Updated September 28, 2026 · SumCue Editorial Team
Airwallex vs bunq
Airwallex
Higher score in this comparison
bunq
Where Airwallex and bunq differ
| Compare | AirwallexReviewVisitVisit | bunqReviewVisitVisit |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly fee | £0 | €0 |
| Currency conversion fee | 0.5% | 0.5% to 3% |
| Card network | Visa | Mastercard |
| Currencies | 20Higher | 8 |
| Cashback rate | 2% | Not confirmed |
Same on both: Card type (Debit).
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Key differences
- Airwallex scores higher overall: 9.0 vs 8.9.
- Founded is lower at bunq: 2012 vs 2015.
- Airwallex is licensed in 1 more country.
- Airwallex is available in 16 more countries.
- Currencies is higher at Airwallex: 20 vs 8.
- Support channels: only Airwallex offers Help centre, Phone.
- Support channels: only bunq offers Email.
- Features: only bunq offers Crypto.
- Audience: only Airwallex offers Business.
- Audience: only bunq offers Student.
Our verdict on each
Airwallex
Airwallex suits businesses that collect and pay in several currencies and want a card on the same balance. The account is a easy access one with a monthly fee of £0, and spare cash earns 2.18% to 3.83% while a debit card handles day to day spend.
bunq
bunq suits eurozone residents and students who hold several currencies and want a Mastercard debit card. Monthly fees are €0, currency conversion fees run 0.5% to 3% across 8 currencies, and bunq ranks 1 of 422 brands on monthly fee.
Score breakdown
| Area | Airwallex | bunq |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.2A monthly fee of £0 leads the field, but the conversion fee of 0.5% sits well above Wise. | 9.2 |
| Offer | 9.4HigherCovers 20 currencies with a yield rate of 2.18% to 3.83% and help centre, phone and chat support. | 8.9 |
| Trust | 8.5 | 8.7Higher |
Positions in our rankings
| Ranking | Airwallex | bunq |
|---|---|---|
| Credit and debit cards | 6 of 1594 | 8 of 1594 |
| Debit cards | 4 of 826 | 6 of 826 |
Licences and countries
| Country | Airwallex | bunq |
|---|---|---|
| Netherlands | De Nederlandsche Bank (DNB) R179622 | |
| Singapore | Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) PS20200541 | Not confirmed |
Available in 1 country for both. Additional countries for Airwallex: 16.
If neither fits
Nexo has currencies at 100, against 20 for Airwallex and 8 for bunq.
Nexo reviewSources behind this comparison
Airwallex
- airwallex.com: 7 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- play.google.com: 2 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- recordowl.com: 1 fact, checked September 26, 2026
- sgpbusiness.com: 1 fact, checked September 26, 2026
- transferfees.io: 1 fact, checked September 26, 2026
bunq
- bunq.com: 11 facts, checked September 26, 2026
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Airwallex | bunq |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Multi currency, Virtual card, Travel | Multi currency, Crypto, Virtual card, TravelCovers more |
| Audience | Business | Student |
| Legal entity | Airwallex (Singapore) Pte. Ltd. | bunq B.V. |
| Headquarters | Singapore | Netherlands |
| Founded | 2015 | 2012Lower |
| Support channels | Help centre, Phone, Chat | Email, Chat |
Savings
| Fact | Airwallex | bunq |
|---|---|---|
| Headline rate | 2.18% to 3.83% | Not confirmed |
| Rate type | Variable | Not confirmed |
| Minimum deposit | HK$0 | Not confirmed |
| Deposit protection | FSCS up to GBP 85,000 | Not confirmed |
| Pricing model | Not confirmed | No annual fee |
| Access terms | Airwallex Yield: no lock-up, no minimum balance, daily returns, funds settle to and from Yield balances within 2 business days | Not confirmed |
| Account kind | Easy access | Not confirmed |
Credit cards
| Fact | Airwallex | bunq |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | Not confirmed | €0 |
| Card kind | Not confirmed | Credit |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Airwallex | bunq | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Currency conversion fee | 0.5%below the median | 0.5% to 3%below the median | 1% |
| Cashback rate | 2%at the median | Not confirmed | 2% |
| Currencies | 20above the median | 8at the median | 8 |
Median across 336 listed providers.
Pros and cons
Airwallex
Pros
- A monthly fee of £0 on the business account, with a conversion fee of 0.5% on currency changes.
- The yield balance is easy access, takes a minimum deposit of HKD 0 and pays 2.18% to 3.83% on a variable rate.
- A debit card on the visa network, plus virtual cards, with access to 20 currencies.
Cons
- The conversion fee of 0.5% is well above Wise at 0.1%, which puts Airwallex at 116 of 258 on that measure.
- The account is for business users, so personal savers have no product to open.
- Money settles to and from the yield balance within a short settlement window, which can hold up a same-day supplier payment.
bunq
Pros
- Monthly fees of €0 and no annual fee put bunq at 1 of 422 brands on monthly fee.
- Currency conversion fees of 0.5% to 3% across 8 currencies, against a debit card median of 1%.
- Listed features cover multi-currency accounts, crypto, a virtual card and travel.
Cons
- Support runs on email and chat only, so there is no phone channel listed.
- Credit is not among its listed features (multi currency, crypto and virtual card), which cover multi-currency accounts, crypto, a virtual card and travel.
- The audience listed is student, so a broad household account sits outside the stated focus.
Who each suits
Airwallex
Who it suits
- Companies paid in several currencies, since the account holds 20.
- Firms that want a debit card and virtual cards for staff spending and subscriptions.
- Businesses parking spare cash in a easy access yield balance paying 2.18% to 3.83%.
Who should look elsewhere
- Anyone whose main spend is currency conversion, because Wise charges 0.1% against 0.5% here.
- Personal savers, since the account is for business use and bunq offers a personal plan at €0 a month.
- Borrowers rather than spenders, since Varo Believe Secured Credit Card is a credit card with a monthly fee of $0.
bunq
Who it suits
- Eurozone residents who hold and spend in several currencies.
- Students opening a first multi-currency account.
- People who want a virtual card for online payments alongside an everyday Mastercard debit card.
Who should look elsewhere
- Not the pick for anyone deciding on monthly fee alone: Wise also charges £0 and Starling Personal Account Debit Card charges £0, so price alone does not separate bunq.
- Not for people who want to carry a balance and be charged interest on it, where Varo Believe Secured Credit Card is a credit product and bunq issues a debit card.
Country by country
| Country | Airwallex | bunq |
|---|---|---|
| Australia | Yes | No |
| Canada | Yes | No |
| China | Yes | No |
| France | Yes | No |
| Germany | Yes | No |
| Hong Kong | Yes | No |
| Israel | Yes | No |
| Japan | Yes | No |
8 of 17 countries where either is available.
Questions about each
Airwallex
What does it cost to keep an Airwallex account?+
The business account carries a monthly fee of £0. Converting money costs 0.5%, which is the main charge to watch, and card spending earns cashback of 2%. The yield balance takes a minimum deposit of HKD 0.
Is my money protected?+
Deposit protection is FSCS up to GBP 85,000. The group also appears on the registers of the Monetary Authority of Singapore and De Nederlandsche Bank, and the legal entity named in the records is Airwallex (Singapore) Pte. Ltd..
bunq
What does bunq cost each month?+
Monthly fees are €0 on the personal account, and the listed fee model is no annual fee, so keeping the account open costs nothing in recurring charges. What you do pay for is converting money you do not already hold, which is the line to watch if you spend in several currencies.
How much does bunq charge to convert currency?+
Currency conversion fees run 0.5% to 3%, charged when you pay in a currency the account does not hold. The account covers 8 currencies and multi-currency use is a listed feature, so holding a balance in the currency you are spending in keeps that charge off most payments.