Money-sending tools and services are nothing new to the thousands of people transferring money all over the globe. But when it comes to getting the best deal, achieving the quickest transfers, and completing the process effortlessly, money transfer services are your number one choice.
We have reviewed almost every money transfer service during the past few years. That’s why we made a list of the best ones available on the market. Find out which ones deserve your money in our money transfer overview.
Rapidly overtaking banks as the ideal way to send money online, whether it’s sending money abroad or domestically, online money transfer is here to stay.
Which are the best money transfer services to use?
If you’re ready to set up a money transfer account and begin sending payments, picking, the right service is a must. Here’s a selection of the highly-rated options for money transfer to get you started.
CurrencyFair
About CurrencyFair:
- Founded: 2009
- Founders: Brett Meyers, David Christian, Jonathan Potter, Sean Barrett
- CEO: Paul Byrne
- Headquarters: Dublin, Ireland
- Website: www.currencyfair.com
Features:
- Low-cost transfers
- Set your own rate
- Live conversion rate
- Multi-currency account
- Business account
Affordable, fast, and innovative in its payment approach, CurrencyFair may have a smaller pool of countries. Still, it makes up for it with crystal clear rates and effective payment processes.
CurrencyFair is a solid and trustworthy money transferring platform that has been in business for more than 10 years. It offers very competitive fx rates and a transparent flat fee. They are a mature company that will not disappoint personal but also business users.
Fin.do
About Fin.do:
- Founded: 2018
- Founders: Zhana Dar
- CEO: Zhana Dar
- Headquarters: Vilnius, Lithuania
- Website: www.fin.do
Features:
- Send money instantly 24/7
- Link your credit, debit, or prepaid card
- Does not hold your funds
- Fees are transparent and clear
- Available for both iOS and Android
Fin.do is one of the newer generations of money transfer applications. As a mobile-only service, the target audience for the platform is clear. Individuals can quickly, conveniently, and securely send money from their debit or credit card to a recipient’s debit or credit card in seconds, no e-wallet or stored cash is required.
Fin.do advertises itself as offering instant and secure transfers, using MasterCard for debit, credit, and prepaid cards.
MoneyGram
About MoneyGram:
- Founded: 1940
- CEO: W. Alexander Holmes
- Headquarters: Dallas, United States
- Website: www.moneygram.com
Features:
- User-friendly service
- Thousands of locations
- Earn rewards
- Send online wire transfers on-the-go
- Manage your transactions and profile
MoneyGram has been around for a long time and now they’ve entered the modern era with their online and mobile money transfers.
Join their MoneyGram Plus Rewards program and get 20% off the fee on your 2nd money transfer. Get 40% off the fee after every 5th money transfer.
With thousands of locations worldwide, it’s easy to find a MoneyGram agent location near you.
OFX
About OFX:
- Founded: 1998
- Founders: Matthew Gilmour
- CEO: John Alexander Malcolm
- Headquarters: Sydney, Australia
- Website: www.ofx.com
Features:
- Make transfers to over 190 countries
- 50+ currencies available
- 24/7 real-person support
- Listed on the Australian Stock Exchange
- Fix FX rates for up to 12 months
- Send and accept multi-currency payments
OFX is a global payment service that has been around since 1998. They have offices around the world and do personal and business transactions. It’s especially suited for companies, e-commerce businesses, and sole traders.
The company has managed over 1 million transfers, totaling in excess of €90 billion. Along with all the major global currencies, OFX has a wide range of ‘exotic’ currencies to choose from.
Paysend
About Paysend:
- Founded: 2017
- Founders: Abdul Abdulkerimov, Ronald Millar
- CEO: Ronald Millar
- Headquarters: London, England
- Website: paysend.com
Features:
- Transfer money to over 90 countries
- Fixed fee
- Paysend link
- Instant processing
- Paysend Global account
- Paysend Smartcard
- Business accounts
With support for more than 90 countries and the ability for card-to-card transfer, Paysend fills the niche for card-based money transfer services nicely.
There are plenty of pluses to using a money transfer card-to-card system like Paysend. While it won’t necessarily replace existing services, it’s a user-friendly alternative that’s quick and easy to pick up, and completely secure for all your card transfer needs.
If you happen to live in one of the countries where bank transfer is accessible, there’s even more functionality to this specific service. Add on the fixed, low-cost fees, and this platform is one that’s worth a try.
Remitly
About Remitly:
- Founded: 2011
- Founders: Joshua Hug, Matthew Oppenheimer, Shivaas Gulati
- CEO: Matthew Oppenheimer
- Headquarters: Seattle, Washington
- Website: www.remitly.com
Features:
- First-time transfer promotions
- Easy to understand and send money
- Delivery promise
- Delivered by a specified time or the fees are refunded
- Many delivery options
- Track your transfer by email and text
It’s not easy being an immigrant or an expat at times. Sending your hard-earned money shouldn’t cost an arm and a leg, but sometimes it does.
Luckily, Remitly is offering a good range of countries and currencies to choose from. If your country is supported, it’s a good choice for sending money with flexible payment options and many delivery selections.
With the Remitly app, you can count on plenty of choices for your family. In countries like Mexico, India, and the Philippines, you’ll find thousands of locations for sending money home, from mobile wallet accounts to bank deposits to cash pickup at stores.
Rewire
About Rewire:
- Founded: 2015
- Founders: Adi Ben Dayan, Guy Kashtan, Or Benoz, Saar Yahalom
- CEO: Guy Kashtan
- Headquarters: Tel Aviv, Israel
- Website: www.rewire.com
Features:
- Free debit Mastercard
- Free Euro IBAN account
- Free local transfers in Europe
First launched in January 2015, Rewire is an online digital banking and money transfer service designed specifically for expats or those spending large amounts of time abroad.
Their services include the creation of a dedicated online bank account or MasterCard, as well as offering money transfers locally and internationally.
Rewire provides its users with a dedicated EUR IBAN account upon signing up to its platform. As such, it’s no surprise that the platform is designed for expats working in Europe, which limits the creation of accounts and the use of services outside this specific continent.
Ria
About Ria:
- Founded: 1987
- CEO: Juan Bianchi
- Headquarters: Oslo, Norway
- Website: www.riamoneytransfer.com
Features:
- Redesigned app
- Extensive network of cash pickup locations
- 447,000+ locations worldwide
- New users can get a free first transfer
- Home delivery is available in select countries
Ria has more than 30 years of experience in the industry and, with the backing of Euronet, your money is safe in its hands. Its global network includes 447,000 locations in 160 countries worldwide.
You can send up to $3k per money transfer, per day. The maximum amount you can send in 30 days is $8k.
Using your credit/debit card to pay for your transfer may require a fee, but the money is available within 15 minutes. Using your bank account to pay for your transfer is usually the least expensive option but it may take up to 4 business days for the money to arrive.
TransferGo
About TransferGo:
- Founded: 2012
- Founders: Arnas Lukosevicius, Daumantas Dvilinskas, Edvinas Sersniovas, Justinas Lasevicius
- CEO: Daumantas Dvilinskas
- Headquarters: London, England
- Website: www.transfergo.com
Features:
- Transparent
- Low fees
- Business money transfers
- Fast transfers
- Many countries supported
TransferGo is a money transfer service that offers a straightforward service to its customers: quick, secure money transfer. Supporting both bank and card money transfers, albeit, with slightly more limitations, TransferGo has grown its services over the past nine-plus years to encompass 22 currencies and 63 countries.
With offices in London, Berlin, and Warsaw, it’s easy to see the European focus the company has chosen to pursue. However, the company has undoubtedly extended beyond those borders, allowing its users to send money to a wide range of different countries worldwide.
As with any good modern money transfer service, TransferGo has mobile applications for Android and iOS, making it easy and convenient to transfer money directly from your smartphone.
Wise (TransferWise)
About Wise:
- Founded: 2011
- Founders: Kristo Käärmann and Taavet Hinrikus
- CEOs: Kristo Käärmann and Taavet Hinrikus
- Headquarters: London, England
- Website: wise.com
Features:
- Free online account
- International bank details
- Send money to more than 70 countries, always with a low and transparent fee
- Direct Debits in the UK, Europe, and the US
- Spend in local currency with your card
- Receive your salary, pension, and more
- Pay at the real exchange rate
- Pay online securely with instant notifications
- Use your card in more than 200 countries and withdraw money from 2.3 million ATMs
Since its launch in London in 2011, Wise has focused on making international money transfers cheaper and more transparent.
By charging extremely low fees compared with high street banks and other online payment providers and using the real exchange rate when converting currencies, Wise has quickly become a top choice for both personal and business international bank transfers.
Wise got famous for transferring money in a fast, cheap, and transparent manner across the world. To think that other platforms or vendors charge from 5 to 13 times more for the same thing is really mind-boggling. No wonder that big banks are losing customers left and right.
On top of reliable money transfers, people and businesses can take advantage of many other benefits that a Wise account has to offer.
WorldFirst
About WorldFirst:
- Founded: 2004
- Founders: Jonathan Quin and Nick Robinson
- CEO: Jonathan Quin
- Headquarters: London, England
- Website: www.worldfirst.com
Features:
- Fast and reliable transfers
- Good customer support
- Easy to open online
- Major marketplaces supported
- Xero integration
- For businesses only
WorldFirst is a foreign exchange and payments company at its core. Its mission is to make it easy to do business anywhere.
A veteran in money transfers and payments, WorldFirst is going stronger than ever, and more focused on business customers. If you want to save your business some money with competitively priced exchange rates, look no further than WorldFirst.
As a new WorldFirst customer you will begin with a maximum FX fee of 0.5% when you open an International Payments Account and a maximum FX fee of 0.6% if you open an International Collection Account.
WorldRemit
About WorldRemit:
- Founded: 2010
- Founders: Ismail Ahmed, Catherine Wines, and Richard Igoe
- CEO: Breon Corcoran
- Headquarters: London, England
- Website: www.worldremit.com
Features:
- Send 90 currencies to 150 countries
- WorldRemit Wallet
- Fast transfers
- Great fees
- Cash pickup
- A good few ways to send and receive money
With over 90 countries supported and versatile payment options, WorldRemit is a great all-rounder for those looking for affordable money transfers.
WorldRemit is a good choice for most international money transfers. You can choose from more than a hundred countries and several dozen currencies. Their service is easy to use, and you can set up an account very quickly.
Depending on where you’re sending money, the platform may not be the most cost-effective. But if you’re more worried about getting it done quickly and easily from your smartphone, WorldRemit is probably a safe and reliable choice.
Xoom
About Xoom:
- Founded: 2001
- Founders: Alan Braverman, Kevin Hartz
- Headquarters: San Francisco, United States
- Website: www.xoom.com
Features:
- Owned by PayPal
- Money-back guarantee
- Clear, upfront pricing
- 120+ countries
- Send cash for pick up or home delivery
- Pay international bills
- Reload a prepaid mobile phone
Xoom, which was acquired by PayPal in 2015, offers you fast, easy, and secure ways to send money, reload phones, and pay bills for family and friends around the world.
With Xoom, you can send money at up to three different levels. At each level, there is a maximum amount of money that you can send within a certain period of time. Where you live, how the money is received, and the partner limits all play a role in determining the limits.
Read on to learn all about money transfer, from what it is to where you can get the best deal.
Other Money Transfers Companies
What are the money transfer services?
As the name suggests, money transfer services offer a way to send your money to a different account, debit card, or cash service. Frequently used to send money internationally for foreign workers and standard banking services, money transfer is only gaining in popularity.
There are now many options on the market to choose from, from browser-based simple transfer services to account-based, smartphone-only accounts.
From a straightforward five-minute process to a full-on digital bank account, there’s a wide variety in what’s on offer.
But the one thing that stays the same is that these services are explicitly designed to provide a fast, convenient, and affordable service, especially in comparison to the high cost of transfer through banks, which can often be prohibitive to their customers.
If you want to transfer money online easily, quickly, and affordably, then money transfer services are the way to go.
Why use a money transfer service?
There are many reasons why you might want to use a money transfer service. Perhaps you want to make a significant, one-off payment, but the bank’s price is too high. Maybe you want a convenient, practical online location to send money abroad regularly.
Or you might want something that works directly through your smartphone. Money transfer services are a versatile solution in many circumstances, especially with the variety of services available – from full bank accounts to simple transfer websites.
Where can you send money using a money transfer service?
Where you can send money abroad with a money transfer service will depend entirely on your choice of provider. If you’d like to send money to India, send money to Nigeria, or send money to the Philippines, these options are widely included in many different money transfer services as stock options.
However, if you’re looking to send money to any other country or somewhere like the UK, US, or Canada, you may have to search for a specific service that offers this.
Most online money transfer services will attempt to accommodate wherever you’d like to send money. Whether it’s directly to a debit card, a simple bank transfer, or a third-party service, money transfer services will make it clear on their site or app which options they offer.
If you’re sending cash to a common location, such as Africa or parts of Asia, most platforms will likely have an option for you.
Do you need to live in a specific country to use money transfers?
Certain money transfer services will only be available for people in specific locations, as with any financial service. In part, this is due to financial regulations and requirements within the company’s country of operation.
Many money transfer platforms will allow you to make payments to a far more extensive range of countries than how many countries you can create an account in.
How do you send money using a money transfer service?
If you’d like to send money using a money transfer service, there is a wide range of options to suit just about any individual. One of the best things about money transfer services is the versatility that they offer compared to utilizing a standard banking service.
Here are some of the ways you can send money with a money transfer service.
Depositing cash
Using this method, you create an account with your money transfer service of choice. Once your account has been approved, you can deposit money into your online account using the deposit methods provided. Once this has cleared, you can then send the money through various available payment methods.
Debit or credit card
These money transfers work similarly to online payment in e-commerce, where you provide your card details. They are used to ‘pay’ the person or company on the other end.
Your money transfer service facilitates this process but doesn’t necessarily require you to deposit that money into an account or wait before transfer when you send money online with a credit card.
Bank transfer
Much like the method above, this option involves you providing payment details via your bank account. This money is then sent to the other account, card, or service instantly or with a small holding period depending on your money transfer service of choice.
Account to account
In some cases, you may transfer from your money transfer account to a different money transfer account. While this is a form of money transfer, this method is done entirely within the service framework instead of being sent to an external location.
This option would require the other person to have an account with the same provider.
Is money transfer the best way to send money abroad?
If you need to send cash abroad, money transfer services are the best way to send money abroad. They provide better rates than banks, and often the money can get there faster.
You’re also equipped with a broader range of options for making payments. Any transfer to a bank, debit card, or even through a third-party cash pickup service is possible, depending on your service choice.
What information do I need to send money?
Most, if not all, money transfer companies will ask you for the following information:
- Your recipient’s first and last name (as shown on their government-issued ID)
- Their address
- Their phone number
- If you decide to deposit money directly into their account, you will need your recipient’s bank details including their bank account and routing number
The bottom line
Whether you’re planning to transfer money just once or you need a regular service that meets your specific requirements, a money transfer service ticks all the boxes. Competitive costs, higher accessibility, and plenty of different options to suit individual needs.
From payment methods to broad country and currency availability. If you need to transfer money, an online money transfer service is exactly what you need.
Adrian Volenik is a fintech enthusiast who loves testing and reviewing digital banking apps and financial products in general. How many digital banking accounts can one man have? Not enough, if you ask Adrian. As his wallet will soon explode if he doesn’t cut back on the number of cards.
