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3S Money: How Does It Compare to Payset?

Fintech and banking

Apr 18, 2026

4 min. read

Michael Dalton

Author

3S Money is a business payments platform that aims to challenge the traditional finance system. It provides UK, European, and United Arab Emirates IBAN accounts and is available in several countries worldwide. It can help you get your money far — but is it right for you?

02 3S Money How Does It Compare to Payset

Key Takeaways

3S Money is a global payments platform aimed exclusively at businesses.
It provides payment coverage across 190+ countries and 65+ local currencies, as well as GB, NL, LU, FR, and UAE IBANs.

From our perspective, 3S Money’s limited choice of IBANs and high monthly prices are its weakest selling points.
At Payset, we aim to offer more competitive pricing, IBAN coverage, and more.

3S Money is a global payments platform that’s focused on providing international payments and alternatives to the traditional financial system.

It originated in 2018 when founder and CEO Ivan Zhiznevsky launched a Netherlands-based company, but couldn’t obtain a bank account remotely. That led him to pitch 3S Money through a fintech accelerator program at Barclays.

Since then, 3S Money has expanded internationally, including by opening offices in Latvia, Amsterdam, and Dubai — most recently expanding to Hong Kong.

The company rebranded in 2023 and formally partnered with Barclays in 2024, further expanding its presence. But is it the best option for payments?

Why Choose 3S Money

3S Money offers a strong selection of business products, primarily focused around providing global business accounts and foreign exchange (FX) services.

The company splits its options into global and United Arab Emirates (UAE)-focused options. It serves businesses in many countries but excludes many prohibited countries. Business directors can be based in over 190 countries.

Its offerings are backed by substantial activity and growth. As of April 2026, 3S Money reported $5.9 billion in payments processed, 7 global offices, 4 licenses, 12 languages served, and more than 180 people on its team.

But those are just the basics, and it’s important to take into account other service details and potential drawbacks. So, is 3S Money right for you?

Core Products and Offerings

3S Money offers a set of core products, including:

Global business accounts: Offering a choice of United Kingdom (GB), Netherlands (NL), Luxembourg (LU), and France (FR) IBANs.
Global payments: Send and receive SWIFT and SEPA payments across 190 countries. Instant settlements without hidden fees are advertised.
United Arab Emirates (DIFC) accounts: An additional account type focused on the UAE and the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region.

Currency wallets & FX exchange: Supporting the conversion of over 65 currencies, including the US dollar (USD), British pound (GBP), United Arab Emirates dirham (AED), and euro (EUR).

Relationship management: Personal relationship managers that offer FX and payment support in more than 10 languages.

Pricing and Fees

3S Money’s global accounts come in three main tiers as of April 2026. The following describes most, but not all, features:

Standard (€100 monthly): Offers UK (GB), Luxembourg (LU), and Dutch (NL) IBANs. Supports SWIFT/SEPA/Faster Payments (FPS). Includes a relationship manager and accounting integration. Limited to 2 users.
Enterprise (€300 monthly): All of the above features, plus API integration and negotiable transaction fees. Limited to 5 account users.

Enterprise Plus (Custom pricing): All of the above, plus specialised payment solutions and reduced FX rates. Limited to 10 account users.

3S Money additionally charges transaction fees based on account tier:

UK Faster Payments (FPS): £1 for all tiers
EUR SEPA: €1-2 depending on tier
Payments to UAE: 0.10%-0.30% depending on tier
Payments to China: 0.25%-0.60% depending on tier
Receiving funds from EU, UK, US, and UAE: 0% for all tiers

Compliance and Deposit Protection

3S Money is licensed or regulated by authorities in four countries: the United Kingdom, Dubai, Luxembourg, and Hong Kong.

As an FCA-authorised electronic money institution, 3S Money is required to safeguard client funds in line with UK regulations. That means it segregates its own funds from client funds and stores them with multiple correspondent banks.

Because it doesn’t lend out money, 3S Money claims to have 100% liquidity, allowing it to quickly return funds if it is required to do so.

Like most EMIs, the company isn’t required to provide coverage under the UK’s Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS).

Target Audiences

3S Money serves a range of industries. This includes e-commerce, travel and IT services, as well as asset managers, consultancies, education, holding companies, real estate, shipping and logistics, and more.

Let’s take a look at case studies in a few of those industries.

E-commerce

3S Money serves the e-commerce industry, including online marketplaces, dropshippers, fulfillment operators, and Direct-to-Consumer (DTC) sellers.

One case study is fashion company, Avery. 3S Money reports helping Avery overcome challenges around online access and high fees, allowing it to more easily pay suppliers in China and receive funds from European customers.

Travel and Tourism

3S Money caters to the travel and tourism industry, spanning travel agencies, yacht brokers, aviation firms, luxury services, and more.

Scuba and travel company Dive and Cruise is one such client. It faced challenges accepting payments in multiple currencies from customers in Europe. It also needed to pay suppliers in the Philippines, China, and Thailand. 3S Money says that its payment solution helped Dive and Cruise accomplish this.

IT Services

3S Money serves IT firms, including software developers, consultancies, tech startups, managed service providers, and SaaS platforms.

One case study is KODE, a software development firm in Montenegro that received poor service at other providers. After developing for 3S Money in 2018, KODE turned to the payments company for its own use and is said to have achieved easier transactions and streamlined operations in doing so.

What Are 3S Money’s Biggest Limitations?

We see certain shortcomings in 3S Money’s service options:

Expensive starting tiers: Standard tier pricing starts at €100 monthly, and a previously offered €25 monthly “starter” plan is not currently shown.
Limited IBAN choices: 3S Money has three main IBAN options: UK, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands, with mentions of France and UAE IBANs elsewhere. Competitors may provide broader options.
No payment cards: 3S Money does not mention physical or virtual payment cards, nor has it mentioned plans to introduce these.
No personal accounts: The company only serves business users.
Multi-user limits: 3S Money’s main subscription tiers offer support for 2, 5, and 10 users, which may be unworkable for larger teams.
Unclear onboarding times: Though 3S Money advertises a 15-minute application process, it does not state how many days users should expect to wait before they are approved to start using their account.

How Does 3S Money Compare to Payset

Business accounts: No monthly fees as of April 2026 (*may be a limited-time offer)	3S Money
Web access and an upcoming mobile app	Web access plus mobile app
Business accounts: No monthly fees as of April 2026 (*may be a limited time offer)	Business accounts: €100-€300 monthly, plus custom pricing tiers
Personal accounts: No monthly fees as of April 2026 (*may be a limited time offer)	No personal accounts advertised
Free sign-up	No sign-up fees mentioned
Transact in 180+ countries and operate from 70+ countries	Transact in 190+ countries and operate in permitted countries
Hold, send, and receive 34+ currencies	Access 65+ local currencies
Payment cards coming in 2026	Payment cards not advertised
Bulk payments (see details)	Batch payments
Team management (see details)	2-10 account users, depending on plan
No transfer limits once compliance requirements are met (see details)	No transaction limits
Regulated in the UK as an EMI and able to serve customers in other regions	Regulated in four jurisdictions: UK (EMI), Dubai, Hong Kong & Luxembourg
1-3 business day onboarding	Onboarding time not advertised
UK safeguarding policy	UK safeguarding policy
Friendly to crypto and many other sectors; mainly prohibits adult content and illegal activity	Restrictions on certain high-risk jurisdictions and activities in line with compliance requirements

The Bottom Line

3S Money is a good choice for businesses, especially those in the EU and MENA, with strong support for global currencies and payment channels.

However, we see certain weaknesses in its coverage: especially its high-priced standard account, its limited choice of IBAN locations, and its focus on enterprises, combined with a lack of personal accounts.

At Payset, we aim to provide affordable cross-border payment services that are just right for businesses of any size and individuals working at any scale.

Payset users get numerous IBAN and account regions to choose from, the ability to transact in over 180 countries and 34 currencies, and FX access.

You’ll also enjoy zero sign-up fees (plus waived monthly rates for a limited time), making us a highly affordable choice for almost everyone.

Ready to sign up? Get started today!

Disclaimer: Pricing, features, and details on this page are based on competing websites at the time of writing (April 2026). Details may change over time, vary by region, and do not cover all service options offered by competitors. Users should verify details with competitors. Payset does not endorse or represent any competitor, nor have competitors endorsed the above content. Payset and related parties disclaim liability for any errors or actions taken based on this content. Information is for general purposes only and offered at the user’s own risk.

References

https://3s.money/our-story

https://3s.money/solutions/global-accounts

https://3s.money/pricing

https://3s.money/help-centre/compliance-and-security/who-is-3s-money-regulated-by

https://3s.money/help-centre/compliance-and-security/how-is-my-money-protected

https://3s.money/customer-stories

A UK multi-currency account can streamline how you manage your finances. Whether for business or personal use, a multi-currency account provides you with added freedom and flexibility and removes barriers to payments and transfer methods.

Here is everything you need to know about UK multi-currency accounts.

A Payset UK multi-currency account is a single account with which you can hold, send, and receive funds in up to 38 currencies. This allows business or personal account holders to save endless time and money on foreign exchange, and money transfers, which from a traditional bank account would be far more expensive and slow.

From your personal UK-based IBAN account, you can transfer money to bank accounts around the world as well as send and receive free and instant transfers to and from other Payset clients. You can send funds using a diverse network of payment networks, including SWIFT, SEPA, Target2, Faster Payments, CHAPS, and more.

When you exchange funds from one currency to another, there are no margins added to our exchange rates and the fees are clearly displayed before you click send. If you, for example, work with multiple currencies, make purchases in other countries, travel frequently, invest in foreign currencies, pay staff in other countries, or receive payments in other currencies, a multi-currency account can save you time, money, and work compared to a traditional bank account.

There are lots of banking institutions and financial services that will aid you in opening a multi-currency account. Often they can allow you to convert and transfer a considerable number of currencies.

Before you open a UK multi-currency account with any platform or service, make sure you have explored all of the different options available to you and have found the best type of account to suit your financial needs.

How Does a UK Multi-Currency Account Work?

A UK multi-currency account works in the same way as a standard bank account or electronic wallet. Although the services provided will change depending on where you choose to open your account and who you choose to open the account with, all multi-currency accounts should allow you to:

Withdraw money

Send and receive payments in multiple currencies internationally

Access your funds for electronic transfers

Earn interest on your account total

In the same way that fees can occur with a standard bank account you may run into additional charges with a UK multi-currency account.

You could be charged for a number of actions including; making withdrawals, account opening and closure fees, transfer fees, and more.

The frequency or amount of these charges will often vary and if you ask your banking agency they will usually be able to tell you exactly how much you will be charged and which services you will be charged for before you open your account.

Alternative Options to Consider Before Opening a UK Multi-Currency Account

There are many alternatives to opening a UK multi-currency account. For example, there are also money transfer services and online electronic wallets such as Payset that allow you to send your money in over 34 currencies without the need for a UK multi-currency account. You can start sending money across the globe or in person today using your existing bank account.

Frequently asked questions

What is a UK multi-currency account/IBAN?

Are there limits to the amount of money I can send and receive with a UK multi currency account?

Which currencies can I send and receive in my UK multi currency account?

How do I add money to my UK multi currency account?

Types of UK Multi-Currency Accounts

Multi-currency IBAN accounts
Personal multi-currency accounts
Multi-currency accounts for business
Multi-currency cash passports
Multi-currency wallets

Information contained in this publication is provided for general education and information purposes only and should not be construed as legal, tax, investment or other professional advice or recommendation, or an offer of, or solicitation for, any transactions or any other actions (or refraining therefrom); This material has been prepared without taking into account any particular recipient’s financial objectives or situation. We make no warranty, guarantee or representation, whether express or implied, as to the completeness or accuracy of the information contained herein or fitness thereof for a particular purpose; Use of images and symbols is made for illustrative purposes only and does not constitute a recommendation or advice to take or refraining from any action; Use of brand logos does not necessarily imply a contractual relationship between us and the entities owning the logos, nor does it represent an endorsement of any such entity by Pay Set Limited, or vice versa; Market information is made available to you only as a service, and we do not endorse or approve it; Any reference to past performance, predicted returns, or likelihood performance scenarios may not reflect actual future performance and certainly do not guarantee future outcomes.