Stripe vs. Airwallex: Compare fees and features
Find out how Stripe compares to Airwallex. See what charges businesses will incur when collecting payments with Stripe, and how much they can save with Airwallex Payments.*
Save more with competitive pricing and fewer currency conversion fees when settling funds like-for-like, in the same currencies as customers’. Receive, hold, convert, and transfer global funds all on one platform.
United KingdomGBP3 reasons why businesses choose Airwallex over Stripe
Settle payments like-for-like
Settle payments in the same currencies as your customers' directly into Airwallex. You'll 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, high-rate saver accounts, and more.
Cut FX fees: Save more with like-for-like settlement
Save on payment processing fees and avoid costly currency conversions with like-for-like settlement. For example, a UK business can transact in USD and settle those funds directly into a local USD account, without having to convert the funds to GBP and pay foreign exchange (FX) fees. This USD balance can then be used to pay US-based 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.
Manage your end-to-end finances with Airwallex
Compare Stripe and Airwallex features in the UK.
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
Compare Stripe and Airwallex fees in the UK:
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, unlike Stripe which requires separate foreign bank accounts for each and every currency.
How eCommerce brands use Airwallex to collect, manage, and spend funds
With Airwallex, it's easy to accept payments securely from global customers. Our multi-currency solutions and local payment options can boost your international sales while saving you costly FX conversion fees. Pay global suppliers and fund business expenses in local currencies, and keep your business growing.
What local businesses are saying about Airwallex
“We have contractors based in China, the US, and Europe, and our Airwallex Global Account enables us to make global payments from one simple portal. Having Airwallex as our global trusted partner means we can spend less time on the phone to the bank, and more time instead focusing on growing our business both domestically and internationally.”
Richard Li
Co-founder & CEO, July
“Airwallex is what the new face of managing finances should really look like. First thing I did when I walked into Mr Yum was move all our subscriptions off a big 4 debit card and onto Airwallex. I reckon it saved us close to $50,000 this year in our FX fees.”
Corey Payne
Financial Controller, Mr Yum
“We couldn’t just look at the cost of the product, but also the cost of selling that product. We needed to factor in things like digital marketing spend, merchant fees and currency conversion fees on each sale. With Airwallex, we’ve saved over $12,000 each month that I re-invest into the business for the long-run.”
Hayley Worley
Founder, The Sheet Society
"Airwallex solves the problem of creating currency accounts almost instantly. I can click one button to create a UK account. We haven’t looked back since day one."
Peter Park
Business Improvement Manager, Deliciou
Frequently asked questions about Stripe fees
How much are Stripe fees in the UK?
Stripe typically charges UK businesses a flat rate of 1.5% + £0.20 per successful transaction for domestic card payments, 2.5% + £0.20 for EEA card payments, and 3.25% + £0.20 for international card payments. 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.
How accurate is the Stripe fee calculator?
Our Stripe fee calculator is generally accurate for estimating most transaction processing fees using Stripe. It currently supports Visa and Mastercard schemes and seven major merchant entity locations, including the US, UK, and EU. For more information on Stripe’s fees for other currencies and payment methods, please see Stripe’s website.
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.
How does Stripe like-for-like settlement differ to Airwallex like-for-like settlement?
Both Stripe and Airwallex offer like-for-like settlement in multiple currencies. However, a prerequisite for Stripe like-for-like settlement is local bank accounts in the currencies you wish to collect. With Airwallex, you can open local currency accounts in seconds within the platform so funds settle directly into your Airwallex multi-currency wallet, with no need to open separate foreign currency bank accounts.
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*The Stripe fee calculator is intended to help businesses compare general payment processing costs between Stripe and Airwallex, and is not exhaustive of all currencies, payment methods, and fees, such as dispute fees, chargeback fees, and instant payout fees. Note that Stripe’s Radar for Fraud Teams fee is available only for Stripe accounts with all payment methods on standard pricing. The calculator currently supports Visa and Mastercard schemes, and seven major merchant entity locations: Australia, the European Union, Hong Kong, New Zealand, Singapore, the UK, and the US. The calculator only shows blended pricing and excludes volume-based discounts and custom pricing tiers for enterprises. For simplicity, this model assumes that international sales are transacted in a foreign currency and converted to your home currency. It also assumes that domestic sales occur in your local currency.
All comparisons and information reflect Airwallex’s own research using public documentation as of May 2025, and have not been independently validated. The calculator is not intended to be relied on for the purpose of making a decision about a financial product.