Best international money transfer apps

Mobile money transfer apps make sending money internationally convenient, but which app is the best? Depending on where you’re sending money and how fast you need it to arrive, you may find what you need in these highly rated apps.

We looked not only at customer reviews on both the Apple App and Google Play stores, but also took into consideration the features of each of the services.

Xe Money Transfer – Best app for cheap transfers under £2,000

Finder rating: 4.5 / 5

★★★★★

Go to site Read review

Xe

• Why it's great
• Pros and cons
• Info

The Xe Money Transfer app lets you exchange money at a more competitive exchange rate than you’d find at the bank and makes tracking multiple exchange rates a breeze. With over 500,000 locations throughout the world Xe app makes it easy to send money to family or friends, without the need for a bank account.

Features in the app

• Live exchange rates
• Set rate alerts
• Track your transfer

Available on iOS and Android, in multiple languages.

• No fees for transfers above £250
• Custom alerts
• Large range of destinations
• Forward contracts and other forex tools
• 500,000+ cash pickup locations
• Multiple payment options

• Doesn’t use mid-market rate
• Some features like cash pickup aren’t available on desktop

Receiving options	Cash pickup location Bank account
Pay By	Credit card Debit card Bank transfer
Customer Service	Phone Email
Personal Account Manager
Recurring Transfer Facility
FCA Reference	462444

Wise – Best app for cheap transfers over £2,000

Finder rating: 4 / 5

★★★★★

Go to site Read review

Wise (TransferWise)

• Why it's great
• Pros and cons
• Info

Wise, unlike most of its competitors, gives you access to the mid-market rate which in many cases can mean more money for your recipient. Wise app includes a calculator you can use to get exchange rates and fees for specific transfers and offers an easy way to upload a photo of any personal ID needed to get started with Wise.

Features in the app

• Live exchange rates
• Set rate alerts
• Track your transfer

Available on iOS and Android, in multiple languages.

• Uses the mid-market rate
• Transparent with fees
• Multiple payment options
• No minimum transfer amount

• Requires proof of ID
• No cash pickup
• Fees depending on the amount of money you’re sending

Receiving options	Bank account
Pay By	Credit card Debit card Bank transfer
Customer Service	Phone Email
Personal Account Manager
Recurring Transfer Facility
FCA Reference	900507

PassTo – Best app for fast transfers

Finder rating: 4 / 5

★★★★★

Go to site Read review

PassTo

• Why it's great
• Pros and cons
• Info

PassTo can only be used through the app (you can't login on your desktop browser, for example) so PassTo has focused all its efforts on making the app experience enjoyable and intuitive. It's impressively versitile – you can send money as a bank transfer, mobile wallet top-up or even as cash, and you can pay by debit card, credit card or bank deposit.

Features in the app

• Live exchange rates
• Set rate alerts
• Track your transfers

Available on iOS and Android, in English.

• Most transfers are delivered within minutes
• Chat support available
• Variety of currencies
• Multiple payment options
• Rated excellent on Trustpilot
• Touch ID
• Link debit/credit cards for faster deposits

• Transfer limits - You can send up to £2,000 a day for most countries, and a maximum amount of £10,000 per month
• No option to set up recurring transfers

Receiving options	Cash pickup location Bank account Mobile wallet
Pay By	Credit card Debit card Bank transfer
Customer Service	Phone Live chat Email
Personal Account Manager
Recurring Transfer Facility
FCA Reference	900662

WorldRemit – Best app for transfering money to someone without a bank account

Finder rating: 3.5 / 5

★★★★★

Go to site Read review

WorldRemit

• Why it's great
• Pros and cons
• Info

With the WorldRemit app, you can send money in over 60 currencies for bank deposit, mobile airtime top-up and even cash pickup. WorldRemit has no minimum transfer amount, but its maximums vary depending on the destination country. Learn more about WorldRemit before downloading the app to make sure it’s the right fit for you.

Features in the app

• Live exchange rates
• Set rate alerts
• Track your transfer

Available on iOS and Android, in multiple languages.

• Cash pickup with funds usually available to collect instantly
• Flexible payment options
• Large range of destinations

• Not as many extra features as other money transfer apps
• Daily transfer limits - 24-hour cap of £50,000
• Transfers to most of European countries are not supported

Receiving options	Cash pickup location Bank account Mobile wallet Prepaid phone credit
Pay By	Credit card Debit card Bank transfer
Customer Service	Phone Live chat
Personal Account Manager
Recurring Transfer Facility
FCA Reference	900891

Airwallex – Best app for business

Go to site Read review

Airwallex multi-currency business account

• Why it's great
• Pros and cons
• Info

If you're a UK business that makes money overseas and spends money overseas too, Airwallex is designed to help you save on currency conversion. Receive, hold and spend/send a range of major currencies at bank-beating rates that can be locked-in from the app.

Features in the app

• Live exchange rates

Available on iOS and Android, in English and simplified Chinese

• Dedicated account manager
• Competitive foreign exchange rates
• 150+ countries and 40+ currencies to choose from

• Doesn’t accept credit card or cash as payment

Receiving options	Bank account
Pay By	Bank transfer
Customer Service	Phone Live chat Email
Personal Account Manager
Recurring Transfer Facility
FCA Reference	900876

Atlantic money – Best app for iPhone

Go to site Read review

Atlantic Money (iPhone only)

• Why it's great
• Pros and cons
• Info

Newcomer Atlantic Money charges a flat £3 fee no matter how much you're transferring, and doesn't mark-up exchange rates. Like PassTo, Atlantic Money is app-only (there's no option to login via your desktop) so all Atlantic's efforts have been poured into making a straightforward and cheap iPhone app.

Features in the app

• Live exchange rates
• Track your transfer

Available only on iOS, in English.

• No mark-up on exchange rates
• Flat £3 fee for transfers up to £1 million
• Transfers up to £5,000 don’t require proof of ID

• Small selection of currencies
• It’s all self-service
• No rate alerts
• Additional fees for express delivery
• No Android app yet

Receiving options	Bank account
Pay By	Bank transfer
Customer Service	Live chat Email
Personal Account Manager
FCA Reference	947491

Remitly – Best app for Android

Finder rating: 4 / 5

★★★★★

Go to site Read review

Remitly

• Why it's great
• Pros and cons
• Info

With the Remitly app, you’ll be given an exact date and time for when your money will be available for your recipient. If your transfer is late, Remitly has a money-back guarantee. Learn more about this and other features before downloading the app to make sure it’s the right fit for you.

Features in the app

• Live exchange rates
• Track your transfer

Available on iPhone and Android, in multiple languages.

• Cash pickup available
• No minimum transfer
• Large range of destinations
• Funds can be received through mobile money

• Limit on how much you can send
• Fees change depending on the speed of your transfer

Receiving options	Cash pickup location Bank account Mobile wallet Home delivery
Pay By	Credit card Debit card Bank transfer
Customer Service	Phone Live chat Email
Personal Account Manager
Recurring Transfer Facility
FCA Reference	728639

Revolut – Best app overall

Go to site Read review

Revolut

• Why it's great
• Pros and cons
• Info

Revolut, the multi-purpose banking app, lets you transfer money to almost anywhere in the world and offers very competitive rates across all major currencies. You can track the status of your online transfers in real-time, directly in the app, and benefit from instant free transfers to other Revolut users.

Features in the app

• Live exchange rates
• Set rate alerts
• Track your transfer

Available on iOS, Android and HarmonyOS, in multiple languages.

• A beautiful, easy-to-use app
• No upper limits for most currencies
• Large range of destinations
• In-app chat support

• Complicated terms
• It’s all self-service

Receiving options	Bank account
Pay By	Bank transfer
Customer Service	Phone Live chat
Recurring Transfer Facility
FCA Reference	900562

How can I compare money transfer services?

A key factor in choosing an app is the service behind it. Compare these features before making your decision.

Exchange rates

Different providers will offer you different exchange rates. It’s generally not the one you’ll see on Google or Xe — otherwise known as the mid-market rate. To make a profit, transfer services add on a margin to the exchange rate to cover their own fees. Always compare providers with the knowledge that a provider may have no fees, but a bad exchange rate.

Fees

Providers charge fees in either flat rates, percentages or not at all. These fees can also change depending on what you’re sending and how you’re sending it. For example, larger transfers are generally cheaper, while money transfers using your credit card can incur higher fees.

Speed

Sometimes you need to get money to someone fast. Some providers specialise in cash pickup, which means your recipient can pick up the money you send almost instantly. This does come at a higher price, however. If you’re not worried about timing, most providers take anywhere between one and four days to deliver the money at a much lower fee.

Bottom line

If you want to send cash on the go, a money transfer app may be for you. Just be sure to compare the exchange rates, transfer fees and other details of money transfer specialists to ensure you get the best deal for your needs.

Frequently asked questions

• Where can I send money with a mobile app?

  The countries to which you can send money will vary by provider. Some specialise in certain geographic areas, while others provide services to hundreds of countries.

• How fast will my money get there?

  Some providers get your money to its destination in minutes after payment, especially if you pay with a debit card. Others require a few days to get to your recipient. Confirm the transfer speeds of your service before putting any cash down.