There are lots of reasons for making international money transfers, from buying property abroad to sending money to family members, and there are lots of ways to make them. You could send a bank wire transfer, use an online money transfer app like Wise or Atlantic Money or send cash through a service like Western Union?
We’ve scoured the market to find the best international money transfer services based on low fees, strong exchange rates, fast delivery and flexible options. Here’s what you need to know.
Compare international money transfer services
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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.
We only list licensed services that are overseen by a government regulator. Every service we compare has been assessed and reviewed by our editorial team.
What is an international money transfer?
An international money transfer is the process of sending money between people or financial accounts in different countries. Every day, trillions of pounds are transferred between people and businesses around the world.
Typically, you need to give a bank or money transfer service your recipient’s details and the money you want to send. The bank or transfer service then converts your funds to the currency in which it will be received and electronically sends the payment to your recipient.
Depending on the money transfer service, you may be able to send funds online, via mobile app, over the phone or in person.
How much does it cost to transfer money internationally?
The cost of sending an international money transfer varies between service providers. Factors like the type of transfer, destination country and amount being sent can affect your total cost.
Generally, banks and money transfers services make money from international transfers in two ways:
Transfer fee. This is typically a flat fee or a percentage of the transfer amount. When transfer services give you a quote, they usually don’t deduct the fee first, and assume that you’ll find separate funds to cover the fee. That makes the conversion look better.
Exchange rate margin. Most banks and money transfer services make a profit by using an exchange rate that’s not quite as good as the interbank rate, and pocketing the difference. This is called a “markup” or “margin”. When you see a service that boasts “zero commissions” or “no transfer fees”, it’s more than likely using its own exchange rate to ensure it can cover costs and turn a profit.
Bear in mind that transfer fees can vary depending on how much you’re transferring, how you pay for the service, how quickly you need it actioned and how your recipient receives the funds. Cash pickup can cost more than transfers to a bank account, for example, because it can require having local branches. You’ll usually incur higher fees for larger transfers, but when it’s a percentage-based fee, services may actually slash the percentage for larger transfers.
Realistically, it can be a bit of a moving target. Exchange rates change all the time and are hard to predict. On top of this, transfer services adjust their own fees or exchange rates, meaning that even if the interbank exchange rate is fairly static, a transfer service’s rate could still change. After all, it’s in their interests not to rush when passing on improvements in exchange rates!
Transfers within the Single Euro Payments Area (SEPA) or European Economic Area (EEA) tend to be cheaper.
What countries are in the Single Euro Payments Area (SEPA) or European Economic Area (EEA)
The SEPA consists of the Eurozone and a few other countries. The EEA consists of the EU and a few others. Confused? Just check out our lists!
Andorra
Austria
Belgium
Bulgaria
Croatia
Cyprus (excluding Northern Cyprus)
Czech Republic
Denmark (excluding the Faroe Islands and Greenland)
Estonia
Finland
France
Germany
Greece
Hungary
Iceland
Ireland
Italy
Latvia
Liechtenstein
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Malta
Monaco
Netherlands
Norway
Poland
Romania
Portugal
San Marino
Slovakia
Slovenia
Spain
Sweden
Switzerland
UK (including Channel Islands, Isle of Man and Gibraltar)
To get the best deal, focus on the final amount that your transfer recipient will get, after any fees have been deducted. Companies that offer fee-free transfers may make up for it with a poor exchange rate. This is why it’s important to look at the total cost of your transfer, not just the transfer fee or exchange rate.
To manage the shifting nature of exchange rates, it’s worth running a quick comparison at the point of transfer (quotes are usually “locked in” for a specific number of minutes), but you can also set rate alerts so that your transfer is only actioned if and when a rate hits a threshold of your choosing. To do this you’ll need to first create a free account with a transfer service such as TorFX.
How can I pay for my money transfer?
Not all money transfer services accept the same payment methods, but you may be able to pay by the following:
Debit card
Credit card
Bank transfer
Cash
If you want to pay in cash, you’ll need to visit a bank branch or money transfer agent in person. If you transfer funds online or via mobile app, you can only pay electronically by card or bank transfer.
How can my recipient receive the money?
Again, receiving options vary between transfer services, but your recipient may be able to receive funds the following ways:
Bank account
Mobile wallet
Cash pick-up at a bank or money transfer location
Airtime top-up
How can I send money overseas?
There are multiple options to consider when sending money overseas:
Transfer method
Description
Pros
Cons
Online money transfer service
Electronic funds transfer through an online money transfer service.
Can be done from anywhere via mobile app
Low cost (compared to banks)
Fast
Cannot pay in cash
Many online services don’t support cash pickup (some like WorldRemit and Remitly do)
In-person money transfer service
Cash or electronic transfer by visiting a money transfer service location in person.
Multiple transfer options
In-person customer service
Requires local travel
Can only be done within business hours
Bank
Wire transfer or international money transfer through a bank.
(Note: All major banks support wire transfers, but not all offer additional in-house money transfer services.)
Considered a very secure way to send money
Can be expensive
Can only be funded through your bank account
Cheque
Write a cheque and mail it to your recipient.
Can be postdated to delay payment.
Can be cancelled in transit.
No transaction fee (assuming you already own cheques)
What are the benefits of using an online money transfer service?
While it might be easy to assume that big banks are the best way to go when sending an international money transfer, there are many reasons why an online money transfer service might be just as good if not better:
Security. Similar to banks, online transfer services usually follow industry-standard security practices to protect your money and personal information. This often includes encrypted data transfer, SSL certificates, two-factor authentication, security questions/answers and personal identity verification.
Regulation. Money transfers are regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.
Cost savings. Online transfer services often translate to lower fees and stronger exchange rates
Speed. Online money transfer companies often use the latest financial technology to get your money where it needs to go fast.
Ease. Mobile apps and convenient online platforms make it easy to send money anytime from anywhere. Additionally, many money transfer services offer features that let you set up recurring transfers, making it easy to pay bills, send regular remittances, manage international business payments and more.
How to send money using an online money transfer service
Online money transfer services are increasingly competitive with big banks, in many cases offering more flexible options and lower fees. Sending an international money transfer through an online service is simple:
Create an account by entering personal details like your name, email, address and phone number.
You may need to submit a scanned copy of your personal ID (i.e. passport photo page or driver’s license) to qualify for higher transfer limits.
Link your bank account, debit card or credit card to your newly-created account, so you can pay for transfers. Alternatively, you may need to transfer funds from your bank account.
Most of the time, you can access your account immediately after submitting all the required information. For some services (particularly transfer services for businesses), there may be a delay while your information is reviewed and a transfer specialist is assigned to your account.
How to send money through a bank
Bank transfers have long been regarded as reliable and safe. The steps for sending an international money transfer through your bank are generally as follows:
Login to your online banking portal.
Navigate to the international money transfers section of your account. It’s usually a good idea to check your bank’s exchange rates before sending money.
Typically, you need the address and SWIFT code of your recipient’s bank and their account information. SWIFT codes are used internationally to identify banks.
To send a bank wire transfer or money order, you need to visit your bank in person. You may also be able to get money orders at other financial institutions like post offices, credit unions, retailers and even some convenience stores and fuel stations.
What do I need to send and receive money abroad?
Make sure you have the following on hand when sending an international money transfer.
Your personal details. Name, phone number, and government-issued identification like a driver’s license or passport. Additional details may be required for security purposes, particularly for very large transfers.
Your recipient’s personal details. Name, phone number and residential address.
Your recipient’s bank information. Bank name, address, routing number, SWIFT code and your recipient’s account number.
For money transfers, you don’t need any particular documents for sending money overseas other than government-issued personal identification.
If you receive a large money transfer from abroad, then you may be required to pay tax. The UK doesn’t charge a gift tax, but it does impose inheritance taxes on large gifts. Whether you are required to pay tax depends on whether you are “domiciled” in the UK or abroad.
If you need to make a large money transfer, you will want to find a provider with no transfer limit but that also offers strong exchange rates and low fees.
TorFX is just that sort of service. It offers fee-free transfers and has a price-match guarantee on its exchange rate, making it very competitive. It’s good for sending large amounts because there’s no maximum limit. You’ll also get access to plenty of forex tools.
Here’s why TorFX is our winner for large transfers:
No maximum limit
Fee-free transfers
Price match guarantee
Forex tools
Xe – Best for small transfers
When it comes to small money transfers, you don’t want the cost of fees or weak exchange rates to eat into the amount your recipient gets.
We picked Xe as our best money transfer for smaller transfers as it has no fees and good exchange rates, resulting in the lowest cost for a £1,000 transfer. You can also “buy now, send later” and lock in a rate in advance. Xe does charge a small flat fee for transfers below £250, but anything above that amount has no fees and strong exchange rates when compared to other providers.
Here’s what made Xe our winner for small transfers:
No fees on most transactions
Competitive exchange rate for smaller amounts
Worldwide network
Forward contracts available
Wise – Best for exchange rates
It’s hard to beat Wise when it comes to exchange rates as it is one of the few providers to offer the mid-market rate. The mid-market rate, or the interbank rate, is the one banks use to exchange currencies with each other. Money transfer providers typically add a markup to the mid-market rate in order to make money from the transfer.
Wise prides itself on offering the mid-market rate, choosing instead to add a transfer fee as its way to make money. This means that whatever exchange rate you are quoted by Wise is going to be the best exchange rate around. However, exchange rates are just one piece of the puzzle, so it is still worth comparing the overall cost of the transfer to make sure you are getting the best deal for you.
A close runner-up was Revolut, whose exchange rate was very, very close to the mid-market rate. However, while Revolut’s pricing is extremely competitive, it can depend on what plan you’re on, how much currency you exchange within a month, where you are sending to and even what day of the week it is. So for simplicity, Wise won out.
Here are the key features that meant we picked Wise as our winner for best exchange rates:
Always offers the mid-market rate
Wide reach – send money to over 80 countries
Multiple payment options including Google Pay & Apple Pay
Remitly – Best for cash transfers
In an ever-increasing digital world, providers that have a large network for cash transfers can be hard to find. But sometimes when your recipients don’t have a bank account or need cash on hand, cash pickup is the best option for your transfer.
Remitly has partnered with banks across a range of countries in order to provide 100,000s of cash pickup locations for its customers. It has a cash pickup locator in order to help you find the perfect spot to send your transfer. Recipients can also receive a text message to let them know when their cash is ready for pickup.
Here are some of the reasons we picked Remitly for cash transfers:
100,000s partner cash pickup locations
Promotional fees and rates for new customers
Delivery promise
Airwallex – Best for business transfers
If you are a business that makes regular international money transfers, you will be looking for a service which offers tools such as recurring payments or forward contracts to help you lock in the best rate in advance.
We compared the best business transfer services around and our top pick is Airwallex. Airwallex can help you to make business payments in 30+ currencies using competitive interbank rates and no fees for most transfers. There’s also a multi-currency business account which lets you hold over 11 different currencies Xero integration also helps make sure your books are always up to date.
Our main reasons for picking Airwallex as our top pick for business transfers are:
Competitive exchange rates
Flexible solutions including payment platforms
Developer API which automates payments
Xero integration
Paysend – Best for fast transfers
UK-based Paysend has some of the fastest transfer times available. The promised delivery time is within minutes for the majority of its transfers. The only reason it would be longer would be if you chose to pay by bank transfer and the bank’s processing times are slow.
The biggest advantage of Paysend is that it has a clean and simple mobile app. So it is straightforward and easy to set up your transfer and you can be confident that it will be delivered within minutes.
Notable mentions for transfer times include PassTo, Wise, Revolut and Remitly (if you are willing to pay more). Most of these promise same-day transactions, meaning your recipient won’t be kept waiting for funds.
Here’s what we liked about Paysend for fast transfers.
Most transfers are delivered within minutes
Straightforward fee structure of £1 per transfer
Easy to use mobile app
Whatever your reason for sending money abroad, whether it’s to pay for something, or if you’re sending money to a relative, you’ll want to find the cheapest way to do it. Comparison tools are a quick and easy way to compare costs. But as the exchange rate is ever changing, setting up a rate alert, if you have time, can save you money in the long run.”
Tips to save money on your international transfer
Looking for low fees and strong exchange rates isn’t the only way to save on your next international money transfer besides. The following tips can also help keep your costs down:
Use a service that offers zero markup on the exchange rate. The mid-market rate is the “true” exchange rate between two currencies. While most transfer services add a margin on the mid-market rate to make money, some don’t. Instead, these services prefer to make money through transfer fees and possibly other charges. Depending on the type of transfer, it may work in your favour to use such a service.
Send larger transfers. Some services offer discounted or waived transfer fees if you send at, or above, a minimum amount.
Use forward contracts and limit orders. A forward contract lets you lock in a favourable exchange rate for future transfers. This means you’ll avoid unpredictable movements in exchange rates. A limit order allows you to wait until a favourable exchange rate is found before locking in your transfer.
Watch out for scams. With an increasing number of scams each year, it’s important to keep an eye out for the most common money transfer scams. It’s usually best to avoid sending money to anyone you don’t know personally.
Pay attention to taxes and regulations. Every country regulates money transfers differently. Make sure your recipient is aware of any tax or reporting obligations that apply to your transfer.
It depends on the service provider and transfer method you choose. In general, if you pay with a credit or debit card, your money will arrive fast — often within the day. Paying by bank transfer is a lot slower and could take up to 2-5 days to process. Check out our guide on factors that can affect your transfer to learn more.
It's possible to send money within seconds up to an hour if you use services such as WorldRemit, MoneyGram or Western Union. Funds transferred electronically typically pass through a national clearinghouse and other intermediary financial networks before being released to your recipient. If you opt to send an international money transfer with an instant cash transfer, then this could be available for collection as cash within as little as 20 seconds.
You can send as much or as little as you want, but it all depends on the service you choose. Some are aimed at bigger currency transfers and will have minimums that can get as high as £5,000. You can also find several that specialise in smaller transfers and have minimums as low as £1.
There are no limits in the UK to how much you can send out of the country, but the service will need to do extra verification on you to comply with the law. This could mean presenting more proof of identity or address, like utility bills, car registration or your passport.
That depends on the tax laws in the country in which your recipient lives. In the UK, whether you are required to pay tax on money you receive from overseas depends on whether you are 'domiciled' in the UK or abroad. Learn more about UK tax on large money transfers in our guide.
Yes. Money transfer services typically provide a tracking number once payment is received. You can use this number to check the status of your transfer online, by phone or by mobile app (options vary between services).
Sending to a specific country? Learn more
We show offers we can track - that's not every product on the market...yet. Unless we've said otherwise, products are in no particular order. The terms "best", "top", "cheap" (and variations of these) aren't ratings, though we always explain what's great about a product when we highlight it. This is subject to our terms of use. When you make major financial decisions, consider getting independent financial advice. Always consider your own circumstances when you compare products so you get what's right for you. Most of the data in Finder's comparison tables has the source: Moneyfacts Group PLC. In other cases, Finder has sourced data directly from providers.
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To make sure you get accurate and helpful information, this guide has been reviewed by Rebecca Goodman, a member of Finder's Editorial Review Board.
Kate Steere is an editor at Finder, specialising in fintech, banking and cryptocurrency. She has previously written for The Motley Fool UK and Fitch Solutions, where she covered a wide range of personal finance topics and kept a close eye on market trends. Kate has a Bachelor of Arts in Modern History from the University of East Anglia. When not working, she can usually be found curled up with a good book or heading out for a run. See full bio
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Kate has written 128 Finder guides across topics including:
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