Airwallex Fee Calculator
Calculate Airwallex fees for global payments and currency exchange. Compare domestic cards (1.65% + $0.30), international cards (3.40% + $0.30), local payment methods, and subscription billing rates.
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Airwallex - Domestic Cards Fee Structure
Airwallex is a leading global fintech platform designed specifically for businesses managing international payments. Founded in 2015, Airwallex serves over 100,000 businesses with ultra-low FX fees (0.5% for major currencies, 1.0% for others) and competitive payment processing rates of 1.65% + $0.30 for domestic cards and 3.40% + $0.30 for international cards. The platform supports multi-currency accounts in 20+ currencies and payment acceptance in 160+ local payment methods.
Unlike traditional payment processors that charge 2.5-4% for currency conversion, Airwallex's 0.5% FX markup (for major currencies like USD, EUR, GBP, SGD, HKD, AUD) can save businesses thousands on international transactions. With free local transfers to 120+ countriesand competitive card processing rates, Airwallex is ideal for global businesses with multi-currency needs.
Our Airwallex fees calculator helps you understand exact costs for international payments. Whether you're paying suppliers overseas, receiving payments in multiple currencies, or managing cross-border e-commerce, calculate your savings compared to traditional processors.
Airwallex Fees at a Glance (2026)
| Domestic card acceptance | 1.65% + $0.30 |
| International card acceptance | 3.40% + $0.30 |
| Currency conversion (FX) | +0.5% major currencies · +1% others |
| Local payment methods | from $0.30 + method fee |
| Recurring / subscription billing | +0.5% surcharge |
| Local transfers (120+ countries) | Free |
| SWIFT international transfer | $10-$30 |
| Incoming payments | Free in most currencies (KRW 0.6%) |
| Monthly account fee | $0 Explore plan* (else $29/mo) |
*The $0 Explore plan is free if you deposit $5,000+ a month or hold a $10,000 balance — otherwise $29/month. Card-acceptance rates shown are US standard pricing and vary by region and volume (high-volume merchants can negotiate lower). Always confirm current rates on Airwallex's pricing page.
How Airwallex Fees Are Calculated
Airwallex offers transparent, tiered pricing that varies by transaction type and region. Their fee structure is designed for businesses with international operations, offering competitive rates on card payments, FX conversions, and cross-border transfers.
💳 Card and Transaction Fees
Domestic Cards (Visa, Mastercard, Amex)
1.65% + $0.30 per transaction (US pricing)
International Cards
3.40% + $0.30 per transaction for non-domestic cards
Local Payment Methods (WeChat Pay, GrabPay, 160+ methods)
$0.30 + payment method fee (varies by method)
Subscription Management
0.5% per successful recurring card transaction
🌍 Foreign Exchange (FX) and Transfers
FX Conversions
0.5% above interbank rate for major currencies (AUD, USD, EUR, GBP, SGD, HKD), 1.0% for all others
Local Transfers
Free to 120+ countries (fast, local transfers)
SWIFT Transfers
$10-$30 per transfer (SHA and OUR options available)
📋 Additional Fees
Corporate Card Fees
First 2 cardholders free, then $15/month per additional cardholder (in select regions)
Refund and Gateway Fees
Refund fee for successful refund requests; gateway fee per payment attempt (regardless of success/failure)
3D Secure Authentication
Fee per 3DS authentication request
Fraud Service Fee
Fee for payments evaluated by the fraud detection engine
⚠️ Important Considerations
Regional Differences:
Fees vary significantly by country. UK pricing differs from Australia, Singapore, US, etc. Always check region-specific pricing.
Pricing Tiers:
The $0 "Explore" plan has no monthly fee if you deposit $5,000+ a month or keep a $10,000 balance — otherwise it is $29/month. Premium plans carry a monthly fee but lower per-transaction costs.
Custom Pricing:
High-volume businesses ($1M+ monthly) can negotiate volume-based discounts. Contact Airwallex for enterprise rates.
Example Calculation:
International card payment of $1,000:
- • Payment amount: $1,000
- • Card processing fee: 3.40% + $0.30 = $34.30
- • Net received: $965.70
- • If converting currencies: add 0.5-1% FX (~$5-$10)
Compare: PayPal charges about 3.49% + $0.49 ($35.39) for the same international card — similar on cards. Airwallex's real saving is FX: 0.5-1% versus PayPal's 2.5-4%.
Tips to Save on Airwallex Fees
Use Multi-Currency Accounts
Hold funds in multiple currencies to avoid conversion fees when paying in the same currency you receive. This eliminates the 0.5-1% FX markup entirely.
Choose Local Payment Methods
Local payment options like bank transfers often have lower fees than international cards. Fees can be as low as 0.5% for domestic transactions.
Negotiate Volume Pricing
High-volume businesses can negotiate custom rates with Airwallex. Processing $1M+ monthly may qualify for rates as low as 0.5% + $0.10.
Why Global Businesses Choose Airwallex
Airwallex specializes in multi-currency accounts and international payments with 0.5-1% FX fees—far cheaper than banks or PayPal. Perfect for cross-border e-commerce, paying international suppliers, and managing global teams.
✅ Best For:
- • Cross-border e-commerce (EU/Asia customers)
- • Paying international suppliers/contractors
- • Holding 50+ currencies without conversion
- • Saving $10K-$100K annually on FX fees
❌ Not Ideal For:
- • US-only domestic businesses
- • Personal/freelance use (use Wise instead)
- • Under $10K/month international volume
- • High-risk industries (CBD, crypto, adult)
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does Airwallex charge for payments?
Airwallex charges 1.65% + $0.30 to accept a domestic card and 3.40% + $0.30 for an international card, plus a currency-conversion markup of 0.5% on major currencies (1% on others). There is no monthly fee on the basic Explore plan, and local transfers to 120+ countries are free. It is the FX rate, not the card fee, where Airwallex saves businesses the most versus PayPal and banks.
Are Airwallex fees lower than PayPal?
It depends on the fee. For accepting an international card, Airwallex (3.40% + $0.30) is similar to PayPal (3.49% + $0.49). The big difference is currency conversion: Airwallex adds just 0.5-1% over the mid-market rate versus PayPal's 2.5-4%, so on a $10,000 conversion you might pay about $50-$100 with Airwallex versus $250-$400 with PayPal. For businesses with real cross-border volume, that FX gap is where the savings are.
What are Airwallex FX fees?
Airwallex adds a markup of 0.5% above the mid-market (interbank) exchange rate on major currencies like USD, EUR, GBP, AUD, SGD and HKD, and 1% on other currencies - compared with 2.5-4% for PayPal and banks. If you hold and pay out in the same currency you received (like-for-like settlement), you can avoid the conversion step entirely.
Does Airwallex have monthly fees?
The basic Explore plan has no monthly fee if you deposit at least $5,000 a month or keep a $10,000 balance; otherwise it costs $29 a month. You then pay only per-transaction processing and FX fees. Premium plans carry a monthly fee in exchange for lower per-transaction costs, and extra cardholders or physical cards can add small fees.
How much does Airwallex charge per transaction?
For card acceptance, Airwallex charges 1.65% + $0.30 on a domestic card and 3.40% + $0.30 on an international card. Local payment methods start at a $0.30 fixed fee plus the method's own cost, and recurring (subscription) card payments add a 0.5% surcharge. On top of any payment, a currency conversion adds 0.5-1%. The calculator above shows the exact per-transaction fee for each payment type.
What are Airwallex's payment gateway and card processing fees?
Airwallex's payment gateway (card acceptance) costs 1.65% + $0.30 for domestic cards and 3.40% + $0.30 for international cards, with 3D Secure, risk controls and dispute management included at no extra cost. Recurring billing adds a 0.5% surcharge. There are small fees for refunds, per-attempt gateway requests and 3DS or fraud checks, all disclosed in your pricing - but there is no separate monthly gateway fee on the basic plan.
Is Airwallex free?
Opening an Airwallex account is free, and the $0 Explore plan has no monthly fee as long as you deposit $5,000+ a month or hold a $10,000 balance - otherwise it is $29 a month. Receiving money is free in most currencies and local transfers to 120+ countries are free. You still pay per-transaction card-processing and FX fees, so Airwallex is low-cost rather than entirely free.
Is Airwallex cheaper than PayPal or Stripe?
On US domestic card acceptance, Airwallex at 1.65% + $0.30 undercuts PayPal and Stripe, which sit nearer 2.9% + $0.30. On international cards the three are much closer (Airwallex 3.40% + $0.30). Where Airwallex stands apart is currency conversion - a 0.5-1% markup versus 2.5-4% at PayPal - so it is usually the cheapest option for businesses moving money between currencies, and competitive for plain card processing.
Last Updated: June 9, 2026 | Airwallex US card acceptance is 1.65% + $0.30 domestic and 3.40% + $0.30 international, with a 0.5-1% FX markup and no monthly fee on the basic plan. Fees vary by region and volume — verify on the official Airwallex pricing page.
Where Airwallex actually saves you money
Airwallex’s advantage is the exchange rate, not the card fee. It converts at roughly 0.5% over the mid-market rate on major currencies (0.5–1.0% on smaller ones), where a traditional bank typically bakes 2.5–3.5% into the same conversion. On a $10,000 conversion to euros that is about $50 with Airwallex versus $250–$350 at a bank — the single biggest reason businesses move cross-border flows onto it.
The rest of the pricing is straightforward: international card payments are 3.40% + $0.30, recurring card billing adds a 0.50% surcharge, and incoming payments are free in most currencies (Korean won is the lone exception at 0.6%). Local transfers to 120+ countries go out free over local rails. Because the FX line dominates the total on any sizeable transfer, the number to compare against your bank is the markup over the mid-market rate — that is where the saving is won or lost.
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