Instarem review

Low fees, fast transfers and reward points give Instarem an edge in the international money transfer market.

  • Good for earning loyalty points and fast transfers.
  • Not so great for larger transfers or for sending money to someone without a bank account. Be aware that the zero-margin exchange rate only applies to some currencies during certain hours.

Check out our full list of pros and cons below.

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From £0

Fees (pay by bank transfer)

USD 1

Minimum transfer amount

No limit

Maximum transfer amount

Details

Product NameInstarem
Pay byDebit card, Bank transfer
Receiving optionsBank account
Customer servicePhone, Live chat, Email
Available currenciesAUD, BDT, CAD, CNY, EUR, HKD, IDR, INR, KRW, LKR, MYR, NPR, PHP, PKR, SGD, THB, USD, VND
Bank account required?No
Personal account manager?No

Our Verdict

Instarem has a lot going for it. Competitive exchange rates, zero transfer fees on certain currencies, loyalty points that convert to savings and fast delivery speeds explain why Instarem is a worthy contender for your next money transfer overseas. While it does add a markup to exchange rates, these often fare better than many other transfer providers.

However, forget Instarem if your recipient doesn’t have a bank account as there are no alternatives except when sending funds to someone in the Philippines, where cash pickups are possible. You’ll also want to check the transfer limits compared to what you plan to send as these limits vary depending on the receiving country.

Why should I consider Instarem?

  • Reward points. Earn InstaPoints when you signup, send money and refer friends. 100 InstaPoints can be redeemed for £1.80 off transfers of more than £500.
  • Competitive exchange rates. Instarem’s exchange rate markup on many currencies is low compared to many other transfer services.
  • Zero transfer fees on many transfers. When we checked, transfers to many popular destinations came with £0 transfer fees.
  • Fast transfers. Most transfers arrive instantly or within the same day.

What to be aware of

  • Limited currencies. Instarem supports major currencies, but if you are looking for something a bit more exotic you may want to look at another money transfer service.
  • No cash options. There are no cash pickup options and you are unable to pay in cash for your transfer.

How much are Instarem’s transfer fees?

Instarem’s transfer fee is £0 for many types of transactions. What fee you will pay depends on the following factors:

  • The country you are sending from
  • Your transfer destination
  • The transfer amount
  • Your chosen payment method

How are Instarem’s exchange rates?

While Instarem does offer the mid-market rate exchange rate, it doesn’t offer it for all currencies and at all times of the day. This means that for many of your transfers, there will be a margin on top of the quoted exchange rate. The company doesn’t make it clear what currencies or times this applies to.

What your transfer with Instarem could look like

1 - 1 of 1
Name Product Filter values Fastest transfer speed Fees (pay by bank transfer) Learn more
Instarem
Within minutes
From £0

View details
Instarem offers zero transfer fees on all transfers.
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What are the ways I can send money abroad with Instarem?

Instarem supports both personal and business transfers. Transfers are all completed as a bank transfer, so there are no alternative delivery options. While Instarem doesn’t offer forex tools like forward contracts, it does offer specialised help for business transfers.

How to make an international money transfer with Instarem

To get started with Instarem, you will first need to register for an account.

What are Instarem’s payment options?

In the UK, you can pay for your Instarem transfer by bank transfer or by debit card. Payment methods vary on your country of residence, so if you live outside the UK it is best to check before initiating a transfer.

How long does a transfer with Instarem take?

Most transfers with Instarem arrive instantly or within the same day. The exact time varies depending on the currencies involved, the network through which funds are routed and other factors.

Transfers typically takeClock icon for transfer speed

Minutes or same day

Is Instarem safe to use?

  • Security and regulation: Government regulated
  • Established: 2014
  • Reviews: Trustpilot gives Instarem a score of 4.5* out of 5, based on over 7,206 reviews
  • Investors: Vertex Ventures, SBI-FMO Fund, GSR Ventures
*According to Trustpilot on 1 July 2022.

How does Instarem compare to other money transfer services?

Table: sorted by promoted deals first
Our table below lets you compare services you can use to send money abroad. Compare fees, exchange rates and discounts from different money transfer services, and when you have made your choice, click Go to site.
1 - 20 of 21
Name Product Filter values Fastest transfer speed Fees (pay by bank transfer) Learn more
TorFX
24 hours
£0

View details
TorFX sends money overseas in 30+ currencies, with competitive rates for transfer amounts over $2,000.
Key Currency
24 hours
£0

View details
Make same-day transfers in all major currencies across Europe.
Wise (TransferWise)
4 hours
From £3.75

View details
Wise uses the mid-market rate and transparent fees to help you send money in 45+ currencies.
Equals Business Expense Card
Equals Business Expense Card
24 hours
1.5%

View details
Equals Money sends money overseas in 140+ currencies.
OFX
24 hours
£0

View details
OFX has no maximum limit transfers, with competitive exchange rates for 45+ currencies.
CurrencyTransfer
24 hours
£0

View details
CurrencyTransfer lets you shop around for the best exchange rate on its online marketplace.
Currencies Direct
24 hours
£0

View details
CurrenciesDirect makes transferring money abroad simple with bank-beating exchange rates.
Xe
Within minutes
£2
SPECIAL OFFER ✓ £25 Amazon voucher when you refer a friend

View details
Xe has fast transfers with low fees and a range of foreign currency tools.
PassTo
Within minutes
From £0.99

View details
No fees on your first transfer. Refer 3 friends to PassTo and earn £50 once they each make a transfer of at least £200. They'll earn £5 too. T&Cs apply.
PassTo specialises in remittances to bank accounts and cash pickup locations in 45+ countries.
Atlantic Money
Within minutes
£3

View details
Remitly
Within minutes
From £1.49
SPECIAL OFFER ✓ Get £10 off with code FINDER

View details
Remitly has quick, affordable transfers around the world, with both express and economy options.
CurrencyFair
24 hours
£2.50

View details
Special offer: New customers get unlimited fee-free transfers for their first 3 months. T&Cs apply.
CurrencyFair has bank-beating exchange rates and fast transfer times on 15+ popular currencies.
Revolut
Within minutes
From £0
SPECIAL OFFER ✓ Sign up and get a free £10 top-up plus 1 month of Revolut Premium

View details
Sign up with Finder to get 3 months of Revolut Premium for free. T&Cs apply.
Revolut is a digital bank that sends money fast to 30+ currencies, often with no fee added to the exchange rate.
WorldRemit
Within minutes
From £1.99
SPECIAL OFFER ✓ Use promo code 4FREEFINDER to send your first 4 transfers with no fee. Conditions apply.

View details
WorldRemit sends money to 110+ countries for bank-to-bank deposits, cash pick-ups or mobile top-ups.
OFX
24 hours
£0

View details
OFX has no maximum limit transfers, with competitive exchange rates for 45+ currencies.
TorFX Business
24 hours
£0

View details
TorFX sends money overseas in 30+ currencies, with competitive rates for transfer amounts over $2,000.
Currencies Direct Business
24 hours
£0
SPECIAL OFFER ✓ https://www.currenciesdirect.com/en/info/refer-a-friend

View details
CurrenciesDirect makes transferring money abroad simple with bank-beating exchange rates.
OFX Business
24 hours
£0

View details
OFX has no maximum limit transfers, with competitive exchange rates for 45+ currencies.
CurrencyFair Business
24 hours
£2.50

View details
Special offer: Zero fees on your first 10 transfers.
CurrencyFair has bank-beating exchange rates and fast transfer times on 15+ popular currencies.
WorldFirst Business
24 hours
£0

View details
WorldFirst sends 60+ currencies at competitive rates with no fees. If you find a better eligible quote, WorldFirst will beat it.
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