OCTIS vs Airwallex vs Wise Business for Hong Kong companies
Both move money across currencies cheaply. They differ on setup cost, cards and whether you can take payments.
Last checked · 5 sources
Otty's short answer
Wise Business is a transfer-first account with a one-time HK$199 opening fee and no monthly fee. Airwallex is free to open and adds company cards, a payment gateway and an open API on a free plan. If you mostly send and receive money in many currencies, compare both quotes. If you also sell online or want team cards, Airwallex covers more.
Side by side
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| What matters | OCTISHong Kong company + OCTIS global plan | Airwallex | Wise Business |
|---|---|---|---|
| Account opening fee | Set by our licensed partner; quoted before you commit | HK$0 | HK$199 one-time |
| Monthly fee | Set by our licensed partner; quoted before you commit | HK$0 (Explore) | None |
| FX or sending fee | Set by our licensed partner; quoted before you commit | From 0.2% over interbank | From 0.23%, varies by currency |
| Local HKD transfers | Set by our licensed partner; quoted before you commit | Free | Not published |
| SWIFT payment out | Set by our licensed partner; quoted before you commit | HK$120 to HK$200 | Not published as one rate |
| USD wire in | Set by our licensed partner; quoted before you commit | Not published | US$6.11 per payment |
| Currencies | International multi-currency account via licensed partners | 20+ (Airwallex count) | 22 account details; 40+ held |
| Business cards | Corporate card via licensed partners | Unlimited, all plans | Debit card; fees not published |
| Payment gateway | Collecting payments via licensed partners | Yes, from 3.30% + HK$2.35 | Not listed |
| Accounting links | Accounting and CRM in one workspace | Xero, NetSuite, QuickBooks, API | Xero, QuickBooks |
| HK licence | OCTIS is not licensed as a bank; partners are licensed | MSO 16-09-01929 | MSO 25-03-03263 |
| Bank deposit protection | OCTIS is not a bank | No, not a bank | No, not a bank |
Data sources & disclaimer: Comparison data was compiled from publicly available sources — including the competitors' own published pricing and feature pages — captured on 9 November 2026. Figures reflect the typical or advertised pricing at that time and may have changed since; plans, inclusions and prices vary by provider, region and promotion. OCTIS is independent and not affiliated with the named companies; all trademarks belong to their respective owners. This comparison is provided in good faith for general information only and is not professional, legal or financial advice — please verify current details with each provider before deciding.
Which one fits you
OCTIS · Hong Kong company + OCTIS global plan
Choose OCTIS if you want the company, accounts, CRM and an international account through licensed partners handled by one team.
Airwallex
Choose Airwallex if you want cards, a payment gateway or an API on a no-monthly-fee plan.
Wise Business
Choose Wise Business if you mainly send and receive money in many currencies and prefer its transparent per-transfer pricing.
What the table does not show
Cost: one-time fee against an FX margin
Wise charges a one-time HK$199 to open the account and lists sending fees from 0.23%, which vary by currency. Airwallex charges nothing to open and lists FX from 0.2% above the interbank rate, with local transfers free. On a single large transfer the difference is small. Fixed fees matter more on small, frequent payments. Wise does not publish an HKD-specific rate on the pages we read, so get a quote for your exact currency pair.
What you can do besides transfers
Airwallex includes unlimited company cards, invoicing, a hosted checkout and integrations with Shopify, WooCommerce and Xero, per its pricing and comparison pages. Wise Business lists a business debit card and Xero and QuickBooks links, but we found no payment gateway on its Hong Kong pages. If you take card payments from customers, you will need another provider next to Wise.
Licence
Wise Payments Hong Kong Limited states money service operator licence 25-03-03263 and Airwallex states 16-09-01929, both from the Customs and Excise Department. Neither is a licensed bank. Neither Wise nor Airwallex appears on the HKMA register of stored value facility licensees, so neither holds that licence, and neither gets bank deposit protection.
Where OCTIS fits
Both accounts give you statements, and a clean ledger starts from those. OCTIS bookkeeping reconciles Airwallex or Wise transactions across currencies for a Hong Kong company, and we handle incorporation, company secretary work, profits tax and audit by a Hong Kong CPA practice. OCTIS is not a bank, does not hold your money and has no partnership with any provider here. Ask about 10–30% off your current bill.
Frequently asked questions
Is Wise or Airwallex cheaper for Hong Kong businesses?
Airwallex lists FX from 0.2% and no opening fee. Wise lists a HK$199 opening fee and sending fees from 0.23%. Rates vary by currency and size, so request a quote in each app for your real transfer before you decide.
Does Wise Business have a monthly fee in Hong Kong?
Wise states there are no subscriptions or monthly fees. It does charge a one-time HK$199 to open the Hong Kong business account on its Hong Kong pricing page.
Can Wise Business accept card payments in Hong Kong?
We found no payment gateway on Wise Business Hong Kong pages. Wise is built for sending, receiving and holding money. Airwallex lists a card gateway at 3.30% plus HK$2.35 for domestic cards.
Are Wise and Airwallex banks?
No. Both hold Hong Kong money service operator licences from the Customs and Excise Department and are not banks. Their balances are not covered by the Deposit Protection Scheme.
Can I use both?
Yes. Some companies keep Airwallex for cards and collections and Wise for specific corridors. There is no fee to hold both, apart from Wise's one-time opening fee.
Sources
Checked on the date above. Links open the provider's or regulator's own page.