Changi Pay vs Youtrip vs Wise (2025) - Which is better for overseas use?

Make spending internationally easy with the right international payment account, app or card. If you’re not sure which will work best for seamless spending on your next trip abroad, you might be torn between Changi Pay vs Youtrip.

This guide has you covered with a Changi Pay vs Youtrip head to head comparison on features, fees and more - plus we'll introduce Wise, another popular option for international spending. More on that later.

What is Changi Pay?

Changi Pay¹ is the e-wallet which is built into the Changi airport app. Changi Pay lets you spend with QR code scanning in Changi and Jewel, and in stores, restaurants and beyond in Singapore and 40+ countries. You’ll be able to use Changi Pay via the Alipay network when you travel, so you can pay conveniently wherever you see the Alipay logo displayed.

Changi Pay doesn’t let you hold a foreign currency balance and doesn’t issue a physical payment card. Instead, you hold money in SGD and make payments through the app, by scanning a merchant QR or having them scan your in-app QR.

What is Youtrip?

Youtrip² is a popular local e-wallet and card, which lets you hold 12 currencies and pay in 150+ countries with a linked contactless debit card or through your favourite mobile wallet like Apple Pay. Youtrip doesn't charge specific currency conversion fees, but you’ll need to compare the rate you’re quoted for exchange against the alternatives from other competitors - like Wise - to see if there are any fees added there. Once you hold a balance in a specific currency there’s no fee to spend it.

Use your Youtrip card for easy spending overseas, and to get cash from an ATM. There’s no fee for the first 400 SGD worth of withdrawals, with a 2% charge after that. You can also make overseas transfers in 9 currencies - handy for sending money to secure travel bookings for example.

What is Wise?

Wise is a global provider of digital multi-currency accounts and cards, which offers international payments to 140+ countries, receiving payments like a local in 8+ currencies with local account details, and mid-market exchange rates. You can set up your Wise account online or in app, and order a Wise card to spend and withdraw globally. Add money in SGD and convert to any of the 40+ supported holding currencies, with no fee to spend a currency you hold. Or leave your money in SGD and let the card do the conversion for you when you pay. In either case there’s no foreign transaction fee and conversion uses the mid-market rate with low pricing which varies by currency.

Use Wise to spend and withdraw in 150+ countries, backed by a powerful international account you can use to manage your money across 40+ currencies, including receive, hold, send, spend and exchange foreign currencies with just your phone.

Changi Pay vs Youtrip vs Wise - Main Features

As we’ve seen, there are a few differences in the ways that Changi Pay vs Youtrip vs Wise work, and the features they offer. We’ll break down what this means for travellers as we go through this guide - but first, here’s a head to head Changi Pay vs Youtrip vs Wise comparison to start us off:

*Details correct at time of research - 17th April 2025

Changi Pay vs Youtrip vs Wise - Fees and charges

As the features that are available vary somewhat, it’s no surprise that Changi Pay vs Youtrip vs Wise fees and charges also look a bit different to each other. Overall, all 3 options offer low cost ways to manage your money and payments in foreign currencies - which is best for you may come down to the type of transactions you make and where you’re heading off on your travels.

Here’s an overview of Changi Pay vs Youtrip vs Wise fees and charges to give you a flavour:

*Details correct at time of research - 17th April 2025

Changi Pay vs Youtrip vs Wise - Exchange rate

If you’re specifically looking for ways to spend money when you’re overseas, the available exchange rates are especially important. Exchange rates can often include extra fees which are tricky to see, and which can push up the costs of overseas spending without you even realising it. These fees are known as markups or margins, and are added to the mid-market rate you see on Google or on currency conversion sites by the provider or network which is managing the currency conversion.

Markups are usually variable, so to see if any markup is being used for your specific currency exchange, just compare the rate you’re quoted against the rate you can get from Google. If there’s a difference, it’s probably the markup.

So how do Changi Pay vs Youtrip vs Wise compare on exchange rates?

Changi Pay only allows you to add money in SGD, and then when you pay, the exchange rate is decided by Alipay+. There’s no specific fee quoted for exchange. The same goes for Youtrip, if you add money to your account and then convert it to a foreign currency in the Youtrip app, the Youtrip exchange rate will apply. To see if a markup is used, you’ll need to compare the exchange rate offered with the mid-market rate yourself.

Wise uses the mid-market rate for currency conversion, and splits out the fee for exchange as a separate charge. That means there’s no need to do any calculations to see what you’re paying for currency exchange - it’s all set out for you in a transparent way to help you compare your options. Conversion costs vary but start from 0.26% for Singapore customers.

Changi vs Youtrip vs Wise - Which one should you choose?

Not sure which provider to pick? Here are a few of the pros and cons of Changi Pay vs Youtrip vs Wise to help you decide.

*Details correct at time of research - 17th April 2025

Summary - Changi Pay vs Youtrip vs Wise

Changi Pay, Youtrip, and Wise are all great choices for international travellers - but they each have their own strengths, so you’ll need to compare your options and pick the one which best matches your transaction habits.

Changi Pay doesn’t have a debit card, so it’s best for people who prefer to spend with QR code payments, particularly in China as it’s supported by the Alipay network. You can’t get cash or hold a foreign currency, which can be a limit for some users.

Youtrip does let you hold foreign currencies, and offers a debit card - but the coverage is relatively limited, so this may be a choice which suits people making one off trips to popular travel destinations, rather than looking for a comprehensive international account and card.

Finally, Wise offers the most extensive range of features to hold, send, spend, receive and exchange foreign currencies, which can make it an ideal choice for people who travel frequently, spend online with foreign retailers, or receive payments from others in foreign currencies. You get low, transparent pricing and the mid-market rate, which usually gives you the best value for your money no matter where you’re headed.

🚀 Sign up for Wise