Cheapest Way to Send Money Internationally

Wise’s variable and fixed combined fees may come across high in comparison to some of their rivals, but the company makes up for it by providing mid-market rates for currency conversions. Both types of fees change depending on the payment method and currency, with bank (ACH) and wire transfers being the cheapest, albeit slowest payment type. The costs start from USD 0.28 and 0.41%, and there’s sufficient guidance to understand the pricing structure. Here’s an example of sending USD 1000 in EUR:

It is possible to send up to USD 1.6 million to over 80 countries and depending on the payment method, currencies involved, and the amount; transfer times can vary between seconds to 3 working days. Wise doesn’t offer any FX tools but a multi-currency account. Customers can buy currency and store it to transfer in the future and protect themselves from potential market fluctuations.

Wise is used more for small transfers and it’s an excellent choice to move money around while travelling thanks to its low-cost (USD 6) Wise debit card, offering competitive fees for ATM withdrawals available in 200 countries.

Remitly distinguishes itself from the crowd with its flexible delivery options to countries with limited access to banking institutions compared to the West. For a small fee, such as USD 3.99 for the Philippines, the recipient can either pick up their cash or have it delivered to their address. The service costs far less compared to peers with similar offerings and allows you to avoid potential third-party fees upon receiving funds.

The operator offers economy and express services with the fees varying based on the currency pair and the amount. The amount is fixed, and it comes along with the exchange markup Remitly has for currency conversion, which hovers between 0.30%-3.6%. There’s a convenient tool with which you can view the fixed fee for your destination. Here’s a breakdown of a transfer between the US and Uruguay:

Express service is only possible via card payments, which come with a fee between 1%-3% and is completed within the same day, whereas economy service is paid via bank transfer and may take between 3-5 days.

While its coverage is not as grand, with only 55 countries, it boasts alternative modes of delivery to key countries such as the Philippines, Sri Lanka, or Vietnam with a fraction of the cost of the high street banks, making it an excellent choice for these destinations.

Like Remitly, WorldRemit also offers alternative ways of transferring funds to countries with less commonly traded currencies, like the Ivory Coast, Algeria, or Cameroon, for very small fees. WorldRemit’s Mobile Money functionality includes a good selection of countries, which are likely to require intermediary institutions to accept bank transfers from the US. Customers can also pay via Apple Pay for their transfers, which come with no extra charge.

Mobile money also makes the cheapest form of transfer, along with cash pick up, while bank transfer is typically the costlier option. Here’s a breakdown of a USD 1000 transfer to Cameroon:

WorldRemit has a grand reach of 130 countries and supports over 70 currencies, but features a very low transfer cap of USD 5,000. It also features rapid transfer times and average exchange markup of between 0.5%-1.25%. Depending on the destination of your transfer, it can be one of the cheapest options to send money.

Paysend boasts very low flat fees for card payments for transfers to numerous countries. The fixed fee for transferring money out of the US is only USD 2, and as per the calculator, it remains flat irrespective of the amount. Some currency corridors, such as USD and DKK, are fee-free.

The majority of Paysend’s costs are hidden in its exchange margin which hovers around 0.36% and 1.30%. Nevertheless, it adds industry-standard profit margins on top of unmatched card transfer fees and reaches over 170 countries around the world. Customers are limited to USD 999 per day until they submit their Social Security number.

Much like the price structure, Paysend is not the most transparent about delivery times either. Though the firm makes the transfer in seconds after its completed, it can take up to 4 business days for the beneficiary to access it.

• Find out how to send money with a debit card

Revolut is by far one of the most outstanding challenger banks that popped up over the last decade. Its 0.3% cost is capped between a minimum of USD 0.30 and a maximum of USD 6 per transfer, with mid-market rates for popular currency corridors. It’s fully functional as a basic bank account, with additional features like investing in stocks or crypto or personal budgeting and spending analysis.

Those who usually make regular payments abroad can also benefit from subscribing to the higher tiers where all transfer fees are scrabbed, and get a higher interest rate for their savings account.

As an FCA-regulated financial entity with a reach of over 100 countries, Revolut is a cheap, accessible, and secure service for those who wish to handle their accounts and transfers in the same place. The only catch of the service is its delivery times: it can take between 1-3 business days and there isn’t an option to speed up the process.

Xe provides access to over 220 countries with very low transfer fees. There isn’t a fee applied for transfers from the US, irrespective of the amount or destination, with exchange markup rates varying between 0.4%-1.2%. Credit and debit card payments are subject to variable fees starting from 1%, whereas bank transfers are free-of-charge. To be on the right side, it’s wise to check with your bank before using the service to see how much they will charge for the transfer.

Xe may complete transfers between frequently used currencies, like USD and EUR within minutes, but it may take up to 3 business days for transfers between less traded currencies, such as FJD and USD. XE Money Transfer is also the cheapest way to send money from Canada to the USA because it offers great exchange rates. You can also check the best ways to send money to the USA.

Xe also has other products, such as forward contracts, allowing customers to protect themselves against market fluctuations, and senders can use the online services to send up to USD 475,000.

As a currency broker, OFX operates with a no-fee policy and charges for its services through the agreed-upon currency exchange rate markup. The firm is known for its favorable exchange rates, with profit margins being as low as 0.40%. A whopping 85% of all transfers are settled without an intermediary or receiving bank fees.

OFX’s services are geared toward transferring larger sums and have a high minimum transfer of USD 1,000. OFX is an excellent service for SMB owners and sole traders, with functionalities ranging from global payroll to facilitating international investments and acquisitions. All customers, business or personal, performing high-value transfers are assigned a dedicated broker who helps to identify market fluctuations and mitigate currency challenges.

The firm only supports bank transfers and claims to perform most transfers between popular currencies within a couple of days, whereas transfers involving an exotic currency may take up to 5 business days.

Much like OFX, TorFX is also a broker with a no-fee policy. Similarly, it charges for its services through the exchange markup rate, which hovers around 0.5%-2%. As a bespoke service, it offers custom quoting for all its clients and, when applicable, assign a dedicated account manager to help complete the transfer.

Its services are geared towards certain types of large payments sent abroad, including buying a property, paying for tuition, setting up regular payments, or emigration. Serving 120 countries in over 40 currencies, it is fairly widespread.

It has a lower minimum transfer limit than OFX at USD 200, but it's still a more suitable service for larger payments. Clients will have the help of a dedicated broker and certain FX tools when securing a favorable exchange rate for their current, ongoing, and future transfers.

Sending money home to pay for the utilities? Xoom’s rapid and convenient services work just perfectly for this purpose. Partnered with energy, telephone, and water suppliers in selected countries, Xoom powers your payments with only a fee of USD 2.99. Customers can save more if paid with a bank transfer.

There’s a fixed fee of USD 2.99 for amounts below USD 500 for bank deposits and no fee for any amount above. Other payment methods, on the other hand, may go as high as 8% and include PayPal balance, and credit/debit card payments. Here’s a breakdown of fees for a USD 1,000 transfer from USD to ARS:

The service is available in over 160 countries globally but works best with popular currency corridors, such as between the US and Mexico, Argentina, El Salvador, and the Philippines.

All elements of an international transfer may affect the cost of it, predominantly the originating and destination countries and regions, the transfer sum, and requested services.

• Transfer Limits: Even though your service of choice has very high transfer limits, like TorFX, your bank may apply strict limits per day, which means having to transfer to the operator several times. In those cases, the payment charges may add up.

• Market Fluctuations: The currency market is constantly shifting the exchange rate you had when you initiated the transfer may change unless the service is locked the rate for a small window.

• Speed of the Transfer: This is one of the major factors affecting the cost. Many operators today have optional express services for a small fee. The fastest transfer options are also card payments, which usually come with a fee of up to 4%.

• Currency Pairs: These are also very effective in the final cost of the transfer. Services may charge more for less frequently traded currencies or add higher exchange rate markups.

Some steps can be taken to minimize the cost of an international transfer based on your specific needs.

Banks and Payment Methods

Some banks have more favorable international and domestic transfer fees. Even when using a money transfer service, it’s sensible to check your bank’s domestic transfer fees as you may have extra charges paying for your transfer via bank transfer to the service provider.

Nevertheless, bank or wire transfers are usually the cheapest options to pay for your transfers when using a service provider like Xe or Remitly. Credit and debit card payments are usually the quickest yet costliest options. Avoid using card payments and seek out low-cost transfer options.

Plan Ahead for Your Transfer

You can save big if you arrange your transfers in advance. For starters, eliminating the urgency means senders can opt for the slowest modes of transfer which also happen to be the most affordable.

It’s also sensible to take market fluctuations into account. You can make use of certain FX tools to secure a favorable currency conversion rate under the guidance of a dedicated broker with services like TorFX. Alternatively, you can opt for a service with a native wallet, like Wise, to have the flexibility of converting and sending out the transfer whenever you wish.

Note that for your regular transfers, it can make sense to combine them into one larger transfer.

Use the Appropriate Money Transfer Services

The suitability of a money transfer service predominantly depends on the specifics of your transfer. You may be able to minimize your costs by avoiding upselling or finding a tailored feature for your needs.

• For Cheap Regular Transfers to the Same Place

Some banks, like HSBC, allow two accounts in different countries to transfer money between each other for free. This is a convenient and safe way to secure low-cost regular transfers as you only pay the bank’s exchange rate markup. So, it may be feasible to research the banking group’s branch locations at the destination of your transfer.

Alternatively, you can opt for tailored services: some money transfer services allow customers to lock an exchange rate for a given time and will complete their transfers at the agreed-upon rate, which ensures the fees will be consistent.

• For Transfers Under $5000

Irrespective of the amount, banks always incur high fees for international money transfers. For sums this small, it's almost always more sensible to opt for a remittance company. Some, including WorldRemit or Currencies Direct, specialize in transferring smaller funds across countries and therefore have pricing models geared towards it.

• For Large Transfers Over $5000

Regulated currency brokers with tailored services are typically the best choice for moving large sums. Most operate on a no-fee policy and charge customers through exchange rate markups. It’s wise to opt for services where you can get a dedicated broker to go through your options, and shop around to get quotes from several services before settling on one.

The services vary widely depending on their specializations and by extension, the features they offer. But they also differ greatly regionally.

Cheapest Way to Send Money From the US

The US banks are notorious for their high wire transfer fees, which may go up to USD 50 for outbound international transfers. Below is a good collection of money transfer services with options for alternative payment and deposit methods, no-fee transfers, and additional banking features.

Cheapest Way to Send Money From Australia

Australian banks impose a flat fee of between AUD 15 and AUD 30 per international transfer on top of an unfavorable exchange rate. Below, you can find services with competitive transfer fees and exchange rates, along with a reach to countries that high street banks may require an intermediary to connect with.

Cheapest Way to Send Money From the UK

UK banks may charge between 3%-4% of the total currency spread while transferring funds abroad, which adds to the exchange rate markup and bank fees. Money transfer companies like those below offer affordability with options for quick transfer or alternative transfer methods.

Cheapest Way to Send Money From Europe

Countries within the SEPA region, including all of the EU, can send money to each other for free-of-charge, conveniently through their banks. Transfers outside of the region can get very costly. Below listed are the cheapest service providers with more attractive features to move money out of the EU.

Cheapest Way to Send Money Domestically

The popularity of money transfer apps like those listed here is largely due to the fact that with the US banking system, there’s a trade-off between speed and affordability for domestic transfers. ACH transfers are free-of-charge, yet may take up to three days, whereas wire transfers cost as much as USD 20 per transfer but are settled within the same day. Find the services bringing solutions to this problem below.

Western Union is the household name when it comes to international cash transfers, yet, due to its high fees and unfavorable exchange rates, it is losing relevance rapidly. Luckily, there’s a large number of services that can fill in the gap with more competitive exchange rates and lower fees.

Credit card payments are usually the quickest but more expensive option, but not in all cases. Here’s a list of services with relatively more reasonable credit card fees.

Mostly geared towards smaller sums, these services don’t jeopardize the affordability to quickly get the transfer done, both internationally and domestically.

International business transfers, especially regular payments to employees, contractors, or suppliers quickly add up. Providers below like VertoFX have tailored services for businesses of all sizes, focused on minimizing the costs while overcoming challenges that come with the currency market.