Airwallex vs Vivid Money.
Airwallex (A77/100) and Vivid Money (V62/100), scored on the same six pillars and compared row-by-row. Every cell is sourced from licence registers and live pricing pages, not opinion. Vivid Money leads Airwallex 5-3.
| A Airwallex №14 · FCA 77 /100 | V Vivid Money №47 · Electronic money institution authorisation in Luxembourg; MiFID II investment firm licence in Netherlands; MiCAR authorisation for crypto-asset services 62 /100 | |
|---|---|---|
| Score | ||
| Composite score Out of 100 | 77 /100 | 62 /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 | — | €200 /mo |
| Protection | ||
| Banking licence Tier | Partner-bank FCA | E-money inst. |
| Deposit guarantee Per depositor | €100,000 SG.SDIC | Safeguarded EU.DGS.DE |
| Reach | ||
| Markets served Licensed jurisdictions | 50 countries | 5 countries |
| Crypto Coins available | No | 300 coins |
| Stocks & ETFs Self-directed | No | Yes |
| UX | ||
| Trustpilot Customer score | 4.0 ★ 5k reviews | 4.2 ★ 8k reviews |
| App store iOS + Android avg | 4.5 ★ iOS 4.6 · And 4.4 | 4.5 ★ iOS 4.5 · 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 Vivid Money if…
Pick if cashback on cards matters more than regulatory depth or rich product breadth.
- Best for fees Vivid Money won 2 of 4
- Best for protection Airwallex won 1 of 2
- Best for reach Vivid Money won 2 of 3
- Best for ux Vivid Money won 1 of 2
Airwallex vs Vivid Money — FAQ
Quick answers to the four questions the search-bar asks most about a head-to-head.
Is Airwallex better than Vivid Money?
Under our v3 methodology, Vivid Money leads Airwallex 5–3 across 12 dimensions. Composite scores: Airwallex 77/100 vs Vivid Money 62/100. Vivid Money is stronger overall, but the right pick depends on which row matters most to you — fees, protection, reach, or app quality.
Is Airwallex or Vivid Money cheaper?
Monthly fee — Airwallex: €0; Vivid Money: €0. Card FX markup — Airwallex: 0.40%; Vivid Money: Interbank. Vivid Money wins more fee rows (2 of 4). See the Fees section of the matrix above for ATM caps and the rest.
Which is safer for deposits, Airwallex or Vivid Money?
Airwallex holds a Partner-bank licence under FCA; deposit guarantee per depositor: €100,000. Vivid Money holds a E-money inst. licence under Electronic money institution authorisation in Luxembourg; MiFID II investment firm licence in Netherlands; MiCAR authorisation for crypto-asset services; deposit guarantee per depositor: Safeguarded. Airwallex is the stronger pick on regulatory protection.
Where can I use Airwallex and Vivid Money?
Airwallex operates in 50 countries; Vivid Money 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.