We make Exchange Rate, so read this with that in mind. Xe and Wise are larger services that also move money; our extension only watches rates. Facts checked on 11 November 2026; features of other services change, so check their apps before you rely on a detail.
At a glance
| Xe | Wise | Exchange Rate | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Where you get the alert | Phone app, website | Phone app | Chrome on your computer |
| Account | Check the app | Required | None |
| Which rate | Xe's mid-market rate | Wise's rate | Reference rates (Open Exchange Rates) |
| How often it checks | More often than hourly | More often than hourly | Every hour, while Chrome runs |
| After it fires | See the app's settings | See the app's settings | Switches off (one-time) |
| Sending money | Yes | Yes | No |
| Converts prices on web pages | No (its separate Chrome extension replaces prices on the page) | No | Yes, on hover |
| Price of alerts | Free | Free | Free |
Where Xe and Wise are better
- Alerts anywhere. They reach your phone even when your computer is off. Exchange Rate checks only while Chrome is running, so an overnight move is noticed when you open the browser.
- Faster checks. They watch the market more often than once an hour.
- From alert to transfer. If you are going to send money, Wise and Xe take you straight to a transfer. Exchange Rate only tells you the rate; you still need a bank or transfer service.
- Charts and history in the same app.
Where Exchange Rate is better
- No account, no app. Nothing to sign up for; alerts are stored in your browser.
- Any of 170+ currencies on one board, not only the currencies a transfer service supports.
- Next to your work. The board sits in Chrome's side panel while you read invoices, shops or booking sites, and hovering a price converts it on the spot.
- Quiet by design. Each alert fires once, so a rate that hovers around your target does not keep notifying you.
Who should use which
| You are… | Use |
|---|---|
| Sending money abroad regularly with one service | That service's alerts (Wise or Xe) |
| Watching a rate on your phone all day | Xe or Wise |
| At a computer most of the day, following several currencies | Exchange Rate |
| Waiting for a good moment to pay a foreign invoice or book a trip | Exchange Rate, then check your bank's quote |
How to set one up in Chrome: exchange rate alert guide.