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XE vs. OFX money transfers
Which company offers the fastest and most affordable international money transfers?
XE and OFX are both online transfer services and both offer bank-beating exchange rates on international money transfers in more than 40 currencies. But for most transfers, XE comes out on top.
The fees and rates used in this comparison are accurate as of October 3, 2019.
Which has lower fees?
XE
XE doesn’t charge any fees on international transfers. However, a nominal fee of 3USD (and its equivalent) applies to transfers below USD500 and its equivalent in other currencies.
OFX
OFX doesn’t charge any fees on international transfers.
Winner: Tie
OFX stands out in offering free transfers with no charges below a minimum threshold. However, for transfers above USD500 and its equivalent, XE and OFX come in at a tie.
Let’s crunch the numbers: Sending $5,000 and $15,000 to the UK
To get a better idea of how XE and OFX compare in an everyday scenario, let’s take a look at the example of transferring $5,000 and $15,000 from Australia to the UK.
Sending $5,000 to the UK
| XE | OFX | |
|---|---|---|
| Transfer fee | $0 | $0 |
| Exchange rate | 1 USD = 0.8007 GBP | 1 USD = 0.7979 GBP |
| Transfer speed | 1-2 business days | 1-2 business days |
| Total pounds received | GBP£4,003.50 | GBP£3,989.50 |
| Receiver gets | GBP£14 more | GBP£14 less |
While the two providers are close, XE saves you £14.
Sending $15,000 to the UK
| XE | OFX | |
|---|---|---|
| Transfer fee | $0 | $0 |
| Exchange rate | 1 USD = 0.8027 GBP | 1 USD = 0.8004 GBP |
| Transfer speed | 1-2 business days | 1-2 business days |
| Total pounds received | GBP£12,040.50 | GBP£12,006.00 |
| Receiver gets | GBP£34.50 more | GBP£34.50 less |
While both providers offer better exchange rates on this larger transfer, XE still comes out ahead, letting you send an extra GBP£34.50 to your recipient.
Which offers better exchange rates?
XE
When you convert USD into another currency, XE adds a margin on top of the mid-market rate. The size of this margin varies depending on the currency you want to transfer, but it’s typically in the 0.4-2% range. For example, here is the exchange rate if you want to send a transfer to the United States:
- If the mid-market rate is 1 USD = 1.4834 AUD
- XE’s rate might be 1 USD = 1.4678 AUD
This is a margin of 1.05% added to the mid-market exchange rate.
OFX
OFX also adds a margin on top of the mid-market rate when exchanging your AUD. This margin varies between currencies but generally ranges anywhere between 1% and 4%. Using the same USD to AUD example:
- If the mid-market rate is 1 USD = 1.4834 AUD
- OFX’s rate might be 1 USD = 1.4622 AUD
This works out to be a margin of 1.43%.
Winner: XE
We found that XE generally offered better exchange rates than OFX, which means that more of the money you transfer arrives in your recipient’s bank account.
Which is faster?
XE
Most transfers with XE are completed within one to two days, but certain transfers make take up to four days.
OFX
Payments are usually made within one to two working days after OFX receives your funds. But transfers in less popular currencies can take three to five working days.
Winner: Tie
XE’s claimed transfer times are slightly faster than those of OFX.
General features
| Payment methods | Receiving options | Maximum and minimum transfers | Transfer speeds | Currencies | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| XE | Bank transfer | Bank account | Minimum: $1 Maximum: Up to approximately USD$400,000 | Within minutes | 40+ currencies |
| OFX | Bank transfer | Bank account | Minimum: $1,000 Maximum: No limit | 24 hours | 50+ currencies |
XE
You’ll need to sign up for an online account before you can send a transfer, then enter the full details of your transaction and review the exchange rate available. XE will also send you an email/SMS notification when the funds have been transferred to your recipient’s account.
OFX
To send a transfer, you’ll need to create an account and then enter the amount and currency you want to send. Review the cost of your transfer and submit the transaction. OFX also offers a smartphone app if you want to send funds directly from your phone.
Bottom line
XE offers faster international money transfers than OFX, so it’s well worth considering when arranging your next overseas payment.
Ultimately, make sure you compare several transfer services to find the best value for your money.
Looking for more options?
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.
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