Getting started with BigPay is straightforward. Download the BigPay app on iOS or Android, tap Register, and follow the steps to verify your identity. You'll need a valid Malaysian ID and a local phone number. Once your account is approved, you can top up via FPX or DuitNow and start spending straight away.

What is Wise?

Wise (formerly TransferWise) is an international money platform available to Malaysians as a personal account. Unlike BigPay, it lets you hold and exchange 40+ currencies in one place — and every conversion uses the mid-market rate with no markup added.

You manage everything online or through the Wise app. There are no branches and no cash deposits.

What you can do with Wise

• Hold 40+ currencies — keep balances in RM, USD, GBP, EUR, SGD, and more, all in one account

• Send money internationally — transfer to 140+ countries with fees from 0.77%

• Spend with the Wise card — a one-time fee of RM13.70 gets you a Visa or Mastercard you can use in 150+ countries

• Spend for free — if you already hold the currency you need, there's no conversion fee when you spend

• Withdraw cash — up to RM1,000 per month across 2 ATM withdrawals, free of charge; after that, RM5 + 1.75% per withdrawal

• Receive money — get local account details in 25 currencies to receive payments fee-free; USD wire transfers carry a US$6.11 fee

• Convert currencies — switch between currencies in your account from 0.77%

What Wise doesn't do

Wise doesn't offer cash deposits, branch support, personal loans, or local bill payment. It also doesn't have a DuitNow QR feature for in-person payments the way BigPay does.

Most importantly for business owners: Wise Business is not available in Malaysia. Wise's own website states this clearly. Malaysian users can only access the personal account — which means no multi-user access, no approval workflows, and no business entity onboarding.

How to get started with Wise

You can sign up for Wise online at wise.com or through the Wise app. Create an account, complete identity verification, and you're ready to add money and make transfers. If you want the Wise card, you can order it from within the app for a one-time fee of RM13.70.² The card is then mailed to your registered address.

BigPay vs Wise — how they compare

Here's a side-by-side look at both tools across the features that matter most.

The information in this table has been reviewed to be accurate as of 7 April 2026.

A note on BigPay fees: their dedicated fees page was not publicly accessible at time of writing. Check the BigPay app or bigpayme.com directly for the latest figures before making a decision.

International transfers — BigPay vs Wise

This is where the two tools differ most. Both let you send money overseas, but the reach, fee structure, and how exchange rates are applied are quite different.

BigPay international transfers

BigPay lets you send money to bank accounts in 10 countries: Australia, Bangladesh, China, India, Indonesia, Nepal, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam.¹

Fees and exchange rates vary by destination and are shown in the app before you confirm a transfer. The specific amounts aren't listed publicly, so you'll need to log in to see what applies to your route.

One exception worth knowing: transfers between BigPay Malaysia and BigPay Singapore accounts are instant and free.¹ For peer-to-peer transfers on that corridor specifically, it's hard to beat.

Wise international transfers

Wise sends money to 140+ countries with a fee from 0.77% — and every transfer uses the mid-market exchange rate with no markup added.² That means what you see on Google when you check the rate is what Wise uses. There's no extra margin hidden in the conversion.

You can also check the exact fee and rate upfront on Wise's website or app before you create an account. With BigPay, you need to log in first to see the rate for your specific route.

Which is better for transfers?

If you're sending money to family in Indonesia, India, or Vietnam — and the amounts are modest — BigPay is a practical option. The app is familiar to most Malaysians and the process is straightforward.

If you're sending to countries outside BigPay's 10-market list, or if the exchange rate matters a lot to you, Wise has broader reach and a more transparent fee structure. The mid-market rate with no markup is a genuine advantage, especially for larger amounts.

Cards — BigPay card vs Wise card

Both BigPay and Wise give you a physical card you can use for everyday spending at home and abroad. They work differently though, especially when it comes to foreign currency spending.

The BigPay card

When you sign up for BigPay, you get a Visa or Mastercard accepted at over 40 million merchants worldwide. It works like a debit card — you can only spend what you've loaded into your account, so there's no risk of overdrafting.

You can make contactless payments in under a second, and if you lose your card, you can freeze it instantly from the app. Everything is managed in-app: transaction history, card controls, and spending categories.

Because your BigPay balance is in RM only, spending in a foreign currency triggers a conversion. The fee and rate that apply aren't listed publicly — check the BigPay app for the latest figures before you travel.

How to top up BigPay

You can top up your BigPay account via DuitNow or bank transfer directly from the app. Top-up fees and any charges for credit card top-ups aren't listed publicly — check the BigPay app for the latest rates before you add money.

The Wise card

The Wise card costs RM13.70 as a one-time fee.² After that, there are no subscription charges.

The key advantage is that if you already hold a currency in your Wise account, you can spend it with no conversion fee. If you’re planning a trip to Japan, you can convert some RM to JPY in advance, and your card will draw from that JPY balance when you pay — without any fees or markups. If you don't hold the right currency, Wise converts at the mid-market rate from 0.77%.

For ATM withdrawals, you get up to RM1,000 per month across two withdrawals for free. After that, it's RM5 + 1.75% per withdrawal. The card works in 150+ countries.²

Which card suits you?

The BigPay card is the simpler option — you just load RM, tap and pay. It fits if you want a straightforward card for travel within Asia and aren't too concerned about squeezing the best possible exchange rate.

The Wise card gives you more control over what you pay in FX fees. If you travel frequently, buy from overseas websites often, or deal in multiple currencies regularly, pre-loading the currency you need and spending it fee-free adds up to a meaningful saving over time.

Which is better for you in Malaysia?

Neither BigPay nor Wise is the objectively better tool. The right pick depends on what you actually use it for.

BigPay makes more sense if you:

• Want a simple card for everyday spending and travel, mainly within Asia

• Send money regularly to family in Indonesia, India, Bangladesh, Vietnam, or other countries on BigPay's transfer list

• Already use AirAsia and want to earn points on your spending

• Pay local bills and want one app that handles daily finances

• Want a free and instant way to send money between Malaysia and Singapore

Wise makes more sense if you:

• Send money to countries outside BigPay's 10-market list

• Want to hold foreign currencies and spend them without paying a conversion fee each time

• Receive payments from abroad in currencies like USD, GBP, or EUR

• Want full visibility on the exchange rate before committing to a transfer

• Travel frequently and want to pre-load the currency you need at the mid-market rate

For most people who only need one tool, the deciding factor is simple: if your world is mostly Southeast Asia and your balance is in RM, BigPay does the job well. If you move money across multiple currencies regularly, Wise's multi-currency account gives you more flexibility and usually lower FX costs.

Some Malaysians use both — BigPay for local spending and quick transfers within Asia, Wise for everything else. That's a reasonable setup if your needs span both.

Using BigPay or Wise for your Malaysian business?

If you're a business owner who landed on this page, here's something most comparison articles won't tell you: neither BigPay nor Wise has a business account in Malaysia.

BigPay is a personal consumer product: there's no business entity onboarding, no company account, and no multi-user access.

Wise is more internationally capable, but its Business product is not available in Malaysia. Wise's own website states this clearly. What you get is a personal account — which means everything sits under your individual name, with no separation between personal and business finances.

For a sole trader who just needs a card for travel or an occasional transfer, that might be workable. But if your business regularly pays overseas suppliers, collects payments in foreign currencies, or needs more than one person to manage transfers, both tools run out of road quickly.

What Malaysian SMEs actually need

Running a business across borders involves a different set of problems. You might be collecting payments from customers in Singapore, the US, or Hong Kong. You might be paying suppliers in China or Europe. You need your finance team to be able to initiate and approve transfers — not just one person on a personal app.

Here are the specific gaps BigPay and Wise leave for businesses:

• No account in your company's name

• No multi-user access or approval workflows

• No batch payments to multiple recipients

• No accounting software integrations

• No ability to collect international payments into a business account

Where Airwallex comes in

Airwallex Global Accounts is built to fill exactly that gap. Here's what it gives Malaysian businesses:

• Local currency accounts in 20+ countries — collect payments in USD, GBP, EUR, SGD, AUD, and more, in your company's name

• No account opening fees, no monthly fees, no minimum transactions — you only pay when you convert or transfer

• Competitive FX rates — FX rates starting from 0.4% above interbank, letting you save up to 80% on FX fees

• Transfers to 200+ countries — 93% arrive on the same working day, 45% arrive instantly.

• Batch payments — pay up to 1,000 recipients in one go, across different currencies and countries

• Team access and approval workflows — set user permissions and require sign-off on transfers above a set amount

• Accounting integrations — connect directly to Xero or QuickBooks for automatic reconciliation

Airwallex is regulated by Bank Negara Malaysia as a licensed remittance business under the Money Services Business Act 2011.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Is BigPay or Wise better in Malaysia?

It depends on how you use it. BigPay works well for everyday spending, local bill payments, and transfers to countries in Asia. Wise is the stronger pick if you need to hold and spend multiple currencies, send money to a wider range of countries, or want the mid-market exchange rate with no markup. Some Malaysians use both for different purposes.

Can I use BigPay outside Malaysia?

Yes. Your BigPay Visa or Mastercard works at over 40 million merchants worldwide, online and in-store.¹ You can also make ATM withdrawals abroad. Because your balance is held in RM, a conversion applies when you spend in a foreign currency — check the BigPay app for the fee that applies to your transaction.

How many currencies do BigPay and Wise support?

BigPay holds RM only, though you can spend in foreign currencies using your card.¹ Wise lets you hold and exchange 40+ currencies in one account.² For international transfers, BigPay supports 10 countries and Wise supports 140+.

Is BigPay or Wise faster for international transfers?

Both can be fast, but it varies by destination. BigPay transfers can arrive within minutes or take up to a few working days depending on the country. Wise states that 90% of transfers arrive within 24 hours.²

Does Wise have a business account in Malaysia?

No. Wise Business is not available in Malaysia — Wise's own website confirms this. Malaysian users can only access the personal account. If you need a business account with multi-currency collection and team access, Airwallex Global Accounts is available to Malaysian businesses.

Can I use BigPay or Wise to pay overseas suppliers?

You can use either to send money internationally as an individual, but neither offers a business account in Malaysia. That means transfers go out under your personal name with no approval workflows or batch payment tools. For businesses paying suppliers across multiple countries regularly, a dedicated business account like Airwallex is a more practical fit.

Are BigPay and Wise safe to use in Malaysia?

Yes, both are regulated by Bank Negara Malaysia. Wise is licensed as a remittance, money-changing, and e-money issuance business.² BigPay is a licensed e-money issuer under BNM. Neither is a bank, so your funds are not covered by PIDM deposit insurance — but both are subject to BNM oversight and are required to safeguard customer funds in accordance with Malaysian regulations.

Sources:

1. bigpayme.com/

2. bigpayme.com/account/

3. bigpayme.com/card/

4. bigpayme.com/transfers/bigpay-to-bigpay/

5. wise.com/my/

6. wise.com/my/pricing/

7. wise.com/my/business/

8. airwallex.com/my/business-account/global-accounts

9. airwallex.com/my/business-account/transfers

This publication does not constitute legal, tax, or professional advice from Airwallex nor substitute seeking such advice, and makes no express or implied representations / warranties / guarantees regarding content accuracy, completeness, or currency. If you would like to request an update, feel free to contact us at [[email protected]]. Airwallex (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd is licensed in Malaysia as a MSB Class B (remittance business only) licensee and is regulated by Bank Negara Malaysia (licence number 00318).