Best & Cheapest Ways to Send Money to India

We tested 19 money transfer apps to find the cheapest ways to send money to India. To find the true cost of each app, we looked at both the upfront transfer fees and the hidden exchange rate markups.

Many providers claim they charge “zero fees” but then give you a terrible exchange rate. Others offer amazing exchange rates but hit you with high fees at checkout. Our calculations uncover these hidden costs so you can see which app actually saves you the most money.

These apps were tested on the same afternoon to account for fluctuating market rates. Here’s how they stack up against each other.

What are the cheapest money transfer apps to send money to India?

Here are the results for a $200 sending amount to India. For each test, we chose the cheapest option available for payment and delivery methods and used the standard rates, not promo rates. Keep in mind that provider rates fluctuate constantly; the most competitive option right now may not always be the cheapest at any given time. Because of this, download 3 to 4 of your favourite apps to compare rates before you send.

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

The verdict

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

Which apps are best overall for sending money to India?

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 different features, here are the 5 best apps for money transfers to India.

What payment methods are available?

A variety of payment options are available for money transfers to India, including:

• e-Transfer
• Debit card
• Credit card
• Google/Apple Pay
• Direct debit
• Bank account via Plaid

What delivery methods are available?

You can deliver money to India in the following ways:

• Bank deposit. This can take a few business days, but for a popular transfer destination such as India, it can be much faster for a lot of the major banks, sometimes within a few minutes.
• Cash pickup. Cash pickup lets your recipient instantly collect it from a physical location in India.
• UPI. This is the fastest and most convenient method available. By using just the recipient’s unique UPI ID or phone number instead of long bank details, money is transferred securely and instantly into their mobile wallet or bank account. The money typically arrives in minutes.

How do I send money to India fast?

Have an emergency? Here are the steps to send money to India instantly while reducing costs:

1. Choose a money transfer specialist. Avoid your bank and opt for fast money transfer specialists who can offer better exchange rates and fees.
2. Select a payment method. Direct debit and debit cards are usually fast, cost-effective methods. e-Transfer can be cheap depending on the app. Avoid credit card payments.
3. Deliver using UPI. UPI is instant. Cash pickup is also fast, but it may cost more.

Money transfer apps with instant delivery to India

Most apps offer instant delivery, including:

• Wise
• Remitly
• Xe
• Instarem
• Moneygram
• Paysend
• Western Union

Which money transfer apps do UPI delivery?

The money transfer apps that offer UPI delivery include Wise, Remitbee, Remitly, Western Union, Taptap Send, Pesa, Paysend, Ria, Panda Remit and Instarem.

Which money transfer apps do cash pickup?

Providers that do cash pickup include Remitly, Western Union, MoneyGram, Xe, Ria, CIBC and Simplii.

How do exchange rates and transfer fees work?

When you’re hunting down the cheapest ways or best rates to send money to India, look at the overall cost of your transfer. This has a couple of elements:

• Transfer fees. While still cheaper than your Canadian bank, some money transfer services charge either a fixed or percentage-based fee for making your transfer.
• Exchange rates. Another way money transfer providers make money is to add a margin to the mid-market CAD/INR exchange rate.

Some providers may charge the mid-market rate but add fees on top. Others may have very low fees but apply a markup on the exchange rate. This means it is important to compare exactly how many Indian rupees your recipient will end up with. In our table above, we added both the exchange rate markup and transfer fee to find out the true cost of a money transfer.

CAD to INR: What’s the exchange rate?

Historical data: Money transfers to India using different apps

To help you track long-term trends in transfer costs, we’ve archived our previous fee and exchange-rate data from 2023 and 2024 below. We tested a $200 transfer to India, aiming for the lowest fees possible, which typically involved paying by bank transfer and delivering the transfer to the recipient’s bank account, if available.

• Money transfer rates to India (2024)

  Provider	You send	Exchange rate per 1 CAD	Total fees	Recipient gets
  Xe	$200	60.6234	$0.00	₹12,124.68
  Wise	$200	60.9678	$3.34	₹11,989.93
  Remitly	$200	Without promo: 60.07 (Express), 60.68 (Economy) With promo: 61.25 (Express and Economy)	$1.99	Without promo: ₹12,014 (Express), ₹12,136 (Economy) With promo: ₹12,250
  Instarem	$200	60.5587	$0.00	₹12,111.74
  WorldRemit	$200	59.8691	$0.00	₹11,974
  Simplii	$200	59.873070	$0.00	₹11,974.61
  Western Union	$200	Without promo: 60.1671 With promo: 61.1361	Without promo: $1.99 With promo: $0.00	Without promo: ₹12,033.42 With promo: ₹12,227.22
  Xoom	$200	60.1863	$0.00	₹12,037
  Remitbee	$200	With promo: 60.55	With promo: $0.00	With promo: ₹12,110

• Money transfer rates to India (2023)

  Provider	You send	Exchange rate per 1 CAD	Total fees	Recipient gets
  Wise	$200	60.0399	$2.93	₹11,832.06
  Remitly	$200	Without promo: 59.20 (Express), 59.80 (Economy) With promo: 60.36 (Express and Economy)	$1.99	With promo: ₹12,072
  Instarem	$200	59.6681	$0.00	₹11,933.62
  WorldRemit	$200	59.0152	$0.00	₹11,803
  Simplii	$200	58.986611	$0.00	₹11,797.32
  Western Union	$200	60.5282	$0.00	₹12,105.64
  Xoom	$200	59.5129	$0.00	₹11,903
  Remitbee	$200	With promo: 60.00	With promo: $0.00	With promo: ₹12,000

Keep in mind, these are examples only. How much your recipient will get will depend on several factors, such as the exchange rate at the time, the amount you’re sending, the payment and delivery method, and any special offers you use.

How to choose the best money transfer companies to send money to India

When choosing a money transfer provider to send money from Canada to India, here are the features to review:

• Cost. Use our table to compare the overall cost markup, which factors in both exchange rate markups and fees. This gives you a clearer picture of the true cost of the transfer.
• Delivery methods. UPI, cash pickup, bank deposit—providers don’t offer the same delivery methods, so pick one that works for you.
• Transfer speed. If you need to send money ASAP, choose a provider that can send instant money transfers. You have plenty of options for transfers to India.
• Discounts. Some providers may offer you a free transfer simply for signing up. Others may offer a discount if you transfer more than a specific amount (e.g. $500).

How do I safely send money to India?

To safely send money to India, use a provider that’s registered as a Money Services Business with the Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada (FINTRAC). The companies we’ve mentioned in this article are overseen by a local regulator and comply with the relevant laws and regulations in both Canada and India.

A great way to dive deeper is by reading our extended reviews of each transfer service and researching first-hand customer feedback on Trustpilot and similar platforms.

How to send money to India from Canada

To send money to India, you’ll need the necessary documentation, your recipient’s details and a way to pay.

1. Create an account. You’ll need to give your name, address, contact details, proof of ID and method of payment.
2. Provide your recipient’s details. Enter your recipient’s name and contact information. If you’re sending straight to their Indian bank account, you’ll need the account number, SWIFT or IBAN, plus their bank branch’s address.
3. Enter your transfer amount. Check you’re happy with the fees, exchange rates and transfer speed, then enter the amount you wish to send. Double-check the total Indian rupees your recipient will get.
4. Complete your transfer. Keep your transaction reference number safe so you can track your transfer. Your recipient may need it too.

Example: Aaradhya transfers money to India

Aaradhya is working in Canada as a doctor and stays in regular contact with her elderly parents back home in India. Her parents need some funds to help pay off a mortgage, so Aaradhya plans to send them $2,000 from Canada.

She decides to compare a bank and a money transfer specialist to see which one can save the most money on her transaction.

The money transfer company enables Aaradhya to send an extra ₹2,002.40, which is transferred straight to her parents’ HDFC Bank account.

Compare money transfer specialists to send money to India

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10 of 10 results

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Filter Values	Fastest Transfer Speed	Fees (Pay by Bank Transfer)
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
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.	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
Wise (TransferWise) Finder Award		24 hours	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 CAD and 2,500 CAD. Valid until June 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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Frequently asked questions

• What details do I need to send money to India?

  • Photo identification: Most providers require a driver's licence, passport or other Canadian government-issued ID.
  • A way to pay: Your options depend on the provider's services. Common methods include e-Transfer, cash, debit or credit card and bank account transfers.
  • Recipient information: You'll need their name (matching their ID) plus contact details. If sending to an Indian bank account, you'll need their account number, SWIFT and branch details.

• What is required to receive money in India?

  • Transfer number: The reference number – sometimes called a PIN, MTCN or tracking number.
  • Government-issued ID: An official ID, such as an Indian passport or driver's licence.
  • The transfer amount: To know how much has been sent, usually to within 10% of the total.
  • Sender information: The sender's name and address and the transfer's country of origin.

• How much money can I send online to India?

  This depends on the provider you choose, as each will have its own sending limit. For example, services such as Wise and Remitly allow you to transfer less than $10, while Panda Remit has a minimum of $100.

  Remember that some providers will have maximum transfer amounts as well, either as a result of Canadian tax policies or because their service is more limited. If you need to send a large transfer, look for a provider that has higher or no sending limits to India.

• How long will it take for my money to arrive in India?

  The turnaround time for a money transfer to India depends on the provider and how you pay. Expect your transfer to arrive within minutes if you pay using cash or with a debit or credit card. Paying by bank transfer can take longer (2–5 days).

• How do I send money to India without charges?

  To reduce costs as much as possible, choose a money transfer specialist that offers a zero or low exchange rate markup and charges no transfer fees. Based on our research, Pesa has the lowest markup for money transfers to India at 0.53%, followed by Instarem at 0.70% and Taptap Send at 0.70%.

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 190 Finder guides across topics including:

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