Wise Fees Calculator

1. Wise Fees Calculator Overview

According to the World Bank, “the single most important factor leading to high remittance prices is a lack of transparency in the market.”

Since being founded in 2011, Wise has always tried to aim for transparency and is the only money transfer service in the industry that doesn’t charge an exchange rate markup. 

Wise’s fees calculator is also the only fees calculator among competitors that gives you an accurate breakdown of transfer fees before you even sign up for an account. 

In most cases, money transfer services have a calculator on their website that shares an estimate – but the actual fees differ significantly when you sign up and set up a transfer.

Wise doesn’t claim that you’ll get the exact fees because of movements in the market, but it’s pretty close if you choose to transfer within a few hours or a day. 

Overall, Wise’s fees calculator is built on the following principles:

• To show the real costs of international transfers
• To make hiding charges illegal
• To stop misleading consumers

2. Key Features and Benefits

Hidden fees for international transfers is a global problem. 

Right now, shopping for fair international transfer fees is like solving a complex math problem. 

First, you have to multiply the exchange rate of a particular money transfer service or bank by the amount you want to send and add in the service fees. 

Then you have to do it all over again with the exchange rate on Google (the mid-market rate) to determine whether you’re getting a good deal. 

This can be extremely time-consuming and confusing.

Wise tries to make it easy, fast, and transparent by including the following information in their calculator. 

2.1 Separate tabs for international and same currency transfers

Depending on your location, when you open up the Wise currency calculator, you should be able to see two main tabs:

• International transfers
• Same currency transfers

This saves you time because you can go straight to the tab you need without having to sift through a lot of other information and get the low down on costs and speed. 

Note: Not all locations support local transfers in the currency of your country. For example, you can’t transfer INR within India with Wise. 

2.2 Accurate calculation of sending and receiving amounts

In the Wise currency calculator, you can choose your sending currency and enter the amount you want to send. 

When you select the receiving currency below, Wise automatically calculates exactly how much your recipient should get including the fee breakdown. 

Keep reading to know how Wise arrives at this amount. 

2.3 Service fees based on payment method

Wise’s service fees are based on the payment method you choose – they offer card, bank transfer, and Wise wallet transfers as well as many local payment methods (such as ACH in the US,  Poli in Australia and New Zealand, Interac in Canada) for both domestic and international transfers. 

The fees deducted at this stage determine the amount Wise will convert based on the current exchange rate.

By letting consumers choose the payment method, Wise wants to let users decide whether they want to pay a premium for fast transfers or opt for a slower but more economical option. 

2.4 Wise exchange rate

You also get to see the exact exchange rate – no markups – for the currency pair you have chosen in the calculator. No need to jump through hoops to understand the rate being offered for your transfer. 

More on how Wise calculates their exchange rate below. 

2.5 Variable fee and fixed fee

Wise charges a fixed fee for each currency pair and you get to see the variable fee calculated as a low percentage of the amount based on how much you send.

Once these fees are calculated, Wise shows the exact amount your recipient will get – no surprises. 

2.6 Other fees notification

Wise also gives you a notification about additional fees they don’t charge but may be built into your transfer. 

For example, if you’re sending EUR to someone outside of the SEPA, you’ll be charged the Wise fee + an additional 3.55 EUR.

3. Wise Conversion Fees

Even though Wise offers exchange rates very close to the mid-market rate, they still charge a fee for their services. 

On average, this fee is around 0.66%, which is very competitive compared to banks, who charge about 3-5% of the amount. 

Learn more about the Wise Exchange Rate here – which is the same rate you’ll find on Reuters or Google. 

Wise’s currency conversion fees can vary based on several factors such as:

• The Amount: Larger amounts may lead to higher fees

• The Currency Pair: The fee can be lower for popular currencies because Wise has a better position in those currency markets due to higher volumes of transactions.

• The Payment Method: Depending on how you fund the transfer (e.g., debit card, credit card, bank transfer), the fees might vary. Typically, bank transfers are cheapest while sending via a credit card usually incurs the highest fees.

4. Tips and Tricks for Low Fees

Want to avoid delays and save on fees while sending money abroad?

Here are some pro tips for you:

• Try to initiate your transfers on weekdays as banks generally process transactions slower during weekends and public holidays.

• However, currency exchange rates are sometimes more stable on weekends since the market is closed – setting up a transfer during this time can potentially get you lower fees (but your transfer may take longer). 

• Depending on your region, Wise might offer a feature where the rate is guaranteed for a set period, giving you some security against fluctuating exchange rates.

• You can also set rate alerts with Wise Exchange Rate Alerts and transfer when your desired currency pair reaches a favourable rate. 

• Compare the Wise rates and fees with other platforms to ensure you are getting the best deal. 

Conclusion

Knowing the fees (above) for your money transfers upfront shows that Wise is really committed to its mission on transparency.

We’ve been using Wise for a long time to send and receive money for personal and business reasons. The Wise Fee Calculator has been helpful to us because it shows how much we have to pay and how much our recipient will get. No hidden fees, no surprises – just dependable money transfers.

But don’t just take our word for it – see for yourself how Wise Fees Calculator works (opens a new tab).

And that’s not all. Wise also has more amazing features, like a multi-currency account and a debit card that can be perfect for every traveler and freelancer. Want to know more about Wise? Check out our Wise Review.