Wise (TransferWise) vs CurrencyFair

We compare the two head-to-head to see which has the edge.

Updated Mar 9, 2021

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Compared to most banks, Wise and CurrencyFair both offer favourable exchange rates and low fees. But which one is better for you?

The fees and rates used in this comparison are accurate as of 16 November 2018.

Quick verdict

Lower fees:
CurrencyFair

Exchange rates:
Wise

Fast transfers:
Wise

I want to send

	Min. Transfer Amount	Transfer Speed	Online Transfer Fee	Rate	Amount Received	Description	CTA	Details
	AUD 1	1 - 2 days	AUD 45.00	0.743	USD 7,401	Wise uses the mid-market rate and transparent fees to help you send money in 50+ currencies.	Go to site	Compare	Show details	Details Minimum transfer amount AUD 1.00 Transfer methods Online, Bank Account to Bank Account Transfer options Regular payments, One off payments Customer service Phone, Chat, Email Available currencies AED, ARS, AUD, BDT, BGN, BRL, BWP, CAD, CHF, CLP, CNY, COP, CRC, CZK, DKK, EGP, EUR, FJD, GBP, GEL, GHS, HKD, HRK, HUF, IDR, ILS, INR, JPY, KES, KRW, LKR, MAD, MXN, MYR, NGN, NOK, NPR, NZD, PEN, PHP, PKR, PLN, RON, RUB, SEK, SGD, THB, TRY, TZS, UAH, UGX, USD, UYU, VND, XOF, ZAR, ZMW Go to site Read the full review
	AUD 5	1 - 2 days	EUR 3.00	0.744	USD 7,433	Special offer: Zero fees on your first 10 transfers. CurrencyFair has bank-beating exchange rates and fast transfer times on 15+ popular currencies.	Go to site	Compare	Show details	Details Minimum transfer amount AUD 5.00 Transfer methods Online Transfer options One off payments Customer service Phone, Email Available currencies AED, AUD, CAD, CHF, CZK, DKK, EUR, GBP, HKD, HUF, IDR, ILS, INR, NOK, NZD, PHP, PLN, SEK, SGD, THB, USD, ZAR Go to site Read the full review

Compare up to 4 providers

Disclaimer: Exchange rates change often. Confirm the total cost with the provider before transferring money.

Which has lower fees?

Wise

Wise charges a percentage of your transfer, which changes based on which currencies you’re exchanging, as well as a small flat fee. This flat fee is often only a few dollars, but can get higher in some circumstances. Sending to China, for example, will add on a $10 flat fee.

The percentage fee typically ranges from 0.45–1.5% of your money transfer.

CurrencyFair

CurrencyFair charges fees in a similar way to Wise – a percentage of the transaction, as well as a small flat fee. The flat fee is always €3. The percentage, on the other hand, ranges from 0.25–0.6% of the transfer.

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Winner: CurrencyFair

CurrencyFair wins out on fees, charging a smaller flat fee and percentage. However, keep in mind that this won't necessarily make a transfer with CurrencyFair cheaper. Exchange rates can make a big difference. We'll go into why below.

Let's crunch the numbers: Sending $1,000 and $10,000 to Poland

To make this a bit easier to understand, let's take a look at how Wise and CurrencyFair compare when sending money to Poland. Keep in mind that transferring to other currencies will have different fees and transfer times.

In our imaginary scenario, we'll be using a bank transfer.

Sending $1,000 to Poland

	Wise	CurrencyFair
Transfer fee	$5.97	PLN10
Exchange rate	1 AUD = 2.753 PLN	1 AUD = 2.737 PLN
Transfer speed	2 business days	4 business days
Total Polish zloty received	PLN2,736.66	PLN2727
Receiver gets	PLN9.66 more	PLN9.66 less

Sending $10,000 to Poland

	Wise	CurrencyFair
Transfer fee	$50.75	PLN10
Exchange rate	1 AUD = 2.753 PLN	1 AUD = 2.737 PLN
Transfer speed	2 business days	4 business days
Total Polish zloty received	PLN27,389.29	PLN27,360
Receiver gets	PLN29.29 more	PLN29.29 less

For both transfers, Wise ends up on top. With the $1,000 transfer, the receiver gets almost PLN10 more. This works out even bigger on the $10,000 transfer, with Wise netting you almost PLN30 more than CurrencyFair.

Which offers better exchange rates?

Wise

Wise exchanges money at the mid-market rate. That’s a great deal compared to most other money transfer services, who add a margin on top, though you should still keep an eye on the site’s percentage fee.

CurrencyFair

CurrencyFair adds a margin onto the mid-market rate, meaning the exchange rates offered aren't as good as those Wise does. The margin is different for every currency, but generally ranges between 0.5% and 1% of the transfer.

Trophy icon
Winner: Wise

Any provider offering the mid-market rate is going to offer better exchange rates. In this case, wins.

Which is faster?

Wise

It can take up to four days to send money using Wise, depending on which method you use. Paying by card will get your money there immediately, while a bank transfer will be longer.

CurrencyFair

A transfer with CurrencyFair should take between one and six days, depending on which currency you're sending to. If you want to send to US dollars, for example, it'll take you around three days. Hong Kong dollars, on the other hand, can take up to six days.

Trophy icon
Winner: Wise

Both CurrencyFair and Wise offer similar times for bank transfers, but Wise's instant credit or debit card transfers puts it in the lead.

General features

	Payment methods	Minimum and maximum transfers	Transfer speeds	Currencies
Wise	Bank transfer, credit card, debit card	Minimum: $1 Maximum: $1,800,000	1 - 2 days	45+ currencies
CurrencyFair	Bank transfer	Minimum: $5 Maximum: $10,000,000	1 - 2 days	15+ currencies

Wise

With Wise, enter how much money you want to transfer, then send your funds to Wise. Wise will convert the currency and send it to your recipient’s bank account.

CurrencyFair

CurrencyFair works similarly. After creating your account, you can set up your transfer and send the money to CurrencyFair's local bank account. Once CurrencyFair exchanges your money, it is sent to your recipient. You can also request the exchange rate you want and CurrencyFair will exchange your money when that's reached.

Read review: Wise
Read review: CurrencyFair

Bottom line

Although both are quite similar, Wise pulls ahead with its mid-market exchange rate and faster transfers. Still, you’ll want to compare your options to find a service that’s best for your situation.

Looking for more options?

The calculator and table below lets you compare the fees and exchange rates of some of the other popular money transfer providers available.

I want to send

Min. Transfer Amount	Transfer Speed	Online Transfer Fee	Rate	Amount Received	Description	CTA	Details
GBP 0	1 - 2 days	AUD 0.00	0.741	USD 7,413	New customers use code AZIMO50 to get GBP 5 off when you transfer GBP 50+. Valid till 31 October 2021. T&Cs apply. Azimo sends money directly to a bank account or over 280,000 cash pick-up points. It also has fast transfers to 50+ countries.	Go to site	Compare	Show details	Details Minimum transfer amount GBP 0.00 Transfer methods Online, Bank Account to Bank Account Transfer options One off payments Customer service Chat, Email Available currencies AED, ALL, AMD, AOA, ARS, AUD, AWG, AZN, BAM, BBD, BDT, BGN, BHD, BIF, BMD, BND, BOB, BRL, BSD, BTN, BWP, BYR, BZD, CAD, CDF, CHF, CLP, CNY, COP, CRC, CVE, CZK, DJF, DKK, DOP, DZD, EGP, ERN, ETB, EUR, FJD, GBP, GEL, GHS, GIP, GMD, GNF, GTQ, GYD, HKD, HNL, HUF, IDR, ILS, INR, ISK, JMD, JOD, JPY, KES, KGS, KHR, KMF, KRW, KWD, KZT, LAK, LBP, LKR, MAD, MDL, MGA, MKD, MNT, MOP, MRO, MUR, MVR, MWK, MXN, MYR, MZN, NAD, NGN, NIO, NOK, NPR, NZD, OMR, PEN, PGK, PHP, PKR, PLN, PYG, QAR, RON, RSD, RUB, RWF, SAR, SBD, SCR, SEK, SGD, SLL, SRD, STD, SZL, THB, TJS, TMT, TND, TOP, TRY, TTD, TWD, TZS, UAH, UGX, USD, UYU, UZS, VND, VUV, WST, XAF, XCD, XOF, XPF, ZAR, ZMW Go to site Read the full review
AUD 2,000	1 day	AUD 0.00	0.744	USD 7,439	TorFX guarantees to match any competitor's exchange rate. Conditions apply. TorFX sends money overseas in 30+ currencies, with competitive rates for transfer amounts over $2,000.	Go to site	Compare	Show details	Details Minimum transfer amount AUD 2,000.00 Transfer methods Online, Phone, Bank Account to Bank Account Transfer options Regular payments, One off payments, Market orders, Forward contracts Customer service Phone, Email Available currencies AED, AUD, CAD, CHF, CZK, DKK, EUR, GBP, HKD, HRK, HUF, ILS, JPY, NOK, NZD, PLN, SEK, SGD, THB, TRY, USD, ZAR Go to site Read the full review
AUD 1	Within an hour	AUD 0.00	0.743	USD 7,433	New customers get their first transaction for free with code FIRSTFREE. T&Cs apply. Send money in minutes at competitive exchange rates with this Australian money transfer service.	Go to site	Compare	Show details	Details Minimum transfer amount AUD 1.00 Transfer methods Online, Bank Account to Bank Account, Cash Transfer Transfer options N/A Customer service Phone, Email, Branch Available currencies AUD, BWP, GHS, KES, MYR, RWF, TRY, TZS, UGX, USD, VND, ZAR Go to site Read the full review
AUD 250	1 - 2 days	AUD 0.00	0.744	USD 7,435	$0 transfer fees for Finder customers. OFX has no maximum limit transfers, with competitive exchange rates for 45+ currencies.	Go to site	Compare	Show details	Details Minimum transfer amount AUD 250.00 Transfer methods Online, Phone, Bank Account to Bank Account Transfer options Regular payments, One off payments, Market orders, Forward contracts Customer service Phone, Email Available currencies AED, AUD, AZN, BGN, BND, CAD, CHF, CNY, CZK, DKK, EGP, EUR, FJD, GBP, HKD, HUF, IDR, ILS, INR, JPY, KRW, KWD, LKR, MAD, MGA, MXN, MYR, NOK, NZD, OMR, PEN, PGK, PHP, PKR, PLN, RUB, SAR, SBD, SCR, SEK, SGD, THB, TOP, TRY, TWD, TZS, USD, VEF, VND, VUV, WST, XOF, XPF, ZAR Go to site Read the full review
AUD 2,000	1 day	AUD 0.00	0.743	USD 7,434	Send guarantees to match any competitor’s exchange rate. T&Cs apply. Send provides fee-free transfers via its 24/7 multi-currency payments platform with real-time quotes.	Go to site	Compare	Show details	Details Minimum transfer amount AUD 2,000.00 Transfer methods Online, Bank Account to Bank Account Transfer options Regular payments, One off payments, Forward contracts Customer service Phone, Email Available currencies AED, AUD, BGN, BHD, CAD, CHF, CNY, CZK, DKK, EUR, GBP, HKD, HUF, IDR, ILS, INR, JPY, KES, KWD, MXN, MYR, NOK, NZD, OMR, PHP, PLN, QAR, RON, SAR, SEK, SGD, THB, TRY, USD, ZAR Go to site Read the full review
AUD 1	Same day	AUD 0.00	0.743	USD 7,428	XE has fast transfers with low fees and a range of foreign currency tools.	Go to site	Compare	Show details	Details Minimum transfer amount AUD 1.00 Transfer methods Online, Bank Account to Bank Account Transfer options One off payments, Market orders Customer service Phone, Email Available currencies AED, AMD, AUD, BAM, BBD, BDT, BGN, BHD, BND, BRL, BSD, BWP, CAD, CHF, CLP, CNY, COP, CRC, CVE, CZK, DKK, DOP, EUR, FJD, GBP, GEL, GTQ, HKD, HNL, HRK, HUF, ILS, INR, JMD, JOD, JPY, KES, KRW, KWD, KZT, LKR, LSL, MAD, MKD, MUR, MWK, MXN, MYR, NAD, NOK, NZD, OMR, PEN, PGK, PHP, PKR, PLN, PYG, QAR, RON, RSD, RUB, RWF, SAR, SBD, SCR, SEK, SGD, SZL, THB, TND, TOP, TRY, TTD, TWD, TZS, UGX, USD, VUV, WST, XCD, XPF, ZAR Go to site Read the full review
AUD 1	Same day	AUD 3.99	0.738	USD 7,372	Use promo code 3FREE to send your first 3 transfers with no fee. Conditions apply. WorldRemit sends money to 110+ countries for bank-to-bank deposits, cash pick-ups or mobile top-ups.	Go to site	Compare	Show details	Details Minimum transfer amount AUD 1.00 Transfer methods Online, Bank Account to Bank Account, Cash Transfer Transfer options One off payments Customer service Phone, Email Available currencies AED, ALL, AMD, ANG, AOA, ARS, AUD, BAM, BBD, BDT, BGN, BHD, BIF, BOB, BRL, BWP, CAD, CDF, CHF, CLP, CNY, COP, CRC, CVE, CZK, DKK, DOP, EGP, ETB, EUR, FJD, GBP, GEL, GHS, GMD, GNF, GTQ, HKD, HNL, HRK, HTG, HUF, IDR, ILS, INR, ISK, JMD, JOD, KES, KGS, KHR, KMF, KRW, KWD, KYD, KZT, LAK, LBP, LKR, LRD, LSL, MAD, MDL, MGA, MRO, MUR, MVR, MWK, MXN, MYR, MZN, NAD, NGN, NIO, NOK, NPR, NZD, OMR, PAB, PEN, PGK, PHP, PKR, PLN, PYG, QAR, RON, RUB, RWF, SCR, SEK, SGD, SLL, SOS, SRD, THB, TJS, TND, TOP, TRY, TZS, UAH, UGX, USD, UYU, VND, WST, XAF, XCD, XOF, ZAR, ZMW, BYN Go to site Read the full review
AUD 1	1 - 2 days	AUD 45.00	0.743	USD 7,401	Wise uses the mid-market rate and transparent fees to help you send money in 50+ currencies.	Go to site	Compare	Show details	Details Minimum transfer amount AUD 1.00 Transfer methods Online, Bank Account to Bank Account Transfer options Regular payments, One off payments Customer service Phone, Chat, Email Available currencies AED, ARS, AUD, BDT, BGN, BRL, BWP, CAD, CHF, CLP, CNY, COP, CRC, CZK, DKK, EGP, EUR, FJD, GBP, GEL, GHS, HKD, HRK, HUF, IDR, ILS, INR, JPY, KES, KRW, LKR, MAD, MXN, MYR, NGN, NOK, NPR, NZD, PEN, PHP, PKR, PLN, RON, RUB, SEK, SGD, THB, TRY, TZS, UAH, UGX, USD, UYU, VND, XOF, ZAR, ZMW Go to site Read the full review
AUD 200	1 - 2 days	AUD 50.00	0.745	USD 7,412	Exclusive: New customers sending over 500 AUD from Australia use code FINDER50 to get 50 AUD off. Pay zero fees on your first transaction. Valid till 31 December 2021. T&Cs apply. Instarem offers simple transfers with a flat 0.5% transfer fee for most transfers.	Go to site	Compare	Show details	Details Minimum transfer amount AUD 200.00 Transfer methods Online, Phone, Bank Account to Bank Account Transfer options One off payments Customer service Phone, Chat, Email Available currencies AUD, BDT, CAD, CNY, EUR, GBP, HKD, IDR, INR, KRW, LKR, MYR, NPR, PHP, PKR, SGD, THB, USD, VND Go to site Read the full review
AUD 1	1 day	N/A	N/A	N/A	Pay no fees on your first two transfers, up to $3,000. SingX offers the real exchange rate every time you make a transfer and can help you send money across the world.	Go to site	Compare	Show details	Details Minimum transfer amount AUD 1.00 Transfer methods Online, Bank Account to Bank Account, Cash Transfer Transfer options One off payments Customer service Phone, Chat, Email Available currencies AUD, EUR, GBP Go to site Read the full review
AUD 1	1 day	AUD 52.00	0.743	USD 7,389	Pay no fees on your first two transfers, up to $3,000. SingX offers the real exchange rate every time you make a transfer and can help you send money across the world.	Go to site	Compare	Show details	Details Minimum transfer amount AUD 1.00 Transfer methods Online, Bank Account to Bank Account, Cash Transfer Transfer options One off payments Customer service Phone, Chat, Email Available currencies AUD, CAD, CNY, EUR, GBP, HKD, IDR, INR, JPY, KRW, LKR, MYR, NPR, NZD, PHP, SGD, THB, USD, VND, ZAR Go to site Read the full review
AUD 10	Within an hour	AUD 2.99	0.738	USD 7,381	Special offers like free transfers and better exchange rates available for new customers. Remitly has quick, affordable transfers around the world, with both express and economy options.	Go to site	Compare	Show details	Details Minimum transfer amount AUD 10.00 Transfer methods Online, Bank Account to Bank Account, Cash Transfer Transfer options N/A Customer service Phone, Chat, Email Available currencies ARS, AUD, BDT, BGN, BOB, BRL, CLP, CNY, COP, CRC, CZK, DOP, EGP, ETB, GHS, GTQ, GYD, HNL, HRK, HTG, HUF, IDR, INR, JMD, KES, KMF, KRW, LKR, MAD, MXN, MYR, NIO, NPR, PEN, PHP, PKR, PLN, PYG, RON, RWF, THB, TND, TRY, TZS, UGX, USD, UYU, VND, XAF, XOF, ZAR Go to site Read the full review
AUD 5	1 - 2 days	EUR 3.00	0.744	USD 7,433	Special offer: Zero fees on your first 10 transfers. CurrencyFair has bank-beating exchange rates and fast transfer times on 15+ popular currencies.	Go to site	Compare	Show details	Details Minimum transfer amount AUD 5.00 Transfer methods Online Transfer options One off payments Customer service Phone, Email Available currencies AED, AUD, CAD, CHF, CZK, DKK, EUR, GBP, HKD, HUF, IDR, ILS, INR, NOK, NZD, PHP, PLN, SEK, SGD, THB, USD, ZAR Go to site Read the full review

Compare up to 4 providers

Disclaimer: Exchange rates change often. Confirm the total cost with the provider before transferring money.

Frequently asked questions

Thank you for your feedback!

Rosie Russell

Rosie Russell is a money transfers producer at Finder. She is on a mission to make personal finance easier to understand. Rosie has a Bachelor of Communication (Journalism) and Bachelor of Arts in International Studies from the University of Technology Sydney.

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Azimo International Money Transfers

New customers use code AZIMO50 to get GBP 5 off when you transfer GBP 50+. Valid till 31 October 2021. T&Cs apply.
Azimo sends money directly to a bank account or over 280,000 cash pick-up points. It also has fast transfers to 50+ countries.

More info

TorFX International Money Transfers

TorFX guarantees to match any competitor's exchange rate. Conditions apply.
TorFX sends money overseas in 30+ currencies, with competitive rates for transfer amounts over $2,000.

More info

MasterRemit International Money Transfers

New customers get their first transaction for free with code FIRSTFREE. T&Cs apply.
Send money in minutes at competitive exchange rates with this Australian money transfer service.

More info

OFX (Ozforex) International Money Transfers

$0 transfer fees for Finder customers.
OFX has no maximum limit transfers, with competitive exchange rates for 45+ currencies.

More info

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Wise (TransferWise) vs CurrencyFair

We compare the two head-to-head to see which has the edge.

In this guide

Compare

Reviews

Send money to

Exchange rates

CBD Guides

Promo codes and discounts

Banks

Guides

Quick verdict

Compare up to 4 providers

Which has lower fees?

Wise

CurrencyFair

Let's crunch the numbers: Sending $1,000 and $10,000 to Poland

Sending $1,000 to Poland

Sending $10,000 to Poland

Which offers better exchange rates?

Wise

CurrencyFair

What's the mid-market rate?

Which is faster?

Wise

CurrencyFair

General features

Wise

CurrencyFair

Bottom line

Looking for more options?

Compare up to 4 providers

Frequently asked questions

How cheap are Wise and CurrencyFair compared to other money transfer options?

Will there be bank fees for sending money to Wise or CurrencyFair?

Can I send money to Wise or CurrencyFair via cash?

Rosie Russell

More guides on Finder

International Money Transfer Offers

Azimo International Money Transfers

TorFX International Money Transfers

MasterRemit International Money Transfers

OFX (Ozforex) International Money Transfers

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