Source: https://rivet.global/blog/airwallex-vs-stripe
Published: 2026-06-17 · Updated: 2026-11-04 · By Alexia M.

# Airwallex vs Stripe: payments processor or global account?

Airwallex vs Stripe for US companies: what each product is for, card processing and FX fees, payouts and accounts, from both US pricing pages.

## Key takeaways

- Stripe is a payment processor: 2.9% plus 30 cents per US card payment, 1.5% more for international cards and 1% more for conversion.
- Airwallex is a global business account: multi-currency balances, local payouts to 120+ countries and FX at 0.5% above interbank on major currencies.
- Airwallex also offers online payment acceptance, and Stripe offers balances and payouts, so the products overlap at the edges.
- A common setup is Stripe for checkout and a multi-currency account to receive payouts by currency.

"Airwallex vs Stripe" is Google's first suggestion after "airwallex vs". The two get compared because both work across currencies, but they sit at different points in the money flow. Stripe figures were read on its pricing page and Airwallex's on its US pricing page, both on 4 November 2026.

## What each one is for

| | Stripe | Airwallex (US) |
|---|---|---|
| Main job | Accept card and online payments | Hold, convert and pay out in many currencies |
| Card processing | 2.9% + 30¢; +1.5% international; +1% conversion | Offered; see Airwallex for rates |
| FX | +1% on converted charges; instant conversion from 0.5% | 0.5% above interbank on majors; 1% others |
| Payouts | To your bank; instant 1.5% | Local transfers to 120+ countries; SWIFT $15 to $25 |
| Plans | Pay as you go | Explore $0; Grow $12 per user plus platform fee |

## How they fit together

A US SaaS company sells to customers in the UK and EU. Stripe charges their cards. If Stripe pays everything out in US dollars, every pound and euro sale converts at Stripe's 1%. If the company settles pounds and euros into matching balances, it can pay UK and EU contractors from those balances and convert only the surplus.

## When one is enough

An online shop selling only in the US needs Stripe and a bank account. An agency invoicing clients by bank transfer and paying contractors abroad may never need Stripe at all.

## Watch the per-user cost

Airwallex's Grow plan charges per spend user. A 20-person team with cards is $240 a month before the platform fee. Stripe has no seat fee.

## Paying into the United States: the local rail

| What | Detail |
|---|---|
| Local rail | ACH for batch payments; RTP and FedNow for instant transfers |
| Run by | Nacha for ACH; The Clearing House for RTP; the Federal Reserve for FedNow |
| Settlement | Same-day ACH within the business day, standard ACH the next; RTP and FedNow in seconds, 24/7, where both banks take part |

Source: [Nacha: Same Day ACH](https://www.nacha.org/rules/same-day-ach-moving-payments-faster). Checked when this guide was last updated; the scheme's own page has the current figures.

## Where Rivet fits

Rivet is a multi-currency business account. Point Stripe payouts in USD at your Rivet USD details on the free Starter plan, and add EUR and GBP details on Growth. Pay contractors in 120+ countries and convert from 0.50%, with every rate shown first. Pricing is flat, not per user. Rivet is not a bank; regulated partner institutions hold the funds. See [Airwallex vs Wise vs Rivet](/blog/airwallex-vs-wise-vs-rivet).

## Questions

### Is Airwallex a Stripe competitor?

Partly. Both accept online payments, but Airwallex is mainly a multi-currency account for holding and paying, and Stripe is mainly a processor for getting paid.

### Which has lower FX fees?

Airwallex lists 0.5% above interbank for major currencies and 1% for others. Stripe adds 1% when a charge converts, and instant conversion starts at 0.5%.

### Can I use both?

Yes. Many companies take payments with Stripe and settle each currency into a matching account, then pay suppliers from that balance.

### Which is better for a SaaS company?

Stripe's billing tools are the main draw for subscriptions. The account where payouts land is a separate choice.