15 Best International Money Transfer Services 2025 Update
Many international remittance companies allow you to send money using just a credit card. The cheapest way to send an international money transfer is using a service like Wise, InstaReM, Remitly, or a new entrant to the scene Atlantic Money. So it’s essential to know how the process works and which company best suits your needs. You could lose a lot of money by not knowing how international money transfer works.
Moneycorp also allows you to ‘lock in’ on an exchange rate for two years (a forward contract). Or you can opt for recurring payments by setting up the Regular Payment Plan. Paysend delivers money to over 170 countries worldwide for a low fee of £1. They also have an excellent customer service team that I put to the test in my detailed Paysend review. Explore TorFX’s dedicated account management and fee-free transfers for a straightforward currency exchange experience.
Our Approach To Helping You Pick A Money Transfer Service
You can, however, link your mobile wallet to a Google Pay or Apple Pay account for easy peer-to-peer transfers. Western Union’s fees vary by country and are often higher than average. For example, sending $500 to Mexico City will incur a fee of around $2, while sending the same amount to London may cost up to $12. Western Union’s exchange rate markups vary depending on the recipient’s country, pickup method and other factors, so it isn’t always clear how much your transfer will cost. Wise’s exchange rates are average or slightly above average (depending on the currency) but have no markup, making them more affordable overall. Lastly, Wise accounts have no monthly maintenance fees and allow you to withdraw money for free twice a month — provided the total amount is $100 USD or less.
Ach Transfer
Most money transfer services don’t offer loans, they simply move funds from one account or person to another. One notable exception is PayPal, which offers business loans. Zelle is supported by many major banks and has built a network that makes it easy for supported accounts to send and receive money with ease. If your bank supports Zelle you can use the transfer service through your existing bank’s app or online portal, almost always for free.
- Funding options typically include bank transfers, debit cards, credit cards, or PayPal.
- For app-based money transfer services, you can generally cash out to your bank account.
- For customer support, Cash App recommends you make contact through the app or the company website.
When you check the exchange rate for an international transfer with services like Western Union, focus on the exchange rate markup by looking at the foreign currency amount. The higher it is, the lower the markup is, and the more money your recipient receives. However, the Western Union app not only allows you to send and receive cash but also to instantly pay bills, review exchange rates, and even find the nearest in-person locations. The easiest method for sending cash online to someone using a prepaid debit card is to reload your recipient’s existing card. With most cards, like the Western Union® Prepaid Visa Card, you can do this easily online using your own debit card, credit card, or bank account as payment. When sending money to family or friends, you have a lot of options.
Consider A Bank-to-bank Transfer
Other companies on this offer the same services without the high fees. If you need help with your Xoom account or a transaction, the company offers email support in seven languages and phone support in seven languages. There’s no chat support, however, and you may incur international call fees if you call customer service — depending on your location.
5 Funds will be paid to receiver’s mWallet account provider for credit to account tied to receiver’s mobile number. Funds availability subject to terms and conditions of service. Yes, using a non-banking solution to send money is safe if the money transfer company is reputable and encrypts your data. The requirements to send money may differ depending on your location and the money transfer service you use. Remember, though, that fees and restrictions may apply depending on where you’re sending money to, which could cost you more than initially expected. Additionally, if you want to send $10,000-$30,000, you must provide a social security number or passport.
XE’s currency converter tool shows the market-standard exchange rate. If you need to send over $1,000 to an overseas bank account and speed isn’t a concern, consider OFX. This online money transfer service is available in 190 countries and doesn’t charge fees. You can send money directly from your bank account using the OFX website or mobile app. OFX is a reliable platform for those who need to send money internationally. It offers a fee-free solution for larger transfers, making it a cost-effective choice.
Three rates determine how much your money transfer will cost and how much money your recipient will receive. Join the millions of people worldwide who send money with Western Union. We use advanced encryption technology to keep your personal info safe. Yes, in most cases, you will need some form of identification to set up an account with most money transfer companies. Yes, services like OFX allow you to agree on an exchange rate now and send your money later, called a forward contract. Using this arrangement, you agree to exchange currency at a set rate on a specific date in the future.
However, remember that fees may vary depending on the country you’re sending money to. The best way to get a precise cost estimate is to call the company’s customer helpline. Bank transfers through Wise are a little slower than other providers and may take up to a week.
Next time you need to send money to someone, make sure to try out one of the safe and trusted money transfer apps on the list above. Zelle is a great app for transferring money from bank to bank. You can find Zelle in the banking app of hundreds of banks and credit unions nationwide. You can send money right from your banking app, even if the recipient has a different US-based bank or credit union.
There are free ways to send and receive money, but Apple charges a 1.5 percent fee for instant transfers. The minimum fee for instant transfers is 25 cents, with a maximum fee of $15. If the recipient doesn’t accept the payment, you can cancel it.
InstaReM is available in 55+ countries, so it’s a great choice for those who need to transfer money internationally often. But not all international money transfer operators are the same. Because there is no maximum transfer amount, OFX is the best platform for large money transfers. It isn’t the right choice if you want to make a same-day transfer under $1,000.
If you send money to the wrong person under the “Sending to a Friend” option, PayPal commits to refund the money only if the recipient does not have a PayPal account. Otherwise, you will have to reach out to the recipient, your bank or your credit card company to try to get your money back. If you link a bank account, Venmo will automatically take out the money from your account when you pay someone. You can link a credit card, but Venmo will charge a 3 percent fee.
We looked for money transfer services that have live chat, helplines or fast email services to answer questions. Remitly offers multiple ways to send and receive money internationally, including a mobile wallet and cash pickup. Its fees are low for some countries but much higher for Chatonline365 others. Because of its varying fees, this service gets mixed customer reviews. For mobile transactions funds will be paid to receiver’s mWallet account provider for credit to account tied to receiver’s mobile number. Additional third-party charges may apply, including SMS and account over-limit and cash-out fees.
It is one of the cheapest options, with fast transfers for most corridors, and has an easy-to-use platform. Paysend, founded in 2017, is a fairly new kid on the block but already enjoys the support of 3.7 Million customers in over 60 countries. They offer great exchange rates with low, transparent fees, making it a competitive option amongst different ways to send money abroad. In fact, with a little bit of research, you can find a money transfer solution that is fast, safe, and affordable. From providing the best exchange rates and low fees to having a safe and secure platform, choosing the right service can help you save time and money.
