World First has discontinued its services in the US effective January 30, 2019. The company will accept no new trades or transactions after this date, and inbound transfers received after 5 p.m. CT will be returned to the sender.
If you’re a personal or business customer who’s concerned about your account, call 737-226-5240 for assistance.
World First is an online money transfer company founded in the UK in 2004. Since then, it has transferred more than $56 billion worldwide, servicing over 75,000 customers regularly. Its wide array of services keeps people coming back transfer after transfer.
1. Xe Money Transfer
Xe Money Transfer is a service designed to help you transfer your funds to a bank in a foreign currency. 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.
Xe offers low transfer fees, with no transaction fees, commissions or ongoing fees for large transfers. However, a nominal fee of $3 (and its equivalent) applies to transfers below $500 and its equivalent in other currencies. World First, on the other hand, only offers no-fee transfers if you’re sending $10,000 or more. Both companies have competitive exchange rates, but World First goes above and beyond with its promise to beat any quote you get from another international transfer service — something that Xe doesn’t offer.
Low transfer fees, $3 fee for transfers under $500
Trade in over 60 currencies, allowing for money transfers to over 170 countries
Competitive exchange rates save you money in the long run
No minimum or maximum transfer limit
Downsides
Exchange rate comparison tool not available until after you’ve registered with the site
Adds a small markup to the exchange rate
2. Wise
Wise is a money transfer site 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. Wise has a lower minimum transfer amount of just $1, compared to World First’s $1,000 minimum.
While Wise has fees no matter how much money you’re sending, World First waives its fees if you’re sending more than $10,000. However, Wise has a maximum daily sending cap of $49,999, unlike World First’s unlimited transfer amount.
One of the few services to use the mid-market exchange rate and have no hidden fees
Low minimum transfer amount of $1
High transfer limits — can send up $1 million per transfer
Apps for both iOS and Android
Downsides
Transfers to bank accounts — no cash pickup option
Two-step process means you must first wire your money to Wise, which then deposits the money to your recipient’s bank account
Not as competitive for large transfers
3. WorldRemit
Unlike World First, WorldRemit has a low minimum transfer amount of $1 and offers cash pickup as well as home delivery. However, World First offers no fees for transfers of $10,000 or more, while with WorldRemit the higher your transfer, the greater the transfer fees. WorldRemit also has a low maximum transfer cap of $9,000 in a 24-hour period.
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, Android Pay and ApplePay
Transfers to mobile wallet accounts
Cash pickup and home delivery available
Downsides
The higher your transfer, the greater the transfer fees
Low maximum transfer amount of $9,000
No hedging tools available
4. Currencies Direct
Unlike World First, which has fees for transfers under $10,000, Currencies Direct offers no-fee transfers 90% of the time. It also has a lower minimum transfer amount of $100, compared to World First’s $1,000 minimum. Both companies don’t have a maximum transfer limit and offer competitive exchange rates, but only World First has a promise to beat any quote you get from another international transfer service.
No fees for 90% of its transactions and has competitive exchange rates
Supports 40+ market currencies with a low minimum transfer of $100
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
Some US residents can’t use Currencies Direct due to money transfer restrictions in their state
5. Ria
In business for more than 30 years, Ria is a global monetary transfer network with more than 490,000 agent locations and is the third-largest international money transfer provider in the world.
Unlike World First, which has a high minimum transfer amount of $1,000, Ria offers a low minimum transfer amount of $1 and offers cash pickup and home delivery options. However, World First has no maximum transfer limit, while Ria has a maximum daily transfer cap of $2,999.99. Ria also doesn’t offer forward or limit orders the way that World First does.
Why pick Ria instead?
Low minimum transfer amount of $1
Wide variety of transfer payment options, including cash, debit card, credit card and bank account
Home delivery option in select countries and cash pickup available
Fast turnaround if you send money with a debit or credit card, taking just 15 minutes
Downsides
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
Does not offer forward or limit orders
Bank account transfers take four business days
6. Western Union
In business for over 160 years, Western Union offers money transfers to 200+ countries and territories, with more than 500,000 agent locations worldwide. Western Union has a lower minimum transfer amount of $1, compared to World First’s $1,000 limit, and offers the ability for your recipient to pick up cash.
However, Western Union has weaker exchange rates that can be nearly 5% more than the mid-market rate and has high fees, whereas World First offers competitive exchange rates with no fees for transfers over $10,000. Moreover, World First has no maximum transfer cap, while Western Union has a low maximum transfer limit of $5,000.
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
7. MoneyGram
The second-largest international money transfer service in the world, MoneyGram transfers currencies in over 200 countries and territories to more than 350,000 agent locations worldwide. Unlike World First, MoneyGram offers home delivery and cash pickup options with a low minimum transfer amount of $1, compared to World First’s $1,000 minimum. However, if you’re looking to transfer larger amounts of money, you can send up to 10,000 per month with MoneyGram .
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 $10,000 per month
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 transfer destination
8. OFX
OFX has no maximum transfer limit and both have high minimum transfer amounts of $1,000 per year — making both companies ideal for transferring larger amounts of money. While OFX offers no transfer fees at all, World First doesn’t offer no-fee transfers unless you’re sending $10,000 or more.
Available in 195 countries and territories and 55 currencies
Offers scheduled and recurring transfers
iOS and Android apps available for mobile transfer and tracking
No maximum transfer limit
Downsides
No cash pickup — no bank-to-bank transfers only
Need to verify new accounts by phone
High minimum transfer amount of $1,000 per year
9. Xoom
Xoom is a leading provider in the digital money transfer market that offers transfers to 57 countries around the world. Unlike World First, which has a high minimum transfer amount of $1,000, Xoom has a low minimum transfer amount of $10 and also offers cash pickup and home delivery options depending on where you’re sending your funds to. However, while World First offer no-fee transfers over $10,000, Xoom’s transfer fees vary depending on where you’re sending money to, the amount you’re sending and the method you choose to send the funds.
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 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
10. PayPal
You likely know PayPal’s digital service for online purchases, but you may not know that it supports wireless overseas transfers. Its popularity around the world makes it possible to transfer up to 20 currencies across more than 200 countries.
Unlike World First, which has a high minimum transfer amount of $1,000, PayPal allows you to transfer as little as $1. However, while World First doesn’t have fees for transfers over $10,000, PayPal charges larger fees on the money you transfer.
Multiple digital safeguards 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 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.