About FXMetrics
FXMetrics is an independent tool that shows the real cost of sending money abroad, built for people who work or study overseas and the families they support.
Methodology
Exchange rates
Mid-market rates are the European Central Bank's reference rates, published each working day and fetched through the open-source Frankfurter API. On weekends and European holidays the latest working-day rate is used. Currencies the ECB does not publish (such as the Vietnamese dong) use ExchangeRate-API. The mid-market rate is the benchmark, not the rate any provider will give you.
Fees and markups
Each provider is described by three parameters: a percentage fee, a fixed fee (in USD, converted at the day's rate), and an exchange-rate markup versus mid-market. They are compiled from providers' public pricing pages as cross-route averages; real quotes vary by country, amount and payment method. Current parameters:
| Provider | % fee | Fixed fee | FX markup | Typical speed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wise | 0.6% | 1 USD | 0.0% | Minutes–1 day |
| Revolut | 0.3% | 0 USD | 0.5% | 1–3 days |
| Remitly | 0.0% | 0 USD | 1.2% | Minutes–2 days |
| Western Union | 0.0% | 5 USD | 2.0% | Minutes–2 days |
| Bank wire (typical) | 0.0% | 20 USD | 2.5% | 2–5 business days |
Formula
Recipient gets = (amount − fees) × mid-market rate × (1 − markup%). Total cost = amount × mid-market rate − recipient gets. Results are sorted by amount received.
Limitations
- Estimates exclude promotions, first-transfer offers, membership pricing and intermediary bank deductions.
- Payment method (bank transfer, debit or credit card) changes fees; we model the most common one.
- Always check the provider's final quote before you pay.
Editorial process
Route pages and guides are written by the FXMetrics editorial team from regulators' public information (e.g. MAS, CFPB, FCA, AUSTRAC, FINTRAC, China's SAFE) and dated on each page. If something is out of date, tell us and we will verify and update it.
How we make money
Only through Google AdSense. Ad slots are labelled "Advertisement" and kept separate from content. We take no payments from providers, use no affiliate links, and the "Site" buttons go straight to providers' own websites.