Arf provides a specialized liquidity and settlement platform for licensed financial institutions, but its narrow focus and lack of public pricing may lead businesses to explore other options. This article will explain what Arf is, detail the reasons you might look for an alternative, and introduce other global payment solutions to consider based on your specific needs.
What is Arf?
Arf is a regulated liquidity and settlement platform designed for licensed financial institutions to manage cross-border payments. It provides short-term, receivable-backed credit lines and uses stablecoins under Swiss regulations to facilitate transactions.
While Arf has perfect 5-star ratings on Trustpilot, its low review count of only three makes it difficult to gauge overall customer satisfaction. Additionally, the company does not publish its pricing, so businesses must contact them directly for specific details.
What to Consider When Selecting a Arf Alternative?
When searching for an alternative to Arf, it's important to evaluate platforms based on your specific business needs. Here are five key factors to consider:
- Target Business Model:Evaluate whether the platform is built for your specific industry, such as Web3, startups, or traditional SMEs, as this will determine the relevance of its features.
- Crypto and Fiat Support:Determine if the service provides the necessary flexibility between traditional currencies and digital assets like stablecoins for your operations.
- Pricing Transparency:Look for a clear and public pricing structure to avoid hidden fees and accurately forecast your expenses.
- Scope of Services:Consider if you need a specialized liquidity provider or a more comprehensive solution for daily banking, expense management, and payroll.
- Customer Support Quality:Assess the provider's reputation for responsive and effective customer service, which is vital for resolving financial issues quickly.
If these points highlight your current challenges, the following alternatives may offer the solution you're looking for.
10 Best Alternatives to Arf
1. OneSafe
At OneSafe, we offer a finance platform designed to modernize banking for businesses, particularly those operating in the Web3 and crypto sectors. Our platform provides the essential tools for straightforward fund management, quick payments, and access to both traditional and digital assets.
We facilitate a direct 1:1 conversion from USD to USDC on Polygon, which simplifies payroll and expense management for global teams. Additionally, we provide end-to-end expense and payroll management, rapid account setup, and exceptional customer support tailored for businesses in the digital asset space.
Pricing
Here's a look at our straightforward pricing:
- Free Account Services: We offer free account opening and maintenance, no monthly subscriptions, free card issuance, and no minimum balance requirements.
- 0.1% US & USDT Transactions: Enjoy low-cost domestic money movement with a simple 0.1% fee on US domestic transfers (ACH & wires) and USDT transactions.
- 0.2% European & International Payments: Our competitive rates extend globally with a 0.2% fee for SEPA payments in EUR and international wires, plus a standard $50 SWIFT fee for the latter.
- Transparent Fiat-to-Crypto Conversions: Convert between fiat and crypto with confidence. Our conversions are included at market rates, with no hidden fees to worry about.
- Flat-Rate & Card Fees: For specific needs, we offer $25 flat-fee Fedwire transfers and a 3% fee on corporate card spending in non-USD currencies.
Reviews
Clients consistently praise our exceptional customer support and our platform's ability to solve major financial headaches, especially for Web3 organizations. We're often called a game-changer for simplifying payroll and banking processes.
- Amit Chu, Investments @ Celo Foundation“OneSafe has the best customer support I've ever experienced from a bank.”
- Marco, CEO of Ensuro“OneSafe is a game-changer. They solve so many headaches for our company. Finally a banking solution that gets it.”
Want to learn more? Check us out here.
2. N26
N26 is a German fintech company founded in 2013 that provides a fully mobile banking experience. The platform offers services such as transaction accounts, debit cards, overdrafts, and investment products.
It provides real-time banking updates through its app interface. The service also includes tools for managing spending and savings.
Pricing
Here's their pricing at a glance:
- Free N26 Standard: This account has no maintenance fees or minimum balance requirements and includes a virtual Mastercard.
- €4.90/month N26 Smart: This plan provides tools for spending and saving, including up to 10 sub-accounts.
- €9.90/month N26 Go: This account is designed for travel, offering free ATM withdrawals abroad and travel insurance.
- €16.90/month N26 Metal: This premium account includes a metal card, travel insurance, and priority customer support.
Reviews
User reviews often cite slow customer support response times, unhelpful replies, and issues with unexplained account closures and frozen funds. Check out more N26 reviews here.
3. Mercury
Mercury is a financial technology company that provides online business banking services designed for startups and small businesses. It supports U.S.-incorporated companies, allowing international founders to open business accounts without being U.S. residents.
The platform offers FDIC-insured checking and savings accounts, corporate cards, and integrated tools for bill pay and invoicing. Mercury has no minimum deposit or balance requirements and charges a 1% fee on currency conversions for non-USD currencies.
Pricing
Here's their pricing at a glance:
- Free Mercury Plan: Offers essential banking services including checking and savings accounts, corporate cards, bill pay, invoicing, and reimbursements.
- $35/month Mercury Plus: Includes all features of the Mercury Plan with additional reimbursement and invoicing capabilities.
- $350/month Mercury Pro: Encompasses all features of Mercury Plus along with advanced workflows and dedicated support.
- Custom Solutions: Tailored pricing and plan options are available for businesses with balances exceeding $10 million.
Reviews
User feedback on the platform is mixed, with some customers reporting issues such as sudden account closures, frozen funds, payment processing delays, and inconsistent customer support. Check out more Mercury reviews here.
4. Wallester
Wallester is a financial technology company specializing in corporate expense management solutions through virtual and physical Visa cards. Its platform is built to help businesses of all sizes manage their financial operations.
The service offers real-time expense control, detailed financial reporting, and integrations with accounting software. It also provides instant virtual card issuance, multi-currency support, and advanced API integration.
Pricing
Wallester provides a free plan that includes up to 300 virtual cards and unlimited physical card issuance, with no account or minimum balance fees. Additional virtual cards can be added for €0.20 per card per month, and premium plans are available for businesses that require more cards.
Reviews
User feedback often comments on the platform's interface and financial reporting, though some have reported challenges with integration and occasional delays in technical support. Check out more Wallester reviews here.
5. Tide Bank
Tide is a UK-based financial technology company founded in 2015 that offers mobile-first banking services for small and medium-sized enterprises. The platform provides current accounts, automated bookkeeping, integrated invoicing, and compatibility with various accounting software.
Businesses can open an account through the app, manage team spending with expense cards, and make cash deposits at UK Post Office or PayPoint locations. The service also includes built-in accounting tools and supports international payments.
Pricing
Here's their pricing at a glance:
- Free Plan: No monthly fee, but charges 20p per UK transfer and £1 per ATM withdrawal.
- £12.49 + VAT/month Smart Plan: Includes 25 free UK transfers, one free expense card, and priority in-app support.
- £24.99 + VAT/month Pro Plan: Offers unlimited free UK transfers, two free expense cards, and 24/7 phone and legal support.
- £69.99 + VAT/month Max Plan: Provides unlimited free UK transfers, three free expense cards, and a dedicated account manager.
Reviews
User feedback indicates some customers have experienced delays with payment processing and customer support. Others have reported issues with account access and technical problems with the app. Check out more Tide Bank reviews here.
6. Axos Bank
Axos Bank, founded as Bank of Internet USA in 2000, is a digital bank based in San Diego, California. It provides a range of financial services, such as personal and business banking, loans, and investment solutions.
The bank offers competitive interest rates and low to no fees on some accounts. Access to funds is available through a large network of ATMs.
Pricing
Axos Bank provides several business banking options, including accounts with no monthly maintenance fees, while others have fees that can be waived by meeting certain balance requirements. The bank does not publicly list prices for all of its services, so contacting them directly is necessary for complete pricing information.
Reviews
Customer feedback on the platform is varied. Some users report issues with account restrictions, communication problems, and the mobile app's performance. Check out more Axos Bank reviews here.
7. Finom
Finom is a European financial technology company founded in 2019 that provides digital banking and financial management services for small to medium-sized enterprises, freelancers, and self-employed individuals. The platform offers online accounts with local IBANs, invoicing tools, accounting integrations, and expense management.
The service provides free physical and unlimited virtual debit cards, offers up to 3% cashback on business purchases, and supports multiple currencies for international payments. It is designed with a user-focused interface and includes customer support to assist with financial operations.
Pricing
Here's their pricing at a glance:
- Free Solo Plan: This plan is for freelancers and includes one user, a personal IBAN, free physical VISA cards, and basic invoicing features.
- €9/month Start Plan: Designed for small businesses, this plan includes two users, a personal IBAN, free physical VISA cards, and advanced invoicing features.
- €28/month Premium Plan: This option offers five users, a personal IBAN, free physical VISA cards, and invoicing and accounting integrations.
- €149/month Corporate Plan: Tailored for larger businesses, this plan provides ten users, a personal IBAN, free physical VISA cards, and advanced invoicing and accounting features.
- €339/month Enterprise Plan: This plan includes fifteen users, a personal IBAN, free physical VISA cards, and all features available in the Corporate Plan.
Reviews
User feedback indicates some customers have raised concerns regarding unexpected fees, account management, and occasional technical problems with processing transactions. Check out more Finom reviews here.
8. Currensea
Currensea is a UK-based financial technology company that offers a travel debit card designed to lower foreign exchange fees for users. The card connects directly to an individual's existing UK bank account, removing the need to top up or transfer funds before spending abroad.
The service provides real-time exchange rates and sends immediate notifications detailing the amount spent and any savings. It also offers competitive exchange rates and does not have hidden fees, which can result in savings for travelers.
Pricing
Here's their pricing at a glance:
- Free Essential: This plan includes a £500 monthly card spend at the real-time rate, after which a 1% fee applies. ATM withdrawals are fee-free up to £200 per month, with a 2% fee thereafter. A £4.95 card delivery fee is charged.
- £39.95/year Pro: This plan offers unlimited fee-free card spending, £500 fee-free ATM withdrawals per month, and includes global data, car hire discounts, and hotel benefits.
- £150/year Elite: This plan includes all Pro features with an increased fee-free ATM withdrawal limit of £750 per month, more global data, and luxury hotel perks.
Reviews
User feedback frequently comments on the card's ease of use, transaction notifications, and exchange rates. Some reviews note issues with card acceptance in certain locations and the responsiveness of customer support. Check out more Currensea reviews here.
9. Reap
Reap is a financial technology company founded in 2018 that provides a suite of products to manage financial operations for businesses. Its main offering is the Reap Card, a secured corporate credit card.
The platform facilitates bill repayments in both fiat and digital currencies and includes features such as global coverage and spend controls. Reap also provides services for making payments in preferred currencies and offers API solutions for card issuing and automated global payouts.
Pricing
The Reap Card has no annual or hidden service fees, but there is a 1.2% handling fee for stablecoin repayments and a 2% fee for ATM withdrawals and foreign exchange transactions. The company also provides customized packages for card issuing and API solutions, with pricing determined by product usage.
Reviews
User feedback on the platform is mixed, with some customers reporting issues such as sudden credit limit resets without notice, alongside concerns about customer service and financial standards. Check out more Reap reviews here.
10. Brex
Brex is a financial technology company founded in 2017 that offers a suite of financial services. Its unified platform integrates corporate credit cards, expense management, travel booking, bill pay, and business accounts.
The platform includes AI-powered custom rules, real-time reporting, and accounting integrations to manage financial operations. It is designed to provide scalable solutions for startups, mid-sized companies, and global enterprises.
Pricing
Here's their pricing at a glance:
- Free Essentials: This plan includes global card acceptance, AI-powered custom rules, accounting integrations, local currency wires, travel booking, real-time reporting, API access, bill pay, and reimbursements.
- $12/user/month Premium: This plan includes all Essentials features plus customizable expense policies, advanced approvals, multi-entity support, and customizable ERP and HRIS integrations.
- Custom Enterprise: This plan offers all Premium features along with support for unlimited global entities, local card issuance, a named account manager, and customizable implementation. Pricing is tailored to specific requirements.
Reviews
User reviews mention issues with customer service, such as unresponsiveness and difficulty resolving complex problems, with some customers reporting sudden account closures. Other feedback points to challenges with receipt management and limitations in how expenses can be categorized. Check out more Brex reviews here.
Which One Should You Go With?
Choosing the right financial platform depends entirely on your business needs, and while any of these alternatives can be a great fit, we recommend OneSafe if you're looking for a modern solution that truly understands the digital asset space. Our platform is built to handle the unique challenges of Web3 and crypto-focused companies. Ready to simplify your financial operations? Sign up for OneSafe today and see the difference for yourself.
