Why We're NOT Competing With Wise
Wise is excellent for consumers and businesses under $1M FX.
We exclusively serve importers/exporters with $1M+ annual FX who need treasury features Wise doesn't offer.
Wise is great for small transfers. When your FX hits $1M+, you need a treasury platform, not a consumer app.
Use Wise If... / Use Unicorn If...
Use Wise If:
- →You're doing under $1M annual FX volume
- →You need personal transfers (sending money to family, paying tuition)
- →You're a freelancer or solopreneur paying overseas contractors
- →You want simple, consumer-friendly UX
- →You don't need treasury features or logistics tracking
Our Honest Recommendation:
Wise is excellent for personal use, freelancers, and SMBs under $1M FX. Consumer-friendly, low fees, great product. We are not competing; we serve different markets.
Use Unicorn If:
- →You're doing $1M+ annual FX volume
- →You're an importer/exporter managing supplier bills in multiple currencies
- →You need real-time FX exposure tracking across open invoices
- →You ship containers and need logistics + treasury in one platform
- →You want treasury-grade features banks don't offer
Why Wise Can't Do This:
Wise is consumer-focused. They do not have real-time bill tracking, container monitoring, or treasury tools. Excellent at what they do, but not built for high-volume trade operations.
The Key Difference
Wise: Consumer Money Transfer
Wise (formerly TransferWise) is excellent for personal use and freelancers. It's designed for sending money to friends, paying overseas contractors, and simple business transfers.
What Wise Doesn't Have:
- Real-time FX P/L tracking on bills
- Container tracking and demurrage alerts
- 15-second FX rate locks
- Bill-level exposure visibility
- Multi-user treasury teams
- Dedicated account manager
- Trade finance focus
Unicorn Currencies: B2B Treasury Platform
Purpose-built for businesses that move goods across borders. If you're dealing with suppliers, containers, foreign invoices, and FX exposure, you need more than consumer banking.
What We Offer That Wise Doesn't:
- Real-time FX P/L on every supplier bill
- FREE container tracking (saves £5k-10k annually)
- 15-second rate locks for decision-making
- Upload bills, see live exposure
- Team access with role permissions
- Dedicated B2B support
- Import/export business focus
Feature Comparison
| Feature | Wise | Unicorn Currencies |
|---|---|---|
| Target Customer | Consumers, freelancers, small business | Import/export, manufacturers, traders |
| Real-Time FX P/L on Bills | Not available | Unique feature - upload bills, see exposure |
| Container Tracking | Not offered | FREE - save £5k-10k on demurrage |
| FX Rate Locks | Instant execution only | 15-second lock window |
| Settlement Speed | 1-2 days | Same-Day |
| Multi-User Access | Limited (2-3 users) | Unlimited team members with roles |
| Invoicing Platform | Not available | Create & send invoices with auto banking details |
| API for Integration | Limited endpoints | Full treasury API |
| Support | Self-service, chat only | Dedicated support, phone available |
| Regulation | FCA (UK), Various | FINTRAC registered · Bank of Canada RPAA registered |
Why Import/Export Businesses Need More Than Wise
Wise Shows Rates. We Show Impact.
Wise tells you the EUR/GBP rate. We show you what that rate means for YOUR £50k invoice from your French supplier. See live P/L in red/green. Know what waiting costs.
This feature doesn't exist on Wise.
Wise Can't Track Your Containers
If you're importing goods, demurrage penalties can cost £1,000-£2,000 per container. Our FREE tracking with 48-72h alerts saves £5k-10k annually. Wise doesn't offer this.
Logistics + Treasury in one platform.
Time to Think Before Locking Rates
Wise executes instantly. You have no time to calculate margins or check inventory. Our 15-second rate locks let you think, calculate, and confirm before committing.
Better decisions = better margins.
Built for Treasury Teams
Wise is consumer banking. We're B2B treasury. Unlimited team members, role-based permissions, audit trails, dedicated support. Designed for import/export operations.
Professional treasury management.
When Wise Works vs When You Need Unicorn Currencies
Wise Works Well For:
- Paying overseas contractors/freelancers
- Simple business-to-business transfers
- Low-volume occasional payments
- Single-user businesses
- No container tracking needed
- No FX exposure management needed
You Need Unicorn Currencies If:
- You import/export physical goods
- You deal with containers and shipping
- You need to track FX exposure on bills
- You have a treasury team (multiple users)
- Demurrage is a risk
- You need 15-second rate locks
- You want dedicated B2B support
Frequently Asked Questions
How is Unicorn Currencies different from Wise?
Unicorn Currencies is built specifically for B2B trade finance, not consumer transfers. We offer real-time FX tracking on supplier bills, container tracking with demurrage alerts, and wholesale rates for importers/exporters. Wise is excellent for personal transfers and small business payments, but lacks the treasury tools that $1M+ FX volume businesses need.
What about pricing compared to Wise?
We offer similar low spreads to Wise, but we add treasury tools that Wise does not have: FX exposure tracking across all your open invoices, 15-second rate locks for better decision-making, and demurrage alerts that can save you thousands annually. For high-volume importers/exporters, these features more than justify any minor cost differences.
Does Unicorn Currencies support the same countries as Wise?
Yes, we support 50+ countries via multiple payment rails including SWIFT, SEPA, Faster Payments, ACH, and local rails. We cover all major trading currencies and destinations that import/export businesses typically need.
Is Unicorn Currencies regulated like Wise?
Yes. Unicorn Currencies is fully regulated. FINTRAC registered · Bank of Canada RPAA registered. Your funds and transactions are protected under applicable financial regulations.
Who should use Unicorn Currencies vs Wise?
Use Wise if you are a consumer, freelancer, or business under $1M annual FX volume who needs simple transfers. Use Unicorn Currencies if you are an importer/exporter with $1M+ FX volume who needs treasury visibility, real-time bill tracking, container monitoring, and dedicated B2B support. We are not competing with Wise - we serve different markets.
What Only Unicorn Offers
- ✓Bank of Canada–supervised PSP with FINTRAC registration (MSB: C100000159) — not just a fintech licence
- ✓2.3-second settlement within our network — not "same day" or "next day"
- ✓FREE real-time container tracking with demurrage alerts — no other FX provider includes logistics visibility
- ✓Real-time FX P&L on every supplier bill — treasury-grade exposure tracking, not just a rate feed
- ✓Built exclusively for $1M+ annual FX — we don't dilute our platform for retail or small business
Verify our regulatory status: How We're Regulated. Not at $1M+ yet? Why $1M+ — and who to use instead.
See Unicorn in Action
$1M+ Annual FX? You Need More Than Wise Offers
Real-time FX tracking • FREE container monitoring • Treasury-grade features • Dedicated support. Local account with a local US bank account, same-day settlement.
FINTRAC registered · Bank of Canada RPAA registered.
Under $1M FX volume? Wise is excellent for your needs. We specialize in $1M+ importers/exporters only.