Sending money abroad from the UK: how Wise, Remitly and WorldRemit price transfers
Three UK money transfer services compared on how they price a transfer and what they say about exchange rates, with a true-cost calculator.
Quick answer
Sending money from the UK costs a fee plus any margin in the exchange rate. Wise says it uses the mid-market rate with an upfront fee. Remitly and WorldRemit show a rate in their quotes but the pages read make no statement about a margin. Quotes change by route and minute, so the list is not ranked; the calculator gives the true cost of any quote.
Key points
- The true cost of a transfer is the fee plus the exchange-rate gap against the mid-market rate.
- Wise says it uses the live mid-market rate and charges an upfront fee, with a discount above £20,000.
- WorldRemit says paying by debit card costs less than by credit card.
- Remitly and WorldRemit deliver to mobile wallets and cash pickup as well as bank accounts.
- All three are authorised by the FCA as e-money institutions or payment firms.
- The list is alphabetical because prices are quoted live, per transfer.
The list, in order
Order follows the published method on How we rank. Providers cannot pay for a position.
Remitly
Sends from the UK to bank accounts, mobile wallets and cash pickup points, with the fee and total shown in each quote.
Suits: sending to mobile wallets or cash pickup. Watch for: the page read makes no statement about a margin on the exchange rate.
- Delivery
- Bank, wallet, cash pickup
- Rate statement
- None found
Wise
Converts at the live mid-market rate and charges a fee shown up front, with a discount on transfers above £20,000.
Suits: bank-to-bank transfers where the rate matters most. Watch for: the fee depends on currency and payment method, so it appears only in the quote.
- Rate
- Mid-market
- Fee
- Upfront, varies by route
- Discount
- Above £20,000
WorldRemit
Sends to bank accounts, cash pickup, mobile money and airtime top-ups, and notes that paying by debit card costs less than by credit card.
Suits: mobile money and airtime in African and Asian corridors. Watch for: the page read shows the rate in its converter but makes no statement about a margin.
- Delivery
- Bank, cash, mobile money, airtime
- Pay by
- Debit card cheaper than credit
Figures read from each provider’s own page on 29 October 2026. Listed alphabetically: prices are quoted live, per transfer, so there is no fixed figure to rank.
- OFX — its fees page address returned "not found" on 29 Oct 2026.
Money transfer true-cost calculator
- Transfer fee£2.99
- Hidden in the exchange rate£6.78
- Total as a share of what you send1.95%
- Recipient gets (in their currency)53,925.59
- At the mid-market rate with no fee55,000
Assumes the fee is taken from the amount you send. Some providers add it on top instead; then subtract nothing and add the fee to what you pay.
The price of an international transfer from the UK has two parts: the fee and the exchange rate. Providers advertise the first more loudly than the second.
Why this list is not ranked
Every provider here quotes live, by destination, amount and payment method. With no fixed price to compare, we list them alphabetically and set out how each describes its pricing. The calculator above works out the true cost of any quote. See how we rank.
| Provider | What it says about the exchange rate | Delivery |
|---|---|---|
| Remitly | No statement on the page read | Bank, mobile wallet, cash pickup |
| Wise | Live mid-market rate, plus an upfront fee | Bank account |
| WorldRemit | Rate shown in its converter | Bank, cash pickup, mobile money, airtime |
How each one prices
Wise's UK pricing page says: "We only use the live mid-market rate, and a small, upfront fee to cover our costs." It offers a discount on transfers above £20,000.
WorldRemit says paying by debit card is "cheaper than a credit card" and that "credit card issuers may charge an advance payment fee." It delivers to bank accounts, cash pickup, mobile money and airtime top-ups.
Remitly's UK page promises "no hidden fees" and shows a fee and total in each quote, but makes no statement about a margin on the rate.
Regulation
Wise is an FCA-authorised e-money institution (FRN 900507). Remitly U.K., Ltd is an FCA-authorised e-money institution (register number 1047222). WorldRemit Ltd is authorised under the Payment Services and Electronic Money Regulations (registration number 900891). E-money is safeguarded rather than FSCS-protected; our guide on whether a neobank is a bank explains the difference.
Working out the true cost
- Get a quote and note the fee and exchange rate.
- Look up the mid-market rate at the same moment.
- Enter both into the money transfer true-cost calculator.
Our guide on exchange-rate markups has a worked example.
Not yet included
OFX's fees page could not be found on 29 October 2026. The US comparison covers transfers from dollars.
Keep reading
Sending money abroad from the US: how Wise, Remitly and Western Union price transfers
Three US money transfer services compared on how they price a transfer and what they disclose, with a calculator for the true cost of any quote.
Guide · US & UKHow exchange-rate markups hide the real cost of sending money abroad
The fee is only part of what a transfer costs. Here is how to measure the margin hidden in the exchange rate, with worked examples and a check that works from any quote.
Calculator · UK editionMoney transfer true-cost calculator
The same calculator on its own page, in pounds.
Questions
Why is this list not ranked by price?
Transfer prices change with the destination, amount, payment method and time, and providers show them in live quotes rather than fixed price lists. A ranking would only be true for one route at one moment. We list the services alphabetically and provide a calculator that works out the true cost of any quote you get.
How do I find the mid-market rate?
Currency data sites and many search engines show the current mid-market rate, which is the midpoint between buying and selling prices. Check it at the same time as you get your quote, because rates move through the day. The difference between that rate and your quoted rate is part of the cost.
Is money held by a transfer service FSCS-protected?
Generally not. Wise and Remitly U.K. are authorised as e-money institutions, and WorldRemit under the Payment Services and Electronic Money Regulations. E-money and payment firms must safeguard customer money, but the FSCS does not cover e-money. Transfers are usually in transit for a short time.
Is a debit card cheaper than a credit card for sending money?
WorldRemit says paying by debit card is cheaper than by credit card and that credit card issuers may charge an advance payment fee. A card issuer’s cash-advance fee and interest would come on top of the transfer service’s quote, so a debit card or bank transfer usually avoids that extra cost.
Which service is cheapest for my transfer?
Get quotes for the same amount and destination from two or three services at the same moment, note each fee and exchange rate, and put them into the true-cost calculator with the mid-market rate. The lowest combined fee and rate gap is the cheapest, not necessarily the lowest advertised fee.