How to buy something in euros online 2024

If you’re shopping online with a retailer based in Europe you may be asked to settle your transaction in EUR. Or, if you’ve bought something from a European seller and they’ve invoiced you directly, you may be presented with a bill denominated in EUR. So what happens next, if you need to pay in euros from the US?

Read on as we cover all you need to know about how to buy something online and pay in euros – including the additional fees to watch for, and some different payment methods available including multi-currency accounts like Wise and Revolut.

Key points: Buying something online in a different currency

• You can buy something online and pay in euros with your credit or debit card, or you can use a multi-currency account from a service like Wise or Revolut
• You may also be able to buy something online in a different currency and pay by making a money transfer with a provider like Wise or Remitly
• When you spend online in a foreign currency you may pay extra fees, including conversion or transfer costs
• Different payment methods have their own advantages and disadvantages, so comparing the convenience and costs of a few is a smart plan

Can I buy something in euros online?

Yes. You can shop online with retailers based in the Eurozone and pay in EUR conveniently in a couple of different ways. The most common options include:

• Using your bank issued debit or credit card
• Using a digital multi-currency account
• Using an international money transfer

If you shop online with your normal credit or debit card and pay in EUR, the chances are that you’ll be charged a foreign transaction fee. This is a fee added by your card issuer, covering the costs of converting currencies – usually around 3%.

Using an online multi-currency account can give you a couple of ways to pay in euros – you can either convert some dollars to euros in advance and use them to pay with a debit card or to send a transfer to the seller, or you can just use your linked card to pay online and leave the conversion calculation to the provider.

Digital services like Wise and Revolut have accounts which support dozens of currencies including USD and EUR, with low or no fee currency conversion and convenient ways to spend internationally. More on that later.

3 ways to buy something online in euros

The right way to pay in euros for your online purchase will depend on your personal preferences and exactly what you’re buying. Often the easiest option is to make a card payment – but if you find you’re asked to pay by sending an international wire you can also do that. Here are your options, which we’ll delve into in more detail in a moment:

1. Debit and credit cards: Ecommerce stores usually allow card payments, supporting major networks like Visa and Mastercard. If you have a debit or credit card from your bank you can use it to pay when you checkout – but bear in mind that you may end up paying a foreign transaction fee of around 3%
2. Multi-currency accounts: Digital multi-currency accounts from providers like Wise and Revolut offer ways to convert USD to EUR and other currencies, so you can use your euro balance to pay for purchases and settle bills easily. Fees are usually fairly low, with low or no costs for currency conversion
3. Money transfer services: If the person you’re paying has requested an international wire in EUR you can send money using a money transfer service like Wise or Remitly. Overseas payments are arranged online or in an app, and you can then pay with an ACH, wire or card

Let’s look at how each of these options works, and the pros and cons you’ll need to consider when you decide how to shop online and pay in EUR.

Debit and credit cards

Using your normal debit or credit card to pay online in euros is convenient and fast. However, if you have a debit card linked to a USD account, or a US issued credit card and you pay in EUR, you’ll usually find you pay a foreign transaction fee. While this can vary from bank to bank, foreign transaction fees of 3% are common – which pushes up the costs to you in the end.

It’s worth noting here that merchants can decide which cards they will and will not accept payments from – which may mean that on rare occasions you can’t use your US issued debit or credit card to spend in euros. Cards issued on the Visa or Mastercard network are almost globally accepted, while some merchants may not take Amex or Discover card payments – look out for the symbols on the screen when you checkout.

How to buy something in euros online with a bank card

Here’s how to use your bank debit or credit card at the checkout and pay in EUR when shopping online:

1. Tap Checkout once you’ve finished shopping
2. Check your card’s network is supported (look for the Visa, Mastercard, or American Express logo, for example)
3. Tap on the option to pay by card
4. Enter your card number, expiry date and CVV following the prompts
5. Confirm the billing address and complete any security step required by your bank

Multi-currency accounts with debit cards

Digital first services like Wise and Revolut offer multi-currency accounts which come with a linked debit card you can use to spend and make withdrawals at home and abroad.

You can add money to your account in USD and convert to euros in advance, or when you make payments. Generally accounts like these won’t have any foreign transaction fee, and conversion costs are pretty low.

• Revolut offers some no-fee weekday currency conversion with all account tiers, with fair usage fees of 0.5% once you’ve exhausted your allowance.
• Wise currency conversion uses the mid-market rate and low fees from 0.42%.

How to buy something in euros online with a multi currency account

Here’s how to pay in EUR when shopping online, using a multi-currency account with a linked debit card:

1. Tap Checkout once you’ve finished shopping
2. Tap on the option to pay by card
3. Enter your card number, expiry date and CVV following the prompts
4. Confirm the billing address and complete any security step required by your card issuer
5. If you hold a euro balance the funds will be drawn from here – if not, your USD balance will be converted as required, and you’ll usually get a notification showing you the cost of your purchase in dollars

Money transfer services

If you’ve been asked to pay a bill or invoice in euros and pay using a wire or bank transfer, services like Wise and Remitly can help. Set up an account with a money transfer provider online or in their app, and you’ll be able to arrange payments in euros which are deposited into the recipient’s bank account directly. Some providers also let you send money which can be collected in cash locally in Europe.

Money transfer services have their own fees and currency exchange rates. To give a couple of examples, Remitly offers varied fees based on whether you pay with a card or bank transfer, and how quickly you need the money to arrive. Exchange rates include a markup. Wise uses the mid-market rate with no markup and has fees from 0.42% for currency conversion, which are split out for transparency.

How to buy something in euros online with a money transfer

Here’s how to pay in EUR by making a digital money transfer:

1. Sign up for an account with your preferred provider, such as Wise or Remitly
2. Tap Send money
3. Enter the amount you need the recipient to receive in EUR, to generate a quote for the cost in USD
4. Follow the prompts to enter your recipient’s banking information
5. Pay – usually with a card, wire or ACH – and your money will be sent to your recipient

Best way to pay in euros online

The best way to pay in euros online will depend on your personal preferences, and the specific payment you need to make. Each option has its own pros and cons, so comparing a few is the best way to choose. Here are a few things to think about:

Debit or credit cards: Convenient way to pay in EUR with ecommerce stores, but you may end up paying a foreign transaction fee of around 3%. Credit cards may also mean paying interest or penalties if you don’t clear your bill on time, every time

Multi-currency accounts: If you have a debit card from a service like Wise or Revolut you can pay conveniently online in EUR, either from a EUR balance you hold, or by allowing the card to convert your USD for you – some fees may apply for currency conversion

Money transfer services: Money transfer services like Wise or Remitly offer fast digital payments which are deposited into bank accounts in EUR. Signing up and initiating a payment is easy, but you’ll need to make sure you have all the recipient’s banking information to hand first

I am buying something in EUR online but I’m in the US, does the website convert the currency?

If you’re shopping at a European ecommerce store and the prices are displayed in EUR your card issuer will convert your dollars to euros to pay when you check out. Different cards have their own fees for this service – often you’ll find the exchange rate used is the network rate which is relatively fair, with a foreign transaction fee of about 3% added.

Bear in mind that you’ll get a better rate if you pay in the merchant’s local currency – if you’re asked if you’d prefer to pay in dollars, it’s best to say no. More on why, next.

Is it better to pay in euros or dollars online?

If you’re shopping with a European retailer you may be offered the option to pay in either EUR or USD. Usually, paying in the merchant’s local currency is the best plan, as this keeps costs down and means you get the network exchange rate.

If you agree to pay in dollars instead, the merchant can process the currency conversion on your behalf. They’ll pick the exchange rate and any fees that are added – which usually means paying more than if you just let your bank or card issuer handle the conversion for you instead. This is known as dynamic currency conversion (DCC) – and well worth avoiding.

Related: How to buy euros in the US

Conclusion: Can I buy something in euros online with USD?

You can shop online from the US and pay in euros conveniently, either with a bank issued debit or credit card, a multi-currency account from a provider like Wise, or by making a money transfer with a service like Remitly.

The costs of currency conversion do vary depending on the payment method you select. Using a bank debit or credit card might mean paying a foreign transaction fee of around 3%, while multi-currency accounts with linked cards can often offer cheaper currency conversion. If you need to send a money transfer, choosing a specialist service rather than your bank can mean low costs – but you’ll need to make sure you have all your recipient’s personal and banking information before you set up your payment.

Buy something in euros online FAQs

Can you buy something in euros with an American debit card online?

Many European ecommerce stores accept American debit cards, particularly those issued on large global networks like Visa and Mastercard. Your purchase cost will be converted back to USD using the bank or network’s exchange rate, and including any applicable fees – the USD value is then deducted from your account as with any other debit card purchase.

Can you buy something in euros with an American credit card?

You can usually use your American credit card easily enough, but you might find you have to pay an extra foreign transaction fee of around 3% of the purchase cost. The cost of your item is converted back to USD including any fees, and then added to your bill along with other dollar spending for the month.