WorldFirst vs Airwallex for business: costs, cards and currencies
WorldFirst is free and built for sellers. Airwallex charges a small subscription unless you keep money moving, and gives more spend tools. Here is the comparison line by line.
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WorldFirst charges nothing a month. Airwallex charges £19 a month on Explore, waived if you deposit or keep at least £10,000 in the account, and £49 on Grow. That is the first fork. The second is what you need the account to do.
Both price lists are from each provider's UK site, read in November 2026.
Side by side
| WorldFirst (UK) | Airwallex (UK) | |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly | £0 | Explore £0 or £19; Grow £49 |
| Collection currencies | 20+ | 20+ |
| FX, majors | up to 0.50% (0.30% first 6 months) | 0.5% above interbank |
| FX, others | quoted | 1% above interbank |
| SWIFT out | £4.62 to £23.00 by currency | £10 to £20 |
| Domestic EUR, GBP | £0.27 SEPA, £0.31 UK | Free |
| Cards | 25 virtual, 5 physical, cashback up to 1.2% | 10 cards on Explore, 50 on Grow |
| Spend tools | Basic | Bill pay, approvals, expense rules |
| Marketplaces | 130+ | Integrations, fewer marketplace links |
| Stablecoins | No | No |
Where WorldFirst wins
Marketplace sellers and importers. Free collection from 130+ marketplaces, cheap local payments and same-day CNH payments to China suit e-commerce. No subscription means low balances cost nothing.
Where Airwallex wins
Teams. Free domestic transfers in EUR, GBP and CHF, bill pay up to 500 bills a month, multi-step approvals on Grow and more company cards suit a company with staff spending on its behalf.
Where Rivet fits
Rivet suits a service company or a founder with a non-resident US LLC: USD details in the company's name on the free Starter plan, unlimited virtual cards on every plan, USDC and USDT ramps, and payouts to 120+ countries. Growth adds EUR and GBP details, physical cards and roles and approvals for up to 10 people.
Airwallex's 0.5% and Rivet Growth's from 0.50% are level on majors. Rivet's Starter rate, from 0.80%, is higher, so a company converting large sums on a free plan pays less at WorldFirst. See also Airwallex vs Wise vs Rivet and WorldFirst vs Wise. Rivet is not a bank; regulated partner institutions hold client funds.
Questions people ask
Is Airwallex or WorldFirst cheaper?
On conversion they are close: WorldFirst up to 0.50% for majors, Airwallex 0.5% for majors and 1% for others. WorldFirst has no subscription; Airwallex Explore is free only if you deposit or hold £10,000 a month. For a seller with small balances, WorldFirst usually costs less.
Which is better for SWIFT payments?
Airwallex charges £10 to £20 per SWIFT transfer. WorldFirst's UK list shows £4.62 to £23.00 for other currencies, and £5.38 to £7.69 for EUR and USD to other destinations. Check the corridor you use most.
Do either of them handle USDC?
No. Rivet handles USDC and USDT deposits and withdrawals on six networks, alongside USD details in your company's name.
Sources
Alexia compares the accounts, cards and payment tools companies weigh before they switch, and writes Rivet's market guides for founders in a specific country. Prices in Alexia's comparisons come from each provider's own pricing page on the date given in the article, rules come from the regulator or tax authority that sets them, and every source is listed at the end.
More from Alexia M. →This article is general information, not legal, tax or financial advice. Rules and fees change; check the sources above and the provider’s current terms before you act on them.
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