> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://coindisco.gitbook.io/coindisco/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://coindisco.gitbook.io/coindisco/what-makes-coindisco-different/true-fee.md).

# True Fee

Most crypto services quote you a price without telling you how much of it is markup. The advertised fee covers only part of the cost: provider spread, processing charges, and exchange-rate margin are folded into the price itself. You usually find out only afterwards, when less crypto arrives than you expected.

True Fee is the number that closes that gap. For every offer, Coindisco compares what you actually pay against the live market price and shows the difference as a single percentage — before you confirm.

## What it looks like

Suppose you want to spend 1,020 USD on Bitcoin, and Bitcoin is trading at 50,000 USD. Two providers can both fill the order:

|                      | Provider A         | Provider B         |
| -------------------- | ------------------ | ------------------ |
| You pay              | 1,020 USD          | 1,020 USD          |
| You receive          | 0.02000 BTC        | 0.01961 BTC        |
| Your effective price | 51,000 USD per BTC | 52,014 USD per BTC |
| Live market price    | 50,000 USD per BTC | 50,000 USD per BTC |
| **True Fee**         | **+2.0%**          | **+4.0%**          |

Both providers charge you the same 1,020 USD, so the price tag tells you nothing. The only real difference is 0.02000 BTC against 0.01961 BTC — a gap almost nobody can judge at a glance. True Fee turns it into two numbers you can read instantly: Provider B keeps twice as much markup, and Provider A leaves you more Bitcoin for the same money.

## How to read it

A True Fee of +2% means you are paying 2% above the market rate for that offer. Lower is better, and the same logic applies when selling: it measures how far your payout sits below the market price.

True Fee makes offers comparable, but it is not the only thing worth checking. Payment method, verification requirements, and provider reliability all matter too — see [choosing an offer](/coindisco/using-coindisco/choose-an-offer.md).

{% hint style="info" %}
True Fee is calculated from a live quote and a live market price, so it moves as prices move. If a quote expires or you change the amount, the offer is priced again and the True Fee can differ.
{% endhint %}

Building an integration? The exact formulas and the related response fields are in [Quote and offer object](/coindisco/white-label-api/quote-and-offer-object.md).