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Best international money transfer apps

Send money overseas with these top-rated mobile money transfer apps.

When it comes to sending money overseas, banks aren’t your only option. You’ll often get lower fees and more convenient transfer options with a money transfer app.

We’ve scoured the market to find the best international money transfer apps, comparing transfer fees, exchange rates, speed, user-friendliness and more. Here are our top picks.

Best money transfer apps

  • Best for mobile app experience: Remitly
  • Best for flexible payment methods: Wise
  • Best for delivery options: WorldRemit
  • Best for large transfers (no maximum): OFX
  • Best for free or low fee transfers: XE
  • Best for currency options: Western Union

Best money transfer apps

1. Remitly

Best for mobile app experience

With the Remitly app, you'll be given the exact date and time your money will be available for your recipient. If your transfer is late, Remitly has a money-back guarantee. Learn more about this and other features before downloading the app to make sure it's the right fit for you.

Rated 4.8/5 on Google Play and 4.9/5 on the Apple App Store

  • Competitive exchange rates and offer great promotional offers for first-time users
  • Diverse delivery options - send money to bank accounts, for cash pickup and to mobile wallets
  • Low max transfer limits for new customers - limited to $999 per day and $2,999 per 7-day period
  • No hedging options
  • Inconsistent markups added to exchange rates across different countries
Receiving options Cash pickup location
Bank account
Mobile wallet
Home delivery
Pay By Credit card
Debit card
Bank transfer

2. Wise

Best for flexible payment methods

Send payments using the mid-market rate in 70+ countries with the Wise app. It includes a calculator you can use to get exchange rates and fees for specific transfers and offers an easy way to upload a photo of any personal ID needed to get started with Wise.

Rated 4.7/5 on Google Play and 4.6/5 on the Apple App Store

  • No markup on the exchange rate
  • Easy to use app with great UX
  • Low transfer minimum and high sending limits
  • No cash pick-up option
  • Not suitable for large transfers due to transfer fees
  • Recipient must have a bank account
Receiving options Bank account
Alipay (China only)
Pay By Credit card
Debit card
Bank transfer
Interac e-Transfer
Online bill payment
Direct debit (EFT)

3. WorldRemit

Best for delivery options

WorldRemit's network is smaller than providers like Western Union, but you'll often find better rates and lower fees with WorldRemit. WorldRemit's app shows you upfront the exchange rate and fees you'll be paying without needing to sign up.

Rated 4.6/5 on Google Play and 4.8/5 on the Apple App Store

  • Flexible payment options
  • Cash pickups, wallet transfers and airtime top-ups available within minutes after sending
  • Send money to over 130 countries
  • Maximum daily limits
  • Inconsistent markups across currencies, exchange rate markups range from 1-4%
Receiving options Cash pickup location
Bank account
Mobile wallet
Home delivery
Prepaid phone credit
Pay By Credit card
Debit card
Bank transfer
Apple Pay

4. OFX

Best for large transfers (no maximum)

OFX is a money transfer service that allows you to make large transfers in more than 50 currencies to over 160 countries from Canada. They provide dedicated account experts to advise customers and allow you to lock-in exchange rates ahead of time.

Rated 4.6/5 on Google Play and 4.8/5 on the Apple App Store

  • OFX supports over 50 currencies
  • No transfer fees over $10,000
  • You can hedge your risk and lock in exchange rates 12 months ahead of time
  • Not suitable for transfers of less than $250
  • Recipient must have a bank account
  • First transfer requires phone verification
Receiving options Bank account
Pay By Debit card
Bank transfer

5. Xe Money Transfers

Best for free or low-fee transfers

With a high maximum transfer amount and the option to send to 200+ countries, Xe Money Transfers are cost effective if you send funds frequently. But if you need to send cash or pay in cash, you'll have to look elsewhere.

Rated 4.8/5 on Google Play and 4.8/5 on the Apple App Store

  • Send funds in 100+ different currencies
  • Same-day delivery for some transfers
  • Competitive exchange rates
  • No cash pick-up option
  • Some transfers could take up to 72 hours to complete
Receiving options Bank account
Pay By Credit card
Debit card
Bank transfer

6. Western Union

Best for currency options

Western Union is an established brand in the money transfer space and has a wide reach their online platform, mobile app and over 2,500 agent locations in Canada.

Rated 4.3/5 on Google Play and 4.6/5 on the Apple App Store

  • User-friendly app that offers fast cash transfers
  • Massive network with over 200,000 agent locations worldwide
  • Higher fees for cash pickups
  • Expensive for domestic transfers
  • Not possible to send more than $999 per day online
Receiving options Cash pickup location
Bank account
Mobile wallet
Pay By Cash
Credit card
Debit card
Bank transfer

How do I find the best money transfer app?

Consider the following factors when comparing the value and quality of money transfer services:

Foreign exchange graphic: Currency symbols in a circle

Exchange rates

  • Mid-market rate. This is the “true” exchange rate between a pair of currencies (without any fees deducted for transfer services).
  • Exchange rate markup. Many transfer services deduct a small percentage of the midmarket rate as a fee.
  • Exchange rate vs fees. Pay attention to both fees and exchange rates. Some services offer $0 fees but charge a wide margin on the exchange rate.

Fees graphic: Calculator and money bag

Fees

  • Transfer fee. Can be a flat fee, a percentage fee or free.
  • Transfer amount. Percentage fees add up for large transfers. Some providers waive the fee at a certain threshold.
  • Payment method. Credit card payments can be expensive. Paying by bank transfer is often cheaper.
  • Receiving fee. Your recipient’s bank may charge a fee for receiving funds.

Clock watch icon

Speed

  • Financial network. Money typically passes through a complex network of intermediary banks to get to its destination. This impacts the speed of the transfer.
  • Transfer methods. Cash transfers often arrive quicker than bank wire transfers.
  • Time of transfer. Your transfer may be delayed if you send on weekends or holidays.

Cybersecurity icon showing a lock in a network of nodes

Security

  • Encryption and account protection. Transfer services often use SSL certificates to encrypt user data and multi-factor authentication to prevent unauthorized access to accounts.
  • Customer reviews. Find out which money transfer apps are reputable by checking out real customer reviews on sites like Trustpilot or the Better Business Bureau (BBB).

Risks of sending money overseas

Each year, Canadian residents send more than $5 billion in cash transfers to friends and family overseas, according to Statistics Canada.(1) The average amount sent, in 2017, was just over $2,800. However, data from the Finder: Consumer Sentiment Survey Q1(2) shows that this amount increased in the last few years.

Survey results from more than 1,845 respondents show that the average value of an international wire transfer increased 65.5% between 2017 to 2023, to just over $4,635. Men were more likely to send a larger amount, with an average money transfer sent by male respondents at just under $7,450, compared to just under $2,045 sent by female respondents.

One risk, when sending money overseas is to pay for the service but to make a mistake on who and where to send the money. According to data from the Finder: Consumer Sentiment Survey Q1, 26% of respondents admitted to sending money to the wrong person overseas, at least once. While just over half (54%) were able to get the wire transfer money back, 46% were not.

Compare money transfer services

Our table below lets you compare services you can use to send money abroad. Compare fees, exchange rates and discounts from different money transfer services, and when you have made your choice, click Go to site.
1 - 8 of 8
Name Product _compare_ Filter Values Fastest Transfer Speed Fees (Pay by Bank Transfer)
Wise (TransferWise)
24 hours
From 0.41%
Wise uses the mid-market rate and transparent fees to help you send money in 45+ currencies.
Xe Money Transfers
Within minutes
$0
Xe has fast transfers with low fees and a range of foreign currency tools.
Instarem
Within minutes
From $0
Use code HELLO to get $20 off on first two transfers on a min transfer of $250. Valid until November 30, 2023.
Instarem offers zero transfer fees on all transfers.
Africhange
Within minutes
From $0
Send money in CAD to Africa on this blockchain and P2P powered provider.
Remitly
Finder Award
Remitly
Within minutes
From $0
Special offers like free transfers and better exchange rates available for new customers.
Remitly has quick, affordable transfers around the world, with both express and economy options.
WorldRemit
Within minutes
From $0
Use promo code 3FREE and pay no fees on your first 3 transfers. Conditions apply.
WorldRemit sends money to 110+ countries for bank-to-bank deposits, cash pick-ups or mobile top-ups.
MoneyGram
Finder Award
MoneyGram
Within minutes
From $4.99
For a limited time, get $0 fees on your first money transfer from Canada. Conditions apply.
MoneyGram has fast cash pick-up transfers to more than 350,000 agent locations worldwide.
OFX
Finder Award
OFX
24 hours
$0
Exclusive offer: Discounted exchange rates for your first and ongoing transactions. $0 transfer fee.
OFX has no maximum limit transfers, with competitive exchange rates for 50+ currencies.
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Bottom line

To find the best international money transfer app, you need to look at fees, exchange rates, transfer options, speed and safety. Consider whether you’ll be sending small or large transfers, how often you need to send money, and which payment methods are the most convenient for you. To learn more about sending money overseas, check out our guide to international money transfers.

Survey Methodology for Finder: Consumer Sentiment Survey Q1

The results of the Finder: Consumer Sentiment Survey Q1 were collected through an online Pollfish survey conducted between December 2022 and January 2023. In the survey, 1,846 Canadians from across the country were asked about their use and opinions on international money transfers. The estimated margin of error for the survey is +/- 3%, with a 99% confidence level.

Frequently asked questions about the best money transfer apps

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