How we make money
The costs of running this site are covered by commissions from providers. Links that can earn us a commission are marked on the page where they appear, next to a short note. Here is where we stand with the providers we link to today:
| Provider | Relationship with FairAscent | Where it appears |
|---|---|---|
| Wise | Affiliate program (via Partnerize) | Money transfers |
| Coinbase | Referral link | Crypto, eToro vs Coinbase |
| eToro | No commercial relationship | eToro vs Coinbase |
We update this table whenever a new partnership starts.
What our comparisons are based on
The number a provider advertises is rarely the number you pay. We compare products on total cost: the visible fee plus whatever is hidden in the exchange rate, the spread or the small print. All figures come from providers' own published fees and terms and from other publicly available information. Depending on the category, these are the questions we ask:
| Category | What we look at |
|---|---|
| Money transfers | The exchange-rate margin against the mid-market rate, fixed fees, delivery time, transfer limits and how the provider is regulated. |
| Investing | Trading and custody fees, currency-conversion fees on foreign assets, bid/ask spreads, account or inactivity fees and which instruments are available. |
| Crypto | Trading fees and spreads, withdrawal fees, whether you can move coins to your own wallet, and how the provider is licensed or registered where you live. |
| Multi-currency banking | Foreign-exchange and ATM fees abroad, monthly account fees, the currencies you can hold and how deposits are protected. |
A worked example: why the headline fee is not the cost
Take a transfer of $2,000 to another currency. The numbers below are illustrative and do not describe any real provider.
| Provider | Advertised fee | Exchange-rate markup | Total cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Provider A ("no fees") | $0 | 3.0% = $60 | $60 |
| Provider B | $4 | 0.3% = $6 | $10 |
Provider A looks free and costs six times more. This is the gap we try to make visible in every comparison. You can test your own numbers with the transfer savings calculator.
The rules we follow
- Commissions do not decide what we write or how we rank a product.
- We do not accept payment for favorable coverage.
- We cover providers that do not pay us, and we treat them the same way as those that do.
- Links that can earn us a commission are marked on the page where they appear.
- Our guides show when they were last updated. If you report an error, we check it and correct it.
- The author uses AI tools to support his work and remains responsible for what is published. See About.
Before you sign up with any provider
- Compare the rate you are actually offered at checkout with the mid-market rate, not the rate on the provider's homepage.
- Read the full fee schedule, not only the headline fee.
- Check which regulator supervises the provider in your country and whether it is licensed to offer the service.
- Find out how your money is protected if the provider fails.
- Read the terms for withdrawals, inactivity and closing the account.
- For investing and crypto, only use money you can afford to lose.
Frequently asked questions
Does it cost me more if I use the links on FairAscent?
No. The price you pay is set by the provider. If you sign up through one of our links, the provider may pay us a commission.
Do commissions change what you write or how you rank products?
No. Commissions do not decide what we write or how we rank a product, and we do not accept payment for favorable coverage.
Do you cover providers that do not pay you?
Yes. For example, we compare eToro although we currently have no commercial relationship with it, and we treat it the same way as providers that do pay us.
How current are your comparisons?
Our guides show when they were last updated. Fees and terms change often, so always check the provider's own current terms before you sign up. If you spot something outdated, tell us and we will correct it.
Do you use AI to write the content?
Yes. Like many publishers today, the author uses AI tools to support his work. The site is run by a real person who is responsible for what is published. See the About page for details.