Best Apps to Send Money to Australia (w/ Calculations)

We downloaded and tested more than 15 money transfer apps to find the best options for sending money from Canada to Australia. To figure out which one is actually the cheapest, we calculated the true cost markup of each app by looking at their fees, exchange rates and how they compare to the mid-market rate. To keep things fair, we ignored promotional rates and used standard exchange rates instead. Plus, we did our testing on the same day so market fluctuations wouldn’t skew the results.

Compare the cheapest apps for sending money to Australia

Here are the results for a $200 transfer to Australia. For each test, we chose the cheapest option available for payment and delivery methods. Just keep in mind that provider rates change constantly. The cheapest option right now might not be the best deal tomorrow. Because of that, it is a great idea to download 3 or 4 of your favourite apps so you can quickly compare their rates right before you send.

Data based on a test conducted in June 2026. Actual rates and fees fluctuate and are not guaranteed.

The verdict

If you’re looking strictly at cost, Africhange, Instarem and Pesa are the best apps for sending money to Australia, based on this test.

How can some money transfer apps provide a very low or negative cost markup?

Some money transfer apps can offer very low or even negative cost markups by cutting out traditional banking middlemen and matching buyers and sellers directly across different currencies. They also treat cheap international transfers as a loss leader; they lose money on the transfer itself just to get you onto their platform.

Which apps are best overall for sending money to Australia?

We didn’t focus only on cost in our quest to find the best money transfer apps in Canada. We looked at a wide variety of features, such as transfer limits, user experience, delivery methods, payment methods, customer support and time in business.

After weighing the various features, here are the 6 best apps for sending money to Australia.

Please note: Wealthsimple also received a high score of 9.1, but we’ve focused the table above on apps specializing in money transfers.

Steps to send money to Australia

1. Create an account

Compare money transfer companies that let you send money to Australia. When you find the company that offers the best value for money, sign up for a free account.

It’s easy to sign up online or via the provider’s mobile app. You’ll need to provide:

• Your name, address and contact details
• Proof of ID
• Your payment method

2. Input your amount

Enter the amount you would like to send in Canadian dollars. Most transfer providers have an exchange rate calculator that will show you how many Australian dollars your recipient will get.

3. Select a delivery method

Choose whether you want to send funds directly to your recipient’s Australian bank account, send a cash pickup transfer or send money to their mobile wallet.

4. Input your recipient’s details

Provide your recipient’s name, address and contact details. If you’re sending money to their bank account, you’ll also need their account name, number, BSB code and SWIFT code.

5. Select a payment method

Supported payment methods vary depending on the transfer company you choose. Common options include debit or credit card, bank transfer, Interac e-Transfer or bill payment.

6. Send

Review the exchange rate and fee that apply to your transaction. Check that all the details are correct before sending your money.

How to choose the best money transfer specialist

Consider the following factors to find a transfer specialist that offers the best way to send money from Canada to Australia.

Exchange rates

Most money transfer specialists add a markup to the mid-market (or real) exchange rate when converting your Canadian dollars to Aussie dollars. The size of the markup can have a big impact on the total cost of your transaction, particularly for large transfers, so shop around to find the best CAD/AUD exchange rate.

Bear in mind that some companies offer the mid-market rate.

Fees

You’ll often pay a transfer fee. This could be a flat fee or a percentage of your transaction amount. It can vary depending on your payment and delivery method as well as where you’re sending money.

Compare money transfer specialists using the specific details of your transaction to get an accurate idea of fees and exchange rates.

Currencies and countries

The provider you choose will obviously need to support Australian dollar transfers to Australia. But if you’re planning on sending money to any other international destinations, it’s worth checking if the company supports those currencies.

Payment methods

Check that the money transfer service supports your preferred payment method. Common options include:

• Bank transfer
• Interac e-Transfer
• Credit card
• Debit card
• Online bill payment
• Cash

Delivery methods

Make sure the transfer service offers a convenient way for your recipient to access the money you send. For example, if you need to send a fast transfer, do they offer cash pickups? If your recipient needs the money sent directly to their bank account, does the provider offer bank transfers to Australia?

Transfer speed

Check how long it will take for your recipient to get the money. Cash pickup transfers are generally the quickest option and allow you to send money to Australia in a matter of minutes. Transfers to a bank account often take 1-2 business days to process but may take longer in some cases.

Transaction limits

Many providers have limits on how much money you can send per transaction, per day and per month. The limit may also vary for different currencies, so find out how much you can send to Australia with each service.

Customer support

Check how you can contact customer support if you have a problem with a transfer. Can you contact the support team 24/7, or is service only available during specific hours?

How to get the best rates when sending money from Canada to Australia

There are a few simple things you can do to get the best CAD/AUD exchange rate when you send money to Australia.

• Check the mid-market rate. Check the current CAD/AUD exchange rate so you know whether you’re getting a good deal.
• Use advanced transfer tools. Some money transfer companies offer advanced tools to help you get the exchange rate you want. For example, you could use a forward contract to lock in an exchange rate today for a transfer that will be sent in up to 12 months’ time. You could also use a limit order to ensure that your transfer is automatically sent when the rate you want becomes available.
• Send money to an Australian bank account. While rates vary between providers, you’ll get a better exchange rate if you send money to a bank account instead of using a cash pickup transfer service.
• Shop around. Don’t just settle for the first money transfer company you find. Compare multiple providers to get the best CAD/AUD exchange rate when you send money to Australia.

CAD to AUD: What’s the exchange rate?

Historical data: Money transfers to Australia using different apps

To help you track long-term trends in transfer costs, we’ve archived our previous fee and exchange-rate data from 2024 below.

In this example, we chose the cheapest payment method at each company and selected transfers to an Australian bank account.

• Historical data: 2024

  Provider	Exchange rate	Fee	Recipient gets
  Remitly	1 CAD = 1.1170 AUD (first transfer promotion, not the standard rate)	$2.99 ($0 on first transfer)	AUD$223.40 (with $0 fee on first transfer) AUD$220.06 (without $0 fee promotion)
  Wise	1 CAD = 1.1172 AUD	$2.69	AUD$220.54
  Instarem	1 CAD = 1.1127 AUD (first transfer promotion) 1 CAD = 1.1085 (standard rate)	$0	AUD$222.54 (with promotion) AUD$221.70 (without promotion)
  Xe	1 CAD = 1.0967 AUD	$0	$219.34
  WorldRemit	1 CAD = 1.0852 AUD	$0	$217.04
  Remitbee	1 CAD = 1.1071 AUD	$2.99	$221.42
  Western Union	1 CAD = 1.101 AUD	$0 on first transfer $1.99 without promotion	$220.12 (with promotion) $218.01 (without promotion)
  Xoom	1 CAD = 1.0949 AUD	$2.99	$215.71
  MoneyGram	1 CAD = 1.0722 AUD	$4.99	$209.09
  Paysend	1 CAD = 1.0948 AUD	$3	$215.68 (illustrative purposes only, minimum transfer amount is $400)

  Expert tip: Comparing transfer costs

  One thing we noticed when compiling this table is that transfer cost calculators work differently depending on the provider. While some include the transfer fee in their calculations, others quote the fee separately.

  In our $200 example above, if the company charged a $2 fee:

  • Some sites would include the fee in their calculations. In other words, you pay $200, the $2 fee is deducted and then $198 is converted to AUD.
  • Other sites would add the fee on top of the transfer amount. In other words, you pay $202, the $2 fee is deducted and then $200 is converted to AUD.

  While this is a minor difference, it impacts the amount quoted. You aren’t comparing apples with apples. To overcome this, we adjusted the “Recipient gets” figures in the table above to include the fee in our calculations.

  How do I quickly send money to Australia from Canada?

  Have an emergency? Some apps offer instant transfers to Australia, such as:

  • Wise: transfer to a debit/credit card within minutes
  • Paysend: transfer to a debit/credit card within minutes

  Alternative: Cash pickup

  Cash pickup transfers are another fast way to send money to Australia from Canada. You can pay for your transfer on the app, and the person you’re sending money to will be able to collect the cash in Australia almost instantly. The downside is that they might cost more.

  Make sure you choose a money transfer service with convenient agent locations. Providers with a large network of cash pickup locations in Australia include:

  • Remitly
  • Western Union
  • MoneyGram
  • Ria

  How do I safely send money to Australia?

  The safest way to send money to Australia from Canada is to make sure you’re dealing with a legitimate, regulated company. Use a provider that’s registered with Canada’s industry regulators. For private money transfer services, this is the Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada (FINTRAC). For federally regulated financial institutions like banks, it’s the Financial Consumer Agency of Canada (FCAC).

  You can also check what security measures transfer companies have in place to protect your funds, such as fraud monitoring and multi-factor authentication. If you check customer reviews on sites like the Better Business Bureau and Trustpilot, you’ll get a clearer idea of whether you’re dealing with a company you can trust.

  Don’t forget to check out our detailed reviews of each transfer service when comparing your options.

  How to send a large money transfer to Australia

  If you need to send a large amount of money to Australia, for example, to buy a house, your options are a little more restricted. Some transfer companies offer lower transaction limits, so you’ll need to consider providers like OFX that specialize in transferring large amounts.

  When comparing money transfer services, look for a provider that offers:

  • A high transfer limit. While some providers limit you to a few thousand dollars per transaction, others have no upper limit or let you send in excess of $1 million.
  • Waived fees on large transfers. The transfer company may not charge you any fees on transfers above a certain minimum amount.
  • Better exchange rates for large transactions. You may be able to access a better exchange rate if you send transfers that exceed a minimum limit.
  • Advanced transfer tools. Forward contracts, limit orders and stop-loss orders can help you get a better CAD/AUD exchange rate for your transfer.
  • Account manager. Some transfer companies provide access to a dedicated account manager who can help you time your transfer to get the best rate.
  • Customer support. If there are any issues with your transfer, knowing that you can get instant access to the transfer service’s support team provides added peace of mind.

  Ways to receive your money in Australia

  There are three ways someone in Australia can access the money you send:

  • Bank account deposit. This is the most widely available payout method and allows you to get the best exchange rate, but it’s also the slowest. It’ll usually take at least 1-2 business days for the money to arrive.
  • Cash pickup. Cash pickup transfers can be collected in Australia almost instantly. The downside is that they may have slightly worse exchange rates than bank transfers, and your recipient will need to do some legwork to get the money.
  • Debit/credit card. Transfer money directly to a debit or credit card. You’ll need to provide the recipient’s name and card number.

  Example: Charlotte sends money to Australia from Canada

  Charlotte is working in Canada as a software engineer and she stays in regular contact with her elderly parents living in Australia. Her parents need funds to help pay off a mortgage, so Charlotte plans to send them $2,000 from Canada.

  She decides to compare two money transfer specialists to see which one can save her the most money.

  	Money Transfer Company 1	Money Transfer Company 2
  Exchange rate	1 CAD = 1.0851 AUD	1 CAD = 1.1180 AUD
  Transfer fee	$2.99	$13.37
  Transfer method	Bank account deposit	Bank account deposit
  Processing time	1-2 days	1-2 days
  Amount received	AUD$2,166.96	AUD$2,221.11

  Charlotte decides to send the funds with Money Transfer Company 2. Despite charging a higher fee, the company’s strong exchange rate allows Charlotte to send an extra AUD$54.15 to her parents.

  Compare money transfer specialists to send money to Australia

  {"niche":"CAFMT"}

  9 of 9 results

  Updated regularly

  Filter Values	Fastest Transfer Speed	Fees (Pay by Bank Transfer)
  Xe Money Transfers		Within minutes	$0	Xe has fast transfers with low fees and a range of foreign currency tools.	Go to site View details Compare product selection Compare	loading
  OFX Exclusive		24 hours	From $0	Finder exclusive: Discounted exchange rates for your first and ongoing transactions. $0 transfer fee. T&Cs apply.	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 45+ currencies.	Go to site View details Compare product selection Compare	loading
  RemitBee		Within minutes	From $0	View details Compare product selection Compare	loading
  Wise (TransferWise) Finder Award		Within minutes	From 0.48%	Wise uses the mid-market rate and transparent fees to help you send money in 45+ currencies.	Go to site View details Compare product selection Compare	loading
  Xe Money Transfers		Within minutes	$0	Xe has fast transfers with low fees and a range of foreign currency tools.	Go to site View details Compare product selection Compare	loading
  MoneyGram		Within minutes	From $0	Go to site View details Compare product selection Compare	loading
  Instarem		Within minutes	From $0	Enjoy a special exchange rate and zero fees on your first transfer between $50 and $2,500 CAD. Valid until September 30, 2026. T&Cs apply.	Instarem offers zero transfer fees on all transfers.	Go to site View details Compare product selection Compare	loading
  Loop		Within an hour	$0	Loop has 1 day transfers and low FX rates.	Go to site View details Compare product selection Compare	loading
  WorldRemit		Within minutes	From $0	View details Compare product selection Compare	loading

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  Showing 9 of 9 results

  Bottom line

  You can take advantage of big savings if you send money to Australia with a money transfer company instead of your bank. But it’s still important to compare money transfer services and shop around for the best exchange rates, fastest transfers and the most flexible payment and delivery methods.

  Frequently asked questions

  • Can Remitly send money from Canada to Australia?

    Yes, Remitly offers bank deposit and cash pickup transfers to Australia. You can pay for transfers with a debit card, credit card or bank transfer.

  • How long does a bank transfer from Canada to Australia take?

    International bank transfers from Canada to Australia are commonly processed in 1-2 business days. However, transfers can take up to 5 business days to complete in some cases.

  • Can Western Union send money to Australia from Canada?

    Yes. You can send money to Australia online via the Western Union app or in-store. You can pay using your bank account, credit card, debit card or cash (in-store). Funds can be sent to your recipient's bank account or for cash pickup.

Written by

Leanne Escobal

Senior Publisher

Leanne Escobal is a senior publisher at Finder with more than 13 years of experience in financial products and services, with a focus on content strategy and marketing. She has completed the Canadian Securities Course (CSC®) as well as the Personal Lending and Mortgages course through the Canadian Securities Institute. Leanne holds a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in English literature and creative writing from Western University. See full bio

Leanne's expertise

Leanne has written 199 Finder guides across topics including:

• Personal Loans
• Car Loans
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• Short-Term Loans
• International Money Transfers
• Make Money Online

Co-written by

Tim Falk

Writer

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

Tim's expertise

Tim has written 566 Finder guides across topics including:

• Banking
• Personal Loans
• Car Loans
• Stock Trading
• Cryptocurrency