In today’s fast-paced world, sending money quickly and securely to loved ones is essential. Paysend makes this process easy, fast, and convenient, allowing you to send money directly to a debit card with just a few clicks.
- Methodology
- One app for all your overseas transfers
- Fast and secureinternational transfers
- Earn rewards with every transfer
- How do I transfer foreign currencies with N26?
- Best for Fast International Cash Transfers
- International Money Transfer Tips
- Featured Money Transfer Partner Offers
- CurrencyFair
- How do international exchange rates work?
- Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
- How do I send money overseas?
- How long does an international money transfer take?
- What is the cheapest way to send money internationally?
- Lower fees, with full transparency
- Trust your funds are secure
- Save on international money transfers
- Avoid nasty surprises
- Send money fast — right from your smartphone
- Best for World Travelers
- Best for Peer-to-Peer Transfers and Sending Large Amounts
- How to start sending money with Paysend?
- How To Send Money Internationally
- Provide the Recipient’s Details
- Choose How Much Money To Send
- Track Your Funds
- Send money abroad instantly
- Best Ways to Send Money
- PayPal
- WorldRemit
- Wise
- Why Choose Paysend?
- How To Choose the Best Way To Send Money Internationally?
- How long does it take to transfer money from Paysend to an Eligible Visa Debit card?
- Which countries does Paysend support?
Methodology
To determine the best ways to send money internationally, we compared several different money transfer services and chose the four best ways to send money internationally. We compared the different services based on fees, accessibility, payment methods available, transaction limits and delivery times. Then we narrowed down the best services and highlighted their strengths.
Everybody has their thing. Ours is helping you transfer money internationally from United States of America with the least amount of fuss. We are not your average money transfer provider. Our technology is smarter, faster, and more reliable. You can call it hassle-free. We call it Money Simple.
One app for all your overseas transfers
We believe in keeping things simple, fast, and low-cost. Just a few taps and your money can be on its way, without breaking the bank. Get better exchange rates, full transparency, and easy tracking of your money.
Fast and secureinternational transfers
Send money confidently to 60+ countries in minutes.
Earn rewards with every transfer
Each Instarem transaction will reward you with InstaPoints. The bigger the transaction amount, the greater the number of points you earn.
Our quick sign-up gets you started, and with both web and app options, it’s super easy to use. Make your money transfers simple and rewarding – join us today!
Send money to over 60 countries hassle-free and stay in the know with real-time tracking.
Rack up loyalty points with every transfer and level up your next one for an even sweeter deal.
Never miss a great rate! Set up rate alerts to seize favourable opportunities and get more value for your money.
Credit cards and banking specialist Jenn Underwood brings over 16 years of personal finance experience to the table. After a decade of teaching courses in banking, debt reduction, budgeting and credit improvement, she moved into writing content and fintech product development. Over the last four years, Jenn has contributed to Forbes Advisor and a variety of fintech companies. She has served as a UX consultant, moderated discussions on open banking and been a guest on a number of personal finance podcasts.
Personal Finance Writer
Natalie toggles between news stories and enterprise reporting to bring timely personal finance topics to readers. Her mission is to help inform people of all financial backgrounds about events that may affect their financial futures. Her work has appeared in numerous publications such as CNBC, Bankrate, Buzzfeed, ABC Action News, The Chicago Tribune, The Associated Press and the Tampa Bay Times. She’s appeared on various podcasts and news shows to discuss personal finance topics, including Nasdaq’s Trade Talks.
Updated: Jun 7, 2024, 10:44am
Editorial Note: We earn a commission from partner links on Forbes Advisor. Commissions do not affect our editors’ opinions or evaluations.
Remittances to low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) increased by 3.8% in 2023, hitting $669 billion. The United States remained the top country for sending money back home by people working abroad.
The World Bank reports that the average cost of sending money internationally is just over 6%. So, if you send $1,000 abroad to a friend or family back home, it could cost you about $60.
Forbes Advisor analyzed numerous money transfer services to determine which ones provide the best value. We selected top picks in each category based on fees, accessibility, range of payment methods and delivery speed.
How do I transfer foreign currencies with N26?
Disclaimer: Our currency calculator uses Open Exchange API to gather current exchange rates. We pull new rates every 5 minutes to ensure that the conversion you see is accurate and up to date. However, the rate you see here may not be the same rate that a bank or other financial institution offers you.
Best for Fast International Cash Transfers
How it works: You must have an account to use WorldRemit, but signing up is free.
Payment options: Bank account, credit card, debit card, prepaid card, POLi, Interac, iDEAL, Sofort, Google Pay, Apple Pay, Trustly.
Fees: Transfer fees vary and depend on where you send the money. For example, the fee to deliver $50 from the U.S. to a Walmart in Mexico is $2.99.
Speed: Most transfers are instant or near instant.
Transaction limits: Depends on the country you are sending the money from. If you’re sending from the U.S. with a debit, credit or prepaid card, you can send $5,000 per transaction with a maximum amount of $9,000 per 24 hours.
International Money Transfer Tips
Sending money internationally can get expensive fast, but there are many options to choose from, each with different pricing and features. There’s no one service that’s best for every situation. Compare your options based on where you’re sending money and what features you need. Then check exchange rates and upfront fees to find the cheapest way to send money internationally. If possible, avoid paying for your transfer with a credit card because it will likely be the most expensive option.
Featured Money Transfer Partner Offers
98+ currencies available to transfer to 130+ countries
Fast and Easy
Initiate transfers 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
Xe offers low to no fees on money transfers
CurrencyFair
Send and receive to over 150 countries
Fast and secure
Money transfers up to 8x cheaper than traditional banks
How do international exchange rates work?
Exchange rates represent what one currency is worth compared to another. When an international money transfer is made between accounts, the exchange rate calculates the difference between currencies based on the markets at that exact time. These rates change regularly based on fluctuating global trade markets. In addition to this conversion, transaction fees might also be applied, and can vary from bank to bank.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
If your transfer takes longer than expected, double-check that the recipient information is correct and that you entered the right bank information or destination. Your delivery may also arrive late due to banking holidays and weekend closures. Log into the app you use to check the status and determine if you need to provide additional information.
How do I send money overseas?
International money transfers, also known as remittances, can be sent using a money transfer service. Compare the cost of transfer services using Monito, choose the best way to send money internationally, create an account and transfer the funds to your recipient.
How long does an international money transfer take?
Depending on the transfer method, delivery speed and the country where you send the funds, international money transfers can take minutes or up to three to five days.
What is the cheapest way to send money internationally?
The cheapest way to send money internationally is to transfer funds directly from your bank account to a recipient’s bank account. Most transfer services charge additional fees for debit card or credit card payments and cash pickups. Credit card payments will incur additional charges from your credit card provider.
When possible, consider sending fewer transfers by bunching them into larger amounts. Since fees are involved with each transfer, reducing the number of total transfers will save you money over time.
Information provided on Forbes Advisor is for educational purposes only. Your financial situation is unique and the products and services we review may not be right for your circumstances. We do not offer financial advice, advisory or brokerage services, nor do we recommend or advise individuals or to buy or sell particular stocks or securities. Performance information may have changed since the time of publication. Past performance is not indicative of future results.
Forbes Advisor adheres to strict editorial integrity standards. To the best of our knowledge, all content is accurate as of the date posted, though offers contained herein may no longer be available. The opinions expressed are the author’s alone and have not been provided, approved, or otherwise endorsed by our partners.
Lower fees, with full transparency
When transferring money internationally, you’ll always be charged as little as possible. Benefit from the mid-market foreign currency exchange rate and low-cost fees compared to traditional banks and other money transfer services. And before parting with your cash, get a detailed overview of all the information you need before you make your transaction. This means you’ll get full transparency from N26, every step of the way.
Trust your funds are secure
Our exchange partner is covered by regulations around the world designed to get customers’ money from A to B safely.
Save on international money transfers
Enjoy low transfer costs when compared to traditional banks and other money exchange services.
Avoid nasty surprises
Benefit from the mid-market exchange rate, and review your transfer details before you send the payment.
Send money fast — right from your smartphone
Our international money transfer feature is seamlessly integrated into your N26 app. Everything is in one place, and right at your fingertips.
Best for World Travelers
If you regularly wake up in one country and go to sleep in another, managing money across borders can be difficult. Repeatedly exchanging cash for foreign currencies can cost a lot in fees.
Wise, a company focusing on “borderless banking,” makes managing money in multiple currencies a breeze. It’s also possible to do regular money transfers through the platform without setting up its borderless account. (Disclaimer: The author of this post had a borderless account with Wise under its former name, TransferWise.)
How it works: Setting up a borderless account with Wise is free, and each section of the bank account can be designated for a certain currency. For example, if you add a euro balance, the bank account comes with a SWIFT number, just as it would in Europe; if you add a British pound (GBP) balance, that balance will have a sort code. The bank account can hold and manage more than 50 currencies.
For a one-time fee of $9, Wise offers its own debit card—the “Wise card”— and funds can be added in a variety of ways. The account has the ability to convert currencies across balances (for a small fee), and two ATM withdrawals per month are free, within limits.
Payment options: Direct debit, wire transfer, debit card, credit card, Apple Pay. Fees for payment options depend on the currency being paid or converted to.
Fees: $0 monthly account fee; converting currencies using your card is subject to a fee of at least 0.41%; ATM withdrawals of up to $100 per month are free, while anything over that is subject to a 2% fee.
Speed: The time it takes to receive funds on the debit card depends on how they’re added—some are available within seconds.
Transaction limits: There are no limits for how much you can receive and keep in all currencies other than USD. For sending, in most of the U.S. there is a $50,000 limit per day and a limit of $1 million on local transfers.
Best for Peer-to-Peer Transfers and Sending Large Amounts
PayPal beats other peer-to-peer (P2P) money transfer apps like Venmo and Zelle because of its accessibility and choice of payment methods. Funds may be received instantly into a recipient’s PayPal account and can then be transferred to a bank account as soon as the next day.
Another major advantage of PayPal is that if a recipient doesn’t want to link to a bank account, they can use their PayPal balance to spend money instead because the platform is widely accepted as a payment method.
PayPal’s international transfers come with hefty fees, so it’s better for sending money within the U.S. There’s no overall limit to how much you can send when you have a verified account, though individual transactions are generally limited to $60,000 and some are limited to $10,000. Without a PayPal-verified account, you can send a one-time payment of up to $4,000.
How it works: PayPal account holders can send money to friends and family through the app or online via a web browser. Account holders can send money through a variety of payment methods; recipients also must be PayPal account holders but can sign up for free.
Payment options: Bank account (no extra fee), credit and debit cards (small fee).
Fees: Sending money internationally to family and friends via a PayPal balance, linked bank account, or a credit or debit card is subject to a charge of 5% of the amount sent, with 99 cents as the minimum fee and $4.99 as the maximum.
Speed: Funds may be received as soon as instantly in the recipient’s PayPal balance and can be transferred to their bank account as soon as the next day.
Transaction limits: Verified accounts have no limit for the total sum of money that can be sent but are limited to $60,000 (or sometimes $10,000) in a single transaction.
How to start sending money with Paysend?
If you are new to Paysend, before you can send money to Eligible Visa Debit Cards, you will have two options to create a new account and get started:
Look at how easy it is! It only takes a few minutes to register, and then you can send money to an eligible Visa Debit card in 3 easy steps:
The best part is that your recipient doesn’t have to leave their house to pick up the money as it goes directly to their bank account in minutes avoiding the dangers of picking up cash from an in-person location.
How To Send Money Internationally
Select the best international money transfer app for your needs, and create an account. Verify your identity by providing your driver’s license, passport or other government-issued ID.
Provide the Recipient’s Details
Enter the name and banking details of the person receiving the money. If your recipient needs to pick up the money, select the location. Make sure you provide the recipient’s name exactly as it appears on their government ID.
Choose How Much Money To Send
You can pay for the transfer with your credit card, debit card or a direct transfer from your bank. Paying for the transfer from your bank account will be the least expensive option, while payment by credit card will likely trigger fees.
Track Your Funds
Most apps will provide an anticipated delivery date and time when you complete the transaction. They often allow you to track the status of your international money transfer.
Send money abroad instantly
Say goodbye to long lines at the bank branch and outlandish processing times. Our currency transfer feature is integrated right into your banking app, so you can send money to 35 countries and 35 currencies in just a few taps. Transfers in some currencies, such as British pounds or Singaporean dollars, typically arrive within seconds. And if you’re transferring from USD, you can send money to 132 countries!
Best Ways to Send Money
While there are many ways to send money, we narrowed it down to three top-performing companies that offer useful features for different needs.
PayPal
If you’re sending money within the U.S., PayPal is a flexible option, allowing you to transfer money to your bank account or spend money directly from the app. However, international transfers come with high fees, so PayPal is better suited for domestic transfers.
WorldRemit
For budget-friendly international transfers, WorldRemit delivers. WorldRemit offers competitive fees on cash transfers to more than 130 countries.
Wise
Wise is a free borderless account that holds more than 50 currencies. With a dedicated debit card, you can convert currency across balances, making it easy to manage money when traveling between countries.
Why Choose Paysend?
Sending money to a Visa debit card with Paysend is not only straightforward but also comes with a host of benefits. Paysend offers the speed, security, and convenience you need.
Secure and Reliable: Paysend takes security seriously, employing robust encryption and fraud prevention measures to protect your financial information.
Low fees and competitive exchange rates: With transparent, affordable fees and competitive rates, you’ll know exactly how much your transfer will cost. No hidden surprises!
Convenient: with Paysend you can send money to over 170 countries, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week via the app or online.
24/7 Support: Should you encounter any issues or have questions, Paysend’s customer support team is available around the clock to assist you.
How To Choose the Best Way To Send Money Internationally?
Several factors must be considered when determining how to send money internationally with the fewest and lowest fees. Don’t assume your favorite app is the best option for all your transfers. Fees vary by delivery or payment method, speed and location, so it’s wise to shop around for each new transfer destination.
Using the app with the best exchange rate ensures your recipient will receive nearly all the money you send them. Depending on how large your transfer is, some services may save you more money. Use the website Monito to compare costs across the different companies. You will likely find that one works best for small transfers, while transfers over $2,500 may cost less with a different service.
How long does it take to transfer money from Paysend to an Eligible Visa Debit card?
Paysend transfers to an Eligible Visa Debit card are usually processed and delivered to the recipient’s account close to real-time¹ on the same day. However, it can potentially take up to 3 business days for incoming money transfers, which depends on the currency and chosen delivery method.
Global 24/7 support is available.
Download Paysend Today!
*Standard data rates from your wireless service provide may apply.
¹ Actual fund availability depends on the receiving financial institution and region.
Which countries does Paysend support?
We currently support sending money to over 170 countries worldwide.