Ria money transfers review
- Minimum Transfer Amount
- $1
- Fastest Transfer Speed
- Within an hour
- Receiving Options
- Cash pickup location, Bank account, Mobile wallet
Our verdict
Send fast transfers to over 190 countries and territories, but consider other options if you need to send more than $3,000.
Ria Money Transfer is a US-based company that lets you send money transfers just around the world. You can send cash pickup transfers, bank transfers, mobile wallet and even cash home delivery to some countries. It's quick and easy to send funds, and cash pickup transfers are ready for your recipient to collect in as little as 15 minutes.
Just be aware that an exchange rate markup and transfer fee will apply to your transaction. And with a maximum transfer limit of $3,000 per day, you'll need to look elsewhere if you want to send a large amount.
Best for: People who need to send cash pickup transfers of less than $3,000.
Pros
-
Send money to over 190 countries and territories
-
Over 500,000 cash pickup locations worldwide
-
Flexible delivery methods
-
Fast transfers
Cons
-
Not suitable for transfers of more than $3,000
-
Exchange rate markup applies
-
Watch out for transfer fees
Details
Product details
| Product Name | Ria |
| Pay By | Bank transfer |
| Receiving Options | Cash pickup location, Bank account, Mobile wallet |
| Customer Service | Phone, Email, In person |
| Available Currencies | AED, ALL, AMD, ARS, AUD, BAM, BBD, BDT, BGN, BHD, BIF, BOB, BYN, CAD, CDF, CHF, CLP, CNY, COP, CRC, DJF, DKK, DOP, DZD, EGP, ERN, ETB, EUR, FJD, GBP, GEL, GHS, GMD, GNF, GTQ, GYD, HNL, HRK, HTG, HUF, IDR, ILS, INR, JMD, JOD, JPY, KES, KGS, KHR, KMF, KZT, LAK, LBP, LKR, LRD, MAD, MDL, MMK, MNT, MXN, MYR, MZN, NGN, NIO, NOK, NPR, NZD, OMR, PEN, PHP, PKR, PLN, PYG, QAR, RON, RSD, RUB, RWF, SCR, SEK, SLL, SRD, THB, TJS, TND, TOP, TRY, TTD, TZS, UAH, UGX, USD, UYU, UZS, VND, VUV, XAF, XCD, XOF, YER, ZMW, MRO |
What is Ria?
Ria is a money transfer service that lets you send money to over 190 countries and territories. Founded in New York City in 1987, Ria is best known for offering cash pickup transfers to a global network of over 500,000 agent locations. However, it also supports other transfer types, including bank account deposits and mobile wallet transfers.
What we like about Ria
- Send money to over 190 countries and territories. Ria lets you send money from Canada to recipients all around the world.
- Large global network. Ria has over 500,000 cash pickup locations globally.
- Flexible transfer options. You can send a transfer in-store, online or via the Ria mobile app.
- Supports multiple receiving methods. Receiving methods include cash pickup, bank account and mobile wallet. Cash home delivery is also available in a small number of countries.
- Easy to use. It’s quick and easy to send a transfer online or using the Ria app. The app also has a “Send Again” feature so you can send repeat transfers quickly.
- Fast transfers. If you send a cash pickup transfer and pay with a credit or debit card, the money could be ready for your recipient to collect within minutes.
- 24/7 security monitoring. Ria’s security team monitors transfers 24/7 for any signs of suspicious activity.
- First transfer is free. There are no fees on your first transfer if you enter the HELLORIA promo code.
What to be aware of
- Low transfer limit. The maximum amount you can send with Ria is limited to $3,000 per day. If you need to send a larger transfer, you’ll need to consider other providers. It’s worth noting that some Ria agent and partner locations also impose their own receiving limits.
- Exchange rate markup. Ria adds a margin to the mid-market exchange rate when converting your Canadian dollars to foreign currency. When we checked, this markup ranged anywhere from approximately 0.2% to 3% depending on the currency being sent.
- Transfer fee. You’ll also pay a transfer fee to send money with Ria. The size of the fee varies depending on your payment and delivery method, where you’re sending money and the transfer amount.
- No bank transfer payment. You can only pay for your transfer using credit card, debit card or cash.
Ria exchange rates
You won’t get the mid-market exchange rate when you transfer money with Ria. Ria adds a margin on top of the mid-market rate, but the size of this markup varies depending on the currency. As you can see in the table below, we found the markup to be around 2.5 – 3% on currencies like the USD and EUR, but less than 1% if you’re sending to India or the Philippines.
It’s a good idea to compare the rate offered by Ria with the current mid-market rate to calculate the size of the exchange rate markup. You can then use this to compare exchange rates across other money transfer providers.
It’s also worth pointing out that Ria often offers a promotional exchange rate on your first transfer. So if you’re sending a one-off transfer rather than making regular payments, you may be able to secure a good deal.
Sample Ria exchange rate markups
| Sending money to | Mid-market exchange rate | Ria exchange rate | Estimated exchange rate markup |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 1 CAD = 0.73 USD | 1 CAD = 0.71 USD | 2.74% |
| Europe | 1 CAD = 0.68 EUR | 1 CAD = 0.66 EUR | 2.94% |
| India | 1 CAD = 60.62 INR | 1 CAD = 60.48 INR | 0.23% |
| Philippines | 1 CAD = 41.98 PHP | 1 CAD = 41.60 PHP | 0.91% |
| Mexico | 1 CAD = 12.45 MXN | 1 CAD = 12.13 MXN | 2.57% |
| Japan | 1 CAD = 114.46 JPY | 1 CAD = 112.46 JPY | 1.75% |
How we calculated the Ria exchange rate markup
To estimate the Ria exchange rate markup, we took the rate quoted by Ria for sending $500 to each destination. We then subtracted Ria’s rate from the mid-market rate (taken from Xe), then divided that number by the mid-market rate and converted it to a percentage.
Please note that the percentages quoted are estimates. The exchange rate markup you receive will vary depending on factors like where you’re sending money and when. Use Ria’s app or website to calculate how much you’ll be charged.
Ria money transfer fees
You’ll also pay a transfer fee when you send money with Ria. The fee amount varies depending on:
- Payment method
- Delivery method
- Where you’re sending money
- Transfer amount
It’s easy to check the fee that will apply to your transfer using the calculator on Ria’s website or in the mobile app. To give you an idea of how Ria money transfer fees change, the table below shows the transfer fee that applies when you send $500 to India.
| Sending money to | Payment method | Delivery method | Transfer fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| India | Debit card | Cash pickup | $8.99 |
| India | Credit card | Cash pickup | $12.99 |
| India | Debit card | Bank transfer | $1.99 |
| India | Credit card | Bank transfer | $2.99 |
Ria payment and delivery methods
You can send a transfer with Ria online, via the Ria mobile app or in-person at a Ria location. You can use Ria to send money to:
- A cash pickup location that your recipient can easily access
- Your recipient’s bank account
- Your recipient’s mobile wallet
- Your recipient’s home via courier delivery (only available in selected countries)
You can pay for your transfer using:
- Cash (in-store only)
- Credit card
- Debit card
How to sign up for a Ria account
You can create a Ria account online or via the mobile app. Here’s what you need to do if signing up online:
- Visit the Ria website and click “Register”.
- Choose Canada as your country of residence and click “Get started”.
- Enter your phone number and then type in the security code that is sent to your phone.
- Create your password.
- Enter your name, date of birth, occupation, email address and residential address.
How to send a money transfer with Ria
You can send a transfer with Ria by completing the following steps:
- Log in to your account and click “Send money”.
- Choose the country you’re sending money to and enter the amount you want to transfer (or the amount you want your recipient to get).
- Choose your payment method.
- Choose the delivery method.
- Enter your recipient’s details, including their name, where they live and their bank account details (if applicable).
- Review all transaction details and send your transfer.
How long do Ria transfers take?
Ria international money transfer speeds depend on factors such as:
- Your payment method
- The day and time of week you send your transfer
- Where you’re sending money
- Any necessary security checks
Ria says that if you’re paying by card, transactions commonly take 15 minutes to 6 hours to complete, while paying by cash deposit will take up to 1 business day. Bank account transfers can take up to 4 business days.
Is Ria safe to use?
Ria has been in business for over 35 years and has handled more than 1 billion transfers. It is regulated in Canada by FINTRAC.
Ria has 24/7 security monitoring in place to track transfers and detect suspicious activity. It also helps keep your financial information safe by never storing payment details on its servers.
Ria reviews
Customer reviews for Ria are generally positive. Users who have left positive reviews on Trustpilot mention Ria’s ease of use, fast transfers and competitive fees. Negative reviews sometimes complain about cancelled transactions, slow transfer speeds and poor customer service.
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Trustpilot | 4.4/5 stars based on 18,957 Ria reviews |
| 4.1/5 stars based on 7 Ria reviews (US headquarters) | |
| Better Business Bureau accredited | Yes (US headquarters) |
| Better Business Bureau rating | A+ (US headquarters) |
| Better Business Bureau reviews | 1.26/5 based on 26 Ria reviews (US headquarters) |
| Reviews as of | 30 April 2024 |
Ria app reviews
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Google Play | 4.8/5 stars based on over 97,000 ratings |
| Apple App Store Canada | 4.8/5 stars based on over 7,700 ratings |
| Reviews as of | 30 April 2024 |
How does Ria compare to other money transfer services?
Bottom line
Ria is well worth considering if you want to send a cash pickup transfer just about anywhere around the world. But its exchange rate markup varies depending on where you’re sending money, so compare rates across a range of money transfer services to work out whether it offers good value for your transfer. And if you need to send more than $3,000, you’ll need to consider other options.
Frequently asked questions
Your reviews
Tim Finder
Writer
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