Founded in 1987, Ria is a money transfer company with more than 316,000 agent locations in 149 countries. It is the third-largest international money transfer provider in the world. Offering a wide variety of payment options and transfer services, Ria knows how to keep its customers happy with a simple transfer process.
Pros
Low minimum transfer of $1
Wide variety of transfer payment options, including cash, debit card, credit card and bank account
Worldwide transfer network, with over 316,000 agent locations in more than 144 countries
Cash pickup is available and home delivery option in select countries
Fast turnaround if you send money with a debit or credit card, taking just 15 minutes
Cons
Maximum daily transfer cap of $2,999.99; maximum amount you can send in 30 days is $7,999
Rates and fees depend on amount, location and method of transfer
Doesn’t offer forward contracts or limit orders
Bank account transfers take four business days
Ria might have tons of locations and a convenient cash pickup option, but it’s not the cheapest option out there. Learn how you can save on fees and exchange rates when you compare services.
1. WorldRemit
Both Ria and WorldRemit provide a variety of transfer options in more than 130 countries worldwide, including online, bank-to-bank and cash transfers. With both transfer services, fees vary by country you’re sending funds to and the global exchange rate at the time of your transfer, with low minimum transfer amounts starting at just $1. WorldRemit has a maximum transfer amount of $9,000 — $6,000 higher than Ria’s — and also has the added bonus of offering transfers to mobile wallet and mobile airtime accounts.
Why pick WorldRemit instead?
Low minimum transfer amount of $1
Available in over 130 countries worldwide
Flexible payment options, including debit or credit card, bank transfer, Google Pay and ApplePay
Transfers to mobile wallet accounts
Cash pickup and home delivery available
Mobile airtime account transfers
Downsides
The higher your transfer, the greater the transfer fees
Low maximum transfer amount of $9,000
No hedging options to lock-in exchange rate
2. Xe Money Transfer
Xe Money Transfer is a service designed to help you transfer your funds to a bank in a foreign currency — it doesn’t allow same-currency transfers like Ria does. If you’re working far from home, Xe is ideal for getting cash to your family or making investments overseas.
Given how easy it is to transfer your money to foreign companies in their currency, it’s especially ideal for business accounts. Both Xe and Ria offer money transfers to over 130 countries, but Ria offers more payment options than Xe’s limited bank-to-bank option only. Still, Xe offers low fees and has no transfer limit compared to Ria’s $2,999.99 daily transfer cap.
Exchange over 60 currencies, allowing for money transfers to over 130 countries
Competitive exchange rates save you money in the long run
Quick turnaround means transfer is complete in three to five days
$500,000 limit per online transaction
Downsides
Bank-to-bank transfers only
No same-currency transfers
Exchange rate comparison tool not available until after you’ve registered with the site
3. Wise
Wise is a money transfer service designed to help you save money on exchanges through a peer-to-peer system. Its unique system allows you to exchange your funds with those of another seeking to convert their money to your currency. It’s basically trading money with another person, but it doesn’t cross borders.
Because of its unique platform, Wise doesn’t allow for same-currency transfers like Ria does, but it does offer a high daily transfer cap of $49,999 compared to Ria’s $2,999.99 cap. Both companies have a low minimum transfer amount of $1 and offer fees that depend on the amount of money transferred, but Ria offers more payment options including cash, debit card, credit card and bank account, while Wise only allows for bank-to-bank transfers.
$3 fee for transfers up to $300; a fee of 1% of the amount sent for transfers up to $5,000; a fee of 0.7% on any amount over the initial $5,000
Low minimum transfer amount of $1
High transfer limits — can send up to $1,000,000 per transfer
Apps for both iOS and Android
Uses mid-market exchange rate with no hidden fees
Downsides
Transfers to bank accounts — no cash pickup option
No same-currency transfers
Two-step process means you must first wire your money to Wise, which then deposits the money to your recipient’s bank account
Requires a Social Security number to send money
4. Currencies Direct
Unlike Ria, which has fees dependent on the transfer amount, location and method of payment, Currencies Direct offers no-fee money transfers 90% of the time. However, if you’re looking to send money with cash or a credit or debit card, you’ll need to stick with Ria, as Currencies Direct only offers bank-to-bank transfers. With a relatively low minimum transfer amount of $100 and an unlimited maximum transfer amount, Currencies Direct supports 40+ currencies and is a great option for large or small businesses alike.
Supports large transactions at a seemingly unlimited max
Monitors exchange rates for your ideal transfer
Downsides
No cash pickup option — bank-to-bank wire transfers only
High minimum transfer of $2000
5. TorFX
Unlike Ria, which allows you to send money from anywhere in the US, TorFX only allows money transfers from Australia. It’s stricter than other money transfer services and requires that funds be cleared by individuals who hold TorFX accounts — meaning the money must be sent in advance before the transaction can be performed.
TorFX only offers bank-to-bank transfers, while Ria offers a variety of transfer payment options including cash, debit card, credit card and bank account. But TorFX stands out with its no-fee transfers and best rate guarantee, which Ria doesn’t offer.
Why pick TorFX instead?
Multiple transfer options including spot contracts, forward contracts, limit orders and stop loss orders
No transfer fees and offer best rate guarantee
Competitive exchange rates with fixed exchange rate protection — often beating banks by more than 3%
Offers transfers in 60 different currencies
Free registration allows you to get access to free market analysis and expert advice
Low minimum transfer amount of $150
Downsides
Can only send from Australia
Bank-to-bank transfers only
Users report technical and administrative problems that delay transfers
6. MoneyGram
The second-largest international money transfer service in the world, MoneyGram transfers funds in over 200 countries and territories to more than 350,000 agent locations worldwide. Both MoneyGram and Ria have low minimum transfer amounts of $1, offer home delivery and cash pickup and have fees that vary depending on payment type and transfer destination. The biggest difference between the two companies? Ria has a lower maximum daily transfer cap of $2,999.99 compared to MoneyGram’s $6,000 cap.
Extensive global network of 350,000 agent locations in over 200 countries and territories
Large pool of services available for sending, receiving or financing
Fast transfers, with same-day service in many locations
Home delivery and cash pickup options
Low minimum transfer amount of $1
Downsides
Maximum online transfer amount of $6,000
Fees vary depending on payment type and transfer destination
Transfers must be made in US dollars from the US (no exchanges before transfer)
Local exchange rates vary by the transfer destination
7. Walmart
Known for its retail business, Walmart offers money transfer services to over 190 countries thanks to a partnership with MoneyGram. Both Walmart and Ria have a low minimum transfer amount of $1; offer a variety of payment options including debit card, credit card, cash or bank account; have home delivery and cash pickup available, and can take as little as 10 to 15 minutes for some transfers. The biggest difference between the two companies is that Walmart has a higher maximum sending limit of $6,000 per transaction — compared to Ria’s $2,999.99 daily transfer cap.
Why pick Walmart instead?
Widespread network of transfers to more than 190 countries and territories with 350,000 agents worldwide
Efficient transfers in as little as 10 minutes
Wide variety of payment options, including debit card, credit card, cash or bank account
Home delivery and cash pickup are available
Low minimum transfer amount of $1
Downsides
Rates and fees depend on location
Maximum sending limit of $6,000 per transaction — with a maximum of $6,000 per 30 calendar days
8. Sharemoney
Sharemoney is a part of the Omnex group, a company that’s specialized in money transfers for over 25 years. Unlike Ria, which offers money transfers in over 144 countries, Sharemoney transfers money to 70+ countries and has expanded more outside South America and Asian countries. Both Ria and Sharemoney have low minimum transfer amounts of $1 and $20 respectively, and both have a minimum daily transfer cap of $2,999.99. Or, request cash pickup or home delivery options with both money transfer companies, and you could get transfers in as little as 15 minutes.
Why pick Sharemoney instead?
Low transfer fees starting at only $2.99
Low minimum transfer amount of $20
Fast and easy service, with cash and bank transfers taking as little as 15 minutes to 24 hours
Door-to-door delivery in as short as 48 hours
Discounts available on Facebook
Downsides
Limited state availability, with Sharemoney only licensed to operate in 36 out of 50 states
Only offers one-off transfers
Can only transfer money to 21 countries, which are largely limited to South America and select Asian countries
Exact location must be specified for cash pickup
Low maximum transfer limits of $2,999.99 every 15 days, and $9,999.99 every six months
9. Western Union
Like Ria, Western Union offers transfers to over 144 countries around the world through multiple payment options including cash, debit card, credit card, or bank transfers, with the option of a cash pickup. They each have a low minimum transfer amount of $1 and Western Union has a relatively low maximum transfer of $5,000. While Ria’s rates and fees depend on the amount of money you’re transferring, the location and the method, Western Union is known for its high fees and weak exchange rates that can be nearly 5% more than the mid-market rate. Full Ria and Western Union comparison
Why pick Western Union instead?
Low minimum transfer of $1
Send money in minutes
Transfer to over 200 countries and territories across the globe
Multiple transfer options including paying with cash or your debit card, credit card or bank account
Cash pickup available
Trusted provider for over 160 years
Downsides
Weak exchange rates that can be nearly 5% more than the mid-market rate
High fees, whereas other companies offer free transfers or low-fee transfers
Low maximum transfer amount of $5,000
10. Xoom
Xoom is a leading provider in the digital money transfer market that offers transfers to 131 countries around the world. Both Xoom and Ria have low minimum transfer minimums of $10 and $1 respectively, offer cash pickup and home delivery options and fees vary depending on where you’re sending money to, how much you’re sending and the method.
The biggest difference between the two companies? Xoom offers a unique money-back guarantee if your transfer doesn’t arrive on time — a perk few transfer services offer.
Why pick Xoom instead?
Low minimum transfer amount of $10
Money-back guarantee if your transfer doesn’t arrive on time
Cash pickup and home delivery are available, depending on where you’re sending your funds to
Downsides
Transfer fees vary depending on where you’re sending money to, the amount you’re sending and the method you choose
11. PayPal
You’re likely to know about PayPal’s payment platform, but you may not be aware that it supports overseas transfers. Its popularity around the world makes it possible to transfer up to 25 currencies across more than 200 countries. Like Ria, PayPal has a low minimum transfer amount of only $1 and has fees that vary by location of transfer and method. If you’re looking to send a transfer with a cash pickup, you’ll need to go with Ria or another transfer company that has that option, as PayPal does not.
Multiple safeguards are in place to protect against fraud and hacking
Downsides
Fees are proportionate to the amount transferred — the larger the transfer, the more money it charges
Fees vary by location of transfer and method, with better deals for using a PayPal credit card or account
No cash pickup is available
Still looking for other options?
Our table lets you compare the services you can use to send money abroad. Compare services on transfer speeds and fees, then click Go to site when you're ready to send.
Whether products shown are available to you is subject to individual provider sole approval and discretion in accordance with the eligibility criteria and T&Cs on the provider website.
Leah Fallon is a freelance journalist and editor, specializing in personal finance and small business. She owns Birch Tree Bookstore in Leesburg, Virginia.
How do you know if your international money transfer made it safely? Learn how to track or cancel, and find out what your rights are when it comes to sending money.
From bank transfers to specialist money transfer companies, there are several options available when you need to transfer money overseas from your bank account.
If you need to transfer money overseas using your credit card, you can do so via your bank, MoneyGram, Western Union and PayPal. This can be useful in emergency situations, but credit card transfers are usually not a cost-effective option.
If you’re looking for a secure way to send money overseas, an international bank draft could be for you — but if speed is important, consider using a money transfer service instead.
How likely would you be to recommend finder to a friend or colleague?
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Very UnlikelyExtremely Likely
Required
Thank you for your feedback.
Our goal is to create the best possible product, and your thoughts, ideas and suggestions play a major role in helping us identify opportunities to improve.
Advertiser Disclosure
finder.com is an independent comparison platform and information service that aims to provide you with the tools you need to make better decisions. While we are independent, the offers that appear on this site are from companies from which finder.com receives compensation. We may receive compensation from our partners for placement of their products or services. We may also receive compensation if you click on certain links posted on our site. While compensation arrangements may affect the order, position or placement of product information, it doesn't influence our assessment of those products. Please don't interpret the order in which products appear on our Site as any endorsement or recommendation from us. finder.com compares a wide range of products, providers and services but we don't provide information on all available products, providers or services. Please appreciate that there may be other options available to you than the products, providers or services covered by our service.
We update our data regularly, but information can change between updates. Confirm details with the provider you're interested in before making a decision.
