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Aspire vs. HSBC: all-in-one finance platform for modern businesses
Aspire replaces outdated banking with a powerful, integrated platform for payments, cards, FX and expense management—built for the speed and scale of modern startups and growing businesses.
Trusted by 50,000+ modern businesses
Aspire vs. HSBC key differences
Here’s a side-by-side comparison of Aspire and HSBC to highlight key differences and help you choose the best business account for your needs.
BUSINESS ACCOUNT
Free, 100% online setup
Account opening
HKD $1,300 (online),
HKD $1,600 (in-branch)
HKD $1,600 (in-branch)
Free
Monthly fees
HKD $200-450 per month (waived with minumim account balance)
Free via FPS
HKD $15 via CHATS
HKD $15 via CHATS
Receive local payments
Free via FPS
HKD $15 via CHATS
HKD $15 via CHATS
Free via FPS
HKD $55 via CHATS
HKD $55 via CHATS
Send local payments
HKD $5 via FPS
HKD $55 via CHATS
HKD $55 via CHATS
From HKD $60 for incoming payments in 13 currencies
Receive international payments
From HKD $65 for incoming payments in 12 currencies
FX rates from 0.18% above mid-market rates, fees from HKD $120
Send international payments
FX rates from 0.39% above mid-market rates, fees up to HKD $100
5 currencies including HKD, CNY, USD, EUR, GBP (8 more coming soon)
Multi-currency account
12 currencies
CARD
Issue physical and virtual cards
Physical cards only
Unlimited 1% cashback
for SaaS and marketing spend
for SaaS and marketing spend
Rewards
Reward points redeemable for cash rebates, shopping vouchers, or airline miles
Issue employee cards with spend controls and real-time tracking
Expense management
No built-in spend controls for teams
HKD $40 per withdrawal
Cash withdrawal from card
Up to HKD $980 per withdrawal
AUTOMATION AND SUPPORT
Live Chat via Aspire App, Whatsapp, and Email
Customer support channels
Live chat, Email and Phone
English: 24/7
Mandarin and Cantonese:
9AM - 5PM HKT daily
9AM - 5PM HKT daily
Customer support availability
Chat: 24/7
Phone: Mon-Fri (9am-6pm HKT), Sat (9am-1pm HKT)
Phone: Mon-Fri (9am-6pm HKT), Sat (9am-1pm HKT)
Accounting integration
API integration
Comparison as of 28 July 2025
3 reasons why businesses choose Aspire over HSBC
Fast-growing companies need more than a basic business account. Aspire helps you save, spend, and scale with smarter tools and lower costs. Here’s how Aspire compares to HSBC.
Keep more of your margins with better FX
Aspire offers transparent, low FX rates starting from 0.18% above mid-market. HSBC charges higher mark-ups and often includes hidden fees that can eat into your margins.
Faster local payments, zero fees
Aspire’s free FPS transfers let you pay teams and vendors instantly without adding unnecessary costs to your day-to-day operations. HSBC, in contrast, charges for the same service.
Take control of team spending in real-time
Unlike HSBC, which lacks built-in spend controls and visibility, Aspire offers corporate cards and integrated expense management tools to keep all spends within policy.
How Aspire works
Aspire brings together the security of traditional banking with the innovation of modern fintech to create the future of business finance. Here's what makes our platform uniquely powerful:
Trusted banking foundation
Your funds are safeguarded by licensed financial institutions in full compliance with Hong Kong’s Money Service Operator (MSO) regulatory standards and follows strict data security protocols to ensure your business finances are protected every step of the way.
Seamless global payments
Aspire makes it easy to send and receive payments across 130+ countries in 13 currencies. With access to local rails and major card networks, businesses benefit from competitive exchange rates, faster transfers, and zero hidden fees—built to support your international operations without the usual friction.
AI-powered financial control
Gain full visibility and control over your business finances with Aspire’s smart tools. From automated reconciliation and multi-level approvals to real-time spend tracking and accounting integrations, Aspire helps modern finance teams streamline operations and stay audit-ready at all times.
We are backed by leading institutions and world-class investors
Frequently asked questions about Aspire vs. HSBC
Who should choose Aspire?
Aspire is designed for fast-growing businesses and startups that want more than basic banking. Its all-in-one platform combines corporate cards, real-time expense management, budgeting tools, and accounting integrations, helping you save time, reduce costs, and gain complete control over your finances without juggling multiple tools.
Who should choose HSBC?
HSBC is a good fit for businesses that prefer traditional banking with physical branches and a full range of standard corporate banking services. However, businesses seeking seamless digital finance management may find HSBC’s platform less flexible and lacking the integrated tools needed for efficient expense control and automation.
Which platform is better overall, Aspire or HSBC?
While both offer reliable payments and corporate cards, Aspire leads with a comprehensive suite of finance tools designed to simplify business workflows. With integrated expense controls, approval workflows, and budgeting features, Aspire helps businesses save time and reduce operational costs by managing all finances in one platform—advantages HSBC’s more traditional system doesn’t fully provide.
Which offers better value, Aspire or HSBC?
Aspire delivers better value through zero monthly fees, free FPS transfers, transparent and competitive FX rates, and 1% cashback on marketing and SaaS expenses. HSBC’s services often come with higher fees and lack the built-in spend management and automation tools growing businesses need to optimise costs.
Which is better for daily business operations, Aspire or HSBC?
Aspire supports everyday financial operations with real-time expense tracking, budgeting, team cards, and seamless accounting integrations. HSBC primarily focuses on core banking functions, meaning many businesses still require additional software to handle daily financial workflows efficiently.
Which has better accounting integrations, Aspire or HSBC?
Aspire offers seamless integration with Xero, QuickBooks and NetSuite, along with open API access for custom workflows. HSBC currently supports integration with Xero only, with fewer options for advanced automation.
Hear it first from our customers
“As a startup, we needed more flexible solutions to support our increasing needs, as well as ones that’d make the most financial sense in supporting our growth.”
$110,000
Saved per year
900hrs
Saved per year
View Case Study
Gregory Van
CEO of Endowus
"It was challenging to recognise costs efficiently with manual processes. With Aspire, we have control and visibility into all expenditure, allowing us to act swiftly and make informed decisions."
1,664hrs
Saved per year
$ 35,320.00
Saved per year
View Case Study
Chai Yang
Finance Director
"For organisations with many moving parts like ours, budgeting is important. Being unable to view our state of expenses at any given time causes challenges to modern businesses like ours."
760hrs
Saved per year
$ 73,000.00
Saved per year
View Case Study
Sagar Khatri
Co-Founder at Multiplier