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Adyen vs Airwallex: which is better for international payments in 2026?

  • Adyen is enterprise-grade omnichannel acquiring trusted by global brands, but it is sales-led, carries a minimum invoice, and cannot collect export payments into India
  • Airwallex is a global banking platform, with 20+ currency accounts and corporate cards, but India is not a supported Global Account market
  • Which one is better comes down to your priorities - fees, FIRA handling, and how your clients prefer to pay
Accept payment from 150+ countries
USD
Client pays
USD 100USD 100,000
1 USD = 85.00 INR
Live fx rate
You'll receiveINR
₹4,22,091
Adyen
₹4,07,434
You lose:4.1%
Airwallex
₹4,13,729
You lose:2.7%
100+ reviews
Trusted by 40,000+ businesses
Over $1B processed • Licensed by RBI
RBI PA-CB authorizedHDFC BankISO 27001 certifiedVisa

Adyen vs Airwallex: understanding the key differences

Both Adyen and Airwallex are well-known names for international payments, but they differ in who can use them from India, fees, export documentation like FIRA, GST compliance, settlement timelines, and support. Here is how they compare side by side.
FeaturesadyenAirwallex
Transfer feesInterchange++ plus 0.60% + $0.13 per transaction (~3.5% est. on international cards)0.5-1% FX plus $10-30 SWIFT per transfer
Forex markupNot published, contract-specific0.5-1% above interbank
FIRANot offered at allNot confirmed as automatic
eBRCNo eBRC, and no inward flow to need it forNot confirmed
GST-compliant invoiceNot available, no invoicing productNot available
Settlement time2 to 3 business days2-3 business days via SWIFT
Customer supportTicket-based, account managers for enterpriseChat and email, global queue
Best suited forEnterprise omnichannel acquiringGlobal banking, corporate cards, treasury

Adyen vs Airwallex: pricing and forex breakdown

Beyond the published fees, the real cost is what lands in your bank after fees, forex and GST. Move the slider to see what each one works out to, and how Skydo compares.
With Skydo, you receive₹8,47,091
Money transferUSD 10,000
$500$10K$100K$1M
adyenFX not published
₹8,14,882
Exchange rate85.00
Forex markup₹0
Card fee₹29,750
Fixed fee₹11
GST (18%)₹5,357
Total fees₹35,118
You receive₹8,14,882
Airwallex0.5-1% markup
₹8,29,464
Exchange rate84.15
Forex markup₹8,500
Transfer fee₹8,500
Fixed fee₹1,700
GST (18%)₹1,836
Total fees₹20,536
You receive₹8,29,464

Adyen vs Airwallex: compliance, payment rails, and platform comparison

adyen
  • No FIRA or e-FIRC — not offered at all
  • No eBRC support — and no inward flow to need it for
  • No GST-compliant invoicing; Adyen has no invoicing product
  • Purpose codes not handled — no export remittances move through Adyen
  • India licences: online PA (Jul 2024) plus import-side PA-CB only
Airwallex
  • No confirmed automatic FIRA for India inward remittances
  • No automated eBRC, generate manually through DGFT
  • Invoicing tool does not produce GST-compliant invoices for India
  • No confirmed purpose-code handling published
  • SOFTEX and EDPMS handled separately

Adyen vs Airwallex: which one is right for you

There is no single winner. The right pick depends on who pays you, how large your invoices are, and how much paperwork you can handle.
01adyen

Choose Adyen if:

You are an enterprise selling omnichannel at scale and can meet sales-led minimums.
  • Global brand with an Indian entity acquiring from Indian consumers
  • High-volume retailer unifying online and in-store payments on one stack
  • Marketplace or platform needing split payments and sub-merchant payouts
  • Enterprise with developer teams ready for API integration
02Airwallex

Choose Airwallex if:

You want Airwallex's global banking breadth, and can absorb the plan fee plus SWIFT charges on top of your FX cost.
  • Business already using Airwallex for cards or payroll
  • New exporter wanting to start without an invite today
  • Team valuing one dashboard over India compliance
  • Company running multi-country treasury operations

Skydo: a better alternative to Adyen and Airwallex

FeaturesadyenAirwallex
Settlement time2 to 3 business days2-3 days via SWIFT24 hours
Forex markupNot published0.5-1%Zero, live rate
Transaction fee~3.5% est. on intl cards0.5-1% FX + $10-30 SWIFT$19 up to $2k, $29 up to $10k, 0.3% aboveBest
FIRANot offeredNot confirmedFree, instant, per payment
eBRC and EDPMSNot supportedNot confirmedOne-click eBRC, EDPMS closure assistance
GST invoicingNot availableNot availableBuilt in, GST compliant
Customer supportTickets, enterprise account managersGlobal queueIndia-based, on WhatsApp, call and email
Payment trackingReal-time dashboardLimitedAuto tracked, remittance to bank deposit
RBI authorisationPA + import-side PA-CB onlyNo PA-CB confirmed (Singapore entity)Full PA-CB authorized
Losing money on each transfer but not sure how much?

See what our clients say about us

100+ reviews
Trusted by 40,000+ businesses
Shashank
“I'm looking for straightforward, transparent pricing. With most payment providers, it's hard to understand the actual fees and exchange rates, making it difficult to know what I'm really paying.”ShashankCEO, HCODE

Frequently asked questions

Which is better, Adyen or Airwallex, for international payments in 2026?+
It comes down to how your clients pay you and how much compliance you want handled. Adyen is enterprise-grade omnichannel acquiring trusted by global brands, but onboarding is sales-led with a minimum invoice, and its India cross-border licence covers import flows only. Airwallex is a global banking platform with 20+ currency accounts and corporate cards, but India is not a supported Global Account market and payments route via SWIFT. Adyen suits enterprise omnichannel acquiring, while Airwallex suits global banking and treasury operations.
Is Adyen cheaper than Airwallex?+
Usually not. Adyen prices at Interchange++ plus 0.60% + $0.13, working out to roughly 3.5% on international cards — and its India licence covers import-side flows only, so Indian exporters cannot collect through it. Airwallex charges a 0.5 to 1% FX spread plus $10-30 per SWIFT transfer, with plan fees on higher tiers, roughly 2.5 to 3.5% all in for Indian exporters. Airwallex is generally cheaper, though what actually lands in your bank depends on invoice size.
Which provides better exchange rates, Adyen or Airwallex?+
Neither is clearly cheaper. Airwallex at least publishes its pricing — a 0.5 to 1% spread above interbank — while Adyen does not publish FX pricing — it is contract-specific, and Indian merchants settle in INR only.
Do Adyen and Airwallex provide FIRA for Indian exporters?+
Adyen provides no FIRA or e-FIRC at all. Airwallex does not publicly confirm automatic FIRA for India inward remittances. For GST refunds and export compliance an instant per-payment FIRA matters — Skydo issues one free with every payment.
Are Adyen and Airwallex RBI-approved for receiving payments in India?+
Adyen is an RBI-authorised online payment aggregator (July 2024) with PA-CB for outward, import-side flows only. Airwallex onboards Indian businesses via its Singapore entity, with no RBI PA-CB authorisation publicly confirmed.
Is Adyen or Airwallex better for freelancers or businesses?+
Enterprises with an Indian entity acquiring omnichannel at scale lean towards Adyen — it is not an option for exporters collecting from abroad. Businesses already using Airwallex for cards, payroll or treasury lean towards Airwallex.
Is there a better alternative to Adyen and Airwallex for receiving money in India?+
Skydo is built for Indian exporters and freelancers. It charges a flat fee ($19 up to $2k, $29 up to $10k, 0.3% above) that works out cheaper than a percentage fee as invoices grow, with zero forex markup, instant FIRA on every payment, one-click eBRC and EDPMS closure assistance, built-in GST-compliant invoicing, full RBI PA-CB authorisation, and India-based support.

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