Provider profile · 2026 edition
WorldFirst review 2026: scores, fees and alternatives.
A multi-currency business account, part of Ant International, built for paying suppliers and collecting from marketplaces.
WhatsApp and Telegram +44 7563 115980
[email protected]
A multi-currency business account, part of Ant International, built for paying suppliers and collecting from marketplaces.
WorldFirst is ranked in 2 Buckingham Intelligence indices. Its highest score is 4.7 out of 5 (93 out of 100) in the Cross-border Payments and Remittance Index, where it ranks 1 of 11. It is strongest for exporters and online sellers paying suppliers in Asia, especially China, with 5 out of 5 for payment reach, payment speed, collection accounts and regulatory standing. Its lowest criterion score is integration at 4 out of 5.
Also ranked in: Global Trade Banking Index (3.5 out of 5, rank 2 of 26).
Scores from the Cross-border Payments and Remittance Index and Global Trade Banking Index 2026.
| Segment | Score out of 100 | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| For SMEs and exporters | 93 | 1 of 11 |
| For payment and e-money firms | 94 | 1 of 11 |
| For marketplaces and platforms | 93 | 1 of 11 |
| Segment | Score out of 100 | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| For importers | 72 | 2 of 26 |
| For exporters | 76 | 2 of 26 |
| For wholesalers and distributors | 64 | 3 of 26 |
The score out of 5 is the overall score out of 100 divided by 20. Leader goes to the top three overall, Best for to the first in each segment, and Top rated for to a score of 5 out of 5 on a criterion. Awards cannot be bought.
Where it scores best, and where to check closely, as shown in each ranking.
Exporters and online sellers paying suppliers in Asia, especially China.
Importers paying Asian suppliers, no account fees.
What WorldFirst publishes on its own pages, read on 21 and 26 October 2026.
A multi-currency business account, part of Ant International, built for paying suppliers and collecting from marketplaces. It publishes exact payment fees by currency and route, an FX rate ceiling, local accounts in 20+ currencies, a same-day delivery figure and licences with numbers in several regions. Its standard FX rate is an "up to" figure.
| Fact | What the provider publishes |
|---|---|
| Payment reach | "Pay suppliers in 100+ currencies, across 210+ countries and regions." |
| Pricing | Account: "Free" to open, no subscription. Payments: USD to United States £0.77, to Mainland China £11.55, other destinations £7.69; EUR via SEPA £0.27; GBP to UK £0.31; all other currencies £4.62 to £23.00. FX: standard rate "Up to 0.50%"; new customer rate 0.30% for six months. |
| Payment speed | "95% arrive on the same day"; priority transfers to China "arrive within 4 business hours"; payments to other World Accounts free and instant. |
| Collection accounts | "Receiving accounts in 20+ currencies, including USD, GBP, EUR, PLN, TRY, JPY and CNH", free; payouts collected from "130+ platforms". |
| Integration | Accounting software integration; enterprise "API toolkit" with API references; online sign-up for a free account. |
| Regulatory standing | World First UK Ltd: FCA EMI, Firm Reference 900508. World First Netherlands B.V.: DNB EMI, relation number R161090. World First Pty Ltd: ASIC AFS Licence 331945. World First Asia Ltd: HK MSO Licence 14-02-01352. MAS Major Payment Institution licences in Singapore. |
| Date read | 26 October 2026 |
Nothing in this profile is marked as not published or not stated on the pages read.
A fact that is not published is scored as not offered or, for a fee, as if it were high. It is never estimated.
Facts read on 26 October 2026 from: worldfirst.com/uk, worldfirst.com/uk/pricing, worldfirst.com/uk/compliance/….
World First UK Limited is an FCA-authorised e-money institution (900508) owned by Ant International. There is no set-up, subscription or receiving fee, FX is up to 0.50% on major currencies, and supplier payments are priced per corridor, for example USD to mainland China at £11.55. The UK site does not publish which countries of registration it accepts.
| Fact | What the provider publishes |
|---|---|
| Account fee | None: no set-up, subscription or maintenance fee |
| FX margin | Up to 0.50% on majors; 0.30% for the first six months; custom above £100,000 a month |
| Receiving | Local details in GBP, USD, EUR, CNH, HKD, JPY, MXN and others; receiving free |
| Paying suppliers | USD to the US £0.77; USD to mainland China £11.55; EUR by SEPA £0.27; 100+ currencies to 210+ countries |
| Stablecoins | Not published; crypto is a restricted activity |
| Finance | Forward contracts and a debit card; no credit |
| Onboarding | Online; time to approval not published |
| Protection | Safeguarded e-money; no FSCS |
| Date read | 21 October 2026 |
Who can open an account, by country of registration
| Country | Published position |
|---|---|
| United Kingdom | Yes |
| United States | Not published |
| Mexico | Not published |
| Brazil | Not published |
| Colombia | Not published |
| Hong Kong | Not published |
| China | Not published |
| Türkiye | Not published |
| UAE | Not published |
| Nigeria | Not published |
| Pakistan | Not published |
A fact that is not published is scored as not offered or, for a fee, as if it were high. It is never estimated.
Facts read on 21 October 2026 from: worldfirst.com/uk/pricing, worldfirst.com/uk/legal, worldfirst.com/uk/receive-payments, worldfirst.com/uk/legal/terms-and-conditions.
Each score with the evidence behind it.
Each criterion is scored 0 to 5 against the best published offer in the Cross-border Payments and Remittance Index. 0 means not offered or not published. How it is scored
Each criterion is scored 0 to 5 against the best published offer in the Global Trade Banking Index. 0 means not offered or not published. How it is scored
The other providers in the same ranking, ordered by score.
| Provider | Score out of 5 | Rank | Strongest for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Airwallex | 4.7 | 2 of 11 | Businesses and platforms wanting exact FX margins, wide reach and many licences |
| Wise Business | 4.2 | 3 of 11 | Small businesses wanting fast payments and a full public API |
| Payoneer | 3.5 | 4 of 11 | Online sellers and service firms collecting from marketplaces and clients abroad |
| Nium | 3.2 | 5 of 11 | Payment firms and platforms building payouts through an API |
| Currenxie | 3.1 | 6 of 11 | Asia-facing businesses wanting a fully priced account |
| OFX | 2.7 | 7 of 11 | Small businesses wanting a published fee schedule and Xero connection |
| Ebury | 2.5 | 8 of 11 | Mid-sized importers and exporters wanting payments with currency hedging |
| Convera | 2.4 | 9 of 11 | Larger businesses, universities and credit unions paying in exotic currencies |
| Thunes | 1.9 | 10 of 11 | Banks, remittance firms and wallets paying out to mobile wallets and accounts |
| Corpay Cross-Border | 1.6 | 11 of 11 | Mid-sized and large firms paying in many countries with hedging support |
Full Cross-border Payments and Remittance Index ranking
| Provider | Score out of 5 | Rank | Strongest for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wise Business | 3.8 | 1 of 26 | Transparent FX and receiving in 22 currencies |
| Airwallex | 3.5 | 3 of 26 | Free local supplier payments to 120+ countries |
| Statrys | 3.1 | 4 of 26 | Hong Kong, Singapore and BVI companies trading with Asia |
| XTransfer | 3.1 | 5 of 26 | Trade with China and emerging-market collection |
| Aspire | 3.0 | 6 of 26 | Singapore, Hong Kong and US-nexus companies trading in Asia |
| Currenxie | 3.0 | 7 of 26 | Asian and Mexican traders collecting in nine currencies |
| Payoneer | 3.0 | 8 of 26 | Marketplace sellers and exporters in 190+ countries |
| Mercury | 2.8 | 9 of 26 | US-registered companies with founders abroad |
| Ebury | 2.8 | 10 of 26 | Mid-size traders needing supplier finance with their FX |
| Verto | 2.7 | 11 of 26 | African exporters collecting in NGN, KES and ZAR |
| 3S Money | 2.7 | 12 of 26 | Non-resident companies from 190+ countries wanting UK and EU IBANs |
| Slash | 2.5 | 13 of 26 | Non-US wholesalers spending in dollars and receiving USDT |
| Revolut Business | 2.5 | 14 of 26 | UK, EEA and US companies wanting cards and FX allowances |
| Shield | 2.5 | 15 of 26 | Wholesalers in Latin America paid in USDT |
| OFX | 2.4 | 16 of 26 | FX-heavy traders wanting a dealer on the phone |
| Tazapay | 2.4 | 17 of 26 | Exporters collecting from buyers in 85+ markets |
| Wio Bank | 2.4 | 18 of 26 | UAE trade licence holders wanting a bank with lending |
| HSBC UK | 2.3 | 19 of 26 | UK traders needing letters of credit and trade finance |
| iBanFirst | 2.0 | 20 of 26 | EEA and UK companies exchanging €200,000 or more a year |
| Conduit | 1.9 | 21 of 26 | Companies in 100+ countries settling trade in stablecoins |
| Bitso Business | 1.8 | 22 of 26 | Latin American traders settling on Pix, SPEI and ACH |
| Flutterwave | 1.7 | 23 of 26 | African exporters receiving USD, GBP, EUR and AED |
| Equals Money | 1.7 | 24 of 26 | UK businesses wanting cards and 40 currencies in one account |
| Moneycorp | 1.7 | 25 of 26 | UK and Irish traders wanting dealer-led FX |
| Nium | 1.6 | 26 of 26 | Platforms and fintechs embedding payouts, not yet small traders |
Side by side on every criterion, fact and award.
Tell us what you need and where you operate.