Check the FX rate before you trade.
Banks, brokers, and airport kiosks quietly pad their exchange rates by 0.5% to 7%. RateCheck compares what they quoted you against the real mid-market rate so you know what you’re actually paying.
FreeNo signupReal market rates
Live rates unavailable — showing reference data. Verdict accuracy may be reduced; try again shortly.
At the market mid-rate
921.40EUR
1 USD = 0.9214 EUR
Enter the rate your provider quoted above to see how much margin they’re taking.
Spot mid source: fallback · Indicative only
How it works
- Step 1Get quoted a rateAsk your bank, broker, or booking site what rate they'll give you — or screenshot the confirmation page before you click pay.
- Step 2Paste it aboveEnter the amount, the currencies, and the rate they quoted. We compare it to the real mid-market rate in real time.
- Step 3See the damageYou'll see exactly how much they're keeping as margin — in your currency, in their currency, and as a percentage.
What’s normal?
Rough benchmarks we see across popular providers. Your own quote may differ — this is what RateCheck is for.
Airport kiosk (Travelex / ICE)
5 – 12%Rip-off
High-street bank (USD → EUR counter)
2 – 4%High
Credit card DCC 'pay in home currency'
3 – 7%Rip-off
Neobank / Wise / Revolut (weekday)
0.3 – 0.8%Fair
Neobank / Wise / Revolut (weekend surcharge)
1 – 2%High
Direct broker access (Pro account)
0.02 – 0.1%Excellent
FAQ
What is the 'mid-market rate'?+
It's the midpoint between the best buy and sell prices in the wholesale FX market — what banks charge each other. No retail provider gives you the exact mid, but the closer they are, the better your deal.
Why does my bank's rate differ from what I see here?+
Retail providers add a markup (their profit) and sometimes a separate conversion fee. Your receipt may bundle both into a single 'rate', which is why comparing against the mid-market number is the only honest way to see what they took.
Where do the forward rates come from?+
RateCheck derives forwards from covered interest parity — F = S × (1 + r_quote × t) / (1 + r_base × t) — using each currency's overnight policy rate (Fed funds, ECB DFR, BOE Bank Rate, RBA cash rate, etc.). For G10 majors this is within a handful of pips of what the interbank market actually trades. For emerging-market currencies (TRY, BRL, ZAR, INR, MXN) the gap is wider because of capital controls and credit spreads — treat those forwards as indicative only. Real broker quotes also include bid/ask spread of typically 5–25 pips that we don't model.
How fresh are your rates?+
Our mid-market rates update continuously throughout the business day from public central-bank sources. Rates are indicative only — your actual execution will depend on your provider and timing.
Is this financial advice?+
No. RateCheck is an information tool. It won't make the trade for you, and the numbers it shows are indicative, not executable. Always confirm the final rate with your provider before you transact.
Do you sell my data?+
No. We don't require a signup, we don't set advertising cookies server-side, and the check runs in your browser. The ads you see are contextual (based on the currency pair you're looking at), not behavioural.