How to Open a Wise Account for Free

Detailed step-by-step instructions. Just follow along and you will succeed, even if you have never used Wise before.

Estimated completion time: ~10 minutes 　　 ✅ Completely free

What is Wise and why should you use it?

Wise (formerly TransferWise) is an international electronic wallet service that allows you to transfer money from abroad at significantly lower fees than traditional banks. It is a popular choice among expatriates who frequently send money back home or transfer funds between personal accounts in different countries. Reference: Transfer money from abroad at the lowest cost

1. Preparation

An email address that you regularly use. Wise will verify your account via email and send important transaction notifications to this email address. If you do not have an email account yet, please Create a Gmail account.
Phone number. Wise will send a verification code to this phone number.
Identity document. This helps you view and enter accurate information during the Wise account registration process.

2. Steps to Open an Account

Step 1: Visit the Wise Account Registration page.

Enter your email address in ①.
Click the ② button.

Step 2: Verify your email address.

Check your inbox and you will see an email sent by Wise as shown below.

If you do not see the email, please check your Spam / Junk folder.
This verification email is only valid for 60 seconds. If it expires, click 【Resend email】 to have Wise send another one.

Click to view the email content.

Click the ③ button (if verification is successful, the verification waiting screen will automatically change to the successful verification screen shown below).

Click the ④ button to continue.

Step 3: Select the account type.

Personal account: An account for individual users. This is the most common choice.
Business account: An account for registered businesses. Additional business documentation may be required during registration.

Select ⑤ to continue.

Step 4: Select your country of residence.

If you permanently live in another country, you should select that country. Otherwise, select your own country.

You can click ⑥ to change the country.
After selecting your country, click the ⑦ button.

Click the ⑧ button to continue.

Step 5: Verify your phone number.

Select the country code for your phone number in ⑨.
Enter your phone number in ⑩.
Click the ⑪ button to continue.
Check your messages and you will see a message from Wise as shown below.

Enter the 6-digit code from the message into ⑫.
Click the ⑬ button to continue.

This verification code is only valid for 30 seconds. If it expires, click 【Resend code】 to receive a new verification code.

Step 6: Create a password for your account.

Enter your desired password in ⑭.

Click the ⑮ button to display the password you are entering.

Your password must contain at least 1 letter, at least 1 number, and be 9 characters or longer.

Click the ⑯ button to continue.

Step 7: Enter your personal information.

You must enter this information so that it matches your identity document 100%. If there are errors, your future identity verification may be rejected, and you will need to contact Wise support to correct it, which can be time-consuming.

Enter your given name(s) in ⑰.
Enter your surname/family name in ⑱.
Enter your birth day in ⑲.
Enter your birth month in ⑳.
Enter your birth year in ㉑.
Click the ㉒ button to continue.

Step 8: Enter your address information.

You must enter an address in the country selected in Step 4. It is recommended that the address matches the one on your identity document in that country.

Enter your state/province/city in ㉓.
Click the ㉔ button to continue.

You can look up postcode information on Google.

Enter your street address in ㉕.
Enter your state/province/city in ㉖.
Enter the postcode corresponding to the state/province/city entered in ㉖ into ㉗.
Click the ㉘ button to continue.

Step 9: Go to the Wise home screen.

Click the ✕ icon in the upper-right corner of the screen.

Click the ✕ icon in the upper-right corner of the screen.

Step 10: Complete the Wise survey.

Click ㉙ to continue.

Click ㉚ to continue.

Click ㉛ to continue.

Select ㉜.

Select ㉝.

Enter the content below into ㉞.

Comparison website (testjlpt.com)

✓

Comparison website (testjlpt.com)

Click the ㉟ button.

🎉 Congratulations! You have successfully completed your Wise account registration. You can now send international transfers using Wise.

In addition to the website, Wise also provides official apps for both iOS and Android. Using the app is recommended because the interface is more intuitive and transactions are easier to track.

For iOS devices (iPhone/iPad): App Store
For Android devices: Google Play

After installation, simply sign in using the email address and password you just created above — no need to register again.

3. Important Things to Know About Wise

Wise is not a bank. Funds held in Wise are not protected by deposit insurance in the same way as traditional banks. Wise is a licensed financial institution in many countries, but you should not keep all of your savings there.
Wise is available in most countries, but not all. Some countries are restricted due to local legal regulations.
Each person is only allowed to have one personal account. If you attempt to create a second account using the same identity document, both accounts may be permanently suspended.
Account security. Never share your password or OTP code with anyone, including people claiming to be Wise employees.
Pay attention to transaction fees. Opening an account is free. However, when transferring money, Wise charges a small transaction fee (usually lower than banks), so always review the fee before confirming a transaction.

4. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Is Wise safe?

Wise is a legitimate company listed on the London Stock Exchange (LSE: WISE) and licensed by financial regulators in the UK, EU, US, Australia, and many other countries. Wise serves more than 16 million customers worldwide.

Does opening a Wise account cost anything?

Opening an account and holding funds is completely free. Wise only charges fees when you actually transfer money or exchange currencies. These fees are clearly displayed before you confirm a transaction.

How long does it take to open an account?

The information entry process usually takes about 5–10 minutes.

Should I use the app or the website?

You can register through either the website (wise.com) or the mobile app (iOS and Android). After registration, the mobile app is very convenient for managing daily transactions.

What languages does Wise support?

Currently, the Wise interface is primarily available in English. However, the interface is intuitive and easy to use. Customer support may also be available in multiple languages.

Can I change my country of residence after registration?

You cannot change it yourself. If you selected the wrong country, you must contact Wise support to request a change, and additional supporting documents may be required.

Not receiving the Wise verification email?

Check your Spam / Junk folder. If you still do not receive it after one minute, click 【Resend email】 on the registration screen to have Wise send it again.

My phone number says "already in use"?

That phone number may already be associated with another Wise account. Try signing in with the email address linked to that number, or contact Wise support for assistance.

⚖️ This article is for informational and educational purposes only. We are not responsible for any changes to Wise’s interface or policies.