Wise
Wise is a London-headquartered, Nasdaq-listed fintech operating a multi-currency cross-border payments platform serving 18.9M consumers, 700,000+ businesses, and bank partners across 140+ countries via direct connections to domestic payment rails.
- Company typePublic
- Founded2011
- HeadquartersLondon, United Kingdom
- Headcount5,001–10,000
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What Wise does
Wise is a London-headquartered, Nasdaq-listed cross-border payments fintech that operates a multi-currency money transfer, holding, and spending platform serving 18.9 million active consumers, over 700,000 businesses, and a global network of bank partners across 140+ countries and 40+ currencies. Founded in 2011 as TransferWise and renamed in 2021, the company completed its primary listing transfer to Nasdaq (ticker: WSE) in May 2026 while retaining a secondary listing on the London Stock Exchange. The product surface spans the Wise Account (multi-currency holding and card), Wise Money Transfer, the Wise Multi-Currency Card, Interest-bearing balances, and a UK Current Account; on the B2B side, Wise Platform embeds the same infrastructure as white-label cross-border payments for banks and enterprises.
The technology stack is built on a microservices architecture of 1,000+ services managed by 850+ autonomous engineers, using Kubernetes, Kafka, ArgoCD/Spinnaker, Snowflake/Trino, and Grafana. The core differentiator is direct connectivity to domestic payment systems in eight markets (Australia, Brazil, Europe, Hungary, Japan, Philippines, Singapore, UK), which bypasses correspondent banking and underpins both pricing (mid-market rates plus transparent fees from 0.57%) and speed (74% of transfers arrive in under 20 seconds, 99%+ straight-through processing). Risk and compliance are handled by a 1,000-person anti-fraud operation running 7 million automated checks daily.
Revenue is generated through transparent per-transaction fees, FX conversion on multi-currency accounts, interest earned on customer USD/GBP/EUR balances (3.14%/2.21%/0.80% APY), card and ATM fees, and one-time business setup fees ($31), with no monthly subscriptions. Wise monetizes 700,000+ business customers moving $16B/month and earns incremental, partnership-driven distribution through embedded Platform deals with Morgan Stanley, Standard Chartered, Monzo, Nubank, Itaú, UniCredit, Raiffeisen, Capitec, and GoTyme. Growth in FY2026 reached $2.5B revenue (+19% YoY) and $243.5B in cross-border volume (+31% YoY), while profitability came under modest pressure as operating expenses rose 39% and pre-tax income fell 8% to $660M.
Wise firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Wise
- Legal name
- Wise Payments Limited
- Website
- https://wise.com
- Company type
- Public
- Founded year
- 2011
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 5,001–10,000 employees
- Short description
- Wise is a London-headquartered, Nasdaq-listed fintech operating a multi-currency cross-border payments platform serving 18.9M consumers, 700,000+ businesses, and bank partners across 140+ countries via direct connections to domestic payment rails.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Wise industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Cross-Border Payments
- NAICS
- Financial Transactions Processing, Reserve, and Clearinghouse Activities (52232), Financial Transactions Processing, Reserve, and Clearinghouse Activities (522320)
- SIC
- Finance Services (6199)
- akta.pro primary industry
- SME & Business Cross-Border Payments (B2B) (FSAMAIAB)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Cross-Border & FX Payments Platforms (BPAMAFAK), Trade & Invoice Payments (Cross-Border B2B) (FSAMAIAL), Cross-Border B2B2C Payouts (Mass Payouts, Gig/Creator, Marketplace) (FSAGAKAC), Cross-border Payments & FX for E-commerce (CRAFALAF)
Keywords
Where Wise is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- London
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Wise business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Money transfer transaction fees: Wise charges transparent transaction fees on international money transfers. Fees start from 0.57% depending on currency and payment method. Volume discounts apply for transfers over $25,000 USD equivalent, with discounts applied automatically for the rest of the month.
- Foreign exchange conversion: Wise earns revenue through currency conversion when customers exchange money between currencies in their multi-currency accounts, applying the mid-market exchange rate with no markup.
- Interest on customer balances: Wise passes through interest earned on customer USD, GBP, and EUR balances held at Program Bank (JPMorgan Chase), earning APY of 3.14% on USD, 2.21% on GBP, and 0.8% on EUR. Wise earns interest on these balances and passes a portion to customers.
- Wise Multi-Currency Card fees: One-time card issuance fee of $9 USD. ATM withdrawal fees apply after first $250 free per month (1.95 USD + 1.95% fee). E-wallet top-up fees of 2%. No subscription or monthly fees.
- Wise Business account fees: Wise Business charges a one-time setup fee of $31 USD with no monthly subscription. Revenue comes from transaction fees on business payments, batch transfers, and currency conversions.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | Personal account with transparent transfer fees |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Wise Multi-Currency Card |
| Usage-based | Monthly | Interest feature on USD, GBP, EUR balances |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Wise Business account |
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | Receiving international payments |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels7 records
Marketing channels8 records
Wise product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Wise operates a global cross-border payments platform that enables consumers and businesses to send, receive, spend, and convert money across 140+ countries in 40+ currencies using the mid-market exchange rate with transparent transaction fees. The company also offers a B2B infrastructure platform (Wise Platform) that allows banks, financial institutions, and enterprises to embed Wise's cross-border payment capabilities via API.
Product overview
Wise operates as a multi-product fintech platform offering consumer and business cross-border payment services. The core consumer offering is the Wise Account for international money transfers, card spending, and currency conversion. Wise Business extends these capabilities to enterprises with multi-currency accounts, team expense management, and invoicing tools. Wise Platform provides B2B infrastructure enabling banks, financial institutions, and enterprises to integrate Wise's payment network. The platform covers 160+ countries and 40+ currencies with 80+ global licenses, processing over £181 billion in annual FX volumes. Key differentiators include mid-market exchange rates without hidden markups, 75% of payments arriving in under 20 seconds, and direct connections to domestic payment systems in 8 markets.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Wise Account (Personal)
Quantifiable outcome
- Customers save approximately £1.5 billion annually compared to using traditional banks for international transfers
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Wise
Customer profileNamed customers16 records
Segments1 record
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Wise technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- Yes
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration3 records
AI capability2 records
Feature5 records
Wise partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- UniCreditcoreWise signed new platform partnership with UniCredit, one of Europe's largest banking groups, to provide cross-border payment services to UniCredit customers. The partnership enables UniCredit to offer Wise-powered international transfers to its commercial and retail banking customers across its European footprint.
- Raiffeisen BankcoreWise signed new platform partnership with Raiffeisen Bank to enable cross-border payment services for the bank's customers. The partnership expands Wise Platform's European banking network and provides Raiffeisen customers with access to Wise's low-cost international transfer capabilities.
- MonzocoreMonzo launched remittance services to Nigeria through partnership with Wise, leveraging Wise's infrastructure for FX rates and last-mile payout. The partnership positions Monzo (with 15 million UK users) to compete directly with Nigerian remittance startups. The launch includes promotional fee-free period for first transfers through August 2026.
- ExpaticaminorWise acquired Expatica, an online expat resource platform attracting over 7 million visits in 2025 covering relocation, housing, finance, lifestyle, healthcare, and immigration. The acquisition allows Wise to engage with prospective customers earlier in their relocation journey and strengthen brand awareness among the 304 million global expat population.
- European FinTech AssociationminorLinda Strazdiņa of Wise was elected President of the European FinTech Association's newly elected Board of Directors. The Board guides policy priorities including payments regulation, banking competitiveness, and AML implementation across European institutions.
- GoTyme BankcoreGoTyme Bank (Gokongwei group) launched 'Send Money Abroad' service powered by Wise Platform in its mobile app, enabling customers to send funds to more than 200 countries and territories in eight currencies. The partnership increased GoTyme's unique users of international payments feature by over 85% since partnering with Wise Platform.
- Capitec BankcoreWise Platform partnered with South Africa's largest bank by customer base (25+ million customers) to power international payments for Capitec's individual and business customers. The partnership enables fast, low-cost cross-border transfers directly from Capitec accounts and strengthens Wise's presence in Africa following its first regulatory approval on the continent (Category Two ADLA licence received in December 2025).
Scale indicators15 records
Recent moves10 records
Wise competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Remitly: NASDAQ-listed remittance fintech serving migrants sending money to 100+ countries; directly comparable to Wise in the consumer cross-border transfer segment with similar transparent pricing model, though Remitly is more focused on remittance corridors.
- PayPal (Xoom): Global payments platform whose Xoom service competes directly with Wise on international money transfers; both emphasize mobile-first cross-border transfers with transparent fees, though PayPal has a broader payments suite.
- Revolut: UK-headquartered neobank offering multi-currency accounts, international transfers, and a multi-currency card directly competing with Wise Account and Wise Card; overlapping target customer base of expats, travelers, and cross-border workers.
- Airwallex: Australia-founded B2B cross-border payments platform with multi-currency accounts and API-based infrastructure; directly comparable to Wise Business and Wise Platform in serving SMEs and enterprises with international payment needs.
- OFX: Australia-headquartered cross-border payments specialist serving both individuals and businesses with international transfers and multi-currency accounts; comparable B2B offering and similar transparent mid-market rate positioning.
- Zepz (WorldRemit): Private remittance company operating the WorldRemit and Sendwave brands; direct competitor to Wise in digital remittances to emerging markets with a mobile-first model and similar corridor-based competitive approach.
Broad incumbents
- Western Union: Established global money transfer incumbent with the largest agent network for cash pickup; competes with Wise in cross-border transfers but relies on traditional agent-based model and higher fees that Wise explicitly undercuts.
- MoneyGram: Public global remittance company with extensive agent network and digital channels; competes with Wise in cross-border transfers, particularly in emerging market corridors, though with a different cost structure and customer experience.
Emerging players
- Currencycloud (Visa): Visa-owned cross-border payments infrastructure provider enabling banks and platforms to deliver international transfers; overlaps with Wise Platform as a B2B2C infrastructure play, though positioned more as a hidden plumbing layer.
- N26: European digital bank with multi-currency accounts and free SEPA transfers; partial overlap with Wise Account for European customers managing cross-border finances, though with a broader retail banking focus.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Wise social profiles
Digital presenceWise compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance4 records
Wise financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Wise leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles8 records
Wise subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries2 records
Wise funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds13 records
Investors35 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Wise M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A1 record
Investments10 records
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Wise
What does Wise do?
Wise operates a global cross-border payments platform that enables consumers and businesses to send, receive, spend, and convert money across 140+ countries in 40+ currencies using the mid-market exchange rate with transparent transaction fees. The company also offers a B2B infrastructure platform (Wise Platform) that allows banks, financial institutions, and enterprises to embed Wise's cross-border payment capabilities via API.
Is Wise a public or private company?
Wise is a public company. It is classified as public and is currently operating.
When was Wise founded?
Wise was founded in 2011. It employs 5,001 to 10,000 people.
Where is Wise based?
Wise is headquartered in London, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Wise make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Money transfer transaction fees are the primary driver. The others are foreign exchange conversion, interest on customer balances, wise Multi-Currency Card fees and wise Business account fees.
Who are Wise's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Remitly, PayPal (Xoom), Revolut, Airwallex, OFX and Zepz (WorldRemit). Broad incumbents are Western Union and MoneyGram. Emerging players are Currencycloud (Visa) and N26.
Does Wise have an API?
Yes. The Wise open API allows businesses to automate payments, connect business tools, and create custom financial management solutions. Enables automation of invoice payments, recurring transfers, standing orders, payroll, and payment generation from invoicing software. Provides real-time notifications via webhooks, exchange rate tracking, and automated currency conversions. Available via Swift or API integration. Developer documentation is at docs.wise.com/api-docs.
What industry is Wise in?
Wise's product category is Cross-Border Payments. Its primary akta.pro industry code is FSAMAIAB, SME & Business Cross-Border Payments (B2B), with a secondary code of BPAMAFAK, Cross-Border & FX Payments Platforms. Its NAICS code is 52232 and its SIC code is 6199.