7 Best Global Money Transfer Apps in 2026

We tested 19 apps to find the best international money transfer app for Canadians.

International money transfer apps make it quick and easy to send money abroad. But with a long list of apps to choose from, which one is best?

To find out, we downloaded and tested 19 international money transfer apps—and the 7 apps featured here performed the best in our real-world tests.

Please note that the exchange rates providers offer can vary greatly depending on where and when you’re sending money, so no single provider will always be the cheapest in every scenario. That’s why it’s well worth downloading 3 to 4 of your favourite apps to compare costs for your transaction.

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Remitly: Offers an excellent app experience & competitive rates

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Why we like it

When we downloaded and tested Remitly, we found that it offered a smooth and seamless transfer process from start to finish. It’s easy to see why the Remitly app has received millions of 5-star customer reviews, as we found it to be simple to navigate right from the get-go. You can send money just about anywhere; we found the exchange rates and fees to be competitive; and we liked the flexibility of being able to send to someone’s bank account, mobile wallet, or even cash pickup or home delivery. And if you ever have a problem with a transfer, support is available 24/7.

Pros

  • Competitive exchange rates
  • Send money to 175+ countries
  • Multiple delivery options
  • Highly rated mobile app
  • 24/7 multilingual support

Cons

  • Exchange rate markups vary depending on destination
  • Fee structure is a little confusing

Wise: Has transparent fees & easy app experience

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Why we like it

Of all the international money transfer apps we tested, Wise was easily one of the most user-friendly. It’s sleek, streamlined, and everything just makes sense right from the first moment you open it. The other thing we really appreciated about Wise was its transparency surrounding costs—not only do you get the mid-market exchange rate without any markups, but you also get a clear breakdown of the transfer fees that apply before you send. Wise wasn’t always the cheapest in our testing, but we found that it’s often a competitive option for larger transfers of $1,000 or more. And you can get a transfer quote without having to sign up for an account first, so be sure to compare it against other options for your next transfer.

Pros

  • Get the mid-market exchange rate
  • Transparent fees
  • Very user-friendly app design
  • Lots of positive user reviews
  • 24/7 customer support

Cons

  • Often not the cheapest option for smaller transfers
  • Some payment methods (like e-Transfer or debit card) may be expensive
  • Some customer complaints about difficulty accessing human support

MoneyGram: Provides global coverage, with flexible payment & delivery options

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Why we like it

MoneyGram is one of the biggest names in the global money transfer business, and we found that it’s a provider well worth having on your shortlist of options. The first thing we liked about MoneyGram is that you can send money to 200+ countries and territories, so no matter where your loved ones are around the world, there’s a great chance MoneyGram has got you covered. We also appreciated its flexible range of payment options, plus the fact that we could send a cash pickup transfer to MoneyGram locations around the world in mere minutes. Just be aware that MoneyGram tends to have higher markups than other apps, based on our calculations.

Pros

  • Send money all over the world
  • Cash pickup transfers available for collection in minutes
  • Highly rated app
  • Supports multiple payment and payout methods

Cons

  • Exchange rate markups apply
  • Not the most competitive in terms of rates and fees
  • Watch out for transfer fees

Western Union: Provides global coverage, with cash pickup

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Why we like it

Western Union was founded way back in 1851, and we were pleased to discover in our testing that it’s still a competitive option for transferring money today. One of this app’s biggest strengths is global coverage, allowing you to send funds to 200+ countries and territories. We liked the convenience of being able to send online, via an app, or in person from thousands of agent locations across Canada. And with multiple payment and receiving options available, including cash pickup, Western Union is a must-compare platform no matter where you need to send money.

Pros

  • Huge global network
  • Pay with your bank account, credit card, debit card or cash
  • Get money to your recipient in a matter of minutes
  • Competitive rates for popular transfer destinations
  • Multiple delivery options available, including cash pickup

Cons

  • Fees often apply
  • Check the exchange rate markup

Paysend: Offers competitive rates, with delivery to debit/credit cards

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Why we like it

When we tested Paysend for international transfers to India and Ukraine, we found it to be a leading contender in terms of low transfer costs and ease of use. The Paysend app offers a user-friendly layout; it supports fast debit and credit card payments; and we liked having the option to send funds in 80+ currencies. We were a little annoyed that the prompt to see exchange rates and fees in the app before adding a recipient wasn't in a clear spot, but all in all the transfer process was reasonably smooth and seamless. So if you need to send money to friends or family abroad, it’s well worth checking out how Paysend stacks up against the competition.

Pros

  • Relatively user-friendly mobile app
  • Send money to 170+ countries
  • Transfers arrive as quickly as a matter of minutes
  • Competitive rates and transparent fees
  • Send to a debit/credit card in 100+ countries

Cons

  • Exchange rate markups apply
  • No cash pickup transfers

Remitbee: Provides fast transfers to most countries

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Why we like it

The first thing we liked when testing Remitbee was the range of payment methods it supports. You can pay by debit card, e-Transfer, bill payment or EFT, and you can send funds to 100+ countries worldwide. We also appreciated the speed of Remitbee transfers, with the option to send same-day transfers to most countries. We did find that exchange rate markups vary depending on where you’re sending money, and the transfer fee varies depending on your payment method—so it’s not always the cheapest option. But we did appreciate that Remitbee is transparent about costs and offers a money-back guarantee if the funds don’t reach your recipient, so it’s a solid option if you’re searching for the best international money transfer app.

Pros

  • Free first transfer
  • Money-back guarantee
  • Supports a wide range of payment methods
  • 24/7 support

Cons

  • No credit card payments
  • Watch out for exchange rate markups and transfer fees

Pesa: Provides competitive rates for select countries

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Why we like it

We hadn’t heard a whole lot about Pesa before putting it to the test, so we were pleasantly surprised to find that it’s a legit contender for your next transfer. When we used it to send $200 to India, we were quoted a competitive exchange rate markup of 0.53% and $0 transfer fees. We liked the fact that you can send money in a matter of minutes, but it’s worth noting that, like all transfer apps, Pesa’s rates vary depending on where you’re sending your transfer. We also liked the simple and user-friendly layout of the Pesa app, so it’s a solid pick if you’re searching for the best international money transfer app.

Pros

  • No fees
  • Competitive rates to popular destinations
  • Get money to your recipient in seconds
  • Multi-currency support

Cons

  • Higher exchange rate markups for some destinations
  • Doesn’t support as many destinations as some other apps
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How we found the best money transfer apps

Finder experts collected 65 points of data for more than 17 money transfer apps operating in Canada. Finder used this data to create a proprietary weighting formula that scores each lender based on rates, fees, amounts, app experience, delivery methods, payment methods, customer support, and reputation, among other features. The providers shown on the best list are those who scored highest based on this data-driven methodology. They are providers that are available and not available through Finder. While we aimed to review a wide range of money transfer apps, the apps listed do not reflect the entire market. Read more about the Finder money transfer app ratings methodology.

We calculated the true cost markups of the best money transfer apps

How much does it really cost to send an international money transfer? To find out, we checked how much each app featured in this guide charges to send money to the following destinations: India, Nigeria, the Philippines, France, Mexico and Australia.

We chose the cheapest payment and receiving methods available, and we compared the exchange rates quoted for a $250 transfer. Please note that the figures quoted in the table below are approximates, so costs may vary for your specific transfer.

True cost markup calculations

Transfer appCountryMid-market rate (1 CAD)Exchange rate offered (1 CAD)Fee chargedExchange rate markupFee markupTotal cost markup
RemitlyIndia68.11 INR66.99 INR$1.991.64%0.80%2.44%
Nigeria974.63 NGN982.42 NGN$0-0.80%0%-0.80%
Philippines43.50 PHP43.18 PHP$00.74%0%0.74%
France0.6168 EUR0.6026 EUR$02.30%0%2.30%
Mexico12.30 MXN12.23 MXN$1.990.57%0.80%1.37%
Australia1.0123 AUD1.0071 AUD$00.51%0%0.51%
Western UnionIndia68.1412 INR67.7146 INR$9.500.63%3.80%4.43%
Nigeria974.6288 NGN992.6382 NGN$8-1.85%3.20%1.35%
Philippines43.5053 PHP43.9670 PHP$8.50-1.06%3.40%2.34%
France0.6168 EUR0.6132 EUR$0.990.58%0.40%0.98%
Mexico12.2960 MXN12.2974 MXN$7.50-0.01%3%2.99%
Australia1.0122 AUD0.9891 AUD$7.502.28%3%5.28%
PaysendIndia67.66 INR67.701

INR

$2.21-0.06%0.88%0.82%
Nigeria971.23 NGN983.185 NGN$0-1.23%0.00%-1.23%
Philippines43.13 PHP43.0466 PHP$00.19%0.00%0.19%
Ukraine32.08 EUR31.6946 EUR$31.20%1.20%2.40%
Mexico12.30 MXN12.2186 MXN$30.66%1.20%1.86%
Australia1.00 AUD1.0102 AUD$0-1.02%0.40%-0.62%
WiseIndia68.1287 INR68.1470 INR$3.44-0.03%1.38%1.35%
Nigeria974.693 NGN985.455 NGN$3.73-1.10%1.49%0.39%
Philippines43.6205 PHP43.4883 PHP$3.680.30%1.47%1.17%
France0.6171 EUR0.6171 EUR$2.980%1.19%1.19%
Mexico12.2941 MXN12.2943 MXN$3.630%1.45%1.45%
Australia1.0124 AUD1.0124 AUD$3.170%1.27%1.27%
RemitbeeIndia68.13 INR67.85 INR$2.990.41%1.20%1.61%
Nigeria974.6744 NGN984.4868 NGN$2.99-1.01%1.20%0.19%
Philippines43.5009 PHP43.2013 PHP$2.990.69%1.20%1.89%
France0.6168 EUR0.6143 EUR$2.990.41%1.20%1.61%
Mexico12.2973 MXN12.0951 MXN$2.991.64%1.20%2.84%
Australia1.0124 AUD1.0025 AUD$2.990.98%1.20%2.18%
MoneyGramIndia68.12 INR67.76 INR$4.990.53%2%2.53%
Nigeria974.61 NGN969.91 NGN$4.990.48%2%2.48%
Philippines43.60 PHP43.48 PHP$3.490.28%1.40%1.68%
France0.61 EUR0.61 EUR$4.990%2%2%
Mexico12.29 MXN12.17 MXN$4.890.98%1.96%2.94%
Australia1.01 AUD0.99 AUD$5.991.98%2.40%4.38%
PesaIndia70.23 INR70.05 INR$00.26%0%0.26%
Nigeria997 NGN1,003 NGN$0-0.60%0%-0.60%
Philippines44.88 44.88 PHP44.77 44.77 PHP$00.25%0%0.25%
France0.63 EUR0.62 EUR$01.59%0%1.59%
Mexico12.65 MXN12.4 MXN$01.98%0%1.98%
Australia1.02 AUD1.01 AUD$00.98%0%0.98%

How to choose the best money transfer app

Make sure you consider the following factors when comparing money transfer apps.

Exchange rate

The mid-market rate is the “true” exchange rate between a pair of currencies. Some providers give you the mid-market rate when you send an international transfer, but most don’t. Instead, they add a margin on top of the mid-market rate when they convert your Canadian dollars to another currency.

We found that this markup can range anywhere from 0.1% to 5%, depending on the provider and where you send money. So even if an app advertises “$0 transfer fees,” don’t be tricked into thinking your transfer is free.

It’s also important to remember that some providers offer special promo rates for your first transfer, but their regular rates are not as good.

Fee

Some providers charge a transfer fee. This could be a flat fee or an amount calculated as a percentage of your transaction. Percentage fees add up for large transfers, but some providers waive the fee on large transfers. Paying with a credit card often attracts higher fees, so it may be cheaper to pay by e-Transfer or bank transfer.

Supported currencies and countries

Some apps support a handful of currencies, while others let you send money to just about any country around the world. Make sure the app you choose supports the right transfer destinations.

Payment methods

Check how you can pay for your transfer. Common methods include e-Transfer, bank transfer, wire transfer, debit card and credit card. Some providers also let you pay cash in-store.

Payout methods

Depending on the app you choose, you might be able to send funds to your recipient’s bank account, mobile wallet or debit card. Some providers also allow you to send cash pickup transfers or offer cash home delivery.

Take note that not all receiving methods are available in all destinations—for example, a provider may only offer cash pickup or mobile wallet transfers in specific locations.

Transfer speed

Check how long it will take for your recipient to get the money. Cash, debit and credit card transfers typically arrive quicker than bank wire transfers, and in some cases, it’s possible to complete a transaction in minutes.

Customer support

Check how you can contact customer support if you have a problem with your transfer. Are phone, email and live chat available? During what hours? Do other customers leave positive reviews about the support they receive?

Regulation and security

Check whether the transfer app is registered as a Money Services Business with FINTRAC. You can also check reviews on sites like the Better Business Bureau and Trustpilot for added peace of mind.

Don’t forget to read up on any security features the app offers to protect your funds, such as data encryption and multi-factor authentication.

Bottom line

There are lots of great options if you want to send an international money transfer from Canada. The best apps offer great exchange rates, low fees, fast transfers, and support for a wide range of payment methods. Compare your options today to find the best international money transfer app for the transfer(s) you want to send.

Frequently asked questions

Sources

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To make sure you get accurate and helpful information, this guide has been edited by Leanne Escobal as part of our fact-checking process.
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Tim Falk is a freelance writer for Finder. Over the course of his 20-year writing career, he has reported on a wide range of personal finance topics. Whether you're investing in stocks and ETFs, comparing savings accounts or choosing a credit card, Tim wants to make it easier for you to understand. When he’s not staring at his computer, you can usually find him exploring the great outdoors. See full bio

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Tim has written 563 Finder guides across topics including:
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