Airwallex vs Stripe: Save more and get more ways to pay with Airwallex
Airwallex lets you avoid forced conversions to NZD and gives your customers more ways to pay, with 160+ local payment methods available compared to 125+ offered by Stripe. Save more with competitive pricing and fewer currency conversion fees by settling payments in the same currencies as your customers’.
With Airwallex, you can receive, hold, convert, and transfer global funds all on one platform.
Find out how Airwallex compares to Stripe, what charges businesses will incur when collecting payments with Stripe, and how much they can save with Airwallex Payments.
New ZealandNZD3 reasons why businesses choose Airwallex over Stripe
Settle payments like-for-like
Airwallex lets you settle payments in the same currencies as your customers' directly into your multi-currency wallet. With Stripe, you have to convert every customer payment that’s not in NZD. Airwallex lets you save on FX fees, over and over again.
Get more ways to pay
Offer your local and global customers more ways to pay, with 160+ local payment methods compared to Stripe's 125+.
Do more on one platform
On top of payment processing, Airwallex also offers FX and transfer solutions, multi-currency accounts, expense management tools, yield on your idle funds, and more.
Avoid 2% FX fees: Settle payments like-for-like with Airwallex
Save on payment processing fees and avoid costly currency conversions with like-for-like settlement. For example, a New Zealand business can transact in GBP and settle those funds directly into a local GBP account, without having to convert the funds to NZD and pay foreign exchange (FX) fees. This GBP balance can then be used to pay UK suppliers, further cutting FX fees.
With Airwallex, businesses can settle payments like-for-like in 20+ major currencies* using its built-in multi-currency wallet, without any forced FX conversions. Unlike with Stripe, there's no need to open a separate foreign currency bank account to enjoy these benefits.
Like-for-like settlement currencies: Airwallex vs. Stripe
With Airwallex, you can settle payments like-for-like and avoid forced conversions. When you use Stripe, you’ll be forced to convert every customer payment you receive that’s not in NZD – costing you each time.
STRIPE FEES
How are Stripe fees calculated?
Stripe’s processing fees are calculated based on several factors. These include the merchant entity, transaction volume, payment method, and payment currency. Payments may also incur multi-currency management fees, such as settlement fees and conversion fees. Other fees include fixed gateway fees and Stripe’s Radar for Fraud Teams fee. Our calculator considers all of these factors.*
Get lower pricing on card payments with Airwallex
Note on FX fees: Businesses can avoid a 2% FX conversion fee and forced currency conversions by settling payments like-for-like (e.g. EUR to EUR). Airwallex offers like-for-like settlement for 20+ major currencies* into its multi-currency wallet at a 1% fee, with no need to set up separate foreign bank accounts. Stripe offers no like-for-like settlement for New Zealand-registered businesses and charges businesses a 2% FX conversion fee to receive multi-currency customer payments and convert them to NZD by default.
Manage your end-to-end finances with Airwallex
Compare Stripe and Airwallex features in New Zealand:
Expand globally with access to more local payment methods
With Airwallex, businesses can expand their global reach with access to 160+ local payment methods compared to Stripe's 125+. These include digital wallets, such as Google Pay and Apple Pay, BNPL options like Klarna and Afterpay, and local bank transfers like Trustly in Europe and iDEAL in the Netherlands. Airwallex also offers 20+ local payment methods in Asia not offered on Stripe, including Kisok Payments in Singapore, DOKU Wallet in Indonesia, and Boost in Malaysia.
See all of our 160+ local payment methods.
What local businesses are saying about Airwallex
“Reports that you can get out of the portal are very tailored to what we would like… You can go fully customised with the expense coding. From an accounting perspective, you could put your entire P&L into Airwallex and the cardholders would code it… From an accounting perspective, life could not be easier.”
Mitch Halstead
Senior Financial Accountant, Rodd & Gunn
“If you have staff, suppliers or customers overseas, then your business should be using Airwallex. It’s a fantastic product backed by a wonderful customer care team who will answer all your questions and ensure you get onboarded properly and know how to use the product.”
Dale Beaumont
Founder and CEO, Business Blueprint
"Before Airwallex, we were making unnecessarily expensive conversions. Our margins have easily increased by 3% simply by switching to Airwallex.”
Jake McKeon
Coconut Bowls, Founder
"These small percentages here and there add up over time with a real bottom line impact. When I see the rates are good, I’ll convert my AUD into USD, knowing that I’ve saved money that I can re-invest into the business in the long-run."
Andy Worley
Co-Owner & Director, Sheet Society
“Because of Airwallex, we’re enjoying significant cost savings and a more streamlined management of funds between different currencies, which is essential for our travel agency.”
Simon Russell
Authentic Vacations, CEO
Frequently asked questions about Stripe features and fees
How much are Stripe fees in New Zealand?
Stripe typically charges a flat rate of 2.65% + NZD$0.30 per successful transaction for domestic card payments and 3.70% + NZD$0.30 for international card payments in New Zealand. Fees vary by merchant location, transaction volume, payment method, shopper currency, transaction type, settlement currency, and payment gateway. Additional fees apply for foreign currency settlement and FX conversions. Airwallex offers a competitive alternative with transparent and often lower fees, especially for businesses dealing with multiple currencies and regions.
What alternative solutions to Stripe are there?
There are several alternatives to Stripe, including PayPal, Square, and Braintree. However, Airwallex stands out for its competitive pricing, like-for-like settlement, multi-currency support, and end-to-end solutions including payment acceptance, FX and transfers, and spend management tools. The Stripe fee calculator can help businesses compare costs and see how much they can save with Airwallex.
What is like-for-like settlement?
Like-for-like settlement is a process that ensures that the currency a business receives in their account is the same as the currency in which the payment was made. This means that if a customer pays a business in, for example, US dollars (USD), the funds will be settled directly into their Airwallex account in USD, without currency conversion. This approach helps businesses avoid unnecessary foreign exchange fees and ensures that they receive the exact amount they are owed, making international transactions more transparent and efficient.
Who can open an Airwallex account in New Zealand?
Most New Zealand businesses are eligible. You’ll need an active NZBN, a valid ID for all directors or beneficial owners, and basic registration documents.
How can an Airwallex account help my business?
An Airwallex account can help you do more on a single platform. In addition to accepting payments from your international customers in their preferred currency and local payment methods to improve acceptance rates, you can also store those funds without forced conversion. Then, spend the funds later in the same currency (for example, to pay global suppliers and employees) without being subject to unnecessary conversion fees. You can also access a full suite of spend management tools, issue multi-currency cards, and access interbank FX rates – all in one intuitive platform.
*The exact number depends on the region the business is registered in.
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The information in this article is based on our own online research. Airwallex was not able to manually test each tool or provider. The information is provided for educational purposes only and a reader should consider the specific requirements of their business when evaluating providers. This research is reviewed annually. If you would like to request an update, feel free to contact us at [[email protected]].
This case study is provided for informational purposes only and should not be construed as an endorsement or guarantee of results. The experiences and outcomes described may not be representative of all clients or experiences. Airwallex (New Zealand) Limited is registered with the New Zealand Financial Service Provider Register (FSP No. 1001602) to provide a range of financial services in New Zealand.
Airwallex (New Zealand) Limited is registered with the New Zealand Financial Service Provider Register (FSP No. 1001602) to provide a range of financial services in New Zealand.