How to cut international payment fees
We earn a commission if you buy through some links on this page, at no extra cost to you. It never affects the order. How we make money.
Most businesses only see the transfer fee. The bigger cost is usually hidden in the exchange rate. Here is where the money goes and how to keep more of it.
The four costs
- Sending fee: charged by the payer's bank or provider.
- Intermediary fees: SWIFT payments can pass through one or more banks that each take a cut, so less arrives than was sent.
- Receiving fee: many banks charge to accept an incoming international payment.
- Exchange-rate markup: the gap between the rate you get and the mid-market rate you see on a currency site. A 2–4% markup on a USD 10,000 invoice is USD 200–400.
How to avoid them
- Receive locally. Give clients local account details in their currency, so they pay by domestic transfer.
- Convert at close to the mid-market rate. Providers that publish their markup or a fixed conversion fee are easier to compare.
- Batch payments. Fixed fees hurt small payments most; pay or withdraw less often.
- Hold currencies you also spend. If you pay suppliers in USD, keep USD instead of converting twice.
Compare providers
| Product | Price today | Free plan | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| Airwallex | Free plan, then USD 12 per user per month + platform fee | Yes | Pricing |
| Payoneer | Free plan, then USD 29.95 per year if under USD 6,000 | Yes | Pricing |
| Mercury | Free plan, then USD 29.90 per month | Yes | Pricing |
| Revolut Business | From GBP 10 per month (≈ USD 13.23) | No | Pricing |
| Wise Business | From USD 31 one-time | No | Pricing |
Prices from vendor websites, checked 2026-10-12; they update automatically.
Then put a real amount into the international payment calculator to see the difference in your currency.
Questions
What is the mid-market rate?
The midpoint between the buy and sell prices of two currencies on global markets. It is the fairest benchmark for any conversion.