How subscription currency conversion works
If you have subscriptions billed in foreign currencies, the local-currency amount on your statement is rarely just "the price × today's rate." Here's what actually happens and how to track around it.
The three layers of conversion
Layer 1: the merchant's listed price (e.g. $14.99 USD).
Layer 2: the network's conversion rate (Visa, Mastercard, Amex apply their own daily rate plus a small spread).
Layer 3: your bank's foreign-transaction fee (typically 1–3%) — applied on top of the network rate.
So a $14.99 USD subscription on a UK card might appear as something like £11.85 after the network rate and FT fee, not just "£11.50" at today's interbank rate.
How SubRemind handles it
SubRemind stores each subscription in its native currency (the one you're actually billed in) and converts everything to your chosen base currency using a live rate from open.er-api.com, refreshed hourly.
The rate is indicative — it matches Layer 1 + Layer 2 minus the spread and FT fee. So SubRemind's total will usually be slightly lower than your actual card statement, but the picture is honest and consistent.
What about price changes by region?
Many merchants price differently by region (often using VPN-detectable signals). Track the price you actually pay, not a global list price. If Spotify charges you €9.99 in your local market, enter €9.99 even if the US price is $10.99.
Frequently asked
Which currencies does SubRemind support?
SubRemind supports USD, EUR, GBP, JPY, CHF, CAD, AUD, INR, CNY, BRL, and several others as base currencies. Subscriptions can be billed in any currency — they all convert to your chosen base.
Why is the live rate slightly different from my actual charge?
Card networks and banks add a small spread and (sometimes) a foreign-transaction fee. The interbank rate SubRemind shows is the closest honest reference; the actual charge will usually be 1–3% higher.
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