WorldFirst vs Raenest vs Grey: Fees and features comparison

A side-by-side comparison of WorldFirst vs Raenest vs Grey across African markets for international business payments

Key takeaways

• WorldFirst, Raenest and Grey all support international business payments, but come with varied features and regional availability
• WorldFirst offers a multi-currency business account with 15+ currencies across 200+ countries, 130+ marketplace integrations, and up to 20 virtual World Cards
• Raenest provides USD, GBP and EUR business accounts in Nigeria, Kenya and Ghana, alongside invoicing, payment links, team cards and transfers to 70+ countries
• Grey provides USD business accounts in Nigeria and personal foreign currency accounts in Nigeria, Kenya, Ghana and Morocco, plus bulk payouts and virtual cards

Whether you’re collecting international payments, paying overseas suppliers or managing business spending, choosing the right payment provider starts with understanding what your business needs.

WorldFirst, Raenest and Grey all support cross-border payments, but they differ in fees, supported currencies, virtual cards, marketplace payment support and business availability across Africa. This guide compares the three side by side.

What is WorldFirst?

WorldFirst, part of Ant International, provides international payment solutions for businesses trading across borders. At the centre of its offering is the World Account, a multi-currency account that supports 15+ currencies.

From one account, businesses can collect payments using local receiving details, make international payments in 100+ currencies, convert currencies at competitive exchange rates, and receive payouts from more than 130 marketplaces and payment gateways. The World Account includes Mastercard-powered multi-currency cards that can be used for payments in 150+ currencies. No foreign exchange fees apply when spending from available balances held in these 15+ supported currencies.

What is Raenest?

Raenest (formerly Geegpay) is a cross-border payment provider that offers business accounts in 13 countries.¹ Businesses can receive, hold, send and convert funds in USD, GBP and EUR using local receiving account details.^1,2

Businesses can also send payments to 70+ countries,^3,7 create payment links and invoices, and issue virtual and physical USD business cards with team spending controls.^4,5,6,8 Raenest business accounts are currently available in Nigeria, Kenya and Ghana.⁹

What is Grey?

Grey is a cross-border payments provider that offers foreign currency accounts and international payment solutions for individuals and businesses.¹⁰ While business accounts are currently only offered in Nigeria, personal accounts are available in Nigeria, Kenya, Ghana and Morocco, with services varying by market.^10,11,12,13

For businesses in Nigeria, Grey provides local USD account details to receive international payments.¹⁰ Eligible users can also send international transfers, make bulk payouts to more than 170 countries, and access virtual Visa and Mastercard cards for online spending.^10,14,15

→ For more details, read the Grey review and explore Grey alternatives

Fees breakdown table

The table below compares the key fees charged by each provider:

 *Fees checked in July 2026

*Raenest (Geegpay) business accounts are available in Nigeria, Kenya and Ghana. Grey Business accounts are available in Nigeria only. Users in Kenya, Ghana and Morocco can access Grey personal accounts

Feature comparison

Local currency accounts and supported currencies

WorldFirst provides a multi-currency account supporting more than 15 currencies. Businesses can hold balances in currencies including USD, EUR, GBP, AUD and CNH and send payments in more than 100 currencies worldwide.

Raenest focuses on USD, GBP and EUR receiving accounts.¹ Businesses receive local account details for major international currencies and can receive funds through ACH, SEPA, Faster Payments and SWIFT-supported routes.^1,3,4,5

Grey’s offering varies by market: Nigerian businesses can access USD business account details, while Ghanaian users can receive funds through USD, EUR and GBP personal accounts.^10,12 Moroccan users can receive EUR and GBP payments through personal accounts, with automatic conversion to MAD.¹³ Grey also supports international payments for users in Kenya, although the full currency list is not publicly specified.¹¹

Marketplace and payment gateway integration

WorldFirst supports collections from more than 130 marketplaces and payment gateways, including Amazon, Etsy, Shopify, AliExpress and Stripe.

Raenest supports receiving funds from platforms that support bank deposits, like platforms such as Upwork and Fiverr.⁶ It also provides tools to create invoices and generates links for accepting payments.⁶

Grey does not currently state specific integrations with global marketplaces or payment gateways.

Payments to China

Through WorldPay, WorldFirst enables businesses to pay suppliers directly in CNH, including suppliers on 1688.com.

Both Raenest and Grey (personal) explicitly states support for direct CNH transfers or supplier payments on 1688.com.^9,19

Multi-currency cards

WorldFirst provides the World Card, a Mastercard-powered virtual business card linked directly to the World Account. Businesses can issue up to 20 virtual cards without additional charges and spend in 150+ currencies.

Raenest offers both virtual and physical USD business cards.⁸ Businesses can create cards for teams, assign spending limits, monitor expenses and use the cards with Apple Pay and Google Pay.⁸ Card creation and transaction fees of US$3 and US$0.50 respective apply.²⁰

Grey offers prepaid virtual VISA and Mastercard cards that support online spending with global merchants.¹⁴ The cards can be added to Apple Pay and Google Pay, although users pay a one-time card issuance fee between US$4-US$5.^14,15

WorldFirst vs Raenest vs Grey: side-by-side feature comparison table

*Details checked in July 2026

Business account vs personal account: what’s the difference?

Cross-border payment providers may offer either business accounts, personal accounts or both, depending on the country. While both can support international payments, business accounts are generally designed for commercial use and may include business features such as multiple users, expense management tools, business payment cards, marketplace integrations and bulk payments.

Personal accounts are usually intended for individual transactions and may not include the same business-focused capabilities. When comparing providers, you can also check whether the account type supports the way your business receives payments, pays suppliers and conducts day-to-day operations.

Who can use a cross-border payments provider?

Cross-border payment providers support businesses that receive payments, make international transfers or want to hold/convert foreign currency transactions. Common use cases include:

Digital agencies

Agencies working with international clients often receive payments in foreign currencies while paying freelancers, software subscriptions and advertising costs across multiple countries.

SaaS businesses

Software companies serving overseas customers may need to collect payments in different currencies while paying international contractors and cloud service providers.

Exporters

Businesses selling products or services internationally can use foreign currency accounts to receive customer payments and pay overseas logistics providers or suppliers.

Recruitment and outsourcing firms

Businesses placing remote talent often receive payments from overseas clients before paying contractors in different countries, making international payouts an important part of their operations.

Content creators and online educators

Creators earning through sponsorships, affiliate programmes or digital platforms may receive payments in USD, GBP or EUR and need an efficient way to manage international income.

Travel and hospitality businesses

Businesses working with overseas customers or international booking platforms may receive payments in foreign currencies while paying international vendors or service providers.

WorldFirst, Raenest or Grey: Which suits your business?

International payment needs can vary widely between businesses, even within the same industry. The right choice is often the one that removes the most friction from your day-to-day operations. Whether that’s collecting customer payments, paying overseas suppliers or managing multiple currencies, assess which provider supports the way your business operates today, and how it may grow in the future.

FAQs

Which African countries can businesses use Raenest and Grey in?

Raenest business accounts are available in Nigeria, Kenya and Ghana.⁹ Grey Business is currently available in Nigeria only.¹⁰ Grey users in Kenya, Ghana and Morocco can access personal accounts.^10,11,12,13

Can you receive marketplace payouts like Amazon or Etsy through Raenest or Grey?

Neither Raenest nor Grey specifically mention marketplace integrations with Amazon or Etsy.

What is the difference between Raenest and Grey for freelancers earning in USD?

Raenest provides USD receiving accounts in Nigeria, Kenya and Ghana alongside invoicing tools and virtual cards.^1,3,8,9 Grey provides USD accounts to receive funds in Nigeria via business accounts and in Kenya, Ghana and Morocco via personal accounts.^10,11,12,13 Grey also offers virtual cards.¹⁴

Does Raenest offer a virtual card, and how does it compare to Grey’s virtual card?

Yes. Raenest offers virtual USD cards with team controls, spending limits and Apple Pay and Google Pay support.⁸ Grey offers prepaid virtual VISA and Mastercard cards that also support Apple Pay and Google Pay¹⁴, although card pricing structures differ as the former carries an issuance cost of US$3 and transaction cost of US$0.50 while the latter carries a US$4-US$5 issuance cost based on the type of card and does not apply any transaction cost.^15,20

SOURCES

1. https://www.raenest.com/business/home
2. https://www.raenest.com/business/global-accounts
3. https://help.raenest.com/en/articles/12522082-about-your-usd-account
4. https://help.raenest.com/en/articles/12522302-about-your-gbp-account
5. https://help.raenest.com/en/articles/12522101-about-your-eur-account
6. https://www.raenest.com/business/receive-payments
7. https://www.raenest.com/business/make-payments
8. https://www.raenest.com/business/cards
9. https://help.raenest.com/en/articles/9229531-our-supported-payout-countries-currency-and-fees
10. https://grey.co/business
11. https://grey.co/en-ke
12. https://grey.co/en-gh
13. https://grey.co/en-ma
14. https://grey.co/cards
15. https://support.grey.co/en/articles/9819043-full-virtual-card-transaction-limit
16. https://help.raenest.com/en/articles/13285320-conversion-fees-on-raenest
17. https://support.grey.co/en/articles/10265140-faq-new-pricing-update
18. https://support.grey.co/en/articles/5450108-conversion-fees
19. https://grey.co/en-cn
20. https://help.raenest.com/en/articles/6391318-virtual-card-charges-on-raenest

This article is intended for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice or professional advice. This article should not be regarded as constituting an offer or a solicitation to buy or sell any regulated or financial products or services. WorldFirst makes no representations or warranties regarding the accuracy, completeness, or applicability of the content, and readers are encouraged to consult with legal professionals or other professionals for advice tailored to their specific situation. WorldFirst does not guarantee the accuracy and completeness of this article and expressly disclaims any and all liability to any person in respect of the consequences of anything done or omitted to be done wholly or partly in reliance on this article.