Is Airwallex Explore free in all cases?
No. The published no-subscription outcome depends on meeting qualifying deposit or balance conditions.
BUSINESS COMPARISON
Wise Business vs Airwallex for Dutch businesses
An independent consultant receiving overseas invoices and an online store taking international card payments buy different services. Wise Business and Airwallex overlap, but they are not identical product bundles.
In brief
Wise Business is a useful quote for foreign-currency transfers and receiving account details. Airwallex combines transfers with acquiring and spend controls. The total depends on how much of that extra capability you genuinely use.
Separate the fee components
| Factor | Wise Business | Airwallex Netherlands |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly charge | No required monthly plan; separate €60 Dutch receiving-details activation. | Explore €19/month, or €0 if the qualifying €10,000 deposit or balance condition is met; Grow €49/month. |
| Foreign exchange | Route-specific rate and transfer fees. | Dutch price list shows a 0.5% FX markup on major currencies and 1% on others, before other applicable costs. |
| Outbound payments | Individual and eligible batch payments with per-transfer fees. | Supported domestic, international and batch payouts. |
| Receiving customer payments | Currency receiving details where eligible. | Receiving accounts plus online card processing and payment links, with separate processing tariffs. |
The free Explore plan has conditions
Airwallex's advertised €0 Explore charge depends on qualifying deposits of at least €10,000 in the month or maintaining a qualifying €10,000 wallet balance. If neither applies, the published monthly fee is €19.
A higher Grow plan includes more expense tools. That may be useful for a finance team, but it shouldn't be priced as if a sole trader uses every feature.
An FX margin isn't an acquiring fee
The published 0.5% and 1% markup categories relate to conversion; card processing and some transfers carry separate costs. Don't compare one Airwallex FX number to a complete Wise transfer quote as though they represent the same service.
Similarly, Wise's €60 receiving-details activation does not mean every outgoing supplier payment costs €60.
Run your real transaction mix
Record a normal month's inbound bank receipts, online card turnover, conversions, foreign supplier payouts and accounting requirements. Check supported countries, currencies and permissions before optimizing for any individual rate.
Checklist before choosing
- Is your cash collected by bank transfer or card acquiring?
- Does the business meet the Explore €0 deposit or balance threshold?
- Which conversions and payment types incur additional fees?
- Do batch payments, approvals and integration matter?
Frequently asked questions
Is 0.5% the total cost of accepting foreign cards?
No. FX, acquiring and international transfer charges are separate.
Does Wise Business charge €60 every month?
No. Its Netherlands receiving-details fee is a one-time activation when applicable.
Research and sources
This comparison is based on official published pricing and product terms reviewed 12 October 2026. It does not rank live quotes. No competitor links or unverified discounts.
Read our methodology →