Exchange Rate Comparisons – Providers, Pairs and Transfer Costs
Explore how providers compare across major currency pairs. Provider profiles, pair-by-pair comparisons and transfer cost analysis in one place.
Select a pair to see provider comparisons for that corridor. GBP/EUR is our most-compared pair. For full rate and data pages alongside provider comparisons, see the pair navigation module below.
Each profile covers the fee model, FCA regulatory status, spread data across multiple pairs, and an honest comparison against banks and competitors. Ordered by PSL score. Ratings are editorially independent.
Each currency pair has two types of page on PSL: a rate and data page (live rate, charts, historical data) and a provider comparison page (all providers ranked by what they deliver for your amount).
Every provider makes money on currency transfers. There is no truly zero-cost transfer with any provider. The difference is in how the cost is structured and how visible it is.
Spread-based (specialist brokers): Horizon Currency, TorFX, OFX, Moneycorp and Halo Financial incorporate their cost into the exchange rate spread – no separate fee is charged. The difference between the rate you receive and the interbank mid-market rate is the provider’s margin, typically 35–100 basis points on GBP/EUR. One basis point is 0.01%, so 35 bps equals 0.35%.
Fee-on-top (Wise, WorldFirst): Wise and WorldFirst give you the interbank mid-market rate and add a visible fee on top. Wise charges a percentage plus a small fixed amount; WorldFirst charges 30 bps for the first 180 days then reverts to its standard rate. Our comparison pages rank all providers by the actual amount you receive, making all models directly comparable.
Plan-tiered (Revolut): Revolut’s cost depends on your subscription plan. Standard gives the mid-market rate within a £1,000/month fair usage limit – above that, 1% applies. Premium (£7.99/month) gives 0% on weekday transfers with no limit.
Our comparison pages calculate the effective rate – what each provider’s full cost structure actually delivers in your recipient’s account – so you can compare all models on equal terms.
Transfer size: Specialist brokers improve their spread at higher volumes. Horizon Currency guarantees the best rate at all tiers. TorFX and OFX improve materially above £25,000 and £250,000 respectively. App platforms like Wise have a fixed fee component that makes smaller amounts relatively more expensive, improving at scale.
Day and time: GBP exchange rates move continuously during trading hours (08:00–18:00 UK, Monday to Friday). Revolut applies a 1% weekend markup on Standard. Specialist brokers do not apply weekend markups, though rates are fixed at the time of the deal.
Market volatility: Major economic events – Bank of England decisions, US Federal Reserve announcements, GDP data, political developments – can move exchange rates by 1% or more within minutes. Our exchange rate forecasts and live GBP analysis provide context on rate direction.
Provider relationship: For large transfers, a long-term relationship with a broker’s dealer team can improve the spread. Horizon Currency guarantees to beat any verified quote regardless of relationship. TorFX, OFX and Moneycorp offer negotiated pricing for high-volume regular clients.