Airwallex vs WorldFirst: what each publishes
As of October 7, 2026
The published rules of Airwallex and WorldFirst, side by side: which industries each excludes or accepts, where owners must live, which countries each names, the licence each holds and the fees each publishes. Each answer links to the page that quotes the rule with the date we read it.
This is not a ranking, and the two names are in alphabetical order. Either provider may still decline your company because of its activity, where it is registered, where its owners live or which licence it holds. The free check applies the rules of every provider in our base to your answers.
Policy by industry
| Industry | Airwallex | WorldFirst |
|---|---|---|
| Crypto | Depends on the activity | Depends on the activity |
| iGaming | No published rule | No |
| Adult | No published rule | No |
| Unlicensed financial services | No | No |
| AI and SaaS | With conditions | No published rule |
| Forex and CFD | No published rule | No published rule |
| Marketplace | No published rule | No published rule |
Licence
| Licensee | Airwallex | WorldFirst |
|---|---|---|
| Licensee | Airwallex (UK) Ltd · EMI authorised by the FCA (FRN 900876) · Airwallex (Netherlands) B.V. | World First UK Ltd · EMI authorised by the FCA (FRN 900508) · Ant International group |
| Regulator | FCA · | FCA · |
Where owners must live
Airwallex
No published rule
WorldFirst
No published rule
Rules about countries
Airwallex
No published rule
WorldFirst
No published rule
Fees
Airwallex
All 12 fee lines, by plan and country
| Plan | Account opening | Monthly | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|
| Explore (UK) | Not stated | GBP 0 or GBP 19 a month, VAT exclusive; GBP 0 a month if you deposit at least GBP 10k a month or hold a minimum balance of GBP 10k ('Monthly prices are in GBP and VAT exclusive') | · Source |
| Grow (UK) | Not stated | GBP 49 a month, VAT exclusive ('Monthly prices are in GBP and VAT exclusive') | · Source |
| Explore (EEA) | Not stated | EUR 0 or EUR 19 a month, VAT exclusive; EUR 0 a month if you deposit at least EUR 10k a month or hold a minimum balance of EUR 10k ('Monthly prices are in EUR and VAT exclusive') | · Source |
| Grow (EEA) | Not stated | EUR 49 a month, VAT exclusive ('Monthly prices are in EUR and VAT exclusive') | · Source |
| Explore (US) | Not stated | USD 0 per user a month ('Monthly prices are in USD') | · Source |
| Grow (US) | Not stated | USD 12 per user a month plus a platform fee based on team size ('platform fee based on team size') | · Source |
| Explore (Singapore) | Not stated | None (the SGD fee schedule reads 'Explore Plan $0 / month') | · Source |
| Grow (Singapore) | Not stated | 79 Singapore dollars a month, GST exclusive (the fee schedule, under 'Standard Fee (SGD)', reads 'Grow Plan $79 / month'; 'These fees exclude GST') | · Source |
| Explore (Hong Kong) | Not stated | None (the HKD fee schedule reads 'Explore Plan $ 0 / month') | · Source |
| Grow (Hong Kong) | Not stated | HKD 499 a month ('Monthly prices are in HKD') | · Source |
| Explore (Australia) | Not stated | AUD 0 or AUD 29 a month, GST inclusive; AUD 0 if you deposit at least AUD 5k a month or hold at least AUD 10k ('$0 or $29 /month'; 'Monthly prices are in AUD and inclusive of GST') | · Source |
| Grow (Australia) | Not stated | AUD 99 a month, GST inclusive ('$99 /month'; 'Monthly prices are in AUD and inclusive of GST') | · Source |
WorldFirst
| Plan | Account opening | Monthly | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|
| World Account | Free to set up | Not stated | · Source |