Exploring the Airwallex Payment Gateway
An in-depth look at the Airwallex payment gateway and its features for handling international payments and global online transactions.
Connecting Airwallex to Shopify can help make your store’s financial operations much more efficient. Instead of juggling multiple payment providers, the integration allows you to manage international transactions directly within your existing workflow. If you’re a Shopify merchant selling across borders, that means fewer complications when handling different currencies and paying overseas suppliers. Airwallex is one option, but the broader benefit lies in simplifying how money moves in and out of your store. If you choose to link Shopify with a global payments platform, you will gain more transparency and control over cash flow without having to manage separate tools for sales, payouts, and supplier payments.
When you integrate the two, you can make checkout much more efficient while also improving customer trust and keeping more of your profits. In this article, we’ll take a look at the simple steps to connect Airwallex to Shopify so you can start selling internationally more efficiently.
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The Airwallex Shopify Integration allows merchants to accept global payments, manage multiple currencies, and reduce transaction fees all within their Shopify store.1 By linking Airwallex with Shopify, you can make payment processing much quicker and access Airwallex’s competitive foreign exchange rates, so it’s ideal for cross-border selling.1 It varies from traditional gateways as Airwallex supports local payment methods in various regions, which improves checkout conversion rates.2
Installing the Airwallex Shopify plugin is straightforward, and once connected, you can manage payouts, settle in multiple currencies, and pay suppliers without unnecessary conversion fees.3 Compared to Shopify Payments, Airwallex offers more flexibility for international transactions and localized payment support.4
The debate between Airwallex vs Shopify Payments comes down to flexibility, fees, and international reach. Airwallex is built for merchants who sell globally and need to manage multiple currencies.It supports international payments with options to accept local methods and manage funds across multiple currencies.¹ Shopify Payments, though, is Shopify’s built-in gateway, so its setup is easy for domestic sales but less flexible for complex international needs.3
Feature | Airwallex | Shopify Payments |
---|---|---|
Currency Support | 40+ currencies with local accounts1 | Limited to supported currencies (Airwallex: 130+ collections, 90+ payouts¹). |
FX Rates | Offers competitive FX rates with 0.5% or 1.0% markup | Shopify’s standard conversion fees apply3 |
Local Payment Methods | Supports 160+ local payment methods across 180+ countries⁴ | Payment options vary by region³ |
Setup | Requires Airwallex Shopify integration1 | Built-in for Shopify users3 |
Step One: Log in to your Airwallex account.
Start by accessing your Airwallex dashboard and navigating to the Shopify integration section. This is where you’ll initiate the connection between your online store and Airwallex.1
Step Two: Connect your Shopify store.
Enter your Shopify domain and authorize the link. The guided prompts make this process simple, even if you’re not very technical. Once approved, your store is ready to communicate with Airwallex.
Step Three: Configure payment processing.
Set up your preferred currencies and enable local payment methods. Doing this will help international customers have a better checkout experience and can help reduce cart abandonment. It also allows you to manage which payment options are available in different regions, giving you more control over how cross-border transactions are handled.⁴
Step Four: Manage payouts.
After installation, you can monitor and manage payouts from the platform’s dashboard. You can also handle multiple currencies and track conversions, which helps to simplify international transactions. Managing your payouts in one place can reduce errors and even provide a clearer view of your global cash flow.²
Step Five: Compare and optimize.
You should regularly review your settings to make sure they align with your international sales strategy and customer preferences.³ Comparing different payment options and workflows can also help identify the most efficient setup for cross-border sales, or even improve checkout experiences for global customers.
Improving your checkout experience is essential if your goal is to increase conversions. If you offer several payment methods, including options commonly used by international customers, including Airwallex Shopify Payment Processing, you can reduce friction and help build trust.⁴ Supporting multiple currencies and managing funds across different accounts makes the payment process more transparent and easier for shoppers.¹
You should also pay attention to exchange rates and conversion fees, which can help keep costs lower for both the business and customers.² Regularly reviewing your payment setup helps your business align with customer preferences and regional differences.³ If you take these steps can smooth out international transactions and even enhance overall customer satisfaction, while encouraging shoppers to complete their purchases.
Wise Business can help you save big time on international payments.
Wise is not a bank, but a Money Services Business (MSB) provider and a smart alternative to banks. The Wise Business account is designed with international business in mind, and makes it easy to send, hold, and manage business funds in currencies.
Signing up to Wise Business allows access to BatchTransfer which you can use to pay up to 1000 invoices in one go. This is perfect for small businesses that are managing a global team, saving a ton of time and hassle when making payments.
Some key features of Wise Business include:
Mid-market rate: Get the mid-market exchange rate with no hidden fees on international transfers
Global Account: Send money to countries and hold multiple currencies, all in one place. You can also get major currency account details for a one-off fee to receive overseas payments like a local
Access to BatchTransfer: Pay up to 1000 invoices in one click. Save time, money, and stress when you make 1000 payments in one click with BatchTransfer payments. Access to BatchTransfer is free with a Wise Business account
Auto-conversions: Don't like the current currency exchange rate? Set your desired rate, and Wise sends the transfer the moment the rate is met
Free invoicing tool: Generate and send professional invoices
No minimum balance requirements or monthly fees: US-based businesses can open an account for free. Learn more about fees here
In conclusion, integrating a global payment solution with Shopify can help merchants expand internationally while keeping costs and complexity under control. The integration provides payment processing, multi-currency support, and access to local payment options, which can improve the checkout experience for customers worldwide.¹
Compared to using only Shopify Payments, it can offer more flexibility for cross-border transactions, transparent foreign exchange handling, and simplified payout management.² Installing a Shopify payment plugin is generally easy and allows merchants to set up international payment capabilities without technical challenges.⁴ So with that being said, when these tools are in place, you can reduce conversion friction and even manage fees more effectively, while maintaining a professional, reliable storefront.³
Yes. Many payment platforms integrated with Shopify support recurring payments, which makes them suitable for subscription businesses, membership services, or any recurring billing model. The above integrations allow merchants to automatically charge customers on a set schedule, manage recurring invoices, and even track payments in multiple currencies, so you can simplify the administration of ongoing subscriptions.²
Absolutely. The Airwallex Shopify plugin allows merchants to process refunds and handle chargebacks efficiently. You can issue full or partial refunds, reverse payments when necessary, and manage disputes directly from the Airwallex dashboard. ³
Transaction limits vary depending on the payment platform used with Shopify. Some platforms allow very small purchases as well as high-value international orders, while others may have caps or additional verification for large transactions. Certain platforms limit individual payments or require extra steps for amounts over a specific threshold, whereas others, such as Wise, provide the extra flexibility needed for high-value processing.³
Yes, a single Airwallex account can be linked to multiple Shopify stores. This makes managing several online stores much simpler, as all payment processing, currency management, and reporting are centralized in one dashboard. Merchants can track sales, monitor payouts, and reconcile accounts efficiently, which eliminates the need to log in to multiple accounts.
Yes, Airwallex provides dedicated technical support to help with both setup and ongoing use. Step-by-step guides, live chat, and email support are available to help make the integration process smoother and reduce downtime. That said, some users have mentioned that support can be slow or unresponsive at times. For example, one reviewer on Trustpilot said, “Probably the WORST customer support of all time,” after experiencing a delayed resolution for an integration issue.
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*Please see terms of use and product availability for your region or visit Wise fees and pricing for the most up to date pricing and fee information.
This publication is provided for general information purposes and does not constitute legal, tax or other professional advice from Wise Payments Limited or its subsidiaries and its affiliates, and it is not intended as a substitute for obtaining advice from a financial advisor or any other professional.
We make no representations, warranties or guarantees, whether expressed or implied, that the content in the publication is accurate, complete or up to date.
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