The one-line rule: the only honest metric is the amount the recipient gets in their currency. Everything else is marketing.
The Ways to Send — and Where Fees Hide
Within the EU, SEPA is free and takes a day. Beyond it, banks charge more than fees: the main markup hides in the exchange rate.
✓ Verified: 15/08/2026
WHAT TO DO
› Details and tips
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Max recommends:
My test for any service: send 100 € and compare what ARRIVES. One free transfer cost 7.40 € via the rate — since then only the received amount counts.
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Lea recommends:
Do not split large sums: a series of small transfers is exactly what alarms banks. One transparent transfer with a clear purpose keeps everyone calm.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
SWIFT from a third country takes a week — normal? ▾
For correspondent-bank chains yes, and each takes its cut. Specialist services use local accounts and deliver within hours.
The rate in my banking app looks fine — where is the catch? ▾
Compare with the interbank rate on xe.com at the same minute: the difference is the hidden fee. Classic banks: 2–5 percent, specialist services: 0.3–1.
What if I get the IBAN wrong? ▾
A transfer sent to a wrong IBAN is hard to recover: the bank can only ask the recipient bank to return it — no guarantee. Double-check the IBAN and recipient name before sending.