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№02 · HEAD-TO-HEAD · Edition №08 · Updated 11 March 2026

Airwallex vs Nequi.

Airwallex (A77/100) and Nequi (N75/100), scored on the same six pillars and compared row-by-row. Every cell is sourced from licence registers and live pricing pages, not opinion. Airwallex leads Nequi 5-2.

Quick verdict Airwallex 5–2
Score 10 of 1
Fees 10 of 4
Protection 02 of 2
Reach 10 of 3
UX 20 of 2
Airwallex Nequi
Banks compared 2 banks · 12 dimensions
A Airwallex 77/100 N Nequi 75/100 + Add a third bank
Tally · who wins more rows12 dimensions compared
AAirwallex
51 tie · 6 loss
NNequi
21 tie · 9 loss
Winner: Airwallex Closest gap: 3rowsEdition №08
A
Airwallex №14 · FCA 77 /100
N
Nequi №20 · Full Colombian banking licence via Bancolombia parent 75 /100
Score
Composite score Out of 100 77 /100 75 /100
Fees
Monthly fee Cheapest paid tier (€0 if free) €0 Free tier €0 Free tier
FX markup Debit card abroad 0.40% 3.00%
Free FX / month EUR equivalent €0 €0
Free ATM Before fee kicks in
Protection
Banking licence Tier Partner-bank FCA Full bank
Deposit guarantee Per depositor €100,000 SG.SDIC €50,000,000 CO.FOGAFIN
Reach
Markets served Licensed jurisdictions 50 countries 1 country
Crypto Coins available No No
Stocks & ETFs Self-directed No No
UX
Trustpilot Customer score 4.0 ★ 5k reviews
App store iOS + Android avg 4.5 ★ iOS 4.6 · And 4.4 4.5 ★ iOS 4.5 · And 4.4
Read review Read review

Pick Airwallex if…

Airwallex №14

The global multi-currency payments and operating-account platform with the broadest footprint in the SMB category — 23 currencies, local accounts in 10+ jurisdictions, local-account receiving in 60+ countries, multi-jurisdiction licensing (AU AFSL + MAS MPI + HKMA MSO + FCA EMI + US state money-transmitter), volume-based FX pricing, and issuing API for embedded card programmes. Structurally the most comprehensive cross-border AP / AR platform in the category, sitting between Wise Business (consumer-and-SMB cross-border) and Stripe (acquiring + payments) in the global-SMB stack. The embedded-finance API is the structural moat versus Aspire and Wise Business — marketplaces and SaaS platforms build payouts and card-issuing on Airwallex infrastructure rather than running multiple regional bank relationships.

Pick Nequi if…

Nequi №20

Bancolombia's digital banking arm — Colombia's largest neobank by user count (~17M). Operates under the Bancolombia full-bank licence; FOGAFIN cover applies. Mass-market reach + Bancolombia ATM network. The default Colombian neobank for COP-resident readers.

Best at a glance Axis-by-axis winner — ties skipped.
  • Best for fees Airwallex won 1 of 4
  • Best for protection Nequi won 2 of 2
  • Best for reach Airwallex won 1 of 3
  • Best for ux Airwallex won 2 of 2
Frequently asked

Airwallex vs Nequi — FAQ

Quick answers to the four questions the search-bar asks most about a head-to-head.

Is Airwallex better than Nequi?

Under our v3 methodology, Airwallex leads Nequi 5–2 across 12 dimensions. Composite scores: Airwallex 77/100 vs Nequi 75/100. Airwallex is stronger overall, but the right pick depends on which row matters most to you — fees, protection, reach, or app quality.

Is Airwallex or Nequi cheaper?

Monthly fee — Airwallex: €0; Nequi: €0. Card FX markup — Airwallex: 0.40%; Nequi: 3.00%. Airwallex wins more fee rows (1 of 4). See the Fees section of the matrix above for ATM caps and the rest.

Which is safer for deposits, Airwallex or Nequi?

Airwallex holds a Partner-bank licence under FCA; deposit guarantee per depositor: €100,000. Nequi holds a Full bank licence under Full Colombian banking licence via Bancolombia parent (Superintendencia Financiera de Colombia regulated); FOGAFIN member, COP 50,000,000 cover per depositor. // TODO(verify).; deposit guarantee per depositor: €50,000,000. Nequi is the stronger pick on regulatory protection.

Where can I use Airwallex and Nequi?

Airwallex operates in 50 countries; Nequi operates in 1 country. Check each provider's signup page for the live country list — eligibility depends on residency, not just the licence footprint.

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