Software · head to head
Airwallex vs Avalara
The short version
- Only Airwallex has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
- Each has a real cost: Airwallex international card payments carry a $0.30 fee per transaction on top of FX charges, separate from the free tier; Avalara plans start at $699 per state per year, so multi-state sellers multiply that figure rather than paying one subscription
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Airwallex and Avalara actually diverge.
Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown).
What each one covers
Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.
Only in Airwallex
Nothing recorded that Avalara does not also cover.
Only in Avalara
- Tax calculation
- Returns filing
- Exemption management
- Document management
- Real-time rates
- QuickBooks
- NetSuite
- Shopify
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Airwallex
No use cases recorded yet. See the Airwallex review.
Avalara
- Real-time sales tax calculation at checkoutnot Airwallex
- Multi-state and multi-jurisdiction tax determinationnot Airwallex
- VAT, lodging, communications and excise tax calculationnot Airwallex
- Feeding tax results into an ERP or ecommerce platform through the APInot Airwallex
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
Airwallex
- International card payments carry a $0.30 fee per transaction on top of FX charges, separate from the free tier
Avalara
- Plans start at $699 per state per year, so multi-state sellers multiply that figure rather than paying one subscription
- Billed by transaction, where one API call is one transaction, so cost tracks invoice volume
- The free option is limited to the Streamlined Sales Tax programme, in up to 25 states and only for qualifying businesses
Pricing, plan by plan
Airwallex
FreeNo published plan breakdown. See the Airwallex review.
Avalara
$29/month- AvaTax$50/month
- Tax calculation
- Exemption certificates
- Returns filing
Which should you pick?
Choose Avalara if
- You need tax calculation.
- You work on Web, Api.
- You also want returns filing.
Questions people ask
- Is Airwallex or Avalara better?
- Neither clearly leads. Airwallex starts at Free and Avalara at $29/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Airwallex or Avalara?
- Airwallex has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Airwallex and $29/month for Avalara.
- Does Airwallex or Avalara run on more platforms?
- Airwallex runs on Web. Avalara runs on Web, Api.
- Can I use Airwallex for free?
- Yes. Airwallex has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Avalara starts at $29/month.
- What can Airwallex do that Avalara cannot?
- Avalara covers Tax calculation, Returns filing, Exemption management, Document management.