Trade Republic vs Airwallex.
Trade Republic (T81/100) and Airwallex (A77/100), scored on the same six pillars and compared row-by-row. Every cell is sourced from licence registers and live pricing pages, not opinion. Trade Republic leads Airwallex 5-3.
| A Airwallex №14 · FCA 77 /100 | T Trade Republic №05 · BaFin 81 /100 | |
|---|---|---|
| Score | ||
| Composite score Out of 100 | 77 /100 | 81 /100 |
| Fees | ||
| Monthly fee Cheapest paid tier (€0 if free) | €0 Free tier | €0 Free tier |
| FX markup Debit card abroad | 0.40% | Interbank |
| Free FX / month EUR equivalent | €0 | €0 |
| Free ATM Before fee kicks in | — | — |
| Protection | ||
| Banking licence Tier | Partner-bank FCA | Full bank BaFin |
| Deposit guarantee Per depositor | €100,000 SG.SDIC | €100,000 EU.DGS.DE |
| Reach | ||
| Markets served Licensed jurisdictions | 50 countries | 17 countries |
| Crypto Coins available | No | 50 coins |
| Stocks & ETFs Self-directed | No | Yes |
| UX | ||
| Trustpilot Customer score | 4.0 ★ 5k reviews | 3.3 ★ 28k reviews |
| App store iOS + Android avg | 4.5 ★ iOS 4.6 · And 4.4 | 4.4 ★ iOS 4.8 · And 4.1 |
| Read review → | Read review → | |
Pick Airwallex if…
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 Trade Republic if…
Pick if you want the cheapest brokerage in Europe (€1/trade) and the highest interest on idle cash. Not a primary current account.
- Best for fees Trade Republic won 1 of 4
- Best for protection Trade Republic won 1 of 2
- Best for reach Trade Republic won 2 of 3
- Best for ux Airwallex won 2 of 2
Trade Republic vs Airwallex — FAQ
Quick answers to the four questions the search-bar asks most about a head-to-head.
Is Airwallex better than Trade Republic?
Under our v3 methodology, Trade Republic leads Airwallex 5–3 across 12 dimensions. Composite scores: Airwallex 77/100 vs Trade Republic 81/100. Trade Republic is stronger overall, but the right pick depends on which row matters most to you — fees, protection, reach, or app quality.
Is Airwallex or Trade Republic cheaper?
Monthly fee — Airwallex: €0; Trade Republic: €0. Card FX markup — Airwallex: 0.40%; Trade Republic: Interbank. Trade Republic 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 Trade Republic?
Airwallex holds a Partner-bank licence under FCA; deposit guarantee per depositor: €100,000. Trade Republic holds a Full bank licence under BaFin; deposit guarantee per depositor: €100,000. Trade Republic is the stronger pick on regulatory protection.
Where can I use Airwallex and Trade Republic?
Airwallex operates in 50 countries; Trade Republic operates in 17 countries. Check each provider's signup page for the live country list — eligibility depends on residency, not just the licence footprint.
Want a 3- or 4-way comparison?
The dynamic compare picker handles up to four banks. Add this pair plus one or two more and we'll resolve every row.