Managing freelance income across the UK and Australia can get complicated when you're dealing with AUD payments, international transfers, exchange rates and different account eligibility rules.

In this guide, we've compared business account options relevant to freelancers working across the UK and Australia so you can understand fees, features, eligibility points and cross-border use cases before choosing an account. Australian business accounts generally have different eligibility requirements from a UK Wise Business account, so check which options you can actually open before comparing costs.

Note: Wise Business pricing for UK customers shows the current fees for the features you use. Registration has no charge; a one-time £50 fee applies to account details for receiving payments. Check the live pricing page before applying.

Provider features, fees, eligibility checks, protections and timelines mentioned in this article may vary by customer, business type, application outcome, plan and country. Check the provider's website and terms and conditions for the most accurate and up-to-date information.

Wise services and features are not available in all regions, country and product restrictions apply. Visit wise.com to check availability, and for fee details and terms for your region, visit our pricing page for Wise Business.

Summary of options

These are account options for different circumstances, not interchangeable products. Wise details and fees below are for eligible UK customers; the other providers describe Australian products. An Australian business account may require an Australian-registered business, address or identification. Compare only products for which you meet the provider's eligibility rules. Prices are in GBP for Wise and AUD for Australian providers; they do not represent equivalent services or a total-cost ranking.

1. Wise Business

Wise Business is designed for eligible freelancers and businesses that work across currencies. It can be useful if you invoice UK clients in GBP, Australian clients in AUD, or work with clients elsewhere.

Wise Business features for eligible UK freelancers working with Australian clients:

Send money to supported countries and pay overseas invoices at the mid-market exchange rate with transparent fees (product availability and fees vary by route and region)
Receive payments in supported currencies, subject to the receiving method and account eligibility
Get local account details for eligible currencies, including USD and EUR, to let your customers pay in a currency they know and trust - convenience for them and peace of mind for you
Hold money in supported currencies
Convert supported currencies at the mid-market exchange rate with low, transparent fees
Use the batch payments tool to prepare multiple payments in one workflow, subject to current limits
Get business debit cards for eligible team members to keep track of team expenses and spending in supported locations, with transaction visibility and categorisation
Manage cash across supported currencies and business accounts, subject to feature availability
Connect and sync supported business transactions to your accounting software, including Xero, QuickBooks, and more
Create your own payment approvals process to manage your team better with customised access for different team members, roles and permissions
Create custom professional invoices and schedule invoice payments for future dates
Automate payouts with the Wise API (comes with 24/7 customer support, a sandbox account to test integrations, API tokens, and clear documents on how to implement and make the most of our API)

Fees:

Wise Business pricing lists the current UK fees. Registration has no charge; a one-time £50 fee applies to account details for receiving payments. Fees for transactions and optional features depend on the currency and route.

Here's a more detailed breakdown of Wise Business pricing in the UK:

Account details for receiving payments: £50 one-time fee
Sending money: from 0.24%, depending on currency and route
Holding money: £0
Receiving domestic payments (non-SWIFT / non-wire): £0
EUR SWIFT payments: €2.39
ATM withdrawals: £0 Wise fee up to £250/month per account, then 2.69% on the amount above £250; ATM providers may charge separately

Note: The fees mentioned above are for UK residents opening a Wise Business account in the UK. If you are opening a Wise Business account for the first time in Australia, then refer to the Wise Business pricing for Australia.

The withdrawal allowance with no Wise fee varies by country and is calculated per account. Check wise.com/pricing for additional information.

2. Airwallex

Features:

According to Airwallex's Australian Business Account page:

Global Accounts can provide local currency account details to receive funds in 20+ currencies.
Businesses can make transfers in 60+ currencies to 200+ countries and manage FX from the account.
The account supports multi-currency company and employee cards, including card-level spend controls.
Its finance tools include corporate cards, expense management, invoicing and bill payments.
Integrations can connect the account with platforms including Xero, Amazon and Shopify.

Fees:

According to Airwallex's Australian pricing page:

Explore costs $29/month, or $0/month when the business deposits at least $5,000 per month or holds a minimum $10,000 balance, subject to the plan terms.
Grow costs $99/month, while Accelerate starts from $999/month.
FX conversions are listed at 0.5% above the interbank rate for major currencies and 1% for other currencies.
Airwallex lists no transfer charge for eligible local transfers to 120+ countries, while SWIFT transfers to 200+ countries cost A$10 to A$30 per transfer, depending on the charge option; eligibility and third-party charges may apply.
The pricing page says transaction, card-user and payment-processing fees can apply in addition to monthly plan charges.

3. ANZ Business Essentials

Features:

According to ANZ's Business Essentials page:

The account has no monthly service fee and does not set a stated numerical allowance for ANZ ATM and electronic transactions under the account terms.
Eligible customers can get an ANZ Business Visa Debit card in the business name at no additional cost.
Cardholders can use the card for business spending wherever Visa is accepted, including overseas, and can use eligible mobile-payment devices.
ANZ Internet Banking for Business can connect eligible accounting software to business-banking data.
Account holders can create a PayID using a mobile number, email address, ABN or ACN, and set incoming and outgoing payment alerts in the ANZ App.

Fees:

According to ANZ's Business Essentials page:

Monthly account service fee: $0.
ANZ ATM and electronic transactions: no stated numerical allowance under the account terms.
Staff-assisted transactions, cheque transactions and manual merchant deposits: A$4 each.
The page notes that other transaction types may also attract fees, and that additional charges can apply for services such as overseas ATM use and international transactions.

4. Westpac

Features:

According to Westpac's Business Transaction Account page:

Business One is intended for businesses that mainly bank online, while Business One Plus may suit businesses that use branch services occasionally.
Both options can connect to accounting-software bank feeds, including MYOB, Xero and QuickBooks.
Business One customers can use the EFTPOS Air app on a compatible phone or tablet for in-person payments.
Eligible sole traders and sole directors can apply online; companies with multiple directors can begin an online application, subject to Westpac's criteria.

According to Westpac's Business Money Tools page:

The tools can help users track cash flow, income and expenses, categorise transactions and review spending trends in the Westpac App.

Fees:

According to Westpac's Business Transaction Account page:

Business One monthly fee: $0.
Business One staff-assisted branch transactions: $3 each.
Business One Plus monthly fee: A$10, with five staff-assisted transactions included each month.
Westpac says fees and charges may apply to its products and services, so check the current product terms before applying.

5. Zeller Transaction Account

Features:

According to Zeller's Transaction Account page:

Businesses can open an account online and receive a BSB and account number in minutes, subject to eligibility.
Zeller Debit Cards can be issued instantly for in-person and online spending.
Users can create multiple transaction accounts for different sites or projects, and manage balances, transactions and expenses in one place.
Its contact directory can create customer and supplier profiles, assign transactions to contacts and track card spending.
The account can connect to Xero for reconciliation, and supports scheduled or one-off bank transfers and BPAY bill payments.

Fees:

According to Zeller's Transaction Account page:

Setup fee: $0.
Monthly account fee: $0.
Lock-in contract: none stated for the Transaction Account.
Check Zeller's current terms and pricing for charges that may apply to optional products or particular transactions.

Manage your freelance earnings in Australia like a pro with Wise Business

For eligible UK freelancers working with Australian clients, Wise Business can bring AUD and other currency activity, invoicing and transaction records into one account.

You can see the conversion cost and recipient amount before confirming a transfer, helping you compare it with the invoice or project budget.

Wise Business pricing for UK customers lists the current fees and conditions for account details, payments, conversion, cards and optional features.

Explore Wise Business

Frequently asked questions

Can I open an Australian business account online as a freelancer?

Some Australian providers offer an online application route, but eligibility, identity checks and the business structures they accept vary. Check the provider's current requirements before assuming a UK-based freelancer can open a particular Australian account.

What is the right business account for a sole trader in Australia?

There is no single right account for every sole trader. Compare eligibility, the currencies you invoice in, account and transaction fees, cards, integrations and whether the account supports the way you receive and spend money. Read the current terms before applying.

Can I open an Australian bank account from the UK?

It depends on the provider, your business structure and the outcome of its checks. According to ANZ's Business Essentials page, applicants must meet the account's Australian-business and identification requirements. Check the provider's criteria before applying.

What paperwork is required to open a business account in Australia?

Requirements differ by provider and business structure. You may be asked for identity documents, information about your business and evidence of registration or authority to act for the business. Check the provider's current application checklist before applying.

Do I need an Australian address to open a business account?

It depends on the provider, your business structure and the account you apply for. Review each provider's eligibility rules and application questions rather than assuming a UK address will be accepted.

Sources:

Airwallex - Plans and Pricing
Airwallex - Business Account
Westpac - Business Transaction Accounts
Westpac - Business Money Tools
ANZ - Business Essentials
Zeller - Business Transaction Account

Sources last checked on 29 September 2026

*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.