Airwallex vs Opay.
Airwallex (A77/100) and Opay (O58/100), 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 Opay 5-2.
| A Airwallex №14 · FCA 77 /100 | O Opay №54 · CBN 58 /100 | |
|---|---|---|
| Score | ||
| Composite score Out of 100 | 77 /100 | 58 /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 | E-money inst. CBN |
| Deposit guarantee Per depositor | €100,000 SG.SDIC | Safeguarded NG.NDIC |
| Reach | ||
| Markets served Licensed jurisdictions | 50 countries | 5 countries |
| Crypto Coins available | No | No |
| Stocks & ETFs Self-directed | No | Yes |
| UX | ||
| Trustpilot Customer score | 4.0 ★ 5k reviews | 1.5 ★ 5k reviews |
| App store iOS + Android avg | 4.5 ★ iOS 4.6 · And 4.4 | 4.5 ★ iOS 4.4 · And 4.5 |
| 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 Opay if…
Largest Nigerian mobile-money + neobank hybrid by user count (~50M+). Saudi Aramco-affiliated investor backed. OBank subsidiary holds the bank licence; OPay wallet sits on top. Aggressive cross-EM expansion (Egypt, Pakistan announced). The Nigerian mobile-money rail leader.
- Best for fees Opay won 1 of 4
- Best for protection Airwallex won 1 of 2
- Best for reach Tied
- Best for ux Airwallex won 2 of 2
Airwallex vs Opay — FAQ
Quick answers to the four questions the search-bar asks most about a head-to-head.
Is Airwallex better than Opay?
Under our v3 methodology, Airwallex leads Opay 5–2 across 12 dimensions. Composite scores: Airwallex 77/100 vs Opay 58/100. 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 Opay cheaper?
Monthly fee — Airwallex: €0; Opay: €0. Card FX markup — Airwallex: 0.40%; Opay: Interbank. Opay 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 Opay?
Airwallex holds a Partner-bank licence under FCA; deposit guarantee per depositor: €100,000. Opay holds a E-money inst. licence under CBN; deposit guarantee per depositor: Safeguarded. Airwallex is the stronger pick on regulatory protection.
Where can I use Airwallex and Opay?
Airwallex operates in 50 countries; Opay operates in 5 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.