OCTIS vs Wise vs Airwallex for New Zealand businesses
Setup and monthly fees, FX cost, cards and accounting links for a business that pays and gets paid abroad.
Last checked · 3 sources
Otty's short answer
Wise Business charges a NZ$40 one-time fee, no monthly fee, and converts from 0.22%. Airwallex has a free Explore plan with FX at 0.5% on major currencies and 1% on others, and paid plans at NZ$99 and NZ$499 per month. Pick Wise for the lowest FX cost on a single plan, Airwallex for company cards, expense tools and free local transfers to 120+ countries.
Side by side
Swipe to see every column
| What matters | OCTISHong Kong company + OCTIS global plan | Wise Business | Airwallex |
|---|---|---|---|
| Setup fee | Set by our licensed partner; quoted before you commit | NZ$40 one-time | Not published |
| Monthly fee | Set by our licensed partner; quoted before you commit | NZ$0 | NZ$0 / 99 / 499 by plan |
| FX / conversion fee | Foreign exchange via licensed partners | From 0.22% | 0.5% major, 1% other |
| Local transfers abroad | Collecting and sending payments via licensed partners | Fee by currency, from 0.22% | Free to 120+ countries |
| SWIFT transfers | Set by our licensed partner; quoted before you commit | Not published | NZ$10 to NZ$30 each |
| Receive NZD domestically | Set by our licensed partner; quoted before you commit | Free | Not published |
| Local account details abroad | International multi-currency business account via licensed partners | 22 currencies (NZ$40) | Local accounts in 20+ currencies |
| Company cards | Corporate card via licensed partners | Card payments free, card fee not listed | 10 free on Explore |
| Free ATM withdrawals | Set by our licensed partner; quoted before you commit | NZ$400 per month | Not published |
| Card payments (acceptance) | Set by our licensed partner; quoted before you commit | Not published | 2.60% + NZ$0.30 domestic |
| Accounting integrations | Bookkeeping by OCTIS in the same workspace | Xero, QuickBooks, Zoho Books, more | Xero, QuickBooks, NetSuite |
| Personal accounts too | Business account for your Hong Kong company | Yes | No, business only |
If you have staff, premises or local sales in this country, its own registration and tax rules still apply. OCTIS can help you arrange them.
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 company, accounts and CRM alongside multi-currency banking via partners.
Wise Business
Choose Wise if you mainly convert and send money, want no monthly fee, and want the lowest published FX starting rate.
Airwallex
Choose Airwallex if you need many company cards, spend controls, batch payments or card acceptance in one platform.
What the table does not show
What each charges
Wise shows one tier. You pay NZ$40 once, there is no monthly fee, and conversion starts at 0.22% depending on the currency. Volume discounts start above NZ$44,000 converted. Airwallex has three plans, Explore at NZ$0, Grow at NZ$99 and Accelerate at NZ$499 per month, all excluding GST. FX is 0.5% above interbank on major currencies and 1% on the rest. Over NZ$250,000 per conversion, Airwallex asks you to contact sales.
Cards and spend
Both give multi-currency cards without foreign transaction fees. Airwallex Explore includes 10 free company cards and 2 free employee card users. More users cost NZ$15 each per month. Grow raises it to 50 free cards. Wise lists card payments as free, does not list a card issue or replacement fee on its pricing page, and allows NZ$400 per month in free ATM withdrawals. Teams that issue cards to staff will find Airwallex has more controls.
Account type and what neither is
Both are payment platforms, not New Zealand trading banks. Check how each holds your funds and which protections apply before you rely on one. Many NZ businesses keep a local bank for payroll and tax and add one of these for foreign payments. Both connect to Xero and QuickBooks, which cuts the reconciliation work.
Where OCTIS fits
Whichever account you open, your books still need doing. OCTIS does not keep books for New Zealand companies, but a Malaysian or Hong Kong company that pays suppliers or sells in New Zealand can export Wise or Airwallex statements into OCTIS bookkeeping for reconciliation. OCTIS is not a bank and holds no money. Customers can save 10–30% off their current bill.
Frequently asked questions
Is Wise or Airwallex cheaper in New Zealand?
For conversion, Wise starts lower at 0.22% against Airwallex at 0.5% on major currencies. Airwallex has no monthly fee on Explore and free local transfers to 120+ countries. Your cheaper option depends on your currency pairs and how much you send.
Do Wise and Airwallex have monthly fees in NZ?
Wise Business has none, only a NZ$40 one-time fee. Airwallex Explore is free. Grow is NZ$99 per month and Accelerate is NZ$499, excluding GST. Extra employee card users cost NZ$15 per month each.
Can a New Zealand company use both?
Yes. Wise is one account per entity and Airwallex charges per legal entity, but nothing stops one company holding both. Many split flows: one for receiving, one for cards and paying suppliers.
Do they link to Xero?
Yes. Both list Xero and QuickBooks. Wise also lists Zoho Books, FreeAgent and others. Airwallex lists NetSuite and expense tools that link to Xero and QuickBooks on Grow.
Can I use them instead of ANZ, ASB or BNZ?
Not fully. A trading bank handles day-to-day NZ banking, payroll and tax payments. Wise and Airwallex are strongest for foreign payments. Compare your volume first, since the big banks charge more for international transfers.
Sources
Checked on the date above. Links open the provider's or regulator's own page.