There are easily 50+ currency converter apps in the app stores, and most of them do essentially the same thing: show you exchange rates. So what separates the good ones from the bloatware? I spent two weeks testing 15 of the most popular options to find out.
Here's what matters: rate accuracy, ease of use, offline functionality, and whether the app is actually useful beyond basic conversions. Some apps are just calculators. Others can help you time transfers, track expenses abroad, or actually send money at good rates.
Quick Pick: For most people, the Wise app is the best all-around choice — accurate rates, simple interface, and you can actually send money when you need to. XE is the best pure converter if you just want to check rates.
Best Overall: Wise
Wise (formerly TransferWise)
Wise started as a money transfer service and evolved into a full financial app. The converter shows the true mid-market rate, and if you like what you see, you can transfer money right there at that rate (plus a small, transparent fee).
Pros
- Shows true mid-market rate
- Can send money at displayed rate
- Multi-currency debit card
- Rate alerts built in
- Clean, fast interface
Cons
- Requires account to use
- No offline mode
- Some features need verification
Best Pure Converter: XE Currency
XE Currency
XE has been the gold standard for exchange rates since before smartphones existed. Their app is straightforward: enter an amount, pick your currencies, get an accurate rate. It works offline with cached rates and supports every currency you can think of.
Pros
- Extremely accurate rates
- Works offline
- Supports 180+ currencies
- No account required
- Historical charts
Cons
- Ads in free version
- Can't send money at app rates
- Interface feels dated
Best for Banking: Revolut
Revolut
Revolut is more than a converter — it's a full banking app with currency exchange built in. Premium users get interbank rates during market hours. The free tier adds a small markup but still beats traditional banks by a mile.
Pros
- Interbank rates (Premium)
- Hold 30+ currencies
- Metal/virtual cards
- Crypto support
- Budgeting tools
Cons
- Weekend rate markup
- Monthly fee for best rates
- Customer service complaints
Best for Travel: Currency Converter Plus
Currency Converter Plus
This app is designed for travelers who need quick conversions without reliable internet. It caches rates for extended offline use and has a clean calculator-style interface. Perfect for checking prices in markets or restaurants abroad.
Pros
- Excellent offline mode
- Simple, fast interface
- Widget for home screen
- No account needed
- Convert multiple currencies at once
Cons
- Paid app ($2.99)
- No money transfer feature
- Basic feature set
Best for Alerts: OANDA Currency Converter
OANDA
OANDA is a forex broker, so their rates are professional-grade. The app excels at rate alerts — set a target rate and get notified when it's hit. Good for people timing larger transfers or watching specific currency pairs.
Pros
- Professional-grade rates
- Powerful rate alerts
- Historical data going back years
- 25+ years of rate history
- Trusted by businesses
Cons
- Interface is cluttered
- More complex than needed for casual use
- Pushes their trading platform
Best Free Option: Google
Google Search / Google Finance
Honestly, for a quick rate check, just typing "100 USD to EUR" into Google works perfectly. It's not an app, but it's always available, reasonably accurate, and requires zero setup. For casual users, this might be all you need.
Pros
- No app install needed
- Always accessible
- Accurate for major currencies
- Simple interface
- Works in any browser
Cons
- Needs internet
- No alerts or history
- Limited features
Quick Comparison
| App | Offline | Alerts | Transfer | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wise | No | Yes | Yes | Free |
| XE | Yes | Yes | Limited | Free/Premium |
| Revolut | No | Limited | Yes | Free/Premium |
| Currency Plus | Yes | No | No | $2.99 |
| OANDA | Yes | Yes | No | Free |
| No | No | No | Free |
What About Trading Apps?
If you're looking to trade forex (not just convert currency), that's a different category. Apps like MetaTrader, eToro, and Interactive Brokers are designed for speculation, not practical currency exchange. They offer leverage, charting tools, and real-time trading — overkill for someone just trying to convert money for a trip or transfer.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the most accurate currency converter app?
For pure rate accuracy, XE and Wise both pull directly from forex market data and update every few seconds. For checking rates, either is excellent. Wise has the advantage of letting you act on those rates immediately with low fees.
Do currency apps work offline?
Some do. XE, Currency Converter Plus, and Easy Currency all cache rates for offline use. The rates shown will be from your last online update, so they're useful for reference but may not reflect current market rates.
Are free currency apps as good as paid ones?
For basic conversion, yes. Free apps like XE and Google's built-in converter are highly accurate. Paid apps typically add features like historical charts, rate alerts, and portfolio tracking — useful for serious traders but overkill for casual users.
Which app is best for sending money abroad?
Wise consistently offers the best combination of low fees, excellent exchange rates, and reliable service. For specific corridors (like US to India or UK to Philippines), Remitly sometimes beats Wise on total cost.
My Recommendation
Here's what I actually have on my phone:
- Wise — For actually sending money and checking real-time rates I can act on
- XE — For quick offline checks when traveling
That's it. Two apps cover every situation I've encountered. The rest are nice-to-haves that I've found redundant in practice.