Personal Finance Tips

CurrencyFair alternatives: 5 options available in Ireland

Gabrielle Figueiredo

02.09.25

Read time 5 minutes

CurrencyFair allows you to send payments from Ireland, to 150+ countries, in 20+ currencies. You’ll pay a flat transfer fee, with variable exchange rate, plus a margin added to the rate used to convert your EUR to the currency needed for deposit.¹

While CurrencyFair offers some attractive services for Irish individual and business customers, it always pays to shop around to make sure you get the best available deal.

This guide walks through some great CurrencyFair alternatives in Ireland, such as Wise, which offers the mid-market exchange rate (with no markups) and low, transparent fees - as well as an account to hold and exchange 40+ currencies.

Discover Wise in Ireland 💡

Read in this article:
What is CurrencyFair and how does it work in Ireland? CurrencyFair alternatives in Ireland Wise Revolut OFX Remitly Xe Money Transfer What is the best alternative to CurrencyFair in Ireland?

What is CurrencyFair and how does it work in Ireland?

CurrencyFair is a digital money transfer service which is registered in Ireland and regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland.

You can register for a CurrencyFair account online, and once you’ve passed the verification requirements, you can send money to 150+ countries in a broad range of currencies.¹

You’ll first need to send in your money to CurrencyFair - in EUR or another supported currency if you’d prefer. Then CurrencyFair will convert to the currency you need to send using their exchange rate, which includes a variable charge of 0.53% on average.² There’s a flat transfer fee which is the equivalent of 3 EUR to pay, and once your money has arrived and been converted at CurrencyFair, it’ll be sent on to the recipient’s bank right away.

Delivery times depend on the currency in question - you’ll get an estimate for arrival when you arrange your payment, which may be around 1 - 3 days.²

CurrencyFair alternatives in Ireland

While CurrencyFair is a popular money transfer service, they’re not the only option. You may want to shop around to look for other providers which can offer a broader range of countries or currencies, or which have different services included, such as international accounts for holding and exchanging money, or currency risk management tools. Here are a few to consider.

Wise

wise-account

Wise in Ireland offers international transfers to 140+ countries, which you can arrange via your computer or the Wise app.

You can usually pay for your transfer from your bank, with a card or using a wallet like Apple Pay, and your money is converted with the mid-market exchange rate and a low, transparent fee. Transfer times can be quite fast, where 70% of transfers are instant (completed in under 20 seconds).*

Not only is Wise a CurrencyFair alternative for money transfers, but also offers a powerful multi-currency account, which lets you hold and convert money in over 40 currencies, receive money in 8+ currencies with local account details, and spend money in 150 countries with the Wise card.

Pros	Cons
✅ Send money to 140+ countries ✅ Always uses the mid-market exchange rate, and allow to set rate alerts for when your currency hits your preferred rate ✅ Personal and business services available ✅ Account and debit card to hold, exchange, send and spend 40+ currencies	❌ Limits on free ATM withdrawal from Wise** ❌ Variable transfer fee applies ❌ Fee of 7EUR to order the card

*Transaction speed claimed depends on individual circumstances and may not be available for all transactions.

You get 2 free withdrawals per month, up to 200 EUR. For amounts over 200 EUR, a 1.75% fee applies to the excess. After your two free withdrawals, each additional withdrawal costs 0.5 EUR. Wise will not charge you for these withdrawals, but some additional charges may occur from independent ATM networks.

Revolut

Revolut Ireland³ offers ways to send money with your phone or laptop, to 160+ countries and in 70 currencies. You can pay from your bank or with a card, and Revolut will convert your money to the currency required for deposit, before sending it to the recipient’s bank account. Transfer fees can vary, but you’ll get a quote instantly so you can see what to expect.

Revolut customers sign up to an account which is then verified. You can pick from several different account tiers in Ireland, including some with monthly fees to pay. Higher tier accounts have lots of no fee transactions included, and can offer extra perks like airport lounge access and insurance.

Some account holders also qualify for fee discounts - but you’ll also need to bear in mind that there are extra costs for converting currencies on weekends or beyond your plan limits.

Pros	Cons
✅ Send money to 170+ countries and in 70+ currencies ✅ Transfer times from instant - 2 days in most cases⁴ ✅ Personal and business services available ✅ Several different account plans to hold 25+ currencies, with linked debit cards	❌ No branch network for face to face service ❌ Monthly fees apply to unlock all account features ❌Fair usage and weekends fees may apply depend on how you transact ❌ Card delivery fees, and ATM fair usage fees may apply depending on your plan

Read more: Wise vs Revolut

OFX

OFX⁵ is a currency specialist which offers international payments to 170+ countries.

There’s no specific OFX transfer fee from Ireland, but there is a markup - a charge - added into the exchange rate used to convert your euros to the currency you need for deposit⁶.

OFX is known for its excellent customer service, which includes a 24/7 phone line manned by brokers who can help you set up your payment if you’d like.

OFX stands out as a CurrencyFair alternative if you need additional services - like currency risk management tools - or if you prefer to deal with transfers by phone.

Pros	Cons
✅ Send money to 170+ countries online ✅ No transfer fee ✅ Transfers usually arrive in 1 - 2 days ✅ Currency risk management services offered ✅ Personal and business services available	❌ Variable exchange fees apply, built into the rate used for conversion ❌ Debit card payments not accepted ❌ You need to register to get a fee quote ❌ Does not have a holding account or card

Remitly

Remitly is a specialist in remittances sent on popular global routes. Remitly has variable transfer fees, but you can get an instant no obligation quote on the Remitly website or by downloading the app.

While you can send money to 170+ countries with Remitly, where they really stand out is in the option for different methods of delivery - including deposits to bank accounts, mobile wallets, or cash pickup. That can make it easy to get money to someone quickly even if they don’t have a bank account they can access.

Pros	Cons
✅ Send money to 170+ countries ✅ Excellent range of pay out options ✅ Get an instant payment quote - new customer promotions often available ✅ Fees are refunded if the transfer takes longer than quoted	❌ No business sevices ❌ Exchange rates include a markup and variable fees may apply⁸ ❌ No holding account available ❌ Does not offer a card

Xe Money Transfer

Xe Money Transfer⁹ is part of one of the largest specialist money transfer services globally, and offers international payments to 190+ countries in 130+ currencies.

That huge breadth can make Xe a great CurrencyFair alternative if you're sending money somewhere exotic. You can set up your account with your phone or laptop, and pay for transfers using your bank in Ireland. Xe will convert your payment to the currency needed and send it on to your recipient.

XE is also famous for being home to excellent exchange rate data which allow you to track the rates as trends change, set rate alerts, and get the chance to benefit from exchanging at the perfect moment.

Pros	Cons
✅ Send money to 190+ countries ✅ Personal and business services available ✅ Some international transfers have no transfer fee ✅ Set rate alerts to learn when your currency hits your preferred rate	❌ Exchange rates include a markup⁹ ❌ Variable transfer fees apply ❌ No branch network ❌ Does not offer a card

What is the best alternative to CurrencyFair in Ireland?

There’s not one single best CurrencyFair alternative in Ireland. Instead, different providers have their own market niches which means you need to shop around a little to find one which suits you well.

For a great all rounder with international payments and a holding account and card for easy spending, take a look at the Wise Account. Or if you want cash collection payments, Remitly might be a good fit - while OFX is great if you need more complex currency risk management solutions.

Compare the providers we’ve featured in this guide to get the best match for your own unique needs.

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Sources used:

Sources last checked on date: 7th August, 2025

*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.