UK Price Comparison Research 2025
A dedicated comparison research team in Wise compared Wise to 6 UK standard debit accounts and 7 other money exchange service providers. They found that we’re on average 4x cheaper to send £250 abroad. This is based on the prices offered by Wise Payments Limited during the research period.
Research methodology
The competitor research was collected in June 2025 during a 5 day period (23/06/2025 - 27/06/2025).
They looked at data across multiple countries, currencies, and price points to make sure any price claims we make are fair and accurate. The data was collected by simulating a transfer using live accounts on the providers website, during standard trading hours and at the same time every day, whenever possible, to ensure consistency across the comparison.
The research scope looked at the following, across AUD, EUR, INR, USD, using £250 as the transaction value:
- The cost to send money abroad from an account
- The cost to spend money abroad using a debit card
- The cost to withdraw money abroad from an account via an ATM
The costs collected for sending money abroad are made up of both the foreign transaction fee and any exchange rate markup. The exchange rate markup is a percentage added to the mid-market exchange rate by a provider when they sell you a currency.
How did we calculate our price claims?
Comparing fees
For each currency pair — such as GBP to AUD, GBP to EUR, etc. — our team compared the fees charged by Wise to the average fees charged by competitors.
Calculating savings
The following formula was used to show how much you save with Wise compared to competitors:
- % saving = cost of using Wise against a competitor’s average fee × 100
- This formula tells you the percentage you’d save by using Wise instead of the average competitor.
What does that look like?
If a GBP to AUD transaction shows a 80% saving, it means Wise fees are up to 80% lower than the average competitor fees for that particular currency pair.
What about the average savings?
After calculating the savings percentage for each currency pair, the average represents the overall savings claim for Wise across different services like sending, spending, or withdrawing money.
The research and results
Total cost to send £250. Overall, Wise is on average 4x cheaper.
GBP > AUD: Wise is on average 5x cheaper
Sending £250 to another country? Wise will cost up to 75% less compared to how you’re doing it now.
- Wise: £1.63
- Barclays: £6.50
- HSBC: £2.39
- Lloyds: £18.56
- Monzo: £2.26
- PayPal: £14.57
- Post Office: £10.49
- RBS: £6.86
- Revolut: £1.89
- Halifax: £18.37
- Starling: £6.50
- NatWest: £7.01
- Western Union: £5.79
- Xoom by PayPal: £5.44
GBP > EUR: Wise is on average 3x cheaper
- Wise: £1.41
- Barclays: £6.37
- HSBC: £1.74
- Lloyds: £8.87
- Monzo: £2.07
- PayPal: £10.73
- Post Office: £9.21
- RBS: £7.07
- Revolut: £0.73
- Halifax: £8.86
- Starling: £1.36
- NatWest: £6.86
- Western Union: £6.19
- Xoom by PayPal: £5.08
GBP > INR: Wise is on average 3x cheaper
- Wise: £1.95
- Barclays: £6.59
- HSBC: £2.23
- Lloyds: £18.36
- Monzo: £2.60
- PayPal: £5.05
- Post Office: Not offered
- RBS: £7.13
- Revolut: £2.29
- Halifax: £18.57
- Starling: Not offered
- NatWest: £7.17
- Western Union: £2.70
- Xoom by PayPal: £4.97
GBP > USD: Wise is on average 4x cheaper
- Wise: £1.97
- Barclays: £6.67
- HSBC: £1.66
- Lloyds: £18.35
- Monzo: £2.95
- PayPal: £13.88
- Post Office: £9.64
- RBS: £7.13
- Revolut: £2.12
- Halifax: £18.44
- Starling: £1.30
- NatWest: £7.12
- Western Union: £7.11
- Xoom by PayPal: £7.38
2.Fees to spend £250 using a debit card. Overall, Wise Multi-Currency Card is on average 5x cheaper.
GBP > AUD: Wise is on average 6x cheaper
It’s up to 80% cheaper to spend £250 overseas with Wise.
- Wise: £0.80
- Barclays: £7.48
- HSBC: £6.88
- Lloyds: £7.98
- Monzo: £0.00
- PayPal: Not offered
- Post Office: Not offered
- RBS: £6.88
- Revolut: £0.00
- Halifax: £7.98
- Starling: £0.00
- NatWest: £6.88
- Western Union: Not offered
- Xoom by PayPal: Not offered
GBP > EUR: Wise is on average 5x cheaper
- Wise: £0.82
- Barclays: £7.48
- HSBC: £6.88
- Lloyds: £7.48
- Monzo: £0.00
- PayPal: Not offered
- Post Office: Not offered
- RBS: £6.88
- Revolut: £0.00
- Halifax: £7.48
- Starling: £0.00
- NatWest: £6.88
- Western Union: Not offered
- Xoom by PayPal: Not offered
GBP > INR: Wise is on average 3x cheaper
- Wise: £1.24
- Barclays: £7.48
- HSBC: £6.88
- Lloyds: £7.98
- Monzo: £0.00
- PayPal: Not offered
- Post Office: Not offered
- RBS: £6.88
- Revolut: £0.00
- Halifax: £7.98
- Starling: £0.00
- NatWest: £6.88
- Western Union: Not offered
- Xoom by PayPal: Not offered
GBP > USD: Wise is on average 5x cheaper
- Wise: £0.87
- Barclays: £7.48
- HSBC: £6.88
- Lloyds: £7.98
- Monzo: £0.00
- PayPal: Not offered
- Post Office: Not offered
- RBS: £6.88
- Revolut: £0.00
- Halifax: £7.98
- Starling: £0.00
- NatWest: £6.88
- Western Union: Not offered
- Xoom by PayPal: Not offered
3. Fees to withdraw £250 abroad via an ATM, using a debit card. Overall, Wise Multi-Currency Card is on average 3x cheaper.
It’s up to 65% cheaper to withdraw £250 overseas with Wise.
GBP > AUD: Wise is on average 3x cheaper
- Wise: £1.90
- Barclays: £7.48
- HSBC: £11.88
- Lloyds: £8.98
- Monzo: £7.50
- PayPal: Not offered
- Post Office: Not offered
- RBS: £6.88
- Revolut: £1.00
- Halifax: £8.98
- Starling: £0.00
- NatWest: £6.88
- Western Union: Not offered
- Xoom by PayPal: Not offered
GBP > EUR: Wise is on average 2x cheaper
- Wise: £1.95
- Barclays: £7.48
- HSBC: £11.88
- Lloyds: £7.48
- Monzo: £0.00
- PayPal: Not offered
- Post Office: Not offered
- RBS: £6.88
- Revolut: £1.00
- Halifax: £7.48
- Starling: £0.00
- NatWest: £6.88
- Western Union: Not offered
- Xoom by PayPal: Not offered
GBP > INR: Wise is on average 3x cheaper
- Wise: £2.20
- Barclays: £7.48
- HSBC: £11.88
- Lloyds: £8.98
- Monzo: £7.50
- PayPal: Not offered
- Post Office: Not offered
- RBS: £6.88
- Revolut: £1.00
- Halifax: £8.98
- Starling: £0.00
- NatWest: £6.88
- Western Union: Not offered
- Xoom by PayPal: Not offered
GBP > USD: Wise is on average 3x cheaper
- Wise: £1.98
- Barclays: £7.48
- HSBC: £11.88
- Lloyds: £8.98
- Monzo: £7.50
- PayPal: Not offered
- Post Office: Not offered
- RBS: £6.88
- Revolut: £1.00
- Halifax: £8.98
- Starling: £0.00
- NatWest: £6.88
- Western Union: Not offered
- Xoom by PayPal: Not offered
Monthly account fees
None of the brands charge any monthly account fees.
*Please see terms of use and product availability for your region or visit Wise fees and pricing for the most up to date pricing and fee information.
This publication is provided for general information purposes and does not constitute legal, tax or other professional advice from Wise Payments Limited or its subsidiaries and its affiliates, and it is not intended as a substitute for obtaining advice from a financial advisor or any other professional.
We make no representations, warranties or guarantees, whether expressed or implied, that the content in the publication is accurate, complete or up to date.