Find the best way to send money to South Africa

Looking for the best way to send money from the United States to family, friends or businesses in South Africa (or even to your own overseas bank account)?

Don't head straight to your American bank – compare specialist money transfer services instead. They nearly always offer better ZAR exchange rates and lower fees, so for the same amount of US dollars you send, your recipient will receive more rands.

Of the companies we've compared, Xe is among the cheapest, with competitive exchange rates and fees starting from $0. Need a really fast transfer? Wise (TransferWise) can get money to your recipient in South Africa within minutes.

Best ways to send money to South Africa from the US

The best way to send money to South Africa depends on your payment method, how you want your money to be received and how fast you need it to arrive.

• Online money transfer provider. When buying US dollars or rands money transfer specialists typically offer better rates and cheaper fees than a local bank.
• Bank transfer. Bank transfers are an easy way to send money to South Africa but they charge extra for the convenience and are often slower than other methods. US banks generally add a 3% to 6% markup onto exchange rates.
• Cash pickup. If you need your money to arrive fast, cash pickup gives your recipient instant access to the money you've sent when they collect it from their agent location in South Africa.
• Mobile wallet. Essentially an electronic wallet service, mobile wallets allow users to store, send and receive eligible currencies using their phone, often with fees attached.
• Home delivery. If your recipient may struggle to get to a cash pickup location, you may be able to opt for door-to-door cash delivery.

Compare the best money transfer companies to send money to South Africa

Use our table to compare the best money transfer companies to send money to South Africa. You can compare deposit and receiving options, fees and transfer speeds, then click the "Go to site" button when you've found the best one to get your money to South Africa.

Cheapest way to send money to South Africa

Bank transfers are typically the cheapest way to get your money to South Africa. Xe and MoneyGram have some of the lowest bank transfer fees of the brands we've compared.

When you're hunting down the cheapest ways to send money to South Africa, it's more important to look at the overall cost of your transfer. This has a couple of elements:

• Transfer fees. While still cheaper than your American 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 USD/ZAR 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 rands your recipient will end up with.

Fastest way to send money to South Africa

Many online providers can offer transfers to South Africa within minutes, although you're likely to pay a premium for the convenience.

Here are some of the fastest average transfer speeds to South Africa:

• Wise (TransferWise) — within minutes
• Xe — within minutes
• MoneyGram — within minutes

Actual transfer times from the United States to South Africa can depend on several different factors including transfer amount, payment method and currency.

Safest way to send money to South Africa

The safest way to get your money to South Africa is to use a provider registered with the United States's industry regulator, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. All of the companies we've compared in our table are overseen by a local regulator and comply with the relevant laws and regulations in both the United States and South Africa.

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.

Large money transfers to South Africa

If you need to make a sizable money transfer to South Africa, consider using a provider such as OFX or Xe to benefit from its expertise in handling larger transfer amounts.

Using a large transfer specialist can have the following advantages:

• Tax guidance. Large transfers to South Africa may have tax implications for you or your recipient. A transfer specialist can help get you up to speed on IRS's latest advice.
• Foreign exchange (forex) tools. Advanced tools such as forward contracts, limit orders and stop-loss orders can help you lock in the ZAR exchange rate you want.
• Account manager. Some money transfer providers assign a personal account manager who can help and advise you on your transfer needs.
• Phone service. If you want to talk your transfer through with someone, providers such as Wise (TransferWise) and Xe can give you support over the phone.

How to send money to South Africa from the US

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

1. Compare your options.
   
   Use our table to find a money transfer provider that sends funds to South Africa. One may be better for cash pickups while another may suit a bank transfer. Once you've found the best one for your requirements, click "Go to site".
2. Create an account.
   
   You'll need to give your name, address, contact details, proof of ID and method of payment.
3. Provide your recipient's details.
   
   Enter your recipient's name and contact information. If you're sending straight to their South African bank account, you'll need the account number, SWIFT or IBAN plus their bank branch's address.
4. 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 rands your recipient gets.
5. Complete your transfer.
   
   Send your money transfer to South Africa. Keep your transaction reference number safe so you can track your transfer. Your recipient may need it too.

Example: Ethan sends money to South Africa

Ethan is working in the United States as a software engineer and he stays in regular contact with his elderly parents back home in South Africa. His parents need some funds to help pay off a mortgage, so Ethan plans to send them $2,000 from the United States.

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

	Bank	Money transfer company
Exchange rate	1 USD = 18.69 ZAR	1 USD = 18.94 ZAR
Transfer fee	$10	$2.50
Transfer method	Bank account deposit	Bank account deposit
Processing time	2 - 5 working days	Next day
Amount received	37,197.62 ZAR	37,832.10 ZAR

The money transfer company enables Ethan to send an extra R634.48, which is transferred straight to his parents' Standard Bank account.

How to choose the best money transfer companies to send money to South Africa

When choosing a money transfer provider to send money from the United States to South Africa, it's important to consider the cost, how you want your recipient to receive the funds and the turnaround time. Here are other features to review:

• Exchange rates. Banks and transfer services use the mid-market rate to trade with one another. It is the best rate you can get. However, not all money transfer providers offer you this mid-market rate so compare the ZAR you're offered to the mid-market rate and look for the smallest difference.
• Transfer fees. Are you being charged a flat fee or a percentage of your transfer amount? For example, a provider offering to transfer your money to South Africa for a flat or low fee might work out better if you plan to send a large amount.
• Transfer type. Does your recipient have a South African bank account or is cash or cell phone top-up a better option? Each transfer type will have different fees. For example, instant cash pickups tend to be more expensive than bank transfers.
• Transfer speed. If you need your transfer to arrive quickly, you can pay for an express delivery. Companies such as Western Union offer instant cash pickups but may charge more. If you're not in a rush, online money transfer services offer the best value and get your money to South Africa faster and cheaper than banks.
• Transfer limits. Find out how much you can send with each service. For example, MoneyGram has a transfer limit of $25,000 while Wise (TransferWise) allows transfers up to $20,000,000.
• 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 of rands.

Is this a good time to send money to South Africa?

Compared to a month ago, the US dollar is a little stronger against the rand. Currently $5,000 is equivalent to R95,174.50, whereas a month ago, $5,000 was equivalent to R94,994.00. That's an increase of 0.19% over the past month.

Similarly, compared to a year ago, the US dollar is again stronger against the rand. A year ago, $5,000 was equivalent to R90,690.50. That's an increase of 4.94% over 12 months.

So based on those two quick glances back, yes, it's a relatively good time to send money to South Africa, and your US dollars will go further than they would have. But what's more important, however, is where the strength of the US dollar against the rand goes from here – which is harder to call.

Frequently asked questions

• How can I pay for my transfer to South Africa?

  There are multiple ways to pay for your money transfer to South Africa. The most common payment methods include bank transfer, credit card and debit card.

  How you pay can influence how quickly your rands arrive and the total cost of your transfer, so consider both when deciding.

• What details do I need to send money to South Africa?

  • Photo identification: Most providers require a driver's license, passport or other American government-issued ID.
  • A way to pay: Your options depend on the provider's services. Popular methods include 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 a South African bank account, you'll need their account number, SWIFT and branch details.

• What is required to receive money in South Africa?

  • Transfer number: The reference number – sometimes called a PIN, MTCN or tracking number.
  • Government-issued ID: An official ID, such as a South African passport or driver's license.
  • 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 South Africa?

  This depends on the provider you choose as each will have its own sending limit. For example, services such as Wise (TransferWise) and Xe allow you to transfer as little as $1 while others will have a significantly higher minimum threshold.

  Remember that some providers will have maximum transfer amounts as well, either as a result of American 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 South Africa.

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

  The turnaround time for a money transfer to South Africa depends on the provider and how you pay for the transfer. 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 – usually 2–5 days.

• Can I send money to South Africa without a bank account?

  Yes, you can still send a money transfer if neither you nor your recipient in South Africa has a bank account. Look at cash transfer providers such as Xe where you can pay with cash and your recipient can collect it as cash or as mobile phone reload on the other end.