Last Updated on February 23, 2026 by Ewen Finser
For small businesses, having the right tool for the right job is paramount. The number of software choices for SMB accounting and finance is vast and continuously increasing. In a lot of ways, this is great for business owners. You can select a platform that is highly specified and the optimal fit for your business needs.
However, there are so many choices to the point that it can be difficult to determine which platforms to use for which purposes. Thoroughly researching the available options is a must. However, it’s not uncommon for small business owners to take shortcuts in this area, since researching software takes up valuable time.
One niche with stiff competition is AP software. The payables side can be complex, even at small businesses, often involving global transactions. A couple of popular tools that businesses use for international payments are Melio and Airwallex. Initially, they may look like they’re about the same as far as capabilities and use cases go, but this couldn’t be further from the truth. Here’s how they stack up.
Melio vs. Airwallex: At a Glance
Melio | Airwallex | |
Best For | SMB AP with card-funded FX | Multi-currency accounts and global AR |
Countries Supported | 80 | 200+ |
Currencies Supported | 15 | 90+ |
FX Quotes | Valid for 30 minutes | Valid for up to 24 hours (additional fee) |
International Payment Methods | Global ACH Credit card | Bank transfer Wire transfer Transfer to another Airwallex account |
Payment Delivery Times | Global ACH:USD: 4-5 business daysFast USD: 1-3 business daysLocal Currency: 0-4 business days Credit Card:USD: 2-3 business days Fast USD: 1-3 business days Local Currency: 0-2 business days | 0-3 business days depending on payment method and country |
Transaction Fees | Global ACH:USD: $20 flat feeFast USD: 1% ($30 minimum, $95 maximum)Local Currency: Conversion rates Credit Card:USD: 2.9% + $20Fast USD: 2.9% + $30Local Currency: 2.9% + Conversion rates | FX Rates: 0.5% or 1%, depends on currency FX Quotes: 0.04% to 0.30%, depends on the time interval Transfers in Chinese Yuan (CNY): 0.10% Local Transfers: $0 Wire (SWIFT): $15 (SHA), $25 (OUR) |
Plans and Pricing | Go (Free) Core ($25/mo) Boost ($55/mo) Unlimited ($80/mo) | Explore (Free) Grow ($99/mo) Accelerate (Custom pricing) |
Melio: SMB-Friendly AP Automation
Melio is a bill pay and invoicing solution for small businesses. However, in addition to AP, you can also use the platform to collect payments from customers. It’s an appropriate choice for small businesses in all industries — healthcare, logistics, professional services, and the food industry, just to name a few. You can use Melio to automate portions of the AP process, such as bill capture, bill categorization, and recurring payments.
SMBs can use Melio for both domestic and global payments. I’ll be focusing on its international payment capabilities here.
International Payment Features
With Melio, you can pay vendors and suppliers around the world. The platform has several options for payment methods and delivery timelines, as well as flexibility regarding currencies. At present, Melio supports payments to 80 countries in 15 different currencies, including common currencies like the AUD, GBP, CAD, and EUR.
You can choose to make international payments either in USD or in your vendor’s local currency. When paying in local currency, Melio will show you the FX rate and the total amount you need to pay in USD. Melio lets you lock in an FX rate for up to 30 minutes, helping to reduce your exposure to market volatility during times of rapidly-changing conversion rates.
Payment Methods and Delivery Timelines
Melio has two main payment methods that you can use to transfer funds overseas: global ACH and credit card (Mastercard and Visa). However, within these two options, you have a few choices. You can pay in USD or in local currency, and there are also fast payment options that can reduce the delivery time. Here’s a look at how long your payments would take to arrive:
- Global ACH:
- USD: 4-5 business days
- Fast USD: 1-3 business days
- Local Currency: 0-4 business days
- Credit Card:
- USD: 2-3 business days
- Fast USD: 1-3 business days
- Local Currency: 0-2 business days
Plans and Pricing
With Melio, there are two main costs you’ll pay: one is your plan’s monthly subscription fee, and the other is the transaction fee.
Plans and Subscriptions
Melio offers four plans. There is also a custom plan available for larger enterprises or companies with highly complex AP needs. Each plan, even the lowest-tier plan, lets you make international payments in USD or in local currency. The four main plans, along with some of their other features, are:
- Go (Free)
- Limited to one user
- 5 free ACH/month
- 10 free QuickBooks Online syncs
- 10 free Xero syncs
- Core ($25/month)
- $10/month for each additional user
- 20 free ACH/month
- Unlimited QuickBooks Online and Xero syncs
- W-9 collection and 1099 automation
- Batch payments
- Boost ($55/month)
- $10/month for each additional user
- 50 free ACH/month
- Unlimited QuickBooks Online and Xero syncs
- QuickBooks Desktop sync
- W-9 collection and 1099 automation
- Batch payments
- Unlimited ($80/month)
- Unlimited users at no additional cost
- Unlimited free ACH
- Unlimited QuickBooks Online and Xero syncs
- QuickBooks Desktop sync
- W-9 collection and 1099 automation
- Batch payments
- Dedicated account manager
Global Transaction Fees
Below are Melio’s transaction fees for international payments:
- Global ACH:
- USD: $20 flat fee
- Fast USD: 1% ($30 minimum, $95 maximum)
- Local Currency: Conversion rates
- Credit Card:
- USD: 2.9% + $20
- Fast USD: 2.9% + $30
- Local Currency: 2.9% + Conversion rates
Something to note is that if you make high volumes of international payments (over $100,000 each quarter), you could be eligible for discounted FX rates and faster settlement times.
Customer Service
There are a few different ways that you can get in touch with customer support at Melio. Options include live chat, email, and phone. Phone support is only available for customers with the Boost or Unlimited plans. Customer support hours are Monday through Friday, 9 AM to 8 PM EST.
Who Should Use Melio?
Melio is a well-rounded software for SMBs to automate the AP process. You can use it to make both domestic and international payments using the method of your choice. It has strong AP capabilities, but the number of features is just the right amount for small businesses — it’s not overkill.
Airwallex: Global Banking Suite
Airwallex is like Melio in the sense that you can use it to pay your bills internationally, and you can also use it to receive payments from customers. However, while AP is Melio’s main focus, this isn’t exactly the case with Airwallex. In addition to AP and AR, Airwallex’s plans come with the option to open business accounts that you can use to collect and hold 20+ currencies and access interbank FX rates. Below is an overview of how Airwallex handles international payments.
International Payment Features
Airwallex supports payments to over 200 countries worldwide in 90+ currencies. You can send payment via bank transfer and wire (SWIFT) transfer, or you can make payments to other Airwallex accounts if your vendors have them. You also have the option to batch together multiple bills to the same vendor. Additionally, you can pay with an Airwallex corporate card, which is a debit card that lets you make payments from your business account.
With Airwallex, you can lock in an FX quote, which can help reduce your exposure to market volatility. There are several different intervals you can choose from for locking in a quote. The intervals are one minute, 15 minutes, 30 minutes, one hour, four hours, eight hours, and 24 hours.
Airwallex refers to the payment delivery time as the “flight time,” and in most cases, this is between 0 and 3 business days. The flight time can vary depending on which payment method you’re using and where the recipient is located. When you’re setting up a transfer, you will get an estimated flight time to get an idea of how long it will take for your payment to arrive.
Plans and Pricing
To use Airwallex, you’ll have to sign up for a plan, and transaction fees will also apply.
Plans and Subscriptions
The platform has three available plans. Here’s a quick look at some of the features included with each plan.
- Explore (Free)
- Business accounts to collect and hold 20+ currencies
- Domestic and international payments
- Batch payments
- Online card and local payment method acceptance
- Syncs with QuickBooks and Xero
- Grow ($99/month)
- Everything from Explore
- Customizable approvals
- Rules-based automation
- NetSuite and HRIS platform integrations
- Central management of finances across 3 global entities
- Accelerate (Custom pricing)
- Everything from Grow
- Central management of finances across unlimited global entities
- Dedicated account manager
Global Transaction Fees
Below are Airwallex’s transaction fees for international payments:
- FX Rates: 0.5% or 1%, depends on currency
- FX Quotes: 0.04% to 0.30%, depends on the time interval
- Transfers in Chinese Yuan (CNY): 0.10%
- Local Transfers: $0
- Wire (SWIFT): $15 (SHA), $25 (OUR)
SHA and OUR are both bank codes. SHA is used when the sender pays the sending bank’s fees, while the recipient pays the receiving bank’s fees. OUR is used when the sender pays all the transaction fees.
Customer Service
Airwallex customers can access support either through a live chat on their website or by submitting a ticket online. To complete the ticket form, you’ll provide your email address, your account name, the area where you need support, and a detailed description of the issue you’re experiencing.
Who Should Use Airwallex?
While Airwallex can be a solid option for making payments globally, AP isn’t its main focus. Overall, it’s best suited for businesses that want to accept payment from customers in currencies from around the globe and hold multiple currencies in one business account.
Which is Best: Melio or Airwallex?
At first glance, Melio and Airwallex might look like they’re about the same. It’s true that you can use either of them to pay vendors globally, but otherwise, the two platforms couldn’t be more different.
Melio is AP’s bread and butter. You can also use it for AR, but it’s primarily a bill pay solution, and it’s great for making both domestic and global payments. On the other hand, Airwallex is best-known for its multi-currency accounts and for its use in collecting payments from international customers — AP is only a minority of what it does.
For SMBs looking for an AP solution to pay vendors both in the U.S. and worldwide, I’d recommend Melio. Airwallex is a broader global financial suite with a very heavy focus on international payments. Melio is a well-rounded AP solution for domestic and global payments.
The other advantage of Melio comes down to card payments. You can pay global vendors with your credit card — you can’t do this with Airwallex. Instead, you’re limited to bank transfers, wire transfers, and payments to other Airwallex accounts. Being able to pay with a credit card is a huge plus, as it gives you the flexibility to manage cash flow and earn credit card rewards. For all these reasons, Melio is my top pick.