Stripe vs Airwallex: Compare features and fees
More local payment methods (160+) and like‑for‑like settlement in 14+ currencies—without separate foreign currency bank accounts.
3 reasons why businesses choose Airwallex over Sokin
Reach more countries with faster, lower‑cost transfers
While Sokin offers coverage to 170+ countries in 70+ currencies, its network relies heavily on a combination of local routes and traditional SWIFT transfers, limiting how many payments can benefit from faster, cheaper local clearing.
Airwallex delivers significantly broader coverage, routing payouts to 200+ countries/regions with local clearing connections in 110+ markets — substantially more than Sokin's footprint.
Receive like‑for‑like in more currencies, on a broader account footprint
Sokin's receivable account network is limited to 26 currencies, with true local account details restricted to just five major currencies (GBP, EUR, USD, AUD, CAD).
Airwallex extends far beyond this constrained footprint with local currency accounts and genuine local bank details in 60+ countries, letting you receive like‑for‑like in 20+ currencies.
Get more on one platform — from payments to spend management
While Sokin offers global accounts, cross‑border payments, and basic ecommerce capabilities, its solution stops short of comprehensive spend management.
Airwallex delivers a complete end‑to‑end financial operating system that extends far beyond Sokin's core payments focus.
Send transfers to more regions and accept customer payments with Airwallex
While Sokin enables international payments in 70+ currencies to 170+ countries, its reliance on a mix of local routes and SWIFT means many transfers still move through slower, costlier cross-border networks. Not only that, but its receivable account coverage is limited to 26 currencies, and like-for-like eCommerce settlement is restricted to just eight major currencies (USD, EUR, GBP, CAD, AUD, NOK, DKK, SEK) — leaving businesses exposed to forced conversions in most other markets.
Airwallex delivers best-in-class global connectivity that far exceeds Sokin's reach: route payouts locally or via SWIFT to 200+ countries/regions, with local clearing in 110+ markets for consistently faster, lower-cost delivery. On the collections side, accept customer payments in 180+ countries/regions via major card schemes and 160+ local payment methods, using no-code payment links, low-code eCommerce plugins, or fully custom APIs — giving you unmatched flexibility and control.
Consolidate your entire global financial operation on one intelligent platform — receive, hold, settle and send funds, accept payments, and manage spend — all with Airwallex.
Save on transfer fees and FX with Airwallex
While Sokin promotes low-cost global payments with no account fees, businesses still pay transaction fees on every payment plus FX fees on each conversion. With like-for-like settlement limited to just 8 currencies, businesses are forced into frequent conversions — multiplying these costs across transactions.
Airwallex delivers measurably lower total payment costs through a fundamentally superior approach: Like-for-like settlement in 14+ currencies — nearly double Sokin's offering — eliminating forced conversions and keeping significantly more of your revenue.
What local businesses are saying about Airwallex
“Airwallex is a really good example of how we’re investing in technology. While our previous solution for foreign payments was very slow, manual and outdated, Airwallex is quick, easy and efficient. Not only does Airwallex save the team time, it also saves us money – it’s a win-win.”
Laura Bowden
CFO at McLaren Racing
“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
“Everything just flows now - approvals, expenses, reimbursements. Managers feel trusted, the finance team is more visible, and we’re moving faster without losing control. Airwallex has completely changed the pace and perception of finance in the business.”
Nathan Humphreys
Financial Controller, Truvi
"One thing was clear: We needed a simple-to-use, truly global financial solution that allowed us to seamlessly accept money from customers in multiple markets convert it to other currencies only when needed, and pay vendors in different countries. In other words, we needed to trade globally - not just Australia.”
Richard Li
Co-founder & CEO, July
"We've had such a fantastic experience switching to Airwallex. Previously we were using a traditional bank to make all of our international transactions and they'd constantly lock us out of the account everytime we made a transfer, resulting in hours and hours of lost time on hold. Airwallex is secure, makes it super quick and simple to make and receive international payments."
Rupert
Managing Director, Perspective Pictures
Frequently asked questions about Stripe fees and features
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.
How much are Stripe fees in the US?
Stripe typically charges a flat rate of 2.90% + US$0.30 per successful transaction for domestic card payments and 4.40% + US$0.30 for international card payments in the US. Fees vary by merchant location, transaction volume, payment method, shopper currency, transaction type, settlement currency, and payment gateway. Additional fees apply for foreign currency settlements and foreign exchange conversions. Airwallex offers a competitive alternative with transparent and often lower fees, particularly for businesses that deal with multiple currencies and regions.
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.