Quick and easy international money transfers with PayPal
Speed: 4.0 / 5.0
Services: 4.0 / 5.0
User experience: 4.0 / 5.0
If you’ve ever indulged in online shopping, you most likely have come across PayPal, which offers fast and secure payment services for online purchases. What you might not realize, however, is that PayPal also offers you a fast and easy alternative when you need to transfer money overseas.
| Product Name | PayPal |
|---|---|
| Min. Transfer Amount | $1 |
| Max. Transfer Amount | $10,000 |
| Transfer Methods | |
| Transfer Options | |
| Transfer Speed Minimum transfer time | 3 - 5 days |
| Banking Partner | PayPal |
| Customer Service | |
| Available Currencies | AUD, BRL, CAD, CHF, CZK, DKK, EUR, GBP, HKD, HUF, ILS, JPY, MXN, MYR, NOK, NZD, PHP, PLN, RUB, SEK, SGD, THB, TRY, TWD, USD |
| Online Transfer Fee | 2.99% |
|---|
Send money almost anywhere with flexible transfer options and an easy process
With low fees on small transfer amounts and fast transfer processing times, PayPal makes it possible to send over 20 currencies across more than 200 countries, allowing you to send money almost anywhere around the world.
Our experience transferring money with PayPal
Here’s what we found when we sent live transfers to Mexico and France through the digital wallet PayPal.
- While PayPal offered accurate delivery estimates, it took three days for our recipient to transfer money from their PayPal account to a French bank.
- PayPal offered exchange rates that were 2.7% above the mid-market rate on average, with rates updated multiple times a day.
- PayPal’s easy-to-use website allowed us to sign up and initiate a transfer in under 4 minutes.
We recognize PayPal as a winner of the finder.com Money Transfer Awards 2017 in the category of Most Convenient.
How much does it cost to transfer money with PayPal?
When you send money outside the US, you’ll pay a flat fee of $2.99-$4.99. Inside of the US PayPal allows you to send money for free if it is funded by a linked bank account.
You’ll pay a fixed fee to send money in another currency.
| Currency | Fee |
|---|---|
| Australian dollar | 0.30 AUD |
| Brazilian real | 0.60 BRL |
| Canadian dollar | 0.30 CAD |
| Czech koruna | 10.00 CZK |
| Danish krone | 2.60 DKK |
| Euro (recipient is in France) | 0.25 EUR |
| Euro (recipient is outside of France) | 0.35 EUR |
| Hong Kong dollar | 2.35 HKD |
| Hungarian forint | 90 HUF |
| Israeli shekel | 1.20 ILS |
| Japanese yen | 40 JPY |
| Malaysian ringgit | 2.00 MYR |
| Mexican peso | 4.00 MXN |
| New Zealand dollar | 0.45 NZD |
| Norwegian krone | 2.80 NOK |
| Philippine peso | 15.00 PHP |
| Polish zlotych | 1.35 PLN |
| Russian ruble | 10 RUB |
| Singapore dollar | 0.50 SGD |
| Swedish krona | 3.25 SEK |
| Swiss franc | 0.55 CHF |
| Taiwan new dollar | 10.00 TWD |
| Thai baht | 11.00 THB |
| U.K. pounds sterling | 0.20 GBP |
| U.S. dollar | 0.30 USD |
Exchange rates
PayPal’s exchange rates are calculated by a financial institution and updated multiple times a day to reflect fluctuating market conditions. PayPal’s bank adds 2.5% to a wholesale rate price to calculate the service’s retail foreign exchange rate. If you compare the rates offered by PayPal, you’ll see that they can be competitive against the rates offered by banks and other foreign exchange providers.
To view PayPal’s current exchange rates, log in to your account. On your profile summary page, click Details next to PayPal balance, then click Manage currencies. From this page you can enter the relevant information and click Calculate to see the resulting exchange rate before initiating your money transfer.
What types of transfers can you carry out with PayPal?
PayPal does not offer the flexibility of rate locks or forward contracts, but you can schedule recurring transfers using its Balance Manager. Keep in mind that doing so will incur a fee.
There’s no cash pickup option available for your recipient, with all transfers handled electronically.
Pros and cons of using PayPal
Pros
- Easy. Sending money overseas with PayPal is fast, easy and intuitive.
- Fast. PayPal international money transfers are faster than many other international money transfer options.
- Secure. PayPal offers 24/7 transaction monitoring, next-level encryption and dispute resolution options. Its “deep learning” artificial intelligence technology makes it extremely resistant to fraud.
- Customer service. There are several customer service options available if you need help with a transaction.
- Good for small transfers. PayPal’s fees are a percentage of your transaction amount, making it a cost-effective solution when you need to transfer smaller amounts.
- Worldwide network. PayPal is available in more than 200 countries around the world, allowing you access to a wealth of possible transfer destinations.
Cons
- Not ideal for larger transfers. With fees that are based on a percentage of your transfer amount, PayPal might not be your best option when transferring large amounts.
- Fees. PayPal’s fee structure can add a lot to the total cost of your transfer. Its fees are calculated based on the amount of money you are sending. If you send a large amount, expect to pay a lot in fees. Fees also vary based on where your money is going. Finally, your fee will be higher if you use a credit or debit card to fund the transaction, rather than your PayPal account or linked bank account.
- Exchange rates. If you will be exchanging your currency to make your PayPal international money transfer, you might find that its exchange rates are not as favorable as its competitors. PayPal’s currency exchange rates start at 2.5%.
How do I send an international transfer with PayPal?
It’s quick and easy to send money overseas with PayPal. If you don’t already have a PayPal account, you’ll need to sign up for one before you can transfer money internationally. Accounts are free to open and you can apply online; you’ll just need to provide the following details:
- Your name and date of birth
- Your email address and phone number
- Your residential address
- The details of your linked bank account or credit card
Once you’ve signed up, you can use your PayPal account to purchase a range of goods and services online; you can also start transferring money overseas. From start to finish, the whole PayPal international money transfer process takes just a few minutes.
- Log in to your account and click on the Send Money tab.
- Enter your recipient’s phone number or email address, the amount you want to send and a description of the transfer.
- PayPal will give you a total cost for the transaction, including transfer fees and currency exchange rate, when applicable.
- Review this information and click Send Money if you are ready to transfer your funds.
You can use PayPal to transfer money internationally from:
- Your PayPal account balance
- Your linked bank account
- Your linked credit or debit card
The funds will be available in your recipient’s PayPal account almost immediately. They can then keep the money in their PayPal account or transfer it to a linked bank account. Transferring it to a bank account can take several days.
You can also use Xoom, a PayPal service, to make an international money transfer without signing up for a PayPal account.
How do I withdraw funds from a PayPal account?
There are three different ways to withdraw money from your PayPal account:
- Receive a check. Log into your PayPal account and select Transfer to Your Bank under your balance. Then, click Request a Check By Mail Instead. If you’re a US customer, you should receive the check in one to two weeks. However, if you’re outside of the US, it could take up to six weeks for you to receive your check.
- Transfer to your bank account. Log into your PayPal account and choose how much money you’d like to transfer to your bank account. Then, select which bank account you’d like to transfer the funds to. The minimum amount you can transfer is $1, there are no fees involved and it usually takes one business day for the transaction to go through.
- Use an eligible Visa or MasterCard debit or prepaid card. If you’re looking to get your funds fast, then using an eligible card to transfer funds to your bank account is the way to go. This usually takes 30 minutes or less, but it does cost $0.25 per transfer. If you have a PayPal Debit MasterCard, you can withdraw up to $400 per day from any ATM by selecting Checking Account when you withdraw the money. You can also use your PayPal Debit MasterCard to make purchases using your PayPal account anywhere MasterCards are accepted.
Bottom line
If you’re looking for an easy solution to your international money transfer needs, compare PayPal’s features, benefits and fees with those of other money transfer providers to find the safest and most cost-effective transfer method available.
Compare PayPal money transfers with other global brands
Use our comparison calculator to assess transfer fees, exchange rates and other details for sending funds overseas with our money transfer partners.
I need to purchase an item (SKULL RIDER INC) from a point of PayPal One Touch in the SPAIN, I am in the Vietnam. What do you recommend?
Hi Hieu!
Thanks for leaving a question on our page.
Paypal One Touch is an additional feature of Paypal that saves all your information so buying in any site is convenient. As Paypal is a very secure platform, you don’t need to worry about your account getting hacked.
To purchase the item from Skull Rider Inc., best to check if they have the Paypal One Touch option. Also, using Paypal is accepted worldwide so you can buy items from around the world and it’ll get shipped to Vietnam. Please do take note of any import taxes in your country if there are any and take it into account.
Hope this helps!
Regards,
Nikki
I need to purchase an item (Irish Dance dress) from a private party (person) in the UK, I am in the US. What do you recommend?
Hi Pam,
Thanks for reaching out to us here.
What you can do is ask the store/seller what modes of payment they have. Generally, when purchasing an item overseas, a credit card may be of less risk to you in case something happens during transit and it’s easier to reverse charges. If they have a COD option, this would also be good as you only pay when the item is delivered.
Just an FYI, we’re a product comparison website and we don’t represent any company featured on our site. We provide you with general information on things you need to decide on before making a purchase.
Hope this clarifies.
Many thanks,
Nikki
Can I send money from Mexico to united states using paypal
Hi Angel,
Thanks for leaving a question on finder.
Definitely! Here are the steps:
1. Log in to your PayPal account.
2. Click Send money to a friend at the top of the page.
3. Type the email address or mobile number to whom you are sending money, and the amount being sent.
4. Click Next.
5. Review and confirm the information on the screen and click Send.
If you get in a jam, you can send us a message anytime.
Cheers,
Joel
Ok friend in Norway wants to send 500 USD to my Paypal account. What does he have to do, how much will it cost and how soon will the money be in my available Paypal balance? Thanks.
Hi Mark,
Thanks for leaving a question on finder.
There is a fee when you send a payment to someone in another country or if you receive a payment from someone in another country. The PayPal User Agreement has specific information. You can find the User Agreement by clicking Legal Agreements at the bottom of any PayPal page.
PayPal’s fee structure can add a lot to the total cost of your transfer. Its fees are calculated based on the amount of money you are sending. If you send a large amount, expect to pay a lot in fees. Fees also vary based on where your money is going. Finally, your fee will be higher if you use a credit or debit card to fund the transaction, rather than your PayPal account or linked bank account.
If you will be exchanging your currency to make your PayPal international money transfer, you might find that its exchange rates are not as favorable as its competitors. PayPal’s currency exchange rates start at 2.5%.
The steps on how to send money via Paypal is already in this page. If you and your friend would like to weigh your options, you can check the table above on other providers that may suit you aside from Paypal.
Cheers,
Joel
I’ve look over the upcoming Policy Updates of PayPal on May 10 2018, and get confused about the Personal Payments.
Do it mean if I want someone to get 5 USD with the method of International Payments, I shold send like 5 USD + 3 to 5 USD + 3.4% + Fixed Fee?
What about sending to a merchant account, and which side need to pay the cost of 3 to 5 USD.
Do you have some answers?
Hi BA,
Thanks for your message and for visiting finder – the leading comparison website & general information service built to give you advice in your buying decision needs. How are you doing today?
PayPal allows you to send money inside the US for free if it is funded by a linked bank account. But when you send money outside the US, you’ll pay a fee equivalent to 0.5% – 2.0% of your transaction if it is funded by your bank account or PayPal balance. If you pay via credit or debit card, fees range from 3.4% to 3.9%.
If in case of a merchant account, this is considered a payment from you to a recipient thus the sender shoulders the fee equivalent as well.
Hope this helps!
Cheers,
Nikki
Please I want to send 565,000 Chilean pesos (about 900 USD) to someone in the US. How much is it going to cost me in US dollars?
Hi Solomon,
Thanks for leaving a question on finder.
PayPal allows you to send money inside the US for free if it is funded by a linked bank account. But when you send money outside the US, you’ll pay a fee equivalent to 0.5% – 2.0% of your transaction if it is funded by your bank account or PayPal balance. If you pay via credit or debit card, fees range from 3.4% to 3.9%.
Cheers,
Joel
How much does it cost to transfer money from a US bank to my Thai Paypal account?
Hi SHk,
Thanks for your question.
Personal money transfers from a US bank account to your Thai Paypal account will incur a fixed fee of 11.00 THB.
Cheers,
Anndy
I am receiving a payment of $1350 from a client in Sweden.
I am calculating the fees I will pay to receive the money.
Am I correct that I pay 4.4% of the money received, plus a fixed fee? What is the fixed fee, and overall, what will my total cost be to receive this payment? Thank you.
Hi Eleanor,
Thanks for your inquiry.
With PayPal, there’s NO fee when receiving a transfer. There are only fees when you are sending money or you’re the sender.
PayPal allows you to send money inside the US for free if it is funded by a linked bank account. But when you send money outside the US, you’ll pay a fee equivalent to 0.5% – 2.0% of your transaction if it is funded by your bank account or PayPal balance. If you pay via credit or debit card, fees range from 3.4% to 3.9%.
While for the fixed fee, this will apply when you will send money in another currecncy. You may check the fees on the table on the upper part of this page.
Best regards,
Rench
Want to send Japanese Yen to Japan, however it does not appear on your list of available foreign crrencies. Please confirm.
Hi DT,
Thanks for your question.
Our list of currencies above that you can send through Paypal include Japanese Yen.
You may also transfer Japanese Yen using any of the money transfer companies we have listed above.
Cheers,
Anndy