Around since 1976, Travelex is a trusted name in the international money transfer space and services over 70 countries worldwide. Through its simple online process, you can transfer money to someone on the other side of the world within a couple of days. Its minimum transfer amount is $250, and they keep you up to date on exchange rates, so you can know exactly how much money your recipients will receive. Despite this, Travelex tends to add a higher markup to exchange rates than most online providers.
1. Xe Money Transfer
Xe Money Transfer is a service designed to help you transfer your foreign currency funds to a bank. If you’re working far from home, Xe is ideal for getting cash to your family or making investments overseas. Given how easy it is to transfer your money to foreign companies in their currency, it’s especially ideal for business accounts. Travelex offers their services to over 70 countries while Xe allows transfers to over 130 countries. Xe also supports over 100 currencies. Moreover, Xe has low fees and no maximum transfer limit.
Why pick Xe Money Transfer instead?
Low transfer fees
Trade in over 100 currencies, allowing for money transfers to over 130 countries
Competitive exchange rates save you money in the long run
No minimum or maximum transfer limit
Downsides
Don’t offer the mid-market rate
Exchange rate comparison tool not available until after you’ve registered with the site
2. Wise
Wise is a money transfer site designed to help you save money on exchanges through a peer-to-peer system. Their platform allows you to exchange your funds with those of another seeking to convert their money to your currency. It’s basically trading money with another person, but it doesn’t cross borders. Wise has a better exchange rate and provides faster transfers but doesn’t offer cash pickup.
High transfer limits — can send up to $50,000 per day and $1 million per year
Downsides
Transfers to bank accounts — no cash pickup option available
Two-step process means you must first wire your money to Wise, which then deposits the money to your recipient’s bank account
Requires a Social Security number to send money
Not as competitive for large transfers
3. WorldRemit
Both WorldRemit provide transfers to over 140 countries but stand out for offering more payment options. The company lets you pay for a transfer using a debit or credit card, bank account or mobile wallet, and the recipient can get their funds through their bank account, mobile wallet, mobile airtime account, cash pickup or home delivery. WorldRemit is ideal for small businesses, offering transfers from $1 to $9,000.
Why pick WorldRemit instead?
Available in over 140 countries worldwide
Flexible payment options, including debit or credit card, bank transfer, Android Pay and Apple Pay
Transfers to mobile wallet accounts
Cash pickup and home delivery available
Mobile airtime account transfers
Downsides
The higher your transfer, the greater the transfer fees
Low maximum transfer amount of $9,000
4. Ria
In business for more than 30 years, Ria is a global monetary transfer network with more than 316,000 agent locations in 160 countries and is the third-largest money transfer provider in the world. Unlike Travelex, which only offers bank-to-bank transfers, Ria offers a wide variety of payment options, including cash, debit card, credit card and bank account and cash pickup. Ria’s rates and fees depend on the amount, location and method of transfer.
Why pick Ria instead?
Wide variety of transfer options, including cash, debit card, credit card and bank account
Worldwide transfer network, with over 316,000 agent locations in more than 160 countries
Onlinecalculator simplifies money conversion
Great exchange rates that are stronger than most US banks
Home delivery option in select countries
Downsides
Maximum daily transfer cap of $2,999.99; maximum amount you can send in 30 days is $7,999
Inconsistent markups across currencies
Does not offer forward contracts or limit orders
5. Currencies Direct
Similar to Travelex, Currencies Direct charges no transfer fees, or at least 90% of the time it is. With a low minimum transfer of $100, make payments in 40+ currencies — a similar variety than the 45 currencies Travelex offers. Both companies only offer bank-to-bank transfers, but it should be mentioned that Currencies Direct supports large transactions at a seemingly unlimited maximum amount.
Supports large transactions at a seemingly unlimited max
Monitors exchange rates for your ideal transfer
Downsides
No cash pickup option — bank-to-bank wire transfers only
6. Western Union
Both Western Union and Travelex offer money transfers to over 70 countries around the world, but the two companies have a few key differences to keep in mind when considering your transfer options. While Western Union offers multiple transfer options including paying with cash, debit card, credit card or bank account, and also allows for cash pickups. Then there’s the fees and exchange rates to look at: Western Union is known to have weaker exchange rates and high fees — as compared to Travelex’s simple fee policy.
Why pick Western Union instead?
Send money in minutes
Transfer to over 200 countries and territories across the globe
Multiple transfer options including paying with cash or your debit card, credit card or bank account
Cash pickup available
Trusted provider for over 160 years
Downsides
Weak exchange rates that can be nearly 5% more than the mid-market rate
High fees, whereas other companies offer free transfers or low-fee transfers
Low maximum transfer amount of $5,000
7. MoneyGram
The second-largest international money transfer service in the world, MoneyGram transfers currencies in over 200 countries and territories to more than 350,000 agent locations worldwide. Unlike Travelex, which only allows for bank-to-bank transfers, MoneyGram offers online and in-person transfers to be collected via cash pickup or deposit into a bank account or mobile wallet, as well as home delivery.
Extensive global network of 350,000 agent locations in over 200 countries and territories
Large pool of services available for sending, receiving or financing
Fast transfers, with same-day service in many locations
Home delivery and cash pickup options
Low minimum transfer amount of $1
Downsides
Maximum online transfer amount of $6,000
Fees vary depending on payment type and transfer destination
Transfers must be made in US dollars from the US (no exchanges before transfer)
Local exchange rates vary by transfer destination
8. Walmart
Known for its retailing business, Walmart offers money transfer services to over 190 countries thanks to a partnership with MoneyGram. However, Walmart outshines Travelex with its wide variety of transfer options, including debit card, credit card, cash or bank account — and its home delivery and cash pickup options.
Travelex solely deals in bank-to-bank transfers. With a low minimum transfer amount of $1 and low maximum limit per day of $6,000, Walmart is ideal for smaller businesses looking to make one-off small-dollar transfers.
Why pick Walmart instead?
Widespread network of agents transfers to more than 190 countries and territories with 350,000 agents worldwide
Efficient transfers in as little as 10 minutes
Wide variety of transfer options, including debit card, credit card, cash or bank account
Home delivery and cash pickup available
Low minimum transfer amount of $1
Downsides
Rates and fees depend on location
Maximum sending limit of $6,000 per transaction — with a maximum of $6,000 per 30 calendar days
9. OFX
Both Travelex and OFX charge no fees for any transfers. OFX’s minimum transfer amount of $1,000 per year is higher than Travelex’s $250 minimum. Ultimately, if you’re a larger business looking to pay for exports or just need to transfer a larger sum to an account overseas, this service may be ideal.
Available in 195 countries and territories and 55 currencies
Offers scheduled and recurring transfers
iOS and Android apps available for mobile transfer and tracking
Downsides
Bank-to-bank transfers only — no cash payment or pickup
Verify new accounts by phone
High minimum transfer amount of $1,000 per year
10. Xoom
Xoom is a leading provider in the digital money transfer market that offers transfers to 57 countries around the world — a third of the 177 countries Travelex offers transfers to. However, Xoom has a low minimum transfer amount of $10, compared to Travelex’s higher $250 minimum, and it also offers cash pickup and home delivery in select countries. Moreover, Xoom offers a unique money-back guarantee if your transfer doesn’t arrive on time — a perk few money transfer companies have.
Why pick Xoom instead?
Low minimum transfer amount of $10
Money-back guarantee if your transfer doesn’t arrive on time
Cash pickup and home delivery available, depending on where you’re sending your funds to
Downsides
Transfer fees vary depending on where you’re sending money to, the amount you’re sending and the method you choose
Still looking for other options?
Our table lets you compare the services you can use to send money abroad. Compare services on transfer speeds and fees, then click Go to site when you're ready to send.
Whether products shown are available to you is subject to individual provider sole approval and discretion in accordance with the eligibility criteria and T&Cs on the provider website.
Leah Fallon is a freelance journalist and editor, specializing in personal finance and small business. She owns Birch Tree Bookstore in Leesburg, Virginia.
How do you know if your international money transfer made it safely? Learn how to track or cancel, and find out what your rights are when it comes to sending money.
From bank transfers to specialist money transfer companies, there are several options available when you need to transfer money overseas from your bank account.
If you need to transfer money overseas using your credit card, you can do so via your bank, MoneyGram, Western Union and PayPal. This can be useful in emergency situations, but credit card transfers are usually not a cost-effective option.
If you’re looking for a secure way to send money overseas, an international bank draft could be for you — but if speed is important, consider using a money transfer service instead.
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