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9 best Wise alternatives in 2026: fees & FX compared

Last update:

January 27, 2026

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UK companies that trade overseas are always watching two things: how quickly money moves and how much it costs to get it there.

As more SMEs sell into Europe, source from Asia and manage mixed-currency revenues, a simple low-fee transfer isn’t enough anymore. They need accounts that hold multiple currencies, payments that clear without delay and tools that keep everyday operations running smoothly.

Wise is still a familiar name for transparent pricing, but many importers, exporters and online sellers have reached the point where they need more. They want faster settlement, more currencies, greater control over their accounts and features that better reflect how real businesses operate.

This guide compares nine Wise alternatives for 2026 that meet those needs. It evaluates how each option performs on FX rates, speed, currency support and practical features, giving UK businesses a clearer sense of what will actually help them.

What is Wise?

Wise (formerly TransferWise) is a UK-based fintech company known for low-cost international transfers. It built its name on simplicity: transparent pricing, quick setup and an interface designed for individuals and small businesses.

Its multi-currency account lets businesses receive, hold and convert a limited set of major currencies. Users can issue virtual cards, make batch payments and connect basic accounting tools.

Why are UK businesses considering alternatives to Wise?

As UK businesses expand internationally, their business payment needs become more demanding. Supplier volumes rise. Currencies multiply. Cash flow tightens. At that point, a simple low-cost transfer isn’t enough.

Reviews on G2 and Capterra clearly show this divide. Smaller users often praise Wise for its simplicity, but growing importers, exporters and online sellers highlight limitations in currency coverage, settlement times and deeper business features. When daily operations depend on fast, reliable international payments, those gaps matter.

That’s usually when businesses start looking at Wise alternatives — solutions that go beyond simple transfers and give them the structure, speed and support required to operate confidently on the world stage.

What to look for in a Wise alternative

When comparing Wise Business to other providers, focus on the capabilities that matter most for international operations:

Supported currencies and accounts: Ensure the platform supports all currencies you trade in and offers local receiving accounts where possible. For example, if you pay Chinese suppliers, look for support for CNY and fast payment times
Exchange rates and fees: Check the FX markup over the mid-market rate and any transfer fees. The best providers publish transparent, low markups. Avoid platforms that hide high fees in poor exchange rates or add hefty commissions
Payment speed and networks: Fast transfers save time and keep partners happy. Look for access to local payment rails (e.g., SEPA, ACH, Faster Payments) in addition to SWIFT. Using local routes means many payments can arrive same-day or next-day, rather than waiting days for an international wire
Business tools and integrations: Consider what extra features each platform offers. Integrations with accounting software (such as Xero or QuickBooks) or e-commerce platforms (such as Amazon or Shopify) can simplify your workflow. Tools like batch payments, virtual cards, expense tracking and open APIs can also be valuable for growing businesses
Security and regulation: Always choose a regulated provider. In the UK, look for firms authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) or as Electronic Money Institutions.
Other costs: Don’t forget any monthly fees, withdrawal charges or card fees. Some providers offer free accounts but charge for specific actions. Read the fine print so you won’t be surprised by inactivity fees, funding costs or high fees for specific transfer routes

Top 9 Wise alternatives in 2026

This list highlights 9 Wise alternatives with multi-currency accounts, competitive FX rates and fast payments, starting with a comparison table to help you choose the right fit:

Provider	Currency accounts	Local receiving details	FX fees	Account fees	Transfer fees
WorldFirst	20+	GBP, EUR, USD, AUD, JPY, CNH, CAD and more	Around 0.5% margin (capped fees from 0.4% up to £15)	Free	Local payments low-cost; international from 0.4% capped
Revolut Business	25+	GBP and EUR local; global IBAN	0% within plan allowance; ~0.4–0.6% after; 1% weekend FX	Plan-based (£0–£100+ monthly)	Local payments free in-plan; SWIFT fees apply
Airwallex	60+	GBP, EUR, USD, AUD, HKD, SGD	~0.2–0.6% depending on currency and volume	Free for basic tier	Local transfers free; low-cost SWIFT
Payoneer	10+	USD, EUR, GBP, AUD, CAD, JPY and others	Percentage-based (varies; higher on incoming marketplace payments)	Free; card fees may apply	Receiving free in some cases; withdrawals typically ~2%
Starling Bank	GBP, EUR, USD	UK account details; separate EUR and USD accounts	~0.4% over mid-market	Free GBP account; £2/month EUR and £5/month USD	UK payments free; SWIFT fee + FX
Barclays	Major currencies	Foreign currency accounts only (no local details abroad)	Bank FX mark-ups	Free	International transfers typically £4–£12
Ebury	35+	Major and emerging market currencies	Negotiated, volume-based	Free	Varies; often included within FX margin
Moneycorp	120+	Named accounts for major currencies	Negotiated FX margins	Free	Domestic transfers free; international fees vary
HSBC Global Wallet	Major currencies	Integrated local wallets inside HSBC	Bank FX with transparent mid-market comparison	Free (HSBC business account required)	Flat ~£5 fee for international payments

Power your global growth with one account

Get local currency accounts, fast payments and competitive FX – all in one place.

1. WorldFirst World Account

WorldFirst is a UK-based international business payments specialist offering the World Account, a multi-currency business account designed for cross-border trade.

As a part of Ant Group, WorldFirst provides local accounts in over a dozen currencies with no monthly fees, allowing UK businesses to get paid like a local and pay overseas partners easily.

Key features:

Multi-currency accounts: Open local receiving accounts in 20+ currencies, including GBP, EUR, USD, AUD, JPY, CNH, CAD and more. Hold and manage funds in 20+ currencies within one dashboard
Fast global payments: Send same-day or next-day payments to over 200 countries in 100+ currencies, using local payment rails where available for speed. Free instant transfers to other WorldFirst users
Competitive FX rates: Transparent, market-linked exchange rates with margins capped at around 0.5% on major currency pairs. Cross-border payment fees start from 0.4% (capped at £15) for most currencies
Business tools: Integrates with 130+ marketplaces and e-commerce platforms (e.g., Amazon, Shopify, eBay) and accounting software like Xero and NetSuite. Offers forward contracts to lock in FX rates up to 24 months, batch payments and the World Card (a business Mastercard) with 0% FX fees on spend and 1% cashback on eligible purchases
Regulated and secure: Authorised by the FCA in the UK, with 20+ years in business and over 1 million business customers served globally

Best for:

UK importers, exporters and e-commerce sellers who need a one-stop global account to collect and pay in multiple currencies.

Why it’s a great Wise alternative:

WorldFirst focuses directly on business cross-border payments, addressing many of the limitations SMEs experience with Wise.

You get more currencies (20+ vs Wise’s nine local account details), higher transfer limits and proactive support (including account managers if needed).

With faster local transfers (80% same-day) and tools like forward contracts, WorldFirst is cheaper and more effective than Wise for UK companies scaling globally.

2. Revolut Business

Revolut Business is the business banking arm of Revolut, offering multi-currency accounts, corporate cards and spend management in one app.

While Revolut uses a subscription model, its plans can be cost-effective for active businesses and startups and freelancers widely use it for its all-in-one approach.

Key features:

Multi-currency account: Hold, receive and send in 25+ currencies with local account details for GBP and EUR, plus international transfers to 150+ countries
Interbank FX rates: Use near mid-market rates for currency exchange up to your monthly allowance, with a small 0.4–0.6% markup once you exceed plan limits and a 1% fee on weekend FX
Business cards and expenses: Issue physical and virtual cards for your team, track spending in real time, set limits and build approval flows for better control
Team-friendly features: Multi-user access, batch payments and simple invoicing tools that help freelancers and agencies manage cross-border clients

Best for:

Freelancers, sole traders and small teams that want banking, FX,and card spend in a single app, especially those who travel or spend abroad frequently.

Why it’s a great Wise alternative:

Revolut Business adds tools Wise does not focus on, such as complete corporate card management, richer budgeting controls and a deeper app experience for day-to-day spending.

If you want a closer look at how Revolut Business works, check out our full Revolut review. And if you are comparing it with other platforms, our guide to the top Revolut alternatives in 2026 is a good place to start.

3. Airwallex

Originally from Australia, Airwallex is an international finance platform for businesses that operate across multiple regions.

It offers multi-currency accounts, fast international payouts and developer-friendly APIs that support complex, automated payment flows.

Key features:

Global accounts: Open local accounts in 17+ currencies, including GBP, EUR, USD, AUD, HKD and SGD
Fast international payments: Send funds to 150+ countries using local rails where available, so many payments land within one business day
Competitive FX: Use mid-market-based rates with a typical FX margin of around 0.2–0.6%, depending on currency and volume
Cards and e-commerce: Issue multi-currency virtual and physical cards, connect to e-commerce platforms and use payment links and plugins to accept customer payments

Best for:

Tech-driven SMEs, e-commerce brands and platforms with multi-region operations that need automated, API-led payment flows.

Why it’s a great Wise alternative:

While Wise fits for straightforward business payments, Airwallex is better for scaling companies that want to embed payments into their products, work with more developer tooling and negotiate pricing as volumes rise.

4. Payoneer

Payoneer is a long-established platform widely used by freelancers, creators and marketplace sellers to receive and send cross-border payments.

It enables businesses to send and receive money globally and is well-known as a payout solution for marketplaces such as Amazon, Fiverr, Upwork and Airbnb.

Key features:

Multi-currency receiving accounts: Get local account details in several major currencies, including USD, EUR, GBP, AUD, CAD, JPY and more, so clients and marketplaces can pay you as if you had a local account
Global payouts: Send and receive payments in 70+ currencies and 190+ countries, with instant Payoneer-to-Payoneer transfers when both parties use the platform
Marketplace integrations: Connect directly to platforms like Amazon, eBay, Etsy, Fiverr and Upwork to collect earnings without relying on their FX conversion
Linked cards: Use a Payoneer-branded card to spend or withdraw funds directly from your balance in selected currencies

Best for:

Freelancers, agencies and marketplace sellers that receive earnings from multiple global platforms and need a central hub for those inflows.

Why it’s a great Wise alternative:

Payoneer excels in scenarios where you get paid via marketplaces or need to run mass payouts to a global contractor base.

If you are interested in Payoneer alternatives, our guide highlights the best options to compare.

5. Starling Bank (business account)

Starling Bank is one of the UK’s leading digital banks and you can easily add multi-currency features to its business current account when you need them.

Starling operates as a fully licensed UK bank, so GBP deposits carry FSCS protection and you gain access to a full range of traditional banking services.

Key features:

GBP business banking: Free UK business account with account number and sort code, Faster Payments, direct debits and standing orders
EUR and USD accounts: Add-on Euro and US dollar accounts under the same login, each with its own account details to receive and hold those currencies
FX and international payments: Convert between GBP, EUR and USD at a margin of around 0.4% over mid-market rates and send SWIFT payments in other currencies with a transparent, fixed fee plus FX margin
Business tools: Integrations with Xero, QuickBooks, FreeAgent and optional bookkeeping and invoicing tools

Best for:

UK SMEs that want a modern digital bank as their main GBP account, with light EUR and USD capability on the side.

Why it’s a great Wise alternative:

Starling offers a fully fledged business bank account with FSCS protection and traditional services such as overdrafts, which Wise, as an e-money institution, does not provide.

For companies that mainly trade in GBP, EUR and USD and want everything under one banking relationship, Starling can be more convenient than running a separate Wise account, even if Wise still wins for a wider currency range.

6. Barclays multi-currency business accounts

Barclays is a traditional bank, but it offers multi-currency services for its business customers.

If your company already banks with Barclays (or you prefer a high-street bank for trust and support), you can open foreign currency accounts (e.g., USD, EUR, etc.) under your business profile.

Key features:

Multiple currency accounts: Open separate accounts in major currencies such as USD, EUR and others and send or receive payments directly in those currencies
Single banking platform: Manage GBP and foreign currency accounts through one online banking interface with visibility across all balances
International payments: Send funds to 90+ countries, often with same-day value for major currency corridors
FX and treasury services: Use the bank’s FX desk for spot transfers, forwards and other risk management tools if you meet volume thresholds

Best for:

Established businesses that already bank with Barclays or value the depth of a traditional bank relationship, including lending and trade finance.

Why it’s a great Wise alternative:

Barclays brings a full-service banking model to multi-currency needs. The cost per transfer may be higher than Wise, but some businesses accept this for the convenience of having credit lines, trade finance and multi-currency accounts in one place.

7. Ebury

Ebury is a UK-based fintech (now part of Banco Santander) specialising in international cash management for businesses. It provides multi-currency accounts, FX risk management and trade finance solutions.

Ebury often caters to mid-sized companies and corporates that need personalised service and advanced FX tools.

Key features:

Multi-currency collection: Hold and manage balances in 35+ currencies and receive local details in a wide set of major and emerging currencies
International payments: Send payments in 130+ currencies, including many emerging market destinations that some fintechs do not support
FX risk management: Use forwards, flexible forwards, market orders and other hedging tools to protect margins on future payments
Trade finance and lending: Access working capital tools linked to your international trade flows, such as invoice financing and other credit solutions

Best for:

Importers, exporters and mid-sized businesses with significant FX exposure that need more than spot transfers and want human support on risk management.

Why it’s a great Wise alternative:

Wise is strong on transparent spot rates, but does not cover hedging or structured FX.

Ebury offers deeper coverage in complex currencies, tailored hedging strategies and credit products that support long trade cycles, which can be crucial for businesses managing large or volatile cross-border revenue.

8. Moneycorp

Moneycorp is an experienced FX provider with roots in the UK market dating back decades.

It combines an online platform with dealer support and is known for its broad currency coverage, including many niche and emerging-market currencies.

Key features:

Broad currency range: Support for 120+ currencies, including exotic pairs that many fintechs and some banks do not handle
Currency accounts: Named accounts in major currencies so you can receive payments in your company name and choose when to convert
Dedicated dealers: Personal account managers who can discuss rates, timing and FX strategies with you
Hedging tools: Access forwards, market orders and other risk management tools to smooth out currency volatility

Best for:

Businesses dealing in multiple or niche currencies that want a mix of online control and human support, especially for larger payments.

Why it’s a great Wise alternative:

Moneycorp offers similar online convenience to Wise but adds negotiable pricing, more hedging tools and coverage across many more currencies.

For high-value transfers and complex currency needs, the ability to talk to a dealer and lock in tailored rates can make it more attractive than Wise’s one-size-fits-all pricing.

9. HSBC Global Wallet

HSBC Global Wallet is an offering from HSBC for its business banking customers who need to transact in multiple currencies.

Think of it as an integrated multi-currency account within HSBC’s online banking. It allows businesses to hold and send funds in various currencies without leaving the HSBC ecosystem.

Key features:

Multi-currency balances: Hold funds in key currencies such as USD, EUR, GBP and others and pay out from those balances without using a separate third-party platform
Integrated banking: Manage all currency wallets inside your HSBC business banking login, alongside standard GBP accounts and services
Fast cross-border payments: Use HSBC’s global network to route some payments as local transfers, which can speed up settlement times
Transparent FX display: See mid-market rates compared with your offered rate in real time when converting or sending

Best for:

Existing HSBC business customers who want multi-currency functionality without leaving their core banking relationship.

Why it’s a great Wise alternative:

HSBC Global Wallet brings fintech-style multi-currency features into a traditional bank setting.

Wise often wins on raw FX cost for smaller payments, but HSBC offers higher transaction limits, tighter integration with broader banking services and the reassurance of a global bank.

Why WorldFirst is the strongest Wise alternative in 2026

Every Wise alternative in this guide offers something useful. But for UK businesses that depend on fast, predictable and scalable cross-border payments, WorldFirst stands out as the partner built for long-term growth.

Here’s what sets WorldFirst apart:

Local accounts in major markets: Receive and hold funds like a local across Europe, North America and Asia without opening foreign bank accounts
Predictable, competitive FX: Transparent pricing with low, capped fees gives you clarity on costs even as volumes grow
Speed that keeps business moving: Same-day or next-day payments across 100+ currencies, with local rails used wherever possible
Business-ready integrations: Connect to 130+ global marketplaces and popular accounting platforms, streamlining reconciliation and cash flow
Trusted by over one million businesses: More than US$300 billion moved since 2004 speaks to reliability, scale and experience
Tools for confident planning: Use forward contracts, limit orders and multi-user controls to manage currency risk and maintain control over global operations

Where Wise focuses on simple transfers, WorldFirst offers a deeper set of tools built for importers, exporters and online sellers who trade every day rather than occasionally. With no setup or monthly fees and transparent FX margins, WorldFirst helps UK businesses keep more of every transaction and move money globally with confidence.

Open a World Account today and make global payments faster, more transparent and easier from day one.

Sources:

Abdul Muhit has 17 years' experience in banking and payments, spanning across regulation, payment networks, acquiring, issuing and treasury.

Abdul Muhit

Author

Commercial Growth Manager, WorldFirst UK

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