Top 6 Aspire alternatives 2025: compare fees, features & benefits

Whether you’re a start-up or an established business operating internationally, it’s important to choose the right business account for managing your day-to-day finances. Aspire is a fintech company based in Singapore that offers financial payment solutions for businesses, including multi-currency accounts and cards. In this article, we’ll compare Aspire to other popular alternatives – including Airwallex – highlighting fees, features, and benefits, to help you make an informed decision for your business needs.

What is Aspire?

Aspire is a Singapore-based fintech company that aims to offer an integrated financial solution for businesses. They enable businesses to open business accounts in five currencies, send and receive international payments, and access expense management tools to improve their finance operations.

The platform supports conversions in 30+ currencies and offers competitive exchange rates for international transactions. However, as Aspire relies on Wise, their third-party partner, for making international transfers, this may result in additional handling fees and slower transaction times for businesses.

Top 6 Aspire alternatives in Singapore

Here are the top alternatives for Aspire:

• Airwallex: An end-to-end financial operations platform designed to help businesses scale globally. With over 60 licenses worldwide, we offer multi-currency accounts, cost-effective international payment solutions, and payment gateway services that enable businesses to accept customer payments in 180+ countries. 

• Wise: A UK-based fintech company that offers international money transfer services for both individuals and businesses. With over 10 million customers worldwide, Wise offers multi-currency business accounts, near mid-market exchange rates, and corporate cards at a small account set-up fee.

• YouBiz: A multi-currency business account developed by Singapore-based fintech company YouTrip. They offer corporate cards with 0% FX fees on spending across 150+ currencies.

• Wallex: A Singapore-based international FX and payments platform. They offer multi-currency accounts in 13+ currencies, as well as cross-border transfer services with competitive foreign exchange rates.

• WorldFirst: A cross-border payment service provider that supports businesses with global transfers, especially payments to China. They were founded in the UK in 2004 and were acquired by Jack Ma's Ant Group in 2019.

• OCBC: A leading bank in Singapore with a strong presence across Southeast Asia, with branches in Malaysia, Indonesia, and China. They offer three main business accounts solutions for businesses of different sizes. Compared to fintech companies like Aspire and Airwallex, OCBC charges a bank commission for processing international transfers.

Compare the top 6 Aspire alternatives in Singapore

Why choose Airwallex over Aspire?

As your business expands across borders, Airwallex is uniquely equipped to help streamline your financial operations. Backed by more than 60 licenses worldwide, we provide extensive global coverage to ensure fast cross-border transactions at competitive pricing.

• Proprietary financial infrastructure: Unlike Aspire, which relies on Wise to facilitate its cross-border transfers, Airwallex has its own global financial network and infrastructure. This means faster and more cost-effective international payments at interbank exchange rates. 

• Extensive multi-currency support: While Aspire offers business accounts in only 5 currencies, in comparison, Airwallex enables you to open accounts with local bank details in 23+ currencies in 60+ different countries. This flexibility lets you receive, hold, and pay out funds in the same currency, avoiding unnecessary conversion fees and maximising cost efficiency.

• Cashback on all spend: For managing company expenses, when spending with Airwallex’s multi-currency corporate card, you can enjoy unlimited 1% cashback on all eligible domestic and international spend. On the other hand, Aspire only offers 1% cashback on digital marketing and SaaS spend.¹⁴

• Payment gateway: Furthermore, using Airwallex’s payment gateway, a feature that isn't available yet with Aspire, you can offer 160+ local payment methods, allowing your customers to pay in their preferred currency and via a checkout flow they're familiar with.

• No forced conversions: Funds can be held in multi-currency accounts to send money to global suppliers or employees when you need to, avoiding double-conversion fees and further reducing costs.

For businesses, these features make all the difference. You boost profitability by cutting conversion fees, keep your prices consistent across markets, and lower your overall transaction costs.

See the table below for a more detailed comparison between Airwallex and Aspire.

What questions should I ask when choosing between Aspire alternatives?

When considering alternative providers to Aspire, ask yourself these questions to compare their fees and benefits:

• Which currencies can I open a business account in?

• Which countries can I send money to and in which currencies?

• What is the fee structure for sending and receiving money?

• What is the currency conversion fee?

• How long does an international transfer take? 

• Are there any hidden fees that I should be aware of?

• Do you offer corporate cards?

• Do you offer online payment services like payment gateways?

• Do you offer automation features or AI-powered tools?

• What customer support options are available?

• Are you licensed to operate in Singapore and regulated by the MAS?

Power your business growth with the Airwallex Business Account

Airwallex gives you complete control over your cross-border payments and backs every transaction with transparent pricing. Unlike Aspire, which positions itself as an all-in-one business account, Airwallex delivers more. You access broader local payment networks, more diverse payment options, and competitive FX rates – all in one platform. With Airwallex, you cut conversion fees, manage global transfers efficiently, and save time by handling every payment in one place.

Aspire may work for businesses taking their first steps into international trade. But if you want to grow, Airwallex scales with you. Open multi-currency accounts, send global payouts, accept payments through a secure gateway, and connect seamlessly with your accounting tools. Whether you’re starting up or expanding into new markets, Airwallex offers the tools and global reach you need to streamline your financial operations and scale without limits.

Sources:

1. https://wise.com/sg/business/ 

2. https://www.you.co/biz/multi-currency-accounts/ 

3. https://www.wallex.asia/en-sg/business-solutions/multi-currency-wallets 

4. https://www.worldfirst.com/sg/product/collect/ 

5. https://www.ocbc.com/business-banking/smes/accounts/multi-currency-business-account 

6. https://aspireapp.com/global-payments 

7. https://youbiz.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/articles/6332633631001-How-do-I-send-money-overseas 

8. https://www.wallex.asia/en-sg/business-solutions/global-payments 

9. https://www.worldfirst.com/sg/product/pay/pay-business-partners/ 

10. https://www.ocbc.com/business-banking/smes/transactions/making-payments 

11. https://help.aspireapp.com/en/collections/9291524-sending-receiving-transfers  

12. https://aspireapp.com/global-payments 

13. https://help.aspireapp.com/en/articles/9278459-guide-to-sending-international-transfers-from-aspire-sgd-account 

14. https://aspireapp.com/corporate-card 

15. https://aspireapp.com/pricing 

16. https://help.aspireapp.com/en/articles/9291532-guide-to-creating-payment-links 

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.