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Best ways to send money online in the US

Compare fees, speed and other features and choose the best online service for domestic money transfers.

Sending money within the US? Best local services
Want to send money overseas? Best international services

Choosing the right service to transfer money can save you time, money and headaches. Although your bank may offer transfers, it’ll often be more expensive than the other options available to you. Find the cheapest and fastest way to pay your roommate for rent with our hand-picked list of 5+ ways to send money online you can download right now.

Top picks to send money within the US

Best for…ServiceWhy use it?
Free transfers between PayPal accountsPayPal's logoPayPalPayPal is a convenient option for free domestic transfers, paying businesses and sending money online internationally.
No frills transfersCash App's logoCash AppEasily send and receive money from debit cards and bank accounts
Socially interactive transfersVenmo's logoVenmoSend money with emojis and fun messages when paying friends and family
iPhone usersApple's logoApple PayIntegrates with iPhones to seamlessly send money through Messages
Bank-to-bank transfersZelle's logoZelleSupported bank accounts can send and receive nearly instant transfers
Fast transfersGoogle's logoGoogle PayCombines contactless payments, an electronic wallet and money transfer services in an easy-to-use app
Business transfersZelle's logoZelleAllows direct transfers between bank accounts, simplifying invoice payments and business transfers
Referral bonusesCash App's logoCash AppWhen new users sign up for Cash App through your referral link, you receive a $5 bonus per sign-up

Send money online within the US

Many free options allow you to send money within the US between bank accounts. Here are some of the most popular options for sending money online to friends or family within the country.

PayPal

PayPal's logo

What we like:

  • Fraud protection covers the sending and receiving of funds for both domestic and international purchases
  • Free transfers to other PayPal accounts

What we don’t like:

  • Fees can add up quickly when you send money online to international destinations

Why use PayPal?

Transferring money for both businesses and individuals is one of PayPal’s strengths, and its network of global coverage makes it a good option for international users trying to figure out how to wire money online safely. Sending money domestically is free between PayPal accounts, but pay attention to fees when sending money across borders from a linked bank account. PayPal also offers money transfer protection when making purchases online from other individuals, something Cash App and Google Pay lack.

PayPal’s fees and limits:

Instant depositTransfer limitsTransfer speedOther fees
1% up to a maximum of $10Unlimited for both sending and receiving1 to 4 business days2.9% + $0.30 to send from credit card

Cash App

Cash App's logo

What we like:

  • Straightforward app with no receiving limits and offers a way to purchase Bitcoin
  • Easy and fast to pay friends back

What we don’t like:

  • Instant withdrawals charge a higher fee than some competitors
  • Transfer are limited to $1,000 per month until you verify your account

Why use Cash App?

For users seeking a clean, simple interface and straightforward payment options, Cash App is high on our list. If all you want to do is send and receive money without social feeds or having to share your bank account numbers, this may be the choice for you.

Cash App’s fees and limits:

Instant depositTransfer limitsTransfer speedOther fees
0.5% – 1.75% fee (minimum $0.25)Send: $7,500/week
Receive: Unlimited
Less than 5 minutes3% to send from credit card

Venmo

Venmo's logo

What we like:

  • Include emojis to make your payments more social
  • Fast transfers and non-restrictive limits for casual users

What we don’t like:

  • Instant withdrawals can get expensive if used often
  • Can’t make transfer money abroad

Why use Venmo?

Venmo is a more socially-focused payment app that includes features like emojis, seeing payment history sent between friends and a clean user interface. Connect a bank account, credit card or debit card to make payments — but make sure to check your privacy settings if you’d like to keep payments out of the public eye.

Venmo’s fees and limits:

Instant depositTransfer limitsTransfer speedOther fees
1.75% fee (minimum of $0.25 and maximum of $25)Send: $60,000/week
Receive: Unlimited
No longer than 30 minutes3% to send from credit card

Google Pay

Google Pay's logo

What we like:

  • Integrates with other Google services like Google Home and Gmail
  • Easy to use

What we don’t like:

  • When paying merchants, you have to use your phone — no physical card exists to spend your Google Pay balance

Why use Google Pay?

Google Pay is integrated with Android phones, but can also be used through a browser and iPhone app. It works well with many of the existing Google Services, such as Gmail, Google Assistant and Messages. It comes with enhanced security and has the option for Two-Factor Authentication and sign-in notifications — must-have features for anyone who’s prone to losing phones.

Google Pay’s fees and limits:

Instant depositTransfer limitsTransfer speedOther fees
Free to bank accountSend: $5,000/week
Receive: Unlimited
Less than 3 minutesGoogle Pay charges no fees for bank transfers, but your bank may — contact it to find out

Apple Pay

Apple Pay Logo

What we like:

  • Integrates with Apple services like Messages
  • Included on iPhones by default

What we don’t like:

  • Only accessible to Apple product users, making it awkward to try and set up payments with friends who use other brands.

Why use Apple Pay?

Apple Pay is integrated with Apple products, making it a simple service to use if you’re an avid iPhone user. You can add payment methods, pay merchants and manage App Store purchases all through Apple Pay.

Apple Pay’s fees and limits:

Instant depositTransfer limitsTransfer speedOther fees
Free to bank accountSend: $10,000/week
Receive: Unlimited
Less than 10 minutesApple Pay charges no fees for bank transfers, but your bank may — contact it to find out

Zelle

Picture not described

What we like:

  • Bank accounts that support Zelle transfers can send and receive money instantly
  • Uses your banking app so you don’t need to install anything else on your phone

What we don’t like:

  • Transfer speeds are slow for bank accounts that don’t support Zelle

Why use Zelle?

Zelle is supported by many major banks and has built a network that makes it easy for supported accounts to send and receive money with ease. If your bank supports Zelle you can use the transfer service through your existing bank’s app or online portal, almost always for free.

Zelle’s fees and limits:

Instant depositTransfer limitsTransfer speedOther fees
0%$1,000/weekLess than 3 minutesNo fees

Best ways to send money internationally

If you’re looking to send money to your loved ones or make a business transfer to a foreign contractor, the best providers to send money abroad will differ from the picks above. Unlike transferring money to people locally, you have to consider a range of other factors when making international transfers: exchange rates, fees, availability of transfers to the country, etc.

Typically, if you are making an international transfer for the first time, using an international bank transfer might seem like the obvious choice. However, you are likely to be charged high international transfer fees. Additionally, your recipient will most likely receive a lower amount than intended due to unfavorable exchange rates offered by banks. Luckily, other options exist today. There are various online money transfer services disrupting this industry by helping you send your money abroad for a fraction of the cost charged by banks.

Compare international money transfer services

Looking to send money abroad? Compare your options below to find the best international money transfer services for you.

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.
1 - 12 of 12
Name Product USFMT Filter Values Fastest Transfer Speed Fees (Pay by Bank Transfer)
Instarem
24 hours
From 0%
New Instarem customers will get a special FX rate and zero-fees on their first transfer.
Instarem offers offers rewards on every transaction.
Wise (TransferWise)
Within minutes
From 0.41%
Wise uses the mid-market rate and transparent fees to help you send money in 50+ currencies.
MoneyGram
Within minutes
From $0
MoneyGram has fast cash pick-up transfers to more than 350,000 agent locations worldwide.
Airwallex
Airwallex
Within minutes
$0
After spending $15k in your first 90 days, receive a one-time $500 bonus that will automatically be credited to your account on any FX conversion.
Airwallex can help you make business payments to 150+ countries in 60+ currencies.
OFX International Money Transfers (Business)
24 hours
$0
Business customers: Send safe, no-limit transfers with no fees and competitive exchange rates.
CurrencyTransfer for Business
24 hours
$0
Increase business efficiency with zero transaction fees and same-day transfers.
Xe Money Transfer for Business
24 hours
$0
Save your time and money with Xe Money Transfer for business.
OFX
24 hours
$0
OFX has no maximum limit transfers, with competitive exchange rates for 45+ currencies.
Currencies Direct (business)
24 hours
$0
Minimizes costs of international transactions and offers custom solutions for business clients. Currencies Direct may call you to confirm your transfer, so be prepared for a phone call shortly after initiating a transfer.
Xe
Within minutes
$3
Xe has fast transfers with low fees and a range of foreign currency tools.
CurrencyTransfer
24 hours
$0
CurrencyTransfer lets you shop around for the best exchange rate on its online marketplace.
Currencies Direct
24 hours
$0
CurrenciesDirect makes transferring money abroad simple with bank-beating exchange rates. Currencies Direct may call you to confirm your transfer, so be prepared for a phone call shortly after initiating a transfer.
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Bottom line

There are a range of options that can securely transfer your money from A to B while avoiding steep bank fees — be it within the US or internationally. The best way to transfer money depends on your situation, how fast you need the money transferred and to where.

But there’s no need to commit to only one service. With so many options available, it pays to road-test a few first or keep several accounts at once. Checking the prices of different services will help save money.

Our approach to helping you pick a money transfer service

Our users have diverse needs, so to find some of the most popular money transfer products, we investigated a variety of companies by comparing factors like fees, consumer sentiment, transfer limits and user experience.

All of the sending and receiving limits are based on the highest limits a user can unlock with each service.

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.

Name Product USFMT Filter Values Fastest Transfer Speed Fees (Pay by Bank Transfer)
OFX International Money Transfers (Business)
24 hours
$0
Business customers: Send safe, no-limit transfers with no fees and competitive exchange rates.
Xe
Within minutes
From $0
Xe has fast transfers with low fees and a range of foreign currency tools.
MoneyGram
Within minutes
From $0
MoneyGram has fast cash pick-up transfers to more than 350,000 agent locations worldwide.
Instarem
24 hours
From 0%
New Instarem customers will get a special FX rate and zero-fees on their first transfer.
Instarem offers offers rewards on every transaction.
Xe Money Transfer for Business
24 hours
$0
Save your time and money with Xe Money Transfer for business.