ComparisonLast checked 8 November 2026
Airwallex vs Zempler Bank
A multi-currency business account with company cards, bill pay and online payment acceptance, aimed at businesses that trade internationally. A UK bank business account, formerly Cashplus, with a £0 plan, Post Office cash deposits and paid plans that remove card FX fees and add cashback. We also show Incard, our pick for businesses whose main costs go on cards.
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Where Incard beats both
- You spend thousands a month on cards, especially on advertising, software or travel
- You want a US dollar account, which Airwallex or Zempler Bank don't list
- You want accounts for LLPs, which Airwallex or Zempler Bank don't list
- You're comfortable with safeguarding instead of FSCS cover
cashback a year on Incard's £0 Free plan from £5,000 a month of eligible ads, software and travel spend. Simple arithmetic, not a forecast.
£600
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What a year of card spending earns you
Incard Free against Airwallex's cheapest plan, at your monthly spend on ads, software and travel.
£828 a year better off with Incard
- Incard Free: £600 cashback, £0 fees
- Airwallex's cheapest plan: no cashback, £228 fees
Simple arithmetic, not a forecast: 1% on eligible ads, software and travel spend at merchants on Incard's eligible brand list, and each plan's published monthly fee. Other fees, such as FX and ATM charges, aren't included. Airwallex's cheapest plan: Explore: £0 if you deposit or hold at least £10,000 a month, otherwise £19 (excluding VAT).
Quick verdict
Airwallex suits you if
- You trade internationally and pay suppliers abroad
- You want to accept card payments online
- You keep at least £10,000 in the account, which makes Explore £0
Zempler Bank suits you if
- You pay in cash at the Post Office
- You want FSCS cover on a £0 plan
- You want to take contactless card payments on your phone
- You'd pay £9 or £19 a month to drop card FX fees and earn cashback
At a glance
| Airwallex | Zempler Bank | Incard | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Type and protection | E-money · safeguarded, no FSCS | Bank · FSCS cover | E-money · safeguarded, no FSCS |
| Who can open one | UK sole traders, UK limited companies and Swiss GmbHs and AGs | UK sole traders and UK limited companies | UK sole traders, UK limited companies, LLPs, Swiss GmbHs and AGs and Swiss sole traders |
| Cheapest plan | Explore: £0 if you deposit or hold at least £10,000 a month, otherwise £19 (excluding VAT) | Business Go: £0 a month | Free: £0 a month |
| Plans (monthly) | Explore £0 or £19, Grow £49, Accelerate custom, excluding VAT | Business Go £0, Business Extra £9, Business Pro £19 | Free £0, Grow £49, Plus from £199 |
| Card cashback | Not listed | Up to 0.5% on Extra, up to 1% on Pro, tiered by monthly spend, max £1,000 a month | Free: 1% on ads, software and travel, 0.5% on other eligible spend. Higher on Grow and Plus. Uncapped |
| Card payments in other currencies | Not listed | 2.99% on Go; no fee on Extra and Pro | 1.8% on Free, 1.5% on Grow and Plus |
| Domestic transfers | Domestic transfers in EUR, GBP and CHF free | 3 free on Go, 20 on Extra, 500 on Pro, then 35p | 100 included on Free, 250 on Grow, then £0.30 each |
| International transfers | SWIFT £10 to £20 per transfer | EUR to SEPA countries and USD to the US, fee shown in app; up to £22 per payment in | 3 included on Grow; otherwise from £5 (SHA) or £20 (OUR) |
| ATM withdrawals | Not listed | £2 UK, £3 abroad on Go; free on Extra and Pro | 2% in the UK, 2.5% abroad |
| Cash deposits | Not listed | Post Office: 0.55%, £4 minimum, up to £6,000 a day | Not listed |
| Currencies you can hold | Not listed | Not listed | GBP, EUR and USD, with IBANs |
| Accepting card payments | Online from 1.30% + £0.20 for UK cards | Tap to Pay in the app through Stripe; no Zempler fee, Stripe fees apply | Not listed |
Where they differ
Based on what each provider lists on its own pages. If a feature isn't listed, check with the provider before you rule it out.
- Only Zempler Bank lists cash deposits and invoicing.
- Only Incard lists a US dollar account, accounts for LLPs and accounts for Swiss sole traders.
What each one is, and who can open one
Airwallex
Airwallex (UK) Ltd is an FCA-authorised e-money institution (FRN 900876). Airwallex says funds are safeguarded in line with local regulations. The FSCS says it can't protect money held with e-money firms.
Who can open one: Businesses registered in a supported country, including the UK and Switzerland (Swiss businesses are onboarded by its Netherlands entity). Companies must be fully incorporated and active. Sole traders are accepted in some locations, including the UK. Industry restrictions apply. Full Airwallex profile.
Zempler Bank
Zempler Bank Limited (company number 04947027), authorised by the PRA and regulated by the FCA and PRA (FRN 671140). Eligible deposits are protected up to a total of £120,000 by the FSCS.
Who can open one: UK residents aged 18 or over with a UK-based business: sole traders not registered at Companies House, active limited companies limited by shares (at least one UK-resident director, 4 or fewer PSCs, no multiple corporate PSCs), partnerships and charities. Companies limited by guarantee or with corporate shareholders pay a £100 fee. Some industries aren't accepted. Full Zempler Bank profile.
Incard
Incard Ltd is authorised by the FCA as an electronic money institution (firm reference number 1027309). It is not a bank. Safeguarded: Incard keeps customer funds separate from its own money, in accounts with authorised credit institutions, and doesn't lend or invest them. Funds are not protected by the FSCS.
Who can open one: UK limited companies and LLPs, UK sole traders and freelancers registered with their local authority, and Swiss GmbH, AG and sole-trader businesses. EEA onboarding is paused until an expected restart in 2027. Public sector bodies, cooperatives, charities, foundations and trusts aren't accepted, and a long list of industries is restricted. Full Incard profile.
Our e-money vs bank account guide explains what safeguarding and FSCS cover mean if a provider fails.
When Incard isn't the answer
Incard isn't the right account if
- Your business is registered outside the UK and Switzerland. EEA onboarding is paused until an expected restart in 2027
- You're a charity, cooperative, foundation, trust or public body, or work in one of Incard's restricted industries
Incard: 1% cashback on ads, software and travel, on a £0 plan
Our pick for UK and Swiss businesses whose main costs go on cards, as long as you don't need bank deposit protection.
Work out your cashbackCheck eligibility
We may earn a commission if you apply.
- a month on the Free plan, with team cards
- £0
- cashback on ads, software and travel; 0.5% on other eligible spend
- 1%
- IBANs in three currencies
- GBP, EUR, USD
More: Airwallex alternatives, Zempler Bank alternatives, all comparisons.
Sources
All checked on 8 November 2026. Where a provider's help centre or legal terms differ from its marketing pages, we follow the help centre and terms.
Show all 19 sources
- Incard pricing
- Incard fee schedule: Business Fees – Free
- Incard Rewards Policy
- Incard Help Centre: Is my company eligible?
- Incard Help Centre: Restricted industries
- Incard: Safeguarding
- Incard: Licence (UK)
- Airwallex UK plans and pricing
- Airwallex Help Centre: Eligibility to open an account
- Airwallex Help Centre: Eligible countries and territories
- FSCS: Check your money is protected
- Zempler Bank: Business bank accounts
- Zempler Bank: Business current account features, fees and limits
- Zempler Bank: Business current account eligibility
- Zempler Bank: Cashback
- Zempler Bank: Tap to Pay
- Zempler Bank: Sending an international payment
- Zempler Bank: Regulatory information (site footer)
- FCA Financial Services Register