WorldFirst
by WorldFirst · Global Payouts
International payments and multi-currency accounts for cross-border trade and sellers.
Updated August 2026 · By the ERP Research Editorial Team · Independent and vendor-neutral.
- Works with
- Xero
- Company size
- SMB, Mid-market
- Pricing
- Free account with per-transaction fees and FX margin
- Founded
- 2004
- Headquarters
- London, United Kingdom
Overview
WorldFirst is an international payments and foreign-exchange platform founded in 2004 in London by former Citi bankers Jonathan Quin and Nick Robinson. It was acquired by Ant Group (then Ant Financial) in 2019 for approximately $700 million and now operates as part of Ant International, serving small and mid-sized businesses that trade, sell, or pay suppliers across borders.
The platform provides multi-currency World Accounts that can hold funds in 20+ currencies, competitive FX rates for sending international payments, and free collection from 100+ global marketplaces and payment platforms, including Amazon, Shopify, Etsy and TikTok Shop. It also offers FX risk-management tools such as forward contracts and firm/limit orders, a World Card for spending account balances, and revenue-based financing for eligible sellers.
WorldFirst integrates with Xero for accounting sync and is regulated in the UK as an Electronic Money Institution by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA Firm Reference 900508), with local regulatory registrations in other markets it serves.
Screenshots & demo
Demo video from the vendor's YouTube channel.
Modules & capabilities
WorldFirst covers 13 of 37 capabilities we track in this category (+2 partial)
35%- Broad country/territory payout coverageSend payments in local and international currencies across many corridorsSupported
- Multi-currency payout supportCore strength
- Local payment rail accessNot evidenced
- Same-day / instant payment optionsSame-day delivery for many payment corridorsSupported
- Multiple payout methodsNot evidenced
“Not evidenced” means our research found no public documentation of this capability — the vendor may still offer it. Confirm on a demo.
Common use cases
- Paying overseas suppliers or factories without holding multiple foreign bank accounts
- Collecting marketplace payouts (Amazon, Shopify, Etsy, TikTok Shop) into one multi-currency account
- Hedging FX exposure on future supplier payments with forward contracts
- Holding balances across 20+ currencies to time conversions favorably
- Financing inventory purchases with revenue-based funding tied to marketplace sales
- Syncing international payment data into Xero for reconciliation
Strengths & considerations
Strengths
- Free collection from 100+ global marketplaces and payment platforms into one multi-currency account
- Backed by Ant Group/Ant International's payments infrastructure since its 2019 acquisition
- Revenue-based financing available alongside payments and FX, funded in as little as 24 hours
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Rate itERP integrations
Direct connection set up from the WorldFirst platform for transaction reconciliation, invoicing and expense claims; no listing found on the Xero App Store.
Connector details independently verified against vendor marketplaces and documentation; last checked 2026-08-20.
Pricing
Full WorldFirst pricing breakdown — cost at 25/100/500 seats, competitor rates & FAQs
Published on WorldFirst's UK site: free to open with no ongoing account fees. Local payments (GBP/EUR/USD) cost GBP 0.30, international payments GBP 4.00, and cross-currency payments above GBP 5,000 are free. Standard FX margin is up to 0.50% (0.3% for new customers). Receiving funds from marketplaces is free. High-volume accounts (GBP 100k+/month) get custom pricing. Get an independent shortlist with pricing guidance below.
What does WorldFirst cost?
WorldFirst prices by quote, like most of this category. Here is what actually drives your number — and what to ask before you get one.
1 of the 9 vendors we track in this category publish no list price at all.
Technical & security
- Compliance
- FCA-regulated Electronic Money Institution (Firm Reference 900508)
About the vendor
- Founded
- 2004
- Headquarters
- London, United Kingdom
- Ownership
- Subsidiary of Ant Group (Ant International)
Alternatives to WorldFirst in Global Payouts
WorldFirst — frequently asked questions
Who owns WorldFirst?
WorldFirst has been part of Ant Group (Ant International) since Ant acquired it in 2019 for approximately $700 million. It was originally founded in London in 2004.
What are WorldFirst's payment fees?
On WorldFirst's UK site, accounts are free to open with no ongoing fees. Local payments cost GBP 0.30 and international payments GBP 4.00, while cross-currency payments above GBP 5,000 are free. The standard FX margin is up to 0.50%.
Which marketplaces can I collect payments from with WorldFirst?
WorldFirst offers free collection from more than 100 marketplaces and business platforms, including Amazon, Shopify, Etsy and TikTok Shop.
Does WorldFirst integrate with accounting software?
WorldFirst integrates with Xero to help sync international payment and receivables data for reconciliation.
Is WorldFirst regulated?
World First UK Ltd. is authorised by the UK Financial Conduct Authority as an Electronic Money Institution under the Electronic Money Regulations 2011 (FCA Firm Reference 900508).
Compare WorldFirst head-to-head
The Global Payouts Buyer's Guide
Before you commit to WorldFirst, see how it sits against the 9 global payouts systems we track — on capability, ERP integration depth and what each one actually charges for.
Global Payouts Buyer's Guide
9 systems compared · 2026
ERP Research
- WorldFirst compared side-by-side with 8 alternatives
- ERP integration checklist — what to verify before you shortlist
- The pricing questions that change the quote
- A WorldFirst evaluation brief, included with the guide
Global Payouts Buyer's Guide
Get pricing for WorldFirst
WorldFirst doesn't publish a price. Tell us your ERP, seat count and must-haves and we'll come back with an independent view of what it should cost you — and which alternatives are worth quoting alongside it.