When selecting a money transfer provider, it is important to carefully evaluate several factors to ensure you get the best value and service for your needs. Here are some key considerations to keep in mind:
1. Exchange rate: Compare rates for the best conversion deal.
2. Fees: Look for low fees, either flat or percentage-based.
3. Speed: Check delivery times; faster delivery may cost extra.
4. Customer service: Choose a provider with good support.
5. Payment options: Ensure they offer suitable payment methods.
6. Security: Select a reputable and secure provider.
7. Convenience: Evaluate ease of use, like online platforms or physical locations.
The below exchange rate comparison table helps you consider many of these factors with just a few clicks:
Top International Money Transfer Providers
When choosing a provider to send money abroad finding the best currency rate is generally everyone's number one factor. Other important criteria to also consider are transfer speed, delivery options (bank transfer or cash pickup), customer service, mobile apps and extra fees.
Best overall service and rates: OFX
Fee Free: XE Money Transfer
Best App: Wise
OFX at a glance:
OFX has a 20-year history and is one of the largest foreign exchange specialists in the world. It offers a complete foreign exchange solution, including discounted money transfers, currency hedging tools, recurring transfers, a multi-currency account for online sellers and much more.
OFX grew from the idea that there had to be a better, fairer way to move money around the world. That was over 20 years ago, and since then over 1 million customers have trusted OFX with transfers in 50+ currencies to over 170 countries.
OFX don’t just offer great rates, they believe real help from real people counts. That’s why their clients get the best of both worlds – a seamless digital platform, combined with 24/7 phone access to currency experts.
When it comes to moving money, peace of mind is important. OFX is monitored by over 50 regulators globally and work within a network of carefully selected banking partners. So whether you are sending money to friends and family abroad, or doing business across borders, OFX can get your money where it needs to go. Fast, simple, secure.
Learn more about OFX
Using OFX for money transfers offers the benefit of lower fees and competitive exchange rates compared to traditional banks, making international transactions more cost-effective.
Additionally, OFX provides 24/7 customer support, a range of transfer options including spot and forward contracts, and a user-friendly online platform, enhancing convenience and flexibility for global financial transactions.
What Savings Can I Expect with OFX?
OFX offers exchange rates that beat the banks, and are close or equal to the rates offered by the industry’s lowest-cost services.
When you register via our OFX 0.5% exclusive offer for BER users the cost of sending, for example, 5,000 US dollars to Australia equates to 0.5 percent of the transferred amount, or roughly US$25. You’d pay the same 0.5 percent for the same amount to be sent to Europe and around 1 percent if sending to India. This compares with 4–7 percent with the banks.
For other currency routes we looked at (routes involving AUD, INR, GBP, EUR, SGD and USD), the average cost of an international payment with OFX was 0.6 percent of the transferred amount. This is exceptional if compared with banks but can be a little more expensive than what is charged by the industry’s lowest-cost services, although such services do not offer the same benefits and customer service as OFX.
XE money transfers at a glance
XE Money Transfer is a reputable and well-established international money transfer provider with a long history of providing reliable and secure services to its customers. Here are some key factors that contribute to XE Money Transfer's overall quality:
1. Competitive exchange rates: XE offers competitive exchange rates for its international money transfers, which can help you save money when sending funds overseas.
2. No fees: XE does not charge any extra fixed fees for its international money transfer services, which means you can send money without having to worry about additional charges.
3. Security: XE uses advanced encryption and security measures to protect its customers' personal and financial information, ensuring that your transactions are safe and secure.
4. Fast transfers: XE offers fast international money transfers, transfers can be booked online or over the phone and most are processed within a single working day.
5. Customer service: XE has a dedicated customer service team that is available to answer any questions or concerns you may have about your money transfer.
XE has partnered with BestExchangeRates to offer you better deals, read our full list of active XE & BestExchangeRates Deals & Promotions.
Wise at a glance
Wise (formerly TransferWise) always aim to convert money at the real mid-market exchange rate. There’s just a small, fair service fee, and it’s all shown up-front, this fee normally works out to be less than 1% of the amount being exchanged.
Exchange guaranteed within 2 business days - Pay via Bank Transfer or VISA/Mastercard debit cards.
Setup Direct Debits to Pay Bills abroad from AUD, CAD, EUR, GBP and USD accounts.
Multi-currency Accounts
With a Wise Account you receive a unique set of account details with which you can get paid like a local. Together with an account number, you’ll receive a SWIFT, BSB, routing and/or sort code and anything else needed to receive funds in those currencies.
Domestic & International - Share these for someone to pay you in the same currency by local bank transfer.
- United States dollar
- British pound
- Euro
- Australian dollar
- Canadian dollar
- Hungarian forint
- New Zealand dollar
- Singapore dollar
- Turkish lira
International Only - Share these for someone to pay you any currency Wise supports by SWIFT transfer.
- United Arab Emirates dirham
- Bulgarian lev
- Swiss franc
- Chinese yuan
- Czech koruna
- Danish krone
- Hong Kong dollar
- Israeli shekel
- Japanese yen
- Norwegian krone
- Polish złoty
- Swedish krona
- Ugandan shilling
- South African rand
Wise Travel debit card
The Wise debit card are free to set up and use. And there's never any monthly fee and minimum balance to worry about.
You get two free ATM withdrawals worldwide up to a max amount every 30 days, then a charge on additional withdrawals.
Auto-convert any currency - Spend in any currency and the Wise smart tech will auto-convert it with the lowest possible fee.
Unlike practically all other Travel cards you can pay foreign currency into this card via your own personal foreign bank accounts.
What Savings Can You Expect?
Savings on Wise money transfers are substantial relative to banks and traditional money changers, although the amounts saved will of course depend on how much is being transferred.
Wise advertises that its transfers are “up to 8 times cheaper” than those performed by banks, but what does that mean in real currency terms? How many dollars, pounds, francs or pesos are we talking about? Let’s take a look.
When compared with other FX specialists, Wise consistently ranks near the very top for savings on international payments, across a range of currencies and amounts.
Although Wise won’t be the absolute cheapest on every currency route, it will at least show you exactly how much you are being charged in currency terms before you make your decision, which is more than can be said for banks or traditional money changers, who hide all sorts of charges within the exchange rates offered.
The Wise card let's you spend anywhere, with low conversion fees. Buy things online in any currency, or pay for things on holiday. If you don’t have the currency you need in your Wise Account, they’ll auto-convert it with the lowest possible fee.
How to Save on international money transfers
Sending money abroad can be more affordable than you might think. Banks and money transfer companies often profit from hidden fees and margins on exchange rates, but at BER, we help you send and receive money with guaranteed low fees by comparing the latest exchange rates to find the best deal for you! Here's how we do it.
The key to successful international money transfers is understanding the mid-market rate, also known as the interbank rate. This is the genuine exchange rate used by banks and other outlets to trade currencies globally. It's influenced by factors like government debt, trade agreements, speculation, economic performance, political uncertainty, inflation, and interest rates.
By comparing the mid-market rate against the rates offered by banks and currency exchange outlets, we help you identify the most cost-effective option. Always be aware of any additional fees that may be hidden in the transaction, as some providers may include sneaky charges that significantly impact the total cost.
We recommend using non-bank exchange services like OFX or XE, who offer competitive rates and lower transfer fees than banks. Avoid exchanging money at airports, as their convenience comes at a high price and they rarely offer fair rates.
For the best international wire transfer options in your country, trust BER! Whether you're traveling or living abroad, we can help you find the most suitable way to send or receive money overseas. Just as you would shop around for the best home or personal loans, it's important to research your money transfer options, especially if you plan to make regular transactions. Fortunately, BER has you covered!
Where do you want to Save Sending Money?
There are many ways to conduct international wire transfers. As well as the traditional option of using a bank, you can also use PayPal, MoneyGram, Western Union, and Wise (formerly Transferwise). Wire transfers through banks can take a lot more effort and cost more than other companies, so it’s always best to shop around before choosing one. That’s why BER offers dedicated, detailed international wire transfer guides on how to save money for transfers to such countries as the United States, Eurozone, United Kingdom, India, and Australia. We also provide tons of general information on all transfers, and are always happy to answer any additional currency exchange questions you might have.
Many companies and exchange services like to make some extra cash by skewing the exchange rates. We compare these exchange rates for you, making it easy to see which money transfer provider is offering the best deal.
To avoid hidden fees, consider requesting quotes from the services you're considering. Quotes can help you compare many money transfer companies and find the best deal available. Be aware that advanced transfer tools like forward contracts, recurring payments, and limit orders may incur additional charges, so verify these beforehand.
Find out how long international transfers will take with your chosen provider. Transfers typically take one to three business days, depending on the service provider, with bank transfers usually taking longer due to various factors. Always check payment and cash pickup options before transferring funds, as well as the reliability of your chosen provider by reviewing their Trustpilot rating for a safe transfer experience.
BER Send Money Guides
Send Money to India
Send Money to Canada
Send Money to USA
Send Money to UK
Send Money to Mexico
Send Money to Malaysia
Send Money to Europe
Send Money to Australia
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Send Money to Philippines
More International money transfers:
We compare the features, exchange rates and security of the three best multi-currency accounts available today — the Wise Account, the WorldFirst World Account, and the OFX Global Currency Account. The Singapore dollar has reached its highest level in over a decade, boosting outbound travel and curbing inflation, but also putting pressure on exporters and local businesses. While sectors like logistics and finance benefit, retail, hospitality, and exports face challenges from the strong currency. Further reading on Foreign transfers - Guides, Reviews & News from our research team.
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