Currency Converter
Real exchange rates, not bank rates. Convert any currency pair instantly and see exactly what banks charge vs what you should pay.
Enter your estimated spend in your home currency — see what each category costs at your destination.
What Is SnapHQ's Free Currency Converter?
SnapHQ's free currency converter provides live mid-market exchange rates for 150+ currencies — updated in real time from open market data. Convert any currency pair instantly, see what banks actually charge vs the real rate, plan travel budgets, and view rate history charts. No sign-up, no account, completely free.
What Is the Mid-Market Rate?
The mid-market rate (also called the interbank rate) is the midpoint between the buying and selling prices of two currencies on the global currency market. It's the "true" exchange rate — the one you see on Google or financial news sites.
Banks and currency exchange services almost never give you the mid-market rate. Instead, they apply a markup (typically 1–5% above the mid-market rate) and charge additional fees. This markup is how they profit from currency exchange.
On a $1,000 transfer, a 3% bank markup means you lose $30 before any fees. On larger amounts the difference is significant. SnapHQ's converter shows you the mid-market rate so you can see exactly how much margin a provider is taking.
How to Convert Currencies
Step 1 — Select your currencies Choose your source currency from the left dropdown and your target currency from the right dropdown. The flag and currency name appear automatically.
Step 2 — Enter your amount Type the amount you want to convert. The result updates instantly.
Step 3 — Read the rates The main result shows your converted amount at the mid-market rate. Below that, the rate display shows the rate in both directions — 1 USD = X EUR and 1 EUR = X USD.
Use quick amounts — click the preset amounts (1, 10, 100, 500, 1,000, 10,000) for instant conversions without typing.
Swap currencies — click the swap button (⇄) to instantly reverse the conversion direction.
Features
Cross-currency conversion — convert between any two currencies, not just USD pairs. EUR to JPY, GBP to CAD, AED to INR — all calculated accurately via USD as the intermediary rate.
Rate history chart — view 7-day, 30-day, or 90-day simulated rate history for any currency pair. See the high, low, average, and percentage change over the selected period.
Bank fee comparison — see what you'd actually receive when sending money through the mid-market rate, Wise, your bank, or an airport kiosk. The comparison clearly shows how much each option costs you.
Travel budget calculator — enter estimated spend across accommodation, flights, food, transport, and activities in your home currency. See the total converted to your destination currency instantly.
Clickable rates table — view live rates for 14 major currencies against your selected base. Click any row to instantly set it as your conversion target.
Understanding Currency Exchange
Buying vs selling rate — banks have two rates for each currency: the rate they'll buy it at (lower) and the rate they'll sell it at (higher). The spread between these is their profit. The mid-market rate sits exactly in between.
Exchange rate fluctuation — currency rates change constantly during trading hours (24 hours on weekdays) based on economic data, political events, interest rate decisions, and market sentiment. The rate you see now may be different in an hour.
When to exchange — timing currency exchange for a favorable rate is difficult even for professionals. For travel, exchanging gradually over time (cost averaging) often produces better results than trying to time the market.
Who Uses This Tool?
Travelers — understanding how much foreign currency they'll receive, planning budgets, and comparing exchange options before a trip.
Online shoppers — understanding the true cost of purchases from international stores in their home currency.
Freelancers and remote workers — calculating invoice amounts across currencies, understanding international payment values.
Businesses — tracking exchange rates for international transactions, supplier payments, and financial reporting.
Expats and immigrants — monitoring exchange rates for remittances and international money transfers.
Investors — tracking currency values as part of international investment monitoring.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where do the exchange rates come from? SnapHQ uses open market rate data from the Open Exchange Rates API (open.er-api.com), updated regularly throughout the trading day.
Are these the rates I'll get at a bank or exchange bureau? No. Banks and exchange services apply markups above the mid-market rate. The rates shown are the mid-market reference rates — what you should expect to pay close to with a low-fee provider like Wise, Revolut, or similar.
How do cross-currency rates work? For pairs that don't involve USD, the rate is calculated via USD as an intermediary: FROM → USD → TO. This is the standard method used by all financial institutions and produces accurate rates for any currency pair.
Can I use this for financial trading? This tool provides indicative rates for reference purposes. For actual currency trading, use rates from your specific broker or trading platform.
Free forever. No sign-up required. Live rates. Built by SnapHQ for travelers and businesses.