Updated September 28, 2026 · VaultCue Editorial Team
Airwallex vs Kraken
Airwallex
Kraken
Higher score in this comparison
Where Airwallex and Kraken differ
| Compare | AirwallexReviewVisitVisit | KrakenReviewVisitVisit |
|---|---|---|
| Transfer fee | Explore plan: $0 domestic (US/Canada) local transfer, $1-$7 per international local transfer, $15 SWIFT (SHA), $25 SWIFT (OUR) | Based on method and currency used; funding fees can be static (fixed) or dynamic (variable) |
| Delivery time | As little as 1 business day; 90%+ of transfers arrive same day | instant |
| Payout methods | Bank | Bank, Wallet, CardCovers more |
| Currencies | from 20 | 6 |
| Exchange rate markup | 0.5% to 1% | Not confirmed |
| Licence type | Not confirmed | Payment institution |
| Fee to send 1,000 | $1 | Not confirmed |
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Key differences
- Kraken scores higher overall: 8.7 vs 8.6.
- Founded is lower at Kraken: 2011 vs 2015.
- Kraken is licensed in 3 more countries.
- Airwallex is available in 62 more countries.
- Payout methods: only Kraken offers Wallet, Card.
- Support channels: only Kraken offers Phone.
Our verdict on each
Airwallex
Airwallex Yield suits businesses that want idle operating cash to earn a variable rate without tying it up. The Hong Kong account charges a monthly fee of HKD 2,499 on top of a 2.18% to 3.83% rate, and the account is easy access, so the balance stays reachable.
Kraken
Kraken settles the fee trade-off by charging a subscription rather than staying free: the monthly fee of $4.99 applies to the account, and currency conversion runs at 0.2% with transfer delivery quoted as instant. It suits people who hold and convert several currencies and move money often.
Score breakdown
| Area | Airwallex | Kraken |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 8.8HigherA monthly fee of HKD 2,499 sits above the €449 highest fee in the comparison, offset by a HKD 0 minimum. | 8.7Subscription costs a monthly fee of $4.99 with conversion at 0.2%, against a site median fee of €0. |
| Offer | 8.5 | 9.2HigherThe account holds 6 currencies, pays out to bank, wallet and card, and delivery is instant. |
| Trust | 8.5Higher | 8.4 |
Where they rank in our lists
| Ranking | Airwallex | Kraken |
|---|---|---|
| Money transfer services | 1 of 1564 | 21 of 1564 |
| Multi-currency accounts | 3 of 348 | 9 of 348 |
What we checked
Airwallex
- airwallex.com: 9 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- en.wikipedia.org: 1 fact, checked September 26, 2026
Kraken
- kraken.com: 5 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- euclid.eba.europa.eu: 3 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- play.google.com: 1 fact, checked September 26, 2026
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Airwallex | Kraken |
|---|---|---|
| Legal entity | Airwallex Capital Hong Kong Limited | Payward Europe Solutions Limited |
| Headquarters | Singapore | Ireland |
| Founded | 2015 | 2011Lower |
| Support channels | Email, Help centre | Email, Phone, Help centreCovers more |
Everyday accounts
| Fact | Airwallex | Kraken |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly fee | HK$2,499 | $4.99 |
| Deposit protection | FSCS up to GBP 85,000 | EU DGS up to EUR 100,000 |
| Currency conversion fee | Not confirmed | 0.2% |
| Audience | Business | Not confirmed |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Airwallex | Kraken | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Exchange rate markup | 0.5% to 1%below the median | Not confirmed | 0.64 |
| Currencies | from 20above the median | 6at the median | 6 |
| Fee to send 1,000 | $1above the median | Not confirmed | $0.25 |
Median across 497 listed accounts.
Pros and cons
Airwallex
Pros
- Airwallex Yield has no lock-up and no minimum balance, with returns added daily and a short settlement window on and off the balance
- A variable rate of 2.18% to 3.83% with a minimum deposit of HKD 0
- Exchange rate margins of 0.5% to 1% sit under the 2.08% upper quartile for money services here
Cons
- A monthly fee of HKD 2,499 sits well above the €449 highest fee among the business accounts compared
- Support runs on email and help centre only
- The rate is variable, so the return can move rather than being locked in for a term
Kraken
Pros
- Deposit protection in the EU is EU DGS up to EUR 100,000 under the deposit guarantee scheme.
- Currency conversion costs 0.2%, under the 0.5% seen across the site.
- Support runs on email, phone and help centre, including phone and a help centre.
Cons
- The account carries a monthly fee of $4.99, where the site median is €0.
- The currency list is limited to 6, below the 9 in this group.
- Transfer fees depend on the method and currency used, and funding fees can be fixed or variable.
Who each suits
Airwallex
Who it suits
- Businesses that keep spare cash in a easy access account and want a return without a lock-up
- Companies paying and collecting across borders, with from 20 currencies supported and margins of 0.5% to 1%
Who should look elsewhere
- Not for anyone after a card balance rate: AXI Card Tarjeta y Credito lists 21.59% and Plazo ES lists 24.19%, far above the 2.18% to 3.83% on business cash here
- Not for a consumer wallet: PayPal Colombia lists 3.3%, while this account is built for business customers with a HKD 2,499 monthly fee
Kraken
Who it suits
- Anyone whose money sits in more than one currency
- People willing to pay a monthly subscription for a longer currency list
- Users who want phone and help centre support alongside email
Who should look elsewhere
- Anyone after a free everyday account: Skrill charges €0 a month
- Readers who want more than 6 currencies: XTB charges €0 a month, as does AXI Card at €0
- Anyone who needs a fixed transfer price before choosing a method, since transfer fees depend on the method and currency used
Current offers
Airwallex
Current offer
Bonus
Limited offer - business rewards with Airwallex AI: Up to HK$68,888
Hong Kong site offer banner linking to the 2026 Airwallex AI rewards campaign page
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Kraken
Current offer
Free trial
Kraken+ free 30-day trial: 30 days free, then $4.99/mo
Monthly billing and the free 30-day trial are offered exclusively through the Kraken mobile app; Kraken Web currently supports annual plans only; only one free trial available per user; automatically renews at $4.99/month unless canceled
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Country by country
| Country | Airwallex | Kraken |
|---|---|---|
| Argentina | No | Yes |
| Austria | Yes | No |
| Belgium | Yes | No |
| Bermuda | No | Yes |
| Brazil | Yes | No |
| Bulgaria | Yes | No |
| Cayman Islands | Yes | No |
| China | Yes | No |
8 of 71 countries where either is available.
Questions about each
Airwallex
What rate does the balance earn?+
Airwallex Yield pays a variable rate, currently 2.18% to 3.83%. The account kind is easy access, so the money is not tied to a term. Returns are added daily, and funds settle to and from Yield balances over a short settlement window.
Is there a minimum deposit or a lock-up?+
There is no lock-up and no minimum balance, and the stated minimum deposit is HKD 0. That makes the balance easy to try with a small sum and easy to top up or draw on. Cash moves to and from Yield balances across a short settlement window rather than on a fixed term.
Kraken
What does the Kraken subscription cost each month?+
The subscription account is billed a monthly fee of $4.99. That sits above the site median of €0, so the fee suits readers who will use the extra currencies rather than pay for a dormant account.
How much does Kraken charge to convert currency?+
Currency conversion is charged at 0.2%, which sits under the 0.5% recorded across the site. The gap widens for anyone converting often, which is how the subscription tends to pay back its cost.
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