Compare international money transfers
A transfer with no fee can cost more if the exchange rate is worse. Compare two options with the same money and see how much really reaches the recipient.
How to compare international money transfers
Enter the amount you send and, for each option, the fixed fee, the percentage fee, the exchange rate offered and any charge to the recipient. The calculator tells you how much arrives with each one and which delivers more. If you enter the reference exchange rate, you also see what each option costs you in total.
Example: you send 1,000. Option A charges 10 and converts at 1.10: 1,089 units of the other currency arrive. Option B charges no fee but converts at 1.08: 1,080 arrive. Against a reference rate of 1.12, option A costs you 27.68 in total and option B 35.71.
How it is calculated
- Amount converted = amount − fixed fee − amount × percentage fee.
- Amount received = amount converted × exchange rate offered − recipient charge.
- Total cost against the reference rate = amount − amount received ÷ reference rate.
Assumptions
- Both options with the same amount and in the same direction.
- Get both quotes at the same time: exchange rates move constantly.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know which transfer is cheapest?
Compare how much the recipient gets for the same amount sent, not just the fee. It is the only figure that captures both the fees and the exchange rate.
Why can a transfer with no fee cost more?
Because the cost can be hidden in the exchange rate. In the example, the no-fee option delivers 9 units less than the one charging 10.
What is the reference exchange rate?
The mid-market rate at that moment, with no margin. Comparing against it tells you the total cost of each option, adding the fee and the margin built into the rate.
What is the recipient charge?
Some transfers have charges paid by the person receiving the money, at their bank or at intermediary banks. Ask whether there are any and enter them in the destination currency.
When should I get the quotes?
At the same time and for the same amount: exchange rates move constantly and some fees depend on how much you send.