Airwallex vs Brex.
Airwallex (A77/100) and Brex (B70/100), scored on the same six pillars and compared row-by-row. Every cell is sourced from licence registers and live pricing pages, not opinion. A close tie.
| A Airwallex №14 · FCA 77 /100 | B Brex №34 · FDIC 70 /100 | |
|---|---|---|
| Score | ||
| Composite score Out of 100 | 77 /100 | 70 /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 | Partner-bank FDIC |
| Deposit guarantee Per depositor | €100,000 SG.SDIC | $250,000 US.FDIC |
| Reach | ||
| Markets served Licensed jurisdictions | 50 countries | 1 country |
| Crypto Coins available | No | No |
| Stocks & ETFs Self-directed | No | Yes |
| UX | ||
| Trustpilot Customer score | 4.0 ★ 5k reviews | — |
| App store iOS + Android avg | 4.5 ★ iOS 4.6 · And 4.4 | 4.5 ★ iOS 4.6 · And 4.4 |
| 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 Brex if…
SMB-business neobank built around corporate cards + spend management. Brex Cash uses partner-bank sweep (Choice Financial + Lead Bank + Citi) for FDIC pass-through up to $6M+. Y Combinator alumni; ~$12B valuation. The default for VC-backed US startups.
- Best for fees Brex won 1 of 4
- Best for protection Brex won 1 of 2
- Best for reach Tied
- Best for ux Airwallex won 1 of 2
Airwallex vs Brex — FAQ
Quick answers to the four questions the search-bar asks most about a head-to-head.
Is Airwallex better than Brex?
Airwallex and Brex are tied 3–3 across 12 dimensions under our v3 methodology. Composite scores: Airwallex 77/100 vs Brex 70/100. The right pick depends on which dimension you weight most heavily.
Is Airwallex or Brex cheaper?
Monthly fee — Airwallex: €0; Brex: €0. Card FX markup — Airwallex: 0.40%; Brex: Interbank. Brex 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 Brex?
Airwallex holds a Partner-bank licence under FCA; deposit guarantee per depositor: €100,000. Brex holds a Partner-bank licence under FDIC; deposit guarantee per depositor: $250,000. Brex is the stronger pick on regulatory protection.
Where can I use Airwallex and Brex?
Airwallex operates in 50 countries; Brex operates in 1 country. 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.