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How to compare two exchange offers

A higher exchange rate does not always mean a better deal. First fix your total spending budget, then subtract the fees and compare what reaches the recipient. This example uses invented quotes so you can reproduce every step.

Demonstration figures only. No provider quotes or guaranteed savings.

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Illustrative comparison of the same USD 1,000 budget: offer A delivers EUR 891.00 after a USD 10 fee at 0.90; offer B delivers EUR 891.80 after a USD 20 fee at 0.91. B delivers EUR 0.80 more.
Demonstration figures only. No provider quotes or guaranteed savings.

Write both quotes in the same direction

Suppose you can spend USD 1,000 in total and want euros. Enter each quote as EUR received for USD 1. Offer A pays 0.90 EUR per USD and deducts a USD 10 fixed fee. Offer B pays 0.91 EUR per USD and deducts USD 20. Both percentage fees are zero. These are demonstration figures, not current market rates.

Compare the final amount

Offer A: (1,000 − 10) × 0.90 = EUR 891.00. Offer B: (1,000 − 20) × 0.91 = EUR 891.80. Offer B delivers EUR 0.80 more for the same USD 1,000 budget. Comparing 0.90 with 0.91 alone would hide the effect of the larger fixed fee.

Check how the fee is collected

Our comparison subtracts the fixed fee and a percentage of the original budget before conversion: received = (budget − fixed fee − budget × percentage / 100) × quoted rate. Use a percentage of zero if the provider has already included its margin in the quoted rate. If a fee is charged on top, deduct it from your total spending limit first. A fee taken from the delivered currency needs a separate adjustment; do not enter it as a source-currency fee.

Read the rest of the offer

Before committing, check the quote expiry, delivery time, available payment method and whether an intermediary or recipient bank can deduct another charge. The calculator compares the figures you enter; it cannot verify that a provider guarantees the final amount. For cash, also check that the quote is for the direction you need.

Try your own comparison

Open the comparison below and choose “Fill in an example” to reproduce these figures. Then replace the budget, two rates and fees with quotes collected at approximately the same time. After changing either currency, enter fresh rates in the displayed direction.

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