A currency transfer fee comparison helps you find the cheapest way to send money internationally. Different services charge vastly different fees and exchange rate markups, meaning the amount your recipient receives can vary by tens or even hundreds of dollars. Enter your transfer details below and instantly compare costs across Wise, PayPal, Western Union, bank wire, and Revolut.
Transfer Details
How to Use the Currency Transfer Fee Comparison Tool
Sending money internationally can be surprisingly expensive depending on which service you use. Banks, payment platforms, and dedicated money transfer services all charge different combinations of flat fees, percentage-based fees, and exchange rate markups. This currency transfer fee comparison tool lets you compare them side by side so you can pick the cheapest option every time.
Step 1: Enter Your Transfer Details
Start by entering the amount you want to send, along with the currency you are sending from and the currency your recipient will receive. The tool displays the current mid-market exchange rate so you can see the baseline rate before any service markups are applied.
Step 2: Compare the Results
Click Compare Transfer Costs to see a detailed comparison across five popular services: Wise, PayPal, Western Union, bank wire, and Revolut. For each service, the table shows the transfer fee, the effective exchange rate (including any markup), the amount your recipient would receive, and the total cost of the transfer. The cheapest option is highlighted in green.
Step 3: Understand the Fee Structures
Each service uses a different pricing model. Wise charges a small percentage fee (0.5-1.5%) but uses the real mid-market exchange rate with no markup. Revolut offers similarly low fees on weekday transfers. PayPal charges a higher percentage fee plus a 2.5% exchange rate markup. Western Union and bank wire transfers use flat fees combined with exchange rate markups of 2-3%, which makes them especially expensive for smaller transfers.
Tips for Saving on International Transfers
For regular transfers, services like Wise and Revolut consistently offer the best rates because they use the mid-market rate. For large one-time transfers, even small percentage differences add up significantly, so always compare first. Avoid transferring on weekends if using Revolut, as weekend rates include a markup. Bank wire transfers are usually the most expensive option due to high flat fees and poor exchange rates, but they may be required for certain transactions like property purchases.
About the Exchange Rates
This tool fetches live mid-market exchange rates from the European Central Bank via the Frankfurter API. These rates update daily on business days. The mid-market rate is the midpoint between buy and sell prices on global currency markets and represents the fairest exchange rate. The service-specific rates shown include estimated markups based on each provider's publicly advertised fee structure.
FAQ
Is this currency transfer comparison tool free?
Yes, it is completely free with no signup, no account, and no hidden fees. You can compare as many transfers as you like. All calculations run in your browser and no data is sent to any server.
Are the exchange rates accurate?
This tool fetches live mid-market exchange rates daily from ECB data via the Frankfurter API. Service-specific markups are estimated based on publicly available fee structures. Actual rates may vary depending on the provider, payment method, and transfer amount.
Which money transfer services are compared?
The tool compares five popular international transfer services: Wise (TransferWise), PayPal, Western Union, traditional bank wire transfers, and Revolut. Each service has different fee structures and exchange rate markups that affect the total cost.
How are the fees calculated for each service?
Each service uses a combination of percentage-based fees and flat fees, plus exchange rate markups above the mid-market rate. Wise charges 0.5-1.5% with mid-market rates. PayPal charges 2.5-3.5% plus a rate markup. Western Union uses flat fees plus a rate markup. Bank wires have high flat fees plus rate markups. Revolut offers near-zero fees on weekdays.
Why does the amount received differ between services?
Each service applies different fees and exchange rate markups. A service with a lower percentage fee might use a worse exchange rate, and vice versa. The tool shows the effective exchange rate and total cost for each service so you can compare the actual amount your recipient receives.
Is my transfer data stored or shared?
No. Everything runs locally in your browser using JavaScript. No transfer details, amounts, or currency selections are stored, transmitted, or shared with anyone. When you close the page, all data is gone.
Can I use this tool for business transfers?
This tool provides estimates based on personal transfer fee structures. Business transfers often have different pricing tiers, volume discounts, and additional compliance requirements. Contact each provider directly for business transfer quotes.
How often are the fee structures updated?
The fee percentages and flat fees are based on publicly available pricing from each provider as of 2026. Providers may change their fee structures at any time, so always verify the final cost on the provider's website before initiating a transfer.