Why switch from Airwallex?
Airwallex does FX well. But spend management? Not so much.
Airwallex was built as a cross-border payment and FX platform. Their corporate cards and AP features were added later — and it shows. Card controls are basic, approval workflows are limited, onboarding takes weeks, and there's zero support for digital assets or stablecoins.
- Corporate cards have basic controls — no granular per-card rules or merchant restrictions
- Approval workflows are rigid and lack multi-level customization
- Onboarding is notoriously slow — expect weeks of compliance back-and-forth
- No stablecoin support: can't hold, send, or receive USDC/USDT
- No crypto-to-fiat offramp for companies with digital asset treasuries
- Accounts payable features feel bolted on, not purpose-built
- No accrual accounting — you'll still need a separate tool for that
- API-first approach means the UI can feel complex for non-technical finance teams
Feature comparison
Request Finance vs Airwallex: Feature Comparison
Airwallex is a solid FX and banking infrastructure platform. Request Finance is a purpose-built spend management solution. Here's how they compare on the features that matter.
Corporate Cards
Accounts Payable
Global Operations
Integrations & Accounting
Why Request Finance?
Why companies choose Request Finance over Airwallex
Purpose-built for spend management
Airwallex is a banking infrastructure platform that added cards and AP as features. Request Finance was built from day one as a spend management platform — cards, AP, approvals, accounting, and treasury management all work together natively.
Stablecoin & fiat in one platform
If your company holds or transacts in digital assets, Airwallex can't help. Request Finance natively supports stablecoin treasuries, USDC/USDT payments, and crypto-to-fiat offramps — alongside all traditional payment rails.
Operational in minutes, not weeks
Airwallex onboarding is notoriously slow, with weeks of compliance documentation and back-and-forth. Request Finance gets your account open and operational in under 5 minutes. Complete KYB at your own pace.
Card controls your finance team actually needs
Airwallex cards offer basic spend controls. Request Finance gives you per-card spending limits, merchant category restrictions, multi-level approval chains, and instant real-time notifications — the granular control that prevents rogue spend.
Use cases
When to choose Request Finance over Airwallex
You need spend management, not just FX
Airwallex is great if you only need multi-currency accounts and foreign exchange. But if you want corporate cards with real controls, approval workflows, and integrated AP — Request Finance is the complete platform.
Your business works with stablecoins
You hold USDC, USDT, or other digital assets in your treasury. You need to fund cards, pay vendors, and offramp to fiat — all from one interface. Airwallex doesn't touch crypto.
You can't wait weeks for onboarding
Your team needs to be operational now, not after weeks of compliance paperwork. Request Finance opens accounts in minutes and lets you complete enhanced verification on your own schedule.
Your finance team isn't technical
Airwallex's API-first approach is great for developers, but its UI can overwhelm non-technical finance teams. Request Finance is designed for CFOs, controllers, and AP managers who want clarity, not complexity.
Get started
3 steps to transform your company's spend management
Open your account
Complete your Know Your Business verification quickly and securely or do it later.
Top up your account
Deposit any currency: fiat or stablecoin. Flexible funding options for your business needs.
You are set up!
Your finance team is ready to go. Control, approve, and monitor business spend in real time.
The finance platform your team will actually enjoy using
Time saving, efficient, compliant, less stressful... and much more!
We designed Request for CFOs, COOs, and founders who value clarity and control.
Discover how you can save time, save money, and stay in control.
It has improved the security of our stablecoin payment processes.
David Norris
Head of Finance, Near Protocol
It is a game-changer for any Web3 business looking to streamline their financial operations and take advantage of the benefits of stablecoins.
Magdalena Fichtl
Head of Finance & Operations, Gelato
Other solutions we saw did not have all the functionalities we needed, like batch payments.
Sebastien Borget
COO & Co-founder, The Sandbox
It makes the whole invoicing process more efficient for all the parties involved.
Daniel Lustig
Founding Member, Ocean Protocol
Request revolutionized our financial operations by simplifying cross-currency transactions, ensuring transparent and auditable records through a paper trail creation.
Juan Pablo Andersson
Finance Operations, The Sandbox
Request Finance makes it easy for our accountants to manage our payments, and simplifies payroll for our global team.
Rudy Kadoch
CEO, Nested Finance