Head-to-head
Wise vs XE
Fees, speed, and ratings compared side by side.
| Feature | Wise | XE |
|---|---|---|
| Overall rating | 4.7 / 5 | 4.4 / 5 |
| Typical fees | 0.45% | 0% |
| FX markup | 0.3% | 0.8% |
| Transfer speed | Within hours | Next day |
| App rating (iOS / Android) | 4.8 / 4.6 | 4.8 / 4.6 |
| Supported currencies | 25 currencies supported | 25 currencies supported |
| Cash pickup | No | No |
| Mobile wallet payout | Yes | No |
| Multi-currency account | Yes | Yes |
| Business accounts | Yes | Yes |
Pros & cons
Wise
Wise built its reputation on charging the real mid-market exchange rate and a small, upfront fee instead of folding a markup into the rate.
Pros
- Consistently the smallest FX markup in this comparison
- Fee is shown in full before you confirm
- Multi-currency account holds 40+ currencies at once
Cons
- No cash pickup option
- Fees rise for card-funded transfers
- Occasional extra verification for large first-time transfers
XE
XE is best known for its currency converter, and backs its transfer product with decades of FX data and no fixed transfer fee.
Pros
- No fixed fee on transfers
- Long track record and brand recognition in FX
- Multi-currency account available alongside transfers
Cons
- No cash pickup or mobile wallet payout
- Typically next-day rather than same-day delivery
- Rate markup trails the cheapest specialists
See today's live rates
Run both providers through the calculator with your own amount.
Live comparison
No providers available for this route