---
title: "Exchange rates and quotes - NexPay"
description: "How exchange rates work on NexPay, what you see when you pick a quote, and how to read the numbers so there are no surprises."
lastModified: "2026-06-02"
lang: "en"
url: https://nexpay.com.au/training/quotes-and-methods/exchange-rates-and-quotes
---
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# Exchange rates and quotes - NexPay

## At a glance

- **Intended for:** New users — all roles
- **Reading time:** 6 minutes
- **Last updated:** 1st June 2026

**TL;DR:** When you create a payment, NexPay fetches live quotes and shows them as variants — different ways to settle, each with its own rate, fee, and totals. Compare the "you send" amount across variants to find the cheapest. Quotes have a countdown because rates move; if one expires, request a fresh one and nothing is lost. The currency calculator on your home screen gives an indicative preview before you start.

{/* Body content adapted from the prior exchange-rates article, corrected for current facts */}

## Currency conversion doesn't have to be confusing

If you've ever sent money overseas and felt unsure whether you were getting a fair deal, you're not alone. Exchange rates change constantly, the numbers look unfamiliar, and most banks don't make it easy to compare. NexPay takes care of the hard parts: when you create a payment, it fetches live rates and shows you exactly what the payer pays, what the recipient receives, and what fee applies — before you commit.

This article walks through how rates work on the platform, what you see when picking a quote, and how to make sense of the numbers.

> **For agents and providers:** The sections on quote variants and the currency calculator are the ones you'll use daily. If you regularly help payers understand their amounts, the "how to read the numbers" part gives you the language to explain it simply.

## How exchange rates work on NexPay

An exchange rate is just a price for converting one currency into another. If the rate for Brazilian Real to Australian Dollar is 0.2855, that means 1 BRL buys 0.2855 AUD. The higher the rate, the more of the destination currency you get for your money.

NexPay works with banking partners to source rates. When you create a payment, it checks current rates and presents you with options — pulled live at the moment you need them, not yesterday's numbers from a spreadsheet.

### How the rate is priced

Like every international payment provider, NexPay applies a small margin to the exchange rate. That margin covers the cost of processing your payment, the compliance checks, the human verification, and the support of a real person behind it. The margin varies with the currency pair, the payment method, and the amount.

What sets it apart is transparency: you see the exact rate, the fee, and the total cost before you confirm. You can compare it against any provider or the mid-market rate and decide for yourself. Nothing is added after you confirm — the amount you agree to is the amount that goes through.

Payments are converted to Australian dollars before reaching the recipient. This happens automatically: you choose the payer's currency, enter the amount, and NexPay handles the conversion.

### Which currencies are supported

You can pay NexPay from a defined set of countries, each with its own local currency and methods. You'll see exactly what's available for a given country when you create a payment or use the currency calculator. If a currency doesn't appear there, it isn't currently supported — and you may be able to pay in another accepted currency instead.

> **Important:** If you're unsure whether your currency is supported, check the currency calculator on your home screen or start creating a payment — the system shows only the currencies and methods available for your country. If yours doesn't appear, it isn't supported at this time. See [payment options by country](/training/quotes-and-methods/payment-options-by-country.md) for the current list.

## What happens when you request a quote

Quotes are generated during the payment wizard. After you've chosen your recipient and entered the amount, the wizard reaches the **Quote** step. Behind the scenes, NexPay sends the amount, the payer's currency, and the recipient details to its banking partners, each returns a rate and fee for that specific payment, and the results come back to you as **quote variants** — different options for the same payment.

This takes a few seconds. You'll see the options appear as cards you can click to select.

Each quote has an **expiry timer** — a countdown showing how long you have to choose and continue. This exists because exchange rates move constantly; the rate you were quoted has to be honoured within a set window.

> **If a quote expires before you finish,** the wizard shows a notice and a button to request a fresh quote. The new one reflects the current rate at that moment. No payment is lost — you just get updated numbers.

## What are quote variants

When the Quote step loads, you'll typically see two or three cards. Each is a **variant**: a different way to settle the same payment, each with its own rate, fee, and total cost. A variant shows:

- **Settlement method** — how the funds are transferred (for example, a bank transfer or a card)
- **Rate** — the exchange rate applied to this variant
- **You send** — the total the payer sends in their home currency
- **Recipient receives** — what arrives for the recipient
- **Fee** — any processing fee for this method

The variants are there so you can compare and pick the best option. A bank-transfer option often offers the lowest total cost; card-based options can be a little more expensive but more convenient for payers who prefer to pay by card.

> **You're comparing total cost, not just the rate.** Two variants might show different rates *and* different fees. Always look at the **you send** amount — that's the actual number the payer pays. The variant with the lowest "you send" is the cheapest overall.

Click the variant you want and the wizard continues. Your selected quote is locked at that rate for the duration of the payment.

## Checking rates before you start

You don't have to begin a payment just to see a rate. The **currency calculator** on your home screen lets you check any time:

1. Enter an amount in the **You send** field
2. Choose the source currency (the payer's)
3. Choose the destination currency
4. The calculator instantly shows the converted amount, the fee, an estimated arrival time, and the current rate

The swap button between the fields flips the direction — useful when a payer asks "how much do I send in BRL for 10,000 AUD to arrive?" Swap so AUD is the source, enter 10,000, and read off the result. The **They receive** field is read-only and updates automatically.

> **Keep in mind:** The calculator's rate is **indicative** — a reliable preview, not a locked-in number. The final rate is confirmed when you select a quote variant and confirm the payment. Rates move through the day, so the calculator may differ slightly from the rate at the moment you confirm.

## Your next step

- **Want to know which methods are on offer?** See [payment methods](/training/quotes-and-methods/payment-methods.md).
- **Checking what your country can use?** Read [payment options by country](/training/quotes-and-methods/payment-options-by-country.md).
- **Payer asking to spread the cost?** See [paying in installments](/training/quotes-and-methods/paying-in-installments.md).
- **Ready to create the payment?** Go to [creating a payment](/training/payments/creating-a-payment.md).

## Checkpoint

After reading this, you should be able to:

- Explain, simply, how NexPay's rate is sourced and why a margin applies
- Read a quote variant and identify the **you send** amount as the true cost
- Compare variants to find the cheapest, rather than going by rate alone
- Request a fresh quote when one expires, without losing your work
- Use the currency calculator for an indicative rate before starting a payment

## Frequently asked questions

### How does NexPay decide the exchange rate?

NexPay works with banking partners to source live rates and applies a margin that covers processing, compliance checks, human verification, and support. The key point is transparency — you see the exact rate, the fee, and the total before you confirm, and the amount you agree to is the amount that goes through. There are no surprise deductions added afterwards.

### What are quote variants?

When the quote step loads, you usually see a few cards. Each is a variant — a different way to settle the same payment, with its own rate, fee, and totals. Comparing them lets you pick the best option for your situation, whether that's the lowest cost or a method the payer prefers.

### How do I tell which variant is cheapest?

Look at the "you send" amount — the total the payer actually pays in their currency. Two variants might show different rates and different fees, so the rate alone can mislead. The variant with the lowest "you send" amount is the cheapest overall.

### My quote expired before I finished. What now?

No problem. Quotes have a countdown because exchange rates move, and when one lapses you'll see a notice and a button to request a fresh quote. The new quote reflects the current rate. Everything else you entered stays exactly as it was.

### Is the rate in the currency calculator the rate I'll get?

It's an indicative preview — a reliable guide, but not locked in. The final rate is confirmed when you select a quote variant and confirm the payment. Rates move during the day, so the calculator may differ slightly from the rate at the moment you confirm.

### What currency does the recipient receive?

Payments are converted and settled in Australian dollars to the recipient. You choose the payer's currency and amount, and NexPay handles the conversion — you don't need to do anything special.

## More on NexPay

**Platform**

- [For students & parents](/for-students-and-parents.md)
- [For ed. agents](/for-education-agents.md)
- [For universities](/for-universities.md)
- [For schools](/for-schools.md)
- [For accommodation](/for-accommodation.md)
- [AI automation](/payments-ai-automation.md)
- [Pricing](/pricing.md)

**Help & resources**

- [Training](/training.md)
- [Contact](/contact-us.md)
- [Developers](/api.md)
- [Zapier integration](/zapier.md)
- [Claude & ChatGPT](/mcp.md) — Claude & ChatGPT integration

**Company**

- [About](/about.md) — About NexPay
- [Jobs](/about.md#jobs)
- [Blog](/blog.md)
- [Media](/media.md)
- [Events](/events.md)

**Trust & locations**

- [Trust & Regulatory](/trust.md)
- [Our offices](/locations.md)

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- [Terms and Conditions](/terms-and-conditions/)
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- [Product Disclosure Statement](/product-disclosure-statement/)
- [AML Policy](/aml-policy/)
- [Target Market Determination](/target-market-determination/)
- [Group Regulatory Disclosure](/group-regulatory-disclosure/)
- [Fees & FX Schedule](/fees-and-fx/)
- [Developer & API Terms](/developer-terms/)

## NexPay

NexPay Pty Ltd (ABN 56 153 910 984) holds Australian Financial Services Licence No. 560782 and is authorised to provide non-cash payment services to retail and wholesale clients in Australia.

- **Address:** Level 12, 64 York St, Sydney NSW 2000, Australia
- **Support:** [support@nexpay.com.au](mailto:support@nexpay.com.au)
- **Status:** [https://nexpay1.statuspage.io/](https://nexpay1.statuspage.io/)

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