Is PayPal or Wise cheaper for Thailand?

Wise is cheaper. PayPal builds a roughly 3–4% currency-conversion markup into the exchange rate on top of fees, while Wise uses the mid-market rate with one shown fee.

Can I send money to a Thai bank account with PayPal?

PayPal pays into a PayPal balance, and moving that into a Thai bank account is slow and expensive. Wise pays Thai baht directly into a Thai bank account.

Wise vs PayPal for sending money to Thailand

For sending money to Thailand, Wise delivers materially more baht than PayPal, because PayPal builds a currency-conversion markup of roughly 3–4% into the exchange rate on top of its fees.

PayPal is convenient and everywhere, but for moving money to Thailand it is one of the more expensive options once the exchange-rate markup is counted.

As always, the real cost is the total you lose — and PayPal’s cost is mostly hidden in the rate, not the visible fee.

Provider	$1,000.00 lands as	To a Thai bank?	Foreign-transfer proof	Speed
Wise Transfer service	฿33,115.28−$6.00 vs mid-market	Yes	On request	Often same day
PayPal Fintech / card	Can’t deliver THB	No	No	Instant to a PayPal balance

Worked on today’s mid-market rate ($1,000.00 = ฿33,315.00). Fee and FX figures are typical, illustrative assumptions, last checked mid-2026; real pricing varies by amount, plan, and day.

Exchange rate & fees

Wise uses the mid-market rate with one transparent fee. PayPal applies a currency-conversion markup of roughly 3–4% inside the rate, plus transaction fees, so the headline “fee” understates the true cost.

Getting baht into Thailand

Wise deposits Thai baht directly into a Thai bank account. PayPal pays into a PayPal balance and is an awkward, costly route to a Thai bank — it is built for online payments, not remittances.

When PayPal still makes sense

For paying a merchant online with buyer protection, PayPal is fine. For moving living money or a deposit to Thailand, it rarely is.

Who each is best for

Wise: Best for moving money to a Thai bank account at the lowest total cost.
PayPal: Best for one-off online payments where buyer protection matters more than the rate.

The verdict

For sending money to Thailand, Wise wins clearly on total cost. Keep PayPal for online purchases, not for remittances or deposits.

Keep more of your money

A low-fee transfer at the mid-market rate loses the least. Two we'd start with:

Wise → Remitly →

We may earn a commission if you sign up through these links, at no extra cost to you. It does not change the rates shown.

Questions & answers

Is PayPal or Wise cheaper for Thailand?: Wise is cheaper. PayPal builds a roughly 3–4% currency-conversion markup into the exchange rate on top of fees, while Wise uses the mid-market rate with one shown fee.
Can I send money to a Thai bank account with PayPal?: PayPal pays into a PayPal balance, and moving that into a Thai bank account is slow and expensive. Wise pays Thai baht directly into a Thai bank account.

Sources: Wise , PayPal .