Comparison of Digital Banking Services: Wise vs Payoneer vs Revolut vs Monzo Bank vs Airwallex

Comparison of Digital Banking Services: Wise vs Payoneer vs Revolut vs Monzo Bank vs Airwallex

Manger Manger
Jul 15, 2025
10 min read
21 views

Comparison of Digital Banking Services: Wise vs Payoneer vs Revolut vs Monzo Bank vs Airwallex

Synopsis

The electronic banking sector has completely transformed global finance, empowering firms and individuals with unparalleled access to multi-currency accounts, highly competitive conversion rates, and worldwide payment solutions. This fully-fledged comparison identifies the core features and capabilities of five major digital banking platforms: Wise, Payoneer, Revolut, Monzo Bank, and Airwallex - checking their fees, functionalities, investment prospects, business accounts, supported currencies, and the countries where they can operate.

Key Takeaways:

  • Wise shines in giving the best deals on currency exchanges at the real mid-market prices.
  • Payoneer is praised for being the most suitable for freelancers and sellers in the marketplace.
  • Revolut boasts the most significant number of services and offers in the whole of the fintech industry with its ecosystem.
  • Monzo grants general banking but with digital elements (UK only).
  • Airwallex centers on providing businesses with tools and solutions for international trade.

1. Wise (Formerly TransferWise) - The Transparent Leader

Overview

Conceptualized in 2011, Wise has over time become an example of honest and open money transfers, and have extended the services to multi-currency account and banking. For over 12.8 million users transferring $30 billion quartely, Wise aims for the most favorable exchange rate at the interbank level and the totally clear fee construction.

Account Types & Features

  • Personal Multi-Currency Account: Access and control 40+ currencies
  • Business Account: Planned for SMEs with international activities
  • Local Account Details: Offered the list of 10+ (USD, EUR, GBP, AUD, CAD, JPY, HKD, SGD, TRY, RON) currencies
  • Wise Card: A debit card supported by Mastercard to be used for purchasing in 150+ countries

Fee Structure

fee wise bank

Investment Features

  • Interest Earnings: Earn as much as 4.87% APY on your balance (variable)
  • Assets Investment: Trade stocks and ETFs via Wise Assets
  • Currency Holdings: Get inflow from currency multi-balances

Business Account Features

  • Batch Payments: Send up to 1,000 payments in one go
  • API Integration: Link to accounting software (Xero, QuickBooks)
  • Expense Management: Follow and group different business expenses
  • Team Access: Grant status-based rights on multi-user access

Supported Currencies

Hold: 40+ currencies including USD, EUR, GBP, AUD, CAD, CHF, DKK, HKD, JPY, NOK, NZD, PLN, RON, SEK, SGD, TRY

Restricted Countries

Wise is present in 160+ countries except for a few where the service is not available:

  • Afghanistan, Belarus (limited), Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Russia (suspended), Syria, and other OFAC sanctioned territories

Official Links

2. Payoneer - The Freelancer's Choice

Overview

Launched in 2005, Payoneer has a user base of more than 5 million clients from over 190 countries among which the payment platform is mainly used for the provision of international services in the field of freelancers, businesses, and marketplace sellers. Without a doubt, it is a great place among digital nomads and online businessmen.

Account Types & Features

  • Global Payment Service: Multi-currency receiving accounts
  • Payoneer Card: Mastercard for global spending and ATM withdrawals
  • Marketplace Integration: Direct integration with 2,000+ platforms (Amazon, Upwork, Fiverr)
  • Business Solutions: Payment processing and capital advance services

Fee Structure
Fee Payoneer

Investment Features

  • Capital Advance: Access up to $750,000 based on your potential future earnings.
  • Traditional investment products: No traditional investment products of nature (however, the company is) (focused on business finance)

Business Account Features

  • Mass Payouts: Pay contractors and suppliers worldwide
  • Invoicing: Request payments with a unified billing system
  • Tax Services: US freelancers 1099 tax reporting system
  • Marketplace Collections: Get payments from 2,000+ platforms

Supported Currencies

Receiving Accounts: USD, EUR, GBP, JPY, AUD, CAD, CNY (Hong Kong), MXN Global Transfers: 190+ countries, 150+ currencies

Restricted Countries

Payoneer runs in 190+ countries but limits the following:

  • Countries under US sanctions (Iran, North Korea, Syria, Cuba)
  • High-risk jurisdictions as per compliance policies
  • Companies from Russia and Belarus (current restrictions)

Official Links

3. Revolut - The All-in-One Fintech Ecosystem

Overview

Revolut, which was started in 2015, now has 70 million users across the globe and is in 38+ nations. Its platform enables all of the traditional models of banking, insurance, investment, and business services with tiered subscription models.

Account Types & Features

  • Personal Plans: Regular (free), Premium ($9.99/month), Metal ($16.99/month)
  • Business Plans: Standard (free), Grow ($35/month), Scale ($100/month)
  • Multi-Currency: Possess and transfer 36 different currencies
  • Cards: You will receive Visa/Mastercard both in virtual and physical forms

Fee Structure
Fee Revolut Bank

Investment Features

  • Stocks Trading: There are no fees for the purchase of stocks in the US and EU markets
  • Cryptocurrency: Purchase, trade, and store 100+ different cryptocurrencies
  • Savings Vaults: Up to 3.5% APY on savings
  • Commodities: Trading precious metals
  • ETFs: ETF Investments

Business Account Features

  • Expense Management: Corporate cards with spending controls
  • Multi-Currency: 30+ business currencies
  • Integration: API access and the software from accounting
  • Team Management: Role-based permissions and spending limits

Supported Currencies

Personal: 36 leading and developing world currencies Business: 30+ currencies along with local IBANs in EUR, GBP, USD

Restricted Countries

Revolut covers its operations in more than 38 countries but the operation is restricted in:

  • United States (limited services)
  • Countries in the list of EU/UK sanctions
  • High-risk jurisdictions in compliance with regulatory requirements

Official Links

4. Monzo Bank - The UK Digital Banking Pioneer

Overview

Established in 2015, Monzo is a fully regulated UK bank with approximately 12.2 million clients. Being best recognized for its vibrant coral cards and the user-friendly app, Monzo concentrates on domestic UK banking and hardly offers any international services.

Account Types & Features

  • Personal Current Account: Full UK banking with overdrafts
  • Monzo Pro: Primary account ($10/month) with boosted features
  • Business Account: UK business banking with regulatory protection
  • Joint Accounts: Shared banking for couples

Fee Structure
Fee Monzo Bank

Investment Features

  • Savings Pots: Certificates of deposit with a 3.75% APY interest rate
  • Mortgage Tracking: Keeping track of mortgages during the servicing period
  • Premium Bonds: Regulations with NS&I
  • Stocks & Shares: Via local (limited) subsidiaries

Business Account Features

  • Business Banking: Full Business UK current accounts
  • Payment Processing: Processing payments and invoicing
  • Expense Cards: Card for your expenses your team management spent
  • Integrations: Xero, FreeAgent, Sage, QuickBooks

Supported Currencies

Primary: GBP (British Pound) International: A little number of cards with multi-currency features, suitable mainly for spending abroad.

Restricted Countries

Monzo caters for UK residents, and the service can only be accessed by:

  • UK residents only
  • Only certain part of the continent. Also, several services have been suspended post-Brexit

Official Links

5. Airwallex - The Business-First Global Platform

Overview

Built up in 2015, Airwallex has accumulated over $1.2 billion in funds and provides global enterprises with a myriad of services where payment transactions involved, among them are international money transfer, online corporate cards, and e-commerce API solutions. The platform, now valued at $6.2 billion, was initially created to make the activities of multinational businesses more profitable and hence have worldwide potential growth.

Account Types & Features

  • Global Accounts: Local bank details in 60+ countries
  • Multi-Currency Wallet: Hold and manage 60+ currencies
  • Business Cards: Virtual and physical Visa cards
  • API Solutions: Embedded finance and payment processing

Fee Structure
Fee Airwallex Bank

Investing part

  • Capital Management: Treasury and liquidity solutions
  • No retail investment products (business-focused)
  • Working Capital: Business financing solutions

Business Account Features

  • Expense Management: Real-time spending controls
  • API Integration: White-label payment solutions
  • Marketplace Integration: Amazon, eBay, Shopify, 130+ platforms
  • Team Management: Multi-user access with custom permissions

Supported Currencies

Global Accounts: 60+ countries, 20+ receiving currencies Wallet: 60+ currencies covering all the major and growing markets Payment Processing: 150+ countries

Restricted Countries

Airwallex operates in 50+ countries but imparts following restrictions:

  • Sanctioned countries (Iran, North Korea, Cuba, Syria)
  • Russia and Belarus (current restrictions)
  • UBOs or directors from restricted jurisdictions cannot be onboarded

Official Links

Comprehensive Comparison Table
Fee Wise Payoneer Revolut Monzo Airwallex

Investment and Savings Features Comparison

Wise

  • Assets Platform: Stocks and ETFs with competitive fees
  • Interest Earnings: Up to 4.87% APY on cash balances
  • Currency Exposure: Hedge naturally via a portfolio with multi-currency representation

Payoneer

  • Capital Advance: Business financing up to $750,000
  • No traditional investments: Preference for funding business operations

Revolut

  • Stock Trading: Commission-free trading of US and European stocks
  • Cryptocurrency: 100+ virtual currencies
  • Savings: Up to 3.5% APY with automatic round-ups
  • Commodities: Gold, silver, and other precious metals

Monzo

  • Savings Pots: Up to 3.75% APY with instant access
  • Financial Marketplace: Insurance, loans, and mortgages
  • Investment Partnerships: Limited third-party integrations

Airwallex

  • Treasury Management: Enterprise liquidity solutions
  • Business Focus: No retail investment products
  • Working Capital: Trade finance and business loans

Business Account Features Deep Dive

Multi-User Access

  • Wise: Team Permissions with defined roles
  • Payoneer: Incidentally using accounts freely but severely limited in expenses handling
  • Revolut: Infinite employees able to have a user-specified set of permissions
  • Monzo: Business team management and approval workflows
  • Airwallex: Advanced team management and allocation of API controls

Accounting Integration

  • Wise: Xero, QuickBooks, Sage, FreeAgent
  • Payoneer: QuickBooks, tax reporting tools
  • Revolut: Xero, QuickBooks, custom API
  • Monzo: Xero, FreeAgent, Sage, QuickBooks
  • Airwallex: 50+ integrations including major ERPs

Payment Processing

  • Wise: Simple payment links and demands
  • Payoneer: Full payment gateway having 2,000+ platform integrations
  • Revolut: Payment receiving with good rates of interest
  • Monzo: UK payment processing with invoicing
  • Airwallex: White-label payment solutions and APIs

Security and Regulatory Compliance

Regulatory Status

  • Wise: Regulated under the FCA (UK), licensed by the state (US) and global compliance
  • Payoneer: FinCEN MSB (US), global financial licenses
  • Revolut: A banking license (EU), regulated by the state (US)
  • Monzo: Holds a full UK banking license, FCA/PRA regulated
  • Airwallex: Multiple jurisdictions (Australia, UK, US, Hong Kong)

Deposit Protection

  • Wise: Safeguarding (not FDIC/FSCS protected)
  • Payoneer: Safeguarding (not deposit insurance)
  • Revolut: FDIC insured up to $250K (US), deposit protection (EU)
  • Monzo: FSCS protected up to £85,000
  • Airwallex: Safeguarding (not deposit insurance)

Security Features

  • All platforms: 2FA, encryption, real-time monitoring
  • Revolut/Monzo: Advanced fraud detection as licensed banks
  • Airwallex: Enterprise-grade security for business clients

Geographic Availability and Restrictions

Sanctioned Countries (All Platforms)

All platforms prohibit the entry of countries under international sanctions:

  • Afghanistan, Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Syria
  • Present restrictions on Russia and Belarus
  • Other OFAC/EU sanctioned territories

Platform-Specific Restrictions

  • Wise: Most countries available (160+ countries)
  • Payoneer: Functions in over 190 countries but it imposes a more rigorous compliance policy.
  • Revolut: Expanding gradually; still, coverage is limited to 38+ countries.
  • Monzo: A financial service provider limited to the UK that is not doing much internationally.
  • Airwallex: Offers services to businesses only in specific countries.

Fees and Pricing Summary

Most Cost-Effective For:

  • International Transfers: Wise (best exchange rates are transparently shown)
  • Business Payments: Airwallex (price cuts through volumes)
  • Cryptocurrency: Revolut (lowest fee for converting)
  • UK Banking: Monzo (free domestic banking)
  • Freelancer Payments: Payoneer (support from marketplaces)

Hidden Fee Awareness

  • Wise: Most honest in terms of fees; no hidden extras.
  • Payoneer: It charges an annual fee and has a mark-up for the conversion of currency.
  • Revolut: Have to pay an extra fee on weekends and tier limitations
  • Monzo: Minimal fees but UK-focused
  • Airwallex: Clear business pricing, volume-based

2025 Recommendations by Use Case

For Individual Users

  • International Travelers: Wise or Revolut Premium
  • UK Residents: Monzo and Wise for international
  • Crypto Enthusiasts: Revolut Metal
  • Simple Banking: Wise or Monzo

For Freelancers

  • Marketplace Sellers: Payoneer (platform integrations)
  • Multiple Clients: Wise (transparent pricing)
  • All-in-One Solution: Revolut Business

For Small Businesses

  • International Trade: Wise Business or Airwallex
  • UK Operations: Monzo Business
  • Scaling Companies: Airwallex or Revolut Business

For Enterprise

  • Global Corporations: Airwallex (API-first approach)
  • Fintech Companies: Airwallex (embedded finance)
  • Traditional Businesses: Wise Business (simplicity)

Conclusion

The digital banking landscape for 2025 offers a wide range of solutions tailored to specific needs. Most noticeably, Wise has maintained its transparency and reasonable pricing, Payoneer has continued to be the choice for freelancers and marketplace businesses, Revolut managed to establish the most complete fintech ecosystem, Monzo is the preferred UK bank for customers, and Airwallex has been the most reliable global payment solution for businesses.

Key Selection Criteria:

  1. What is the geographical coverage that our product will match for?
  2. Case Usage: What kind of need is this for? Is it for personal, freelance, or business?
  3. Currency Wants: How many kinds of money will you have?
  4. Funding Requirements: Do you want some other investment options to be integrated?
  5. Regulatory Needs: Do you absolutely require a "licensed bank"?

Future Outlook

Among the key trends shaping the future of the digital banking sector are the following:

  • Enhanced compliance with laws and regulations
  • Enriched, variety-based investment resources
  • Application of artificial intelligence for computerized financial management
  • Finance solutions are embedded in the operation of other services or products
  • Banks which operate in a sustainable manner

You should base your decision on your specific financial needs, both at present and for your future business strategy, when selecting a platform.

Read Too The Complete Guide to Stock Trading and Investment: Master the Markets


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Reading Time: 10 min read
Views: 21
Published: Jul 15, 2025
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