TransferWise vs Azimo

TransferWise provides a simple easy to use international money transfer service with digital wallet capabilities. Their digital wallet, or Borderless account also gives the individual local banking details in 6+ currencies including, EUR, SGD, NZD, USD, GBP and AUD. Their TransferWise Borderless debit card backs on to their Borderless digital wallet allowing you to spend directly out of your multi-currency account balances.

What TransferWise offers individuals

• International money transfers
• Borderless multi-currency receiving accounts
• Borderless Debit Card - FX optimised debit card
• Android and Apple apps
• Send money to email address
• Scheduled and recurring transfers - sufficiently funded Borderless account required for this to work. 

What TransferWise does not offer individuals

• Personal account management
• Full support for regular transfers. Currently regular transfers or ‘scheduled transfers’ need to have a Borderless multi-currency account balance. Find out which countries support TransferWise Borderless account.
• Cash pick up or international bill payments

Azimo gives individuals easy access to international money transfers with a variety of payout methods. There are only a handful of currency exchange and transfer companies that provide such services. Azimo doesn’t just transfer money to a payee’s bank account, but also uses foreign agents for cash picks, payment into foreign mobile wallets and mobile credit top ups. 

A unique service that Azimo offers is the ability to send money into China’s Alipay. This could be the decision maker for individuals comparing Azimo and who need to transfer money home to China.

What Azimo doesn’t offer is more of the advanced money transfer and currency exchange services that some individuals may need. Azimo does not provide services such as currency risk management tools, regular transfers or personal account managers for those large money transfers. You may want more of the personal touch instead of an online only money transfer service.

What Azimo offers

• International money transfers
• Cash pick ups
• Mobile wallet and mobile airtime top ups
• Home delivery (only in the Philippines)
• Payments to AliPay in China

What Azimo doesn’t offer

• Account managers
• Regular transfers
• Travel cards
• Currency hedging tools
• Unique local multi-currency accounts
• Digital wallets

In addition to the services TransferWise offers the individual, there are some features only available for a business. Unfortunately, as TransferWise is online only, a business customer does not have support with currency fluctuations and trends. TransferWise does however offer easy to use transactional foreign currency receipts and payments.

Scheduled transfers is a recently added feature. This can reduce admin for those standard monthly, weekly payments to suppliers and staff. A sufficient balance in the Business Borderless account is required. TransferWise will remind the account owner to make sure there is sufficient funds in the multi-current account. What is not supported is standing orders from a business bank account through TransferWise. This may mean that businesses need to alter their business structure to ensure continuous sufficent Borderless account funding.

What TransferWise offers businesses

• Batch payments
• Xero and Quickbook integration
• FX optimised business debit card
• Multi-user account access
• Regular and scheduled transfers

What TransferWise for business doesn’t offer

• Business account management
• Risk management tools

Azimo's services for business clients are limited to basic money transfer services. What they do offer is a lower exchange rate margin (think hidden fees) for larger money transfers. Azimo doesn’t provide business centric services that businesses with a global presence need to reduce their ongoing money transfer costs and reduce administration. For example, accounting solutions (e.g. Xero) integration is not available which increases booking keeping administration. Nor does Azimo offer solutions for online sellers operating in a foreign market or unique international receiving accounts for foreign clients to pay locally. 

A list of what Azimo do and don’t offer businesses is below.

What Azimo for business offers 

• International money transfers
• Repeat transfers
• Better rates for transfers over £1,000

What Azimo for business doesn't do

• Business specialists
• FX-optimized travel cards
• Currency hedging tools
• Digital wallets
• Unique local multi-currency receiving accounts
• Solutions for online sellers
• Accounting integration

TransferWise offers the real time exchange rate at the time of your transfer. Therefore fees are visible in addition to the transfer amount. The fee structure is complex as it differs depending on the currencies you are sending from and to. Fees also apply to the type of Borderless account transaction. Fees can also apply on the use of the TransferWise Borderless debit card. Fees are briefly summarised below. Read the detailed TransferWise review for more details on TransferWise fees.

Azimo’s exchange rate fees and additional fees are higher in comparison. Azimo’s exchange rate margin (the additional percentage on top of the current real exchange rate) is also quite high. There are some justifiable reasons why fees to send money for cash pick up as 3rd parties are involved. The lowest cost transfer by making payment through local bank transfer and sending to a foreign bank account will end up costing more.

Azimo fees

Transfer fees - The Azimo transfer fee varies depending on the currencies involved, the mode of payment, the transfer method and the transfer amount. Additional fees are approximately €12 (or currency equivalent).

Cash pick up fees - Sending money to an Azimo cash pick up location is typically more expensive than transferring it to a bank account.

Credit / debit card payment fees - Payments made via bank transfers tend to be more affordable than credit/debit card payments.

Fee-free transfers - New personal customers get two fee-free transfers, and the number increases to five for new business customers.

Exchange rate margin - Azimo applies a margin on existing mid-market exchange rates, which can be between 1.5% and 2.25% depending on the currencies being traded.

The TransferWise app design and user experience of their technology is great with simple, intuitive processes.

Registration - Fast and easy account creation

ID verification - Instant in some countries

Transfer speed - It can be instantaneous in some countries. Fast payments to TransferWise comes at an additional cost.

Minimum transfer amount - $1

Mobile app - Simple and easy to use. Probably the best designed app of the international money transfer companies.

Payment options - TransferWise has the broadest range of payment options. Local bank transfer, debit / credit card and country specific solutions such as POLi.

Azimo has an ease to use system. It is easy to register, prove identity and start your first transfer. As a basic money transfer service you would expect just that. Their speed of transfers are relatively fast with multiple pay in and payout options. 

Signing up - Register using the Azimo app or website.

Payment options -  Bank account transfers, debit cards, credit cards, SOFORT and iDEAL.

Speed - Up to 2 business days, although it can be more in some instances.

Multilingual website - Use the Azimo website in different European languages.

Mobile apps - Available for iOS and Android.

TransferWise’s supported countries vary with different services having different supported customer countries and destination countries. These are detailed in the TransferWise Countries and Currencies article and is summarized below.

Send from - 23 countries plus the Europe SEPA countries

Send to - Over 60 currencies

Borderless account and debit card - Over 6 countries can sign up to their Borderless services.

Azimo has good global coverage for supported destination countries. Most destination countries support cash pick and mobile top-up. Only the Philippines is supported for cash delivery to the home. 

Supported payment currencies - GBP, EUR, SEK, NOK, DKK, CHF and PLN.

Supported destination currencies - Carries out transfers in more than 60 currencies.

Customer support - Multilingual support provided via email and chat.

TransferWise is fully regulated by the FCA and their customer funds are segregated from their business banking activities.

TransferWise is rated on TrustPilot as Excellent. Unfortunately there have been some poor reviews on TrustPilot indicating sudden account closures with funds being returned with no explanation.

TransferWise continues to raise capital through private funding. This could be a concern for the future when the shareholders are looking for aggressive growth and / or a return on their investment.

Azimo is a regulated financial entity within the UK and conducts millions of pounds of funds transfers for individuals and businesses every year.

Regulation - Regulated by financial regulatory bodies in the UK and the Netherlands.

Customer service - Gets a rating of Excellent on Trustpilot. However, there are reviews by customers that complain about not getting adequate customer care.

Exchange rate transparency - Azimo does not have a transparent fee structure. The margin on existing exchange rates can exceed 2% for some currencies.