Wise charges a transparent percentage fee plus a small fixed fee on each transfer — and uses the mid-market exchange rate with no markup. That combination is almost always cheaper than a bank wire or PayPal for international transfers. Fees and thresholds below are current as of September 16, 2026 per Wise’s official pricing page — Wise adjusts pricing periodically, so always confirm the live quote in the app before sending.
How Wise Fees Work
Wise fees have two components:
- Fixed fee — a small flat amount charged regardless of transfer size
- Variable fee — a percentage of the transfer amount (Wise states fees “from 0.23%”), depending on currency corridor and payment method
Both are shown upfront before you send. There are no surprise fees and no exchange rate markup.
Transfer Fees by Payment Method
Your funding method significantly affects the total fee. Wise does not publish a fixed percentage table by payment method — the exact fee is generated per quote — but as a general pattern:
| Funding method | Relative cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Bank transfer (ACH) | Cheapest | Takes 1–3 days to fund |
| Debit card | Moderate | Faster funding; typically costs more than ACH |
| Credit card | Highest | Card may also treat as a cash advance — check with your card issuer |
Tip: Use ACH bank transfer to minimize fees on large transfers. For small, urgent transfers, debit card may be worth the extra cost. Always compare the live quoted fee for your specific corridor and amount at wise.com before sending — published percentage ranges go stale quickly and Wise does not guarantee a fixed rate for a given currency pair.
Fee Examples by Corridor
Wise fees vary by corridor, amount, and date, and Wise does not publish a static fee table — the figures below illustrate the shape of Wise’s pricing but are not live quotes. Get a current quote at wise.com/us/pricing or in the app before sending; do not rely on a cached percentage.
Worked example approach: Sending $3,000 USD to EUR
- Wise fee: shown as a specific dollar amount at checkout, calculated from that day’s rate and Wise’s live fee schedule
- Mid-market rate: the live rate shown in the app at the time you confirm
- Recipient receives: the sent amount minus the Wise fee, converted at the live mid-market rate
Compare this to a bank wire for the same transfer:
- Wire fee: commonly $25–$45 (varies by bank)
- Bank exchange rate: typically includes a markup of several percent above mid-market
- Recipient receives: less than with Wise in almost all cases, because of the combined flat fee and exchange rate markup
Currency Conversion Fees (Within Your Wise Account)
When you convert currencies you already hold in your Wise account, Wise charges a fee that varies by currency pair and is quoted live in the app. Major pairs (USD/EUR, USD/GBP, USD/CAD, USD/AUD) are generally on the cheaper end of Wise’s fee range; less common (“exotic”) pairs cost more. You can convert any time at the mid-market rate plus the fee. This is useful when you hold a balance in one currency and need to pay in another.
Wise Debit Card Fees (as of September 2026)
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Card issuance (one-time) | ~$9 |
| Monthly fee | $0 |
| Spending in home currency | $0 |
| Spending in a currency you don’t hold | $0 foreign transaction fee; small conversion fee shown at checkout |
| ATM withdrawal (fee-free monthly allowance, US cardholders) | Up to $250 combined per calendar month |
| ATM withdrawal (after free allowance) | $1.95 + 1.95% per withdrawal |
Wise changed this ATM fee structure on May 1, 2026 (previously a lower free allowance with a $0.50 fixed fee plus 1.75% above the limit) and has revised it before. Confirm the current terms at wise.com/us/pricing before relying on this for budgeting.
Incoming Transfer Fees
Receiving money to your Wise account via local bank transfer is free for most currencies (USD, GBP, EUR, AUD, CAD). Incoming international wires (SWIFT) may incur a small receiving fee — check the current amount in the Wise app, as Wise does not publish a fixed universal figure.
How Wise Compares to Banks and PayPal
| Wise | US Bank Wire | PayPal International | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flat fee | Small fixed fee (varies) | $25–$45 | $0–$4.99 (capped) |
| Variable fee | From ~0.23%, varies by corridor | None | 5% of amount |
| Exchange rate | Mid-market | Marked up above mid-market | Marked up above mid-market |
| Total cost | Generally lowest for international transfers | Highest for smaller transfers due to flat fee | High due to combined fee + rate markup |
For the full comparison, see Wise vs PayPal.
Avoiding Wise Fees
- Use ACH bank transfer — generally the cheapest funding method
- Convert in bulk — fewer conversions = fewer fixed fees
- Stay within the free ATM allowance — up to $250 combined per calendar month (US, as of September 2026)
- Hold the destination currency — convert when the rate is favorable, then hold and send later
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The content on Wealthvieu is for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial, tax, or investment advice. Consult a qualified professional before making financial decisions. Full disclaimer · Editorial policy