A
The ledger — what each agent keepsRate ledger
Every track ends at the real ECB rate — the hatched tail is the slice the agent keeps. Shorter tail, better deal; the amounts are on $100.
B
Agent rate trendsTrends
Endpoints are true CNY rates — highest wins. Each sparkline is scaled to its own range: read the shape, not the slope across tiles.Each sparkline uses its own range.
What an exchange-rate markup is
Shopwaver compares the exchange rates six shopping agents — Mulebuy, Oopbuy, Litbuy, Kakobuy, ACBuy and Hipobuy — use to convert your currency to Chinese yuan against the ECB mid-market rate. The gap between the two is the markup each agent keeps, an implicit fee that can matter more than a headline service fee.
What an exchange-rate markup is
Shopwaver compares the exchange rates six shopping agents — Mulebuy, Oopbuy, Litbuy, Kakobuy, ACBuy and Hipobuy — use to convert your currency to Chinese yuan against the ECB mid-market rate. The gap between the two is the markup each agent keeps, an implicit fee that can matter more than a headline service fee.
How the rates are compared
Rates are compared across 17 currencies and shown with the time each was last fetched and its source. The ECB mid-market rate is used as a neutral reference point; the rate locked at the agent's checkout is what you actually pay, so treat these figures as a recent snapshot for planning.
Frequently asked questions
01What is an exchange-rate markup?
An exchange-rate markup is the gap between the rate a shopping agent gives you when converting your currency to Chinese yuan and the real mid-market rate. The difference is an implicit fee the agent keeps, even when it advertises a low or zero service fee.
02Why is an agent's exchange rate worse than Google's rate?
The mid-market rate you see on Google or the ECB is the midpoint of the global currency market and isn't what retail conversions use. Agents add a margin on top, so the rate you pay is a little worse; Shopwaver shows that margin against the ECB baseline.
03Which shopping agent has the best exchange rate?
It varies by day and currency. Shopwaver compares Mulebuy, Oopbuy, Litbuy, Kakobuy, ACBuy and Hipobuy against the ECB mid-market rate and shows each one's markup, so you can see which currently keeps the least — shown with an update time, so verify at checkout.
04Does this page include payment or service fees?
No. This page isolates the currency markup only. Payment or PayPal surcharges and service fees are separate; see the total-cost comparison to see how the currency portion combines with shipping.