Sending money abroad is an increasingly common practice throughout the world, especially considering globalization and the international remote work of many freelancers and companies. There are also cases of people who have changed countries in search of new opportunities and want to send money to their country of origin. In any case, there are different platforms and tools to send money online abroad without having to pay many commissions and immediately.
Contents
- 1The 5 best ways to send money internationally
- 1Wise
- 2Western Union
- 3OFX
- 4Zero
- 5MoneyGram
- 2What is the best way to send money internationally?
- 3Can PayPal be used to send money online abroad?
The 5 best ways to send money internationally
Before telling you about the best ways to send money online abroad, I want you to know how to receive payments in Latin America in case your client or company is from another country and you want to avoid high bank commissions. Actually, you could make different platforms compatible, although in this case we show you 5 ways to send money to your country online immediately.
Wise
Wise allows cheap online and mobile transfers in a very simple way. You can sign up with your Google or Facebook account or an email address. Wise saves recipient details for future transfers, provides live chat for customer support, and lets you cancel a transfer in just a few clicks.
People in the US can send money to 58 countries. On the other hand, the transfers are among the cheapest because Wise does not charge a surcharge on the exchange rate like other providers. But the delivery of the money can take a week. However, same day shipping is possible to some countries. A debit or credit card transfer can arrive in seconds, while a bank account transfer can take up to two business days depending on the destination.
You can also send money online using a debit card, credit card, Apple Pay, Google Pay, or a direct debit (or ACH transfer) from your bank account. The recipient must have a bank account to receive money, regardless of how you finance the transfer.
- AFFORDABLE
- Website and mobile app
- Accepts high amounts of money
- Somewhat slow compared to other platforms
- Sender and receiver must have associated bank account
Western Union
Surely, Western Union is the best way to send money online abroad. Money transfer giant Western Union surpasses MoneyGram with half a million agent locations in more than 200 countries and territories. For transfers you can pay with a bank account, credit card or debit card. Deliveries can be in the form of cash payment or a bank deposit. The cheapest transfers usually take an average of four to five business days. Transfers up to $1,000 have fees ranging from $0 to $95 and rate spreads from 0% to 10%.
- the largest in the world
- Very competitive prices
- same day delivery
- Wide variety of commissions depending on currency and country
- Slow transfers between bank accounts
OFX
OFX is an online currency exchange platform formerly known as USForex. It is characterized by being a platform specialized in sending low-cost transfers to 91 countries. It does not charge any fees and generally has low margins on exchange rates. However, there is no same-day delivery option and it usually takes between half a day and three business days depending on the destination.
The minimum transfer fee is $150 and there is no set maximum. Transfers can only be made between bank accounts, unlike funding with cash, credit card, or other options that are available with some of the other providers on this list. The 24/7 telephone assistance through the app or its website works really well.
- AFFORDABLE
- No maximum amount per transfer
- somewhat slow delivery
- Minimum $150per transfer
- Bank account required
Zero
Xoom , owned by PayPal, is characterized by its speed when sending money online abroad, specifically to 57 countries. Whether you pay with a bank account, debit card, or credit card, funds can be delivered in minutes to a bank account or a cash payment location, like a bank or retail store.
Unlike other providers, Xoom can deliver money using bank accounts just as quickly as transfers using a debit or credit card, without charging extra for it. However, delivery times may be longer in some countries depending on banking hours and other factors. Transfers are not usually cheap, as margins on exchange rates average between 1% and 3% above the mid-market rate. The average fee is around $15 for transfers of up to $1,000 using debit or credit cards.
- Fast
- same day delivery
- Multiple ways to receive money
- More expensive than other platforms
- Up to $2,999 maximum per transfer
MoneyGram
MoneyGram , which was recently acquired by the Chinese company Ant Financial, offers fast money delivery abroad and a network of 350,000 agents in more than 200 countries within its customer service. Transfers can be sent in cash for pickup within minutes, something it shares with Western Union. But many online transfers can reach bank accounts within a few hours. Fees are high due to an average fee of $16 for transfers up to $1,000 and average exchange rate spreads of 1% to 6% above the mid-market rate.
- Same day or next day delivery
- Send cash fast
- More expensive than other alternatives
- Up to $2,999 maximum per transfer
What is the best way to send money internationally?
Using a service provider like the ones we have presented in this guide is the best way to send money online. Prices and fees may vary depending on how much you send, what country you send it to, how quickly it needs to arrive, how you’ll pay, and how it’s delivered to the recipient. It’s a good idea to compare different services and rates based on what you’re looking for, and especially how much you want to send.
Can PayPal be used to send money online abroad?
Of course, you can always use PayPal to send money online to another country, but the fees may be less competitive than other money transfer service providers. You’ll pay 5% of the amount you send plus a fee of between 99 cents and $4.99. Therefore, it is not totally recommended considering the variety of economic options that you have at your fingertips.
