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.
Quick answer
The cost of an international transfer is the fee plus any margin added to the exchange rate. Wise says it uses the mid-market rate and charges an upfront fee. Western Union says it also makes money from currency exchange. Remitly's pages read make no statement either way. Prices change by route and minute, so this list is not ranked; the calculator works out the true cost of any quote.
Key points
- A transfer's true cost is the transfer fee plus the gap between the rate you get and the mid-market rate.
- Wise says it uses the live mid-market rate and charges a small upfront fee.
- Western Union says it makes money from currency exchange as well as fees.
- Paying by credit card can add a cash-advance fee and interest from your card issuer.
- US law requires providers to show the fee, exchange rate and amount the recipient gets before you pay.
- You can cancel a US remittance within 30 minutes of paying, under federal rules.
The list, in order
Order follows the published method on How we rank. Providers cannot pay for a position.
Remitly
Sends money to bank accounts, mobile wallets and cash pickup points. Its fee and rate show in the quote for each transfer.
Suits: sending to mobile wallets or cash pickup. Watch for: the pages read make no statement about a margin on the exchange rate.
- Delivery
- Bank, wallet, cash pickup
- Rate statement
- None found
Western Union
Sends to bank accounts, cash pickup and mobile wallets, paid by bank account, debit or credit card. It says it earns money from the exchange rate as well as from fees.
Suits: cash pickup in places other services do not reach. Watch for: a credit card may add a cash-advance fee and interest from your card issuer.
- Delivery
- Bank, cash pickup, wallet
- Rate statement
- Earns from currency exchange
- First transfer
- Fee offer for new online users
Wise
Converts at the live mid-market rate and charges a fee shown up front, with a discount on transfers above $25,000.
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 $25,000
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.
- Xoom — the fees page address returned "not found" on 29 Oct 2026.
Money transfer true-cost calculator
- Transfer fee$4.99
- Hidden in the exchange rate$10.70
- Total as a share of what you send3.14%
- Recipient gets (in their currency)8,959.68
- At the mid-market rate with no fee9,250
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.
When you send money abroad, the price has two parts: the fee you see, and the margin built into the exchange rate. The second is often larger, and it is the part providers are least clear about.
Why this list is not ranked
Every provider here quotes prices live, by destination, amount and payment method, so there is no fixed price to rank on. We list them alphabetically and compare how each one 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 pages read | Bank, mobile wallet, cash pickup |
| Western Union | Makes money from currency exchange | Bank, cash pickup, mobile wallet |
| Wise | Uses the live mid-market rate, plus an upfront fee | Bank account |
How each one prices
Wise's pricing page says: "We only use the live mid-market rate, and a small, upfront fee to cover our costs." It discounts transfers above $25,000.
Western Union's site says it "also makes money from currency exchange" and advises comparing "both transfer fees and exchange rates." It warns that a credit card issuer may add a cash-advance fee and interest.
Remitly shows a fee and total in each quote. Neither of the Remitly pages we read said whether its rate includes a margin.
What US law makes them show
The CFPB's remittance rule requires a provider to disclose, before you pay, the transfer amount, fees and taxes, the total, the exchange rate and the "Total to Recipient" (12 CFR 1005.31). You can cancel within 30 minutes of paying and must be refunded within three business days. That disclosure is what you need for the calculator.
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.
- Put both into the money transfer true-cost calculator.
Our guide on exchange-rate markups works through an example.
Licences
Remitly, Inc. is a licensed money transmitter, NMLS 1028236, and Western Union Financial Services, Inc. is NMLS 906983. Wise's pricing page shows its UK e-money authorisation; its US licence details were not on the page we read.
Not yet included
Xoom's fees page could not be found on 29 October 2026. The UK comparison covers transfers from pounds.
Keep reading
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.
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 · US editionMoney transfer true-cost calculator
The same calculator on its own page, in dollars.
Questions
Why is this list not ranked by price?
Because there is no single price. Transfer fees and exchange rates change with the destination, the amount, the payment method and the time of day, and most providers show them only in a live quote. We list the providers alphabetically and give a calculator that works out the true cost of the quote you are shown.
What is the mid-market rate?
It is the midpoint between the buying and selling rates for a currency, which is close to the rate banks trade at with each other. It is the fairest reference point for judging a quote. If a provider gives you a lower rate than the mid-market rate, the difference is a cost on top of any fee.
What must a US provider show me before I pay?
Under the CFPB’s remittance rule, the provider must disclose the transfer amount, any fees and taxes, the total, the exchange rate and the amount the recipient will receive, before you pay. It must also let you cancel within 30 minutes of paying and refund you within three business days.
Is paying by credit card more expensive?
Often. Western Union warns that a card issuer may charge a cash-advance fee and interest if you pay with a credit card, and suggests a debit card or other methods for lower fees. That charge comes from your card issuer, not the transfer service, so it will not appear in the provider’s quote.
Which service is cheapest for my transfer?
Get quotes from two or three providers for the same amount and destination at the same time, then put each into the calculator with the mid-market rate from a currency site. The lowest true cost is the one with the smallest combined fee and exchange-rate gap, not necessarily the lowest fee.