How do you guys bridge in crypto

I haven’t done any bridging since 2021, and back then it was really stressful and a total pain in the ass. I just want to know what you guys are using these days. I came across Jumper and Debridge, but to swap an altcoin 1 to 1 like Polygon from BNB chain to Polygon chain it always seems to cost 1 to 2%, which I’d rather avoid. Do you always need to swap to USDC first before bridging so it doesn’t cost an arm and a leg? Is that just how it works?

Also, I still use Metamask and I’m wondering if that’s outdated. I’ve tried Rabby a little, even though a lot of people said it’s way better, but I don’t really think it is.