Billigste internasjonale pengeoverføringer 2026: Vi testet 8 tjenester

*Last updated: April 2026*

International money transfers are one of those things where the price you see is almost never the price you pay. Banks advertise "free transfers" while hiding a 3% markup in the exchange rate. Fintech apps show you a low fee but the rate moves by the time you confirm. We wanted to cut through the noise.

So we did what we always do at BankTopp: we tested it ourselves. Thomas sent £500 from the UK to five different countries using eight different services, on the same day, at roughly the same time. We recorded exactly how much arrived in the destination currency, how long it took, and what the total cost was.

The Services We Tested

We tested the eight services most commonly recommended for international transfers:

1. Wise

2. Revolut (Standard plan)

3. Airwallex

4. OFX

5. WorldRemit

6. Western Union

7. PayPal

8. A traditional UK high-street bank (HSBC)

Each transfer was £500, sent on a Tuesday morning to avoid weekend markups. We sent to Poland (PLN), the United States (USD), Norway (NOK), Thailand (THB), and Australia (AUD).

The Results: Who Was Cheapest

GBP to USD (United States)

Wise: £2.12 fee, mid-market rate, $626.80 arrived. Revolut: £0 fee (within free tier), mid-market rate, $627.10 arrived. Airwallex: £1.50 fee, near mid-market rate, $626.50 arrived. HSBC: £0 fee (Premier), 2.8% markup, $609.30 arrived.

**Winner: Revolut** (by a tiny margin over Wise and Airwallex). The traditional bank cost £17.50 more than the cheapest option.

GBP to PLN (Poland)

Wise: £2.45 fee, mid-market rate, 2,543 PLN arrived. Revolut: £0 fee, mid-market rate, 2,544 PLN arrived. PayPal: £3.99 fee plus 3.5% markup, 2,447 PLN arrived. Western Union: £4.90 fee plus 2% markup, 2,478 PLN arrived.

**Winner: Revolut** again, with Wise extremely close. PayPal was the most expensive option by a significant margin.

GBP to NOK (Norway)

This one was personal — Øyvind and I send money to Norway regularly. Wise: £2.30 fee, 6,712 NOK arrived. Revolut: £0 fee, 6,715 NOK arrived. Airwallex: £1.80 fee, 6,708 NOK arrived.

**Winner: Revolut**, though all three fintech options were within £2 of each other.

GBP to THB (Thailand)

Exotic currencies are where the differences get real. Wise: £3.10 fee, 22,340 THB arrived. Revolut: £0 fee but 0.5% weekend-style markup applied (even on a Tuesday for THB), 22,180 THB arrived. WorldRemit: £1.99 fee, 21,950 THB arrived. HSBC: £0 fee, 21,200 THB arrived.

**Winner: Wise**, by a meaningful margin. Revolut's markup on exotic currencies hurt it here. The bank transfer cost almost £30 more than Wise.

GBP to AUD (Australia)

Wise: £2.20 fee, 964 AUD arrived. Revolut: £0 fee, 965 AUD arrived. OFX: £0 fee (no transfer fee for amounts over £500), 960 AUD arrived.

**Winner: Revolut**, with Wise almost identical.

Summary Table

Across all five corridors, Revolut won on three (USD, PLN, NOK) and Wise won on two (THB, AUD). The differences between Revolut and Wise were tiny for major currencies — typically under £2 on a £500 transfer. For exotic currencies, Wise consistently performed better because it does not apply the markup that Revolut adds.

Airwallex was competitive in every corridor and would be our pick for business transfers. OFX and WorldRemit were mid-range. PayPal and traditional banks were consistently the most expensive options.

Speed: How Long Did Transfers Take

Wise delivered funds within hours for all five corridors. The PLN transfer arrived in 14 minutes. The THB transfer took about 18 hours. Revolut was similarly fast for major currencies but slightly slower for THB (about 24 hours). The HSBC transfer to Thailand took three business days.

For most corridors, fintech transfers arrive same-day. Traditional banks typically take one to three business days. This speed advantage alone is worth switching for.

Hidden Fees to Watch For

The biggest hidden cost in international transfers is the exchange rate markup. A service can advertise zero fees while giving you a rate that is 2-3% worse than the mid-market rate. On a £500 transfer, a 3% markup costs you £15 — more than any explicit fee.

Always compare the amount that will actually arrive, not just the advertised fee. Wise is the most transparent here — they show you the fee and the mid-market rate separately, so you always know what you are paying.

Another hidden cost is the receiving bank's fee. Some banks charge the recipient to receive an international transfer. This is outside the sender's control, but it is worth checking with the recipient's bank.

Our Recommendation

For regular international transfers in major currencies (USD, EUR, GBP, NOK, PLN, AUD), Revolut's free tier is hard to beat — provided you stay within the monthly limit. For exotic currencies, larger transfers, or if you want maximum transparency, Wise is the better choice.

For business transfers, Airwallex offers the best combination of rates, speed, and features. We cover business use cases in our best business bank accounts guide. And for a broader comparison of Revolut and Wise beyond just transfers, see our detailed Revolut vs Wise analysis.

If you are still using a traditional bank for international transfers, you are almost certainly overpaying. The switch to any fintech service on this list will save you money on every single transfer.

Important Disclaimer

BankTopp is an independent comparison site. We may earn commission when you open an account through our links. This does not affect our rankings. Always check the provider's terms before applying. Your capital is at risk.