Best Way to Send Money Internationally from the United States (By Country & Region)
When we first started sending money home from the United States, we made the same mistake many people make. We used whatever service was most familiar — and we paid for it. Not in fees we could see. In exchange rates we didn’t understand.
The truth is this: there is no single best service for sending money internationally. The best option depends entirely on where you’re sending.
Sending $500 to Kenya works differently than sending $500 to Mexico. Sending money to a bank account in Germany requires a different tool than sending cash for pickup in the Philippines. The service that saves you the most money on one corridor can cost you significantly more on another.
Every dollar lost to hidden fees is money your family never receives.
Rates change daily — always check live rates before you send.
This guide breaks down the best money transfer options by region. It explains why each platform works well for that destination, what matters most in each part of the world, and how to choose based on your specific situation.
Want to compare all platforms side by side? See our full breakdown: Best Money Transfer Apps for Immigrants in the United States.
BEST OVERALL PICKS (IF YOU WANT A FAST ANSWER)
Not sure where to start? Here are our top picks across the most common needs.
Best for lowest total cost → Wise
Best for speed → Remitly
Best for Africa and mobile money → Sendwave
Best for cash pickup worldwide → Western Union
Best for Latin America → Remitly
Best for large transfers → OFX
For a full side-by-side comparison of all major platforms, see: Best Money Transfer Apps for Immigrants in the United States.
HOW WE EVALUATED THESE OPTIONS
We assessed each platform across four criteria: transfer fees, exchange rate margins, delivery speed, and payout methods available in the destination country. We prioritized services with transparent pricing and reliable delivery. We regularly review transfer costs across major platforms to keep this guide accurate. No platform pays for placement in this guide.
QUICK DECISION GUIDE
Send to Africa → Start with Sendwave (Check Rates)
Send to Asia → Compare Wise vs Remitly (Compare Options)
Send to Latin America → Start with Remitly (Check Rates)
Send to Europe → Start with Wise (Check Rates)
Send to the Middle East → Compare Wise vs Western Union (Compare Options)
Send to Canada → Start with Wise (Check Rates)
Send to Mexico → Compare Remitly 0r Xoom
AFRICA
Africa is one of the most important remittance corridors in the world, and it is also one of the most misunderstood. Many people assume the cheapest services for Africa are the same as everywhere else. They are not.
The reason is mobile money. In countries like Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Ghana, and Senegal, many people do not receive money through a traditional bank account. They receive it through mobile wallets — services like M-Pesa, MTN Mobile Money, and Airtel Money. These systems are deeply embedded in daily financial life. A service that supports mobile money delivery sends money faster and at lower cost than one that relies only on bank transfers.
Sendwave
Sendwave Best for: Mobile money transfers across East and West Africa No transfer fees. Delivers directly to M-Pesa in Kenya and MTN Mobile Money in Ghana, Uganda, and Cameroon. Transfers typically arrive within minutes. If your recipient uses a mobile wallet, this is the strongest option available.
WorldRemit
WorldRemit Best for: Broader African country coverage Supports bank deposits, mobile money, and cash pickup across a wider range of African countries than most platforms. Especially useful for destinations where Sendwave does not yet operate.
Remitly
Remitly Best for: Bank-to-bank transfers across Africa Economy transfers can be cost-effective for recipients who prefer direct bank deposit over mobile wallets.
Before you send, compare at least two services — the difference in what your recipient receives can be significant.
See Best Money Transfer Options for Africa
ASIA
Asia is a large and diverse remittance region. The best service varies significantly by country. Sending money to India works differently than sending to the Philippines, which works differently than sending to Vietnam or South Korea.
Bank transfers are common across most of Asia and the banking infrastructure is generally strong. This means the key differentiator between services is often the exchange rate margin rather than delivery method. A difference of even 0.5% in the exchange rate can mean tens of dollars on a $500 transfer.
Wise
Wise Best for: Low-cost bank transfers across India, Philippines, Japan, South Korea, Vietnam, Singapore, and Hong Kong Uses the mid-market exchange rate and charges a small transparent fee. One of the most cost-efficient options for bank-to-bank transfers anywhere in Asia.
Remitly
Remitly Best for: Philippines, India, and Southeast Asia — especially when speed matters Express option often delivers within hours. Economy option trades speed for lower cost.
Xoom
Xoom Best for: India, especially for users already on PayPal Supports bank deposits, cash pickup, and in some Indian regions, home delivery. Easy setup if you have an existing PayPal account.
Before you send, compare at least two services — the difference in what your recipient receives can be significant.
See Best Money Transfer Options for Asia
LATIN AMERICA
Latin America is one of the largest remittance corridors from the United States. Competition here is strong, which generally means more options and lower prices. But the differences between services still matter — especially when your family depends on receiving money quickly.
Cash pickup remains important in many parts of Latin America. Many recipients do not have a bank account or prefer the reliability of in-person cash collection. Speed also matters significantly because many families depend on remittances for immediate household expenses.
Remitly
Remitly Best for: Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Colombia, Ecuador Combines competitive exchange rates with reliable delivery. Supports both bank deposits and cash pickup. Mobile app available in Spanish.
Xoom
Xoom Best for: Mexico and Colombia, especially for PayPal users Supports bank deposits, cash pickup through a broad agent network, and in some countries debit card delivery.
Western Union
Western Union Best for: Rural areas and recipients without bank accounts Has physical agent locations in smaller towns where digital services may not reach. Fees and exchange rate margins are typically higher than digital-first services. Always compare total cost before sending.
Before you send, compare at least two services — the difference in what your recipient receives can be significant.
Find the Cheapest Way to Send Money to Latin America
EUROPE
Sending money to Europe is generally the most straightforward of all international corridors. European countries typically have strong banking systems and most recipients have bank accounts. This means transfers move between banks cleanly, and the main variables are fee structure and exchange rate margin.
For transfers within the eurozone, costs are generally low. For transfers to countries with their own currencies — such as Poland, Romania, Hungary, or the United Kingdom — exchange rate margins matter more.
Wise
Wise Best for: All European transfers, especially within the eurozone and to non-euro currency countries Uses the mid-market exchange rate. Typically the most cost-efficient option across European destinations.
OFX
OFX Best for: Larger transfers of $1,000 or more to Europe No fixed transfer fee. Competitive exchange rate margins on higher amounts.
PayPal
PayPal Best for: Convenience between two people who both have accounts Fast and familiar, but exchange rate margins are typically higher than Wise or OFX. Not recommended for regular cost-sensitive transfers.
Before you send, compare at least two services — the difference in what your recipient receives can be significant.
See Best Money Transfer Options for Europe
MIDDLE EAST
The Middle East is a significant remittance destination, with large communities sending money to Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Pakistan, India, and Gulf states. The landscape is diverse — some recipients use modern banking systems, others rely on cash pickup.
Exchange rate margins in this region vary considerably by provider and destination. Always compare total cost rather than advertised fees alone.
Wise
Wise Best for: Bank transfers to UAE, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, and Egypt Transparent fee structure typically results in lower total costs for bank-to-bank transfers.
Western Union Best for: Cash pickup recipients and areas with limited banking access Extensive agent coverage across the region. Fees and exchange rate margins are typically higher than digital alternatives. Compare before sending. → Compare Western Union Options
MoneyGram
MoneyGram Best for: Cash pickup destinations where Western Union coverage is limited Rates and fees vary by destination. Worth comparing alongside Western Union.
Before you send, compare at least two services — the difference in what your recipient receives can be significant.
See Best Money Transfer Options for the Middle East
NORTH AMERICA (CROSS-BORDER)
Cross-border transfers within North America — primarily between the United States and Canada — are their own category. These corridors are high-traffic and well-served by digital services.
For Mexico, see the Latin America section above.
Wise
Wise Best for: US to Canada transfers with low fees and competitive exchange rates The Canadian dollar is well-supported. Transfers typically arrive within one to two business days.
OFX
OFX Best for: Larger US to Canada transfers of $1,000 or more No fixed transfer fee. Advantage grows with transfer size.
PayPal
PayPal Best for: Fast transfers between two people who both have PayPal accounts Exchange rate margins reduce what your recipient receives compared to Wise or OFX.
Before you send, compare at least two services — the difference in what your recipient receives can be significant.
Find the Cheapest Way to Send Money to Canada
HOW TO CHOOSE BASED ON YOUR SITUATION
No matter where you’re sending, the right choice depends on what matters most to you.
If you need the fastest transfer, look at Remitly Express, Xoom, or Sendwave. These services prioritize speed and can often deliver within minutes to hours. Speed typically comes with a slightly higher fee or a less favorable exchange rate.
If you want the lowest total cost, Wise is the most consistently competitive option across most corridors that support bank-to-bank transfers. Sendwave is often the lowest-cost choice specifically for African mobile money transfers.
If your recipient needs cash in hand, Western Union and WorldRemit have the broadest physical agent networks globally. MoneyGram is a strong alternative in many locations. Always confirm there is a pickup location in your recipient’s specific town before sending.
If your recipient does not have a bank account, prioritize services that support mobile money for Africa, cash pickup for Latin America and the Middle East, or home delivery for select Asian countries.
If you send money regularly, compare services over the course of a full month, not just a single transfer. Small differences in exchange rate margin compound significantly over time.
Want to compare all services at once? See our full breakdown: Best Money Transfer Apps for Immigrants in the United States.
HIDDEN COSTS THAT CHANGE BY COUNTRY
The fee displayed when you start a transfer is rarely the only cost.
Exchange rate margin is the most significant hidden cost. Services set their own exchange rate, which is almost always worse than the mid-market rate — the rate you see on Google. The gap between those two rates is a cost to you, even when the transfer fee is listed as zero. A “free” transfer with a 3% exchange rate margin costs more than a $3 fee transfer with a 0.5% margin on a $500 transfer.
Delivery method affects cost. Bank transfers are typically cheaper to process than cash pickup. If your recipient can receive via bank deposit, this is usually the most cost-efficient option.
Speed costs money. Express transfers are almost always more expensive than economy transfers. If the transfer is not urgent, the slower option typically saves money.
Recipient bank fees exist independently of what you pay the transfer service. In some countries, the recipient’s bank charges a fee to receive an incoming international transfer. For high-frequency senders, ask your recipient whether their bank charges for incoming remittances.
See our full guide: How to Avoid Hidden Fees When Sending Money Abroad.
A REAL COST EXAMPLE
You are sending $300 to a family member in Mexico.
With Service A, the transfer fee is $0. The exchange rate converts your $300 into 5,010 Mexican pesos.
With Service B, the transfer fee is $3.99. But the exchange rate converts your $296.01 into 5,190 Mexican pesos.
Service A looks cheaper because the fee is zero. But your family member receives 180 fewer pesos — real money that never arrived.
This is why we always say: compare the amount received, not the fee paid.
SENDING TO A SPECIFIC COUNTRY?
This guide covers all major regions. For country-specific breakdowns with local delivery options, exchange rate comparisons, and pickup networks, see our individual country guides:
Best Way to Send Money to Nigeria from the United States Best Way to Send Money to India from the United States Best Way to Send Money to Mexico from the United States Best Way to Send Money to the Philippines from the United States Best Way to Send Money to Ghana from the United States Best Way to Send Money to Kenya from the United States Best Way to Send Money to Colombia from the United States Best Way to Send Money to El Salvador from the United States
More country guides are added regularly. If your destination is not listed, the region guide above covers your best options.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What is the cheapest way to send money internationally? The cheapest option varies by destination. For most bank-to-bank transfers, Wise consistently ranks among the lowest-cost services due to its mid-market exchange rate. For African mobile wallet transfers, Sendwave is often cheaper. For Latin America, Remitly’s Economy option is frequently competitive. Always compare the total amount received, not just the transfer fee.
How long does an international transfer take? Express options from Remitly or Xoom often arrive within minutes to a few hours. Standard bank transfers through Wise typically arrive within one to two business days. Some corridors may take two to three business days via standard processing.
Is it safe to use these services? The services listed in this guide are licensed money service businesses regulated in the United States. Use them through their official websites or apps only, and never share your login credentials.
Can I send money internationally without a Social Security Number? Some services accept an ITIN or passport for identity verification. Others require an SSN. Requirements vary and may change. Confirm identification requirements directly with the provider before starting a transfer.
What happens if the money doesn’t arrive? All regulated services offer customer support and transfer tracking. If a transfer does not arrive within the estimated window, contact the service’s support team with your transaction reference number.
EXPLORE MORE ON MARVODYN
Best Money Transfer Apps for Immigrants in the United States Wise vs. Remitly: Which Is Better? How Exchange Rates Work — And Why They Cost You Money How to Avoid Hidden Fees When Sending Money Abroad Best Banks for Immigrants in the United States
DISCLAIMER
This guide is for informational purposes only. Transfer fees, exchange rates, and service availability change frequently. Always verify current rates and terms directly with the provider before sending. MARVODYN may receive compensation from some services listed. This does not influence our evaluations.
