Source: https://rivet.global/blog/best-business-account-for-international-payments
Published: 2026-09-21 · Updated: 2026-11-05 · By William Sunjo M.

# The best business account for international payments, by payment type

Which business account suits international payments depends on how you receive and pay. Seven options compared on receiving, FX, payouts and stablecoins.

## Key takeaways

- High-street banks charge for SWIFT in both directions and add an FX margin they rarely publish. Specialist accounts publish most of their fees.
- For receiving from clients, local account details in your company's name beat a SWIFT IBAN: clients pay on domestic rails and name checks match.
- Published conversion fees range from 0.1% (Statrys, majors) and 0.24% (Wise) to 0.5% (Airwallex, WorldFirst) and 1% (Payset Business).
- Rivet combines no-fee bank receiving, published FX by plan, fixed payout fees to 120+ countries and USDC and USDT in one company account.

A client in Texas pays a UK company's sterling account by SWIFT. The client's bank charges a wire fee, an intermediary bank may deduct its own fee on the way, the receiving bank converts at its own rate and charges an incoming fee. The invoice was 10,000 USD; the company is not sure what arrived until the statement comes.

The same payment into USD account details in the company's name arrives by ACH, in dollars, for the amount sent. That difference is why the best business account for international payments starts with how you receive.

Prices are from each provider's page, read in November 2026.

## Seven accounts compared

| | Receive | FX | Pay out | Stablecoins |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wise Business | Free domestic in 9 currencies | from 0.24% | Fee varies by currency | No |
| WorldFirst | Free | up to 0.50% | £0.27 to £23.00 | No |
| Airwallex | Free local collection | 0.5% majors | Local 120+ countries; SWIFT £10 to £20 | No |
| Revolut Business | Free local | 0.6% over allowance | Plan allowance, then £5 | No |
| Payoneer | 1% non-local | 0.50% | 1.2% to 4% with conversion | No |
| Payset | €2 local, €10 SWIFT | from 1% | 0.40% SEPA | Not for UK companies |
| Rivet | No fee on bank transfers | from 0.80% / 0.50% / 0.30% | $2 / $1 / $0.50 to 120+ countries | USDC, USDT |

## Choose by your main job

**Mostly receiving from clients abroad:** local details in your company's name, no percentage on arrival. See [how to receive international payments as a business](/blog/how-to-receive-international-payments-as-a-business).

**Mostly converting:** the lowest published FX at your volume. Wise for small amounts, a plan with a lower margin for large ones.

**Mostly paying people in many countries:** a fixed per-payout fee and bulk payouts. See [bulk payments explained](/blog/bulk-payments-explained).

**Paid or paying in stablecoins:** an account that holds USDC and USDT next to fiat.

## Where Rivet fits

Rivet covers all four jobs for registered companies. USD details in your company's name on the free Starter plan; EUR and GBP from Growth; CAD and HKD on Scale. No fee to receive a bank transfer. FX shown before you confirm and confirmed during onboarding. Payouts to 120+ countries at a fixed fee. USDC and USDT on every plan. Wise is cheaper if you only convert now and then, and WorldFirst is built for marketplace sellers. Rivet is not a bank; regulated partner institutions hold client funds. See [pricing](/pricing).

## Questions

### What is the best business account for receiving international payments?

One that gives local account details in your company's name in the currencies your clients pay in, and does not take a percentage on arrival. WorldFirst, Wise, Airwallex and Rivet all do this for major currencies; Payoneer charges 1% for non-local currencies.

### Is a bank or a fintech better for international payments?

For most small and mid-sized companies, a specialist account costs less and publishes its fees. Banks still suit companies that need credit, cash handling or a relationship across many products.

### How do I compare FX costs?

Compare the total cost on the same amount at the same time: margin over the mid-market rate plus any fixed fee. Our guide to the mid-market rate explains how to read a quote.