Searching for the best global multi-currency card in Singapore? We compare the World Card with the Airwallex card
Key takeaways
- Both the World Card and the Airwallex Corporate Card let Singapore businesses spend directly from balances held in multiple currencies, but the accounts behind them work very differently
- The World Card comes with the World Account, which has no monthly account fee, no minimum balance and up to 20 virtual cards included at no extra cost
- The Airwallex Corporate Card comes with the Airwallex business account, which is offered on three subscription tiers: Free, S$79 and S$399 per month, with card availability tied to the plan
- The World Card runs on Mastercard and supports payments in 150+ currencies; the Airwallex Corporate Card runs on Visa
Both the World Card from WorldFirst and the Airwallex Corporate Card let Singapore businesses hold foreign currencies, spend directly from those balances, and manage team expenses in one place. The similarities end at the account behind the card.
The World Account has no monthly fee and one flat structure for every business that opens it. The Airwallex account is sold across three subscription tiers, with card inclusions, spend limits and business features that scale with the price.
This guide compares the World Card and the Airwallex Corporate Card on fees, currencies, card availability and the accounts they sit inside.
What is the World Card?
The World Card is a Mastercard-powered virtual business payment card issued by WorldFirst, a global payments provider. It is designed for Singapore businesses that pay overseas suppliers, cover software and advertising costs in foreign currencies, or manage team travel spend abroad.
Every World Card is linked to the World Account, a multi-currency account that lets businesses hold funds in 20+ currencies including SGD, USD, GBP, EUR, AUD, NZD, CNH, HKD and JPY. Opening a World Account is free, holding funds in it is free, and there is no monthly account fee.
When you pay in one of the 15 supported spending currencies and hold a sufficient balance in that currency, the transaction is processed with no foreign exchange fee. When the required balance is not available, WorldFirst converts from your other currency balances at a fee of up to 0.6%.
A single World Account can issue up to 20 virtual cards at no extra cost, with individual spending limits and real-time tracking available for each. Cashback on eligible World Card spending is also available, terms and conditions apply.
What is the Airwallex Corporate Card?
The Airwallex Corporate Card is a Visa-powered multi-currency card available to Airwallex business account holders in Singapore.¹ It can be used online or in-store anywhere Visa is accepted.¹
Airwallex offers two card types.²
- Company cards are issued in the company’s name and used on behalf of the whole business or a team; card details are visible to all card admins
- Employee cards are issued to individual team members for expenses such as travel, meals or supplies; admins can set spending limits and freeze or cancel cards, but the card details are not visible to admins
Company cards are available as virtual cards; employee cards are available as virtual or physical cards.²
The card is linked to the Airwallex multi-currency account, which lets Singapore businesses collect and hold funds in 20+ currencies.³ The number of free cards available depends on the Airwallex subscription plan, which has three tiers: Free, S$79 per month, and S$399 per month.³ The Free plan includes 10 company cards, the S$79 plan includes up to 50, and the S$399 plan includes unlimited cards.³
→ Read the Airwallex Singapore review for a detailed look at the Airwallex business account and its features, or explore Airwallex alternatives if you are weighing up other multi-currency card options.
World Card vs Airwallex Corporate Card: The fee breakdown
| Fee type |
World Card |
Airwallex Corporate Card³ |
| Card issuance fee |
Zero for up to 20 virtual cards |
Zero for cards included in the subscription plan |
| Annual card fee |
Zero |
Zero |
| Monthly account fee for the linked multi-currency account |
Zero |
Three tiers: Free, S$79 per month, or S$399 per month |
| Number of free cards |
Up to 20 virtual cards per account |
10 on Free plan, up to 50 on S$79 plan, unlimited on S$399 plan |
| Card transactions (matching balance) |
Zero foreign exchange fee when there is a sufficient balance in one of 15 supported currencies |
Zero foreign exchange fee when paying in a currency held in the account |
| Card transactions (currency conversion needed) |
Up to 0.6% conversion fee |
0.4% above the interbank rate for major currencies; 0.6% for all other currencies |
*Fees checked in June 2026. Terms and conditions apply.
World Card vs Airwallex Corporate Card: Feature comparison
Card network and global usage
The World Card is powered by Mastercard and can be used wherever Mastercard is accepted, both online and in-store, across 200+ countries and regions.
The Airwallex Corporate Card is powered by Visa and can be used anywhere Visa is accepted, online or in-store.¹
→ For a broader look at how the two providers compare beyond the card, see WorldFirst vs Airwallex.
Supported currencies and spending
The World Card supports payments in 150+ currencies. When you have a balance in one of the 15 supported spending currencies, card payments are processed without foreign exchange fees. When a matching balance is not available, the required amount is converted from your available currency balances at competitive exchange rates, with a conversion fee of up to 0.6%.
The Airwallex Corporate Card debits directly from the currency wallet you hold sufficient balance in.⁴ When a matching balance is not available, Airwallex converts from your base currency at the prevailing FX rate, plus a conversion fee of 0.4% above the interbank rate for major currencies (such as USD, SGD, EUR, GBP, AUD, HKD, CNY, JPY) or 0.6% for all other currencies.⁴
Number of cards for your team
The World Card lets businesses issue up to 20 virtual cards from a single account at no extra cost. Each card supports custom spending limits and real-time tracking, which makes it easier to manage team expenses under one account.
The Airwallex Corporate Card is available in numbers that depend on the subscription plan.³
- The free plan includes 10 company cards and five spend users
- The S$79 per month plan includes up to 50
- The S$399 per month plan includes unlimited cards
Multi-currency account behind the card
The World Card is linked to the World Account, which lets businesses hold funds in 20+ currencies including SGD, USD, GBP, EUR, AUD, NZD, CNH, HKD and JPY. There is no fee to open the account or to open local currency accounts within it, and no monthly account fee.
The Airwallex Corporate Card is linked to the Airwallex multi-currency account, which supports 20+ currencies for Singapore businesses.³ The account is available across three subscription tiers, ranging from a Free plan to a S$399 per month plan, each with different card inclusions and business features.³
Choosing between the World Card and the Airwallex Corporate Card
The World Card and the Airwallex Corporate Card both help businesses in Singapore manage spending across multiple currencies. Compare the fees, the number of cards your team needs, the currencies you spend most often and the features of the linked multi-currency account against how your business actually operates before deciding.
Sources
- https://www.airwallex.com/sg/spend-management/cards
- https://help.airwallex.com/hc/en-gb/articles/4970990380943-How-do-I-choose-between-a-Company-Card-or-Employee-Card
- https://www.airwallex.com/sg/pricing
- https://help.airwallex.com/hc/en-gb/articles/900003301566-What-is-the-automatic-conversions-for-cards
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.
