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Accounting · head to head

Airwallex vs FreeAgent

Airwallex logo

Airwallex

Accounting

Multi currency business accounts, international payments and card issuing from a licensed payments firm rather than a bank

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
FreeAgent logo

FreeAgent

Accounting

Accounting software for small businesses and freelancers

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Airwallex airwallex is a licensed payments firm rather than a bank, so balances sit in safeguarding accounts at partner banks and are not covered by deposit guarantee schemes, which means a treasury policy that requires insured deposits cannot hold operating cash there.; FreeAgent introductory pricing shown is 50% off the regular rates
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Airwallex and FreeAgent actually diverge.

Attributes where Airwallex and FreeAgent differ
AttributeAirwallexFreeAgent
Pricing modelfreemiumsubscription

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), platforms (Web), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Accounting).

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

  • Multi currency balances
  • Local receiving accounts
  • Foreign exchange conversion
  • International payouts
  • Card issuing
  • Expense management
  • Bill pay
  • Payments gateway

Only in FreeAgent

Nothing recorded that Airwallex does not also cover.

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Airwallex

  • An exporter invoicing customers in United States dollars and euros who wants to be paid into local details rather than receive wires with correspondent deductionsnot FreeAgent
  • An agency or software company paying contractors across several countries every month and losing money on bank foreign exchange spreadsnot FreeAgent
  • An e-commerce seller collecting on multiple marketplaces in different currencies who wants to hold rather than convert on every settlementnot FreeAgent
  • A startup that needs virtual cards with per subscription limits and cannot get a workable card programme from its local banknot FreeAgent

FreeAgent

  • Submitting VAT and Self Assessment tax returns to HMRC directlynot Airwallex
  • Splitting rental income and expenses across multiple properties automaticallynot Airwallex
  • Collecting invoice payments faster through one-click payments and remindersnot Airwallex
  • Capturing bills and receipts via AI to auto-categorize expensesnot Airwallex
  • Filing Real Time Information payroll directly to HMRC for employeesnot Airwallex

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Airwallex

  • Airwallex is a licensed payments firm rather than a bank, so balances sit in safeguarding accounts at partner banks and are not covered by deposit guarantee schemes, which means a treasury policy that requires insured deposits cannot hold operating cash there.
  • Available currencies, local account details, card programmes and product features differ by the entity you contract with, so a feature demonstrated to a customer in Australia or Singapore may simply not exist for the same company registered in another country.
  • Onboarding is subject to compliance review and whole categories of business are declined or later offboarded, and because the account may hold operating cash, a compliance freeze during a review is a business interruption rather than an inconvenience.
  • Foreign exchange is quoted as interbank plus a markup, which is cheaper than a high street bank but is still a spread that widens on less liquid pairs and on smaller amounts, so the saving assumed in the business case should be checked against the pairs you actually trade.
  • Support is largely ticket and chat based with account management reserved for larger customers, so when a payment is stuck the resolution path is a queue rather than a named person, which is a poor fit for time critical settlement.

FreeAgent

  • Introductory pricing shown is 50% off the regular rates
  • All prices exclude 20% VAT
  • Add-ons required for some features (Smart Capture Unlimited £5/month, Amazon integration £6/month)

Pricing, plan by plan

Airwallex

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Airwallex review.

FreeAgent

Free
  • Sole Traders$9.5/month
    • Introductory rate (regular price £19/month)
    • Annual option at £95/year (regular £190)
  • Landlords$5/month
    • Introductory rate (regular price £10/month)
    • Annual option at £50/year (regular £100)
  • UK Partnerships/LLPs$13.5/month
    • Introductory rate (regular price £27/month)
    • Annual option at £135/year (regular £270)
  • UK Limited Companies$16.5/month
    • Introductory rate (regular price £33/month)
    • Annual option at £330/year (regular £330)

Which should you pick?

Choose Airwallex if

  • You need multi currency balances.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You also want local receiving accounts.
Airwallex review

Choose FreeAgent if

  • You want to start without paying.
FreeAgent review

Questions people ask

Is Airwallex or FreeAgent better?
Neither clearly leads. Airwallex starts at Free and FreeAgent at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Airwallex or FreeAgent?
Airwallex starts at Free and FreeAgent at Free.
Does Airwallex or FreeAgent run on more platforms?
Both run on Web, so platform support will not decide this one for you.
Can I use Airwallex for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Airwallex best used for?
Airwallex is most often used for an exporter invoicing customers in united states dollars and euros who wants to be paid into local details rather than receive wires with correspondent deductions, an agency or software company paying contractors across several countries every month and losing money on bank foreign exchange spreads, an e-commerce seller collecting on multiple marketplaces in different currencies who wants to hold rather than convert on every settlement, a startup that needs virtual cards with per subscription limits and cannot get a workable card programme from its local bank. Of those, an exporter invoicing customers in united states dollars and euros who wants to be paid into local details rather than receive wires with correspondent deductions and an agency or software company paying contractors across several countries every month and losing money on bank foreign exchange spreads are not what FreeAgent is typically brought in for.
What can Airwallex do that FreeAgent cannot?
Airwallex covers Multi currency balances, Local receiving accounts, Foreign exchange conversion, International payouts.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Airwallex: Is Airwallex a bank?

No. It holds payment institution, electronic money or equivalent licences in the markets it serves. Funds are safeguarded at partner banks rather than being deposits, and deposit insurance schemes do not apply.

FreeAgent: Does FreeAgent offer a free option?

FreeAgent is free for qualifying customers maintaining business accounts with NatWest, Royal Bank of Scotland, Ulster Bank, or certain Mettle accounts.

Source
Airwallex: Can it replace my business bank account?

For many operating flows it can, but consider what you lose: no deposit protection, no lending relationship, no cash or cheque handling, and some counterparties and government bodies still expect a conventional bank account. Most users run it alongside a bank rather than instead of one.

FreeAgent: What is FreeAgent's pricing for sole traders?

Sole traders pay £9.50/month (50% introductory rate; regular £19/month), or £95/year annually (regular £190/year), excluding 20% VAT.

Source
Airwallex: Which countries can open an account?

It serves entities registered in a defined list of markets across Asia Pacific, Europe, the United Kingdom, the Middle East and North America, and the list changes. Check for your specific country of incorporation, because the answer determines both eligibility and feature set.

FreeAgent: What add-ons does FreeAgent offer?

Optional add-ons include Smart Capture Unlimited at £5/month and Amazon integration at £6/month, allowing customers to extend base plan functionality.

Source
Airwallex: Does it connect to my accounting software?

It integrates with the mainstream cloud ledgers so transactions feed through rather than being imported by hand. Confirm the integration covers all the currencies you hold, since multi currency handling in the ledger is a separate question.

FreeAgent: Does FreeAgent offer a trial?

FreeAgent provides a 30-day free trial with no commitment, and customers can cancel at any time during or after the trial period.

Source
Airwallex: How does the foreign exchange rate compare with a bank?

Materially better than a typical business bank's retail rate on major pairs, because it is quoted as interbank plus a stated markup. The gap narrows on thin currency pairs and small amounts, so test with your real volumes.

Airwallex: Are the cards accepted everywhere?

They are issued on the major networks and behave like ordinary company cards for most spend. Some merchants, particularly for deposits and car hire, treat prepaid style issuance differently, so do not assume parity with a bank credit card.

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