Best International Money Transfer Apps of August 2025

Gone are the days of relying on money orders or wire transfers to send money abroad. The digital money revolution has made it easier and faster than ever.

Close to 20 million Americans regularly send money overseas, according to a YouGov poll. But they don’t use Venmo or Zelle, which only operate in the U.S. More and more, they’re turning to apps dedicated to transferring money internationally.

We reviewed the most popular to find the best money transfer apps based on speed, fees, coverage, ease of use and more. (Read our methodology for more on how we made our selections.)

Most companies charge to exchange one currency for another. The exchange rate markup for banks runs between 3% and 6% of the amount being converted. Money transfer apps typically have lower exchange rates and there are some, like Wise, that don’t add a markup.

On top of exchange rates, providers usually attach a transfer fee that varies based on the destination and the amount being sent. An international wire transfer from a bank, for example, averages between $40 and $50. Some apps, like Remitly, may waive the fee for your first transfer.

There may also be a charge for specific payment methods, like credit cards, as well as charges from your card issuer.

Who’s this for? Remitly is a solid choice if you send money regularly to friends or family abroad and want flexible delivery options, including cash pickup. It allows you to transfer over 100 currencies to 3,000 banks and over 350,000 pickup locations across 170 nations.

Standout features: Remitly offers two transfer options, Economy and Express, so users can choose between lower fees or faster transfers. If it’s your first few money transfers, Remitly may waive its fees and offer a lower exchange rate. Home delivery is available in some countries.

Who’s this for? If you don’t want to overpay to convert currency, Wise uses the real exchange rate with no hidden markups.

Standout benefits: Wise lets you send money to over 160 countries, often within minutes. Users can hold and manage more than 50 currencies in one account.

Who’s this for? If you plan on sending large amounts of money, OFX doesn’t enforce any maximum transfer limits.  (Your bank’s daily limit may apply, though.)

Standout benefits: OFX transfers over 50 currencies to more than 170 countries, and provides 24-hour customer service.

Who’s this for? Looking for an app with global coverage? Western Union sends money to over 200 countries and territories, the widest reach of any money transfer app we’ve found.

Standout benefits: No transfer fee the first time you wire money internationally. Over 500,000 in-person agent locations.  

Who’s this for? The MoneyGram Money Transfers app is great if you need to send money quickly to someone without access to a bank account. Its network includes more than 400,000 agent locations for cash pickup across 200 countries, with same-day delivery in many places.

Standout benefits: Automatic transfers can be scheduled on a weekly or monthly basis. Home delivery is offered in select areas.

Who’s this for? Xoom is a subsidiary of PayPal, and users can send money through either app without even registering a new account: Just log into Xoom with your PayPal credentials and your profile and saved payment methods will be there.

Standout benefit: Xoom offers fast transfers to many countries and the option to use PayPal or cryptocurrency to fund your transfers.

If you plan to send regular remittances, apps like MoneyGram Money Transfers let you schedule weekly or monthly transfers. A service with cash-pickup locations is essential if your recipient doesn’t have a bank account. 

Are you transferring a large amount? Consider any limits an app has on how much money you can send. Some have caps on how much you can send in one transaction as well as per month. 

And, of course, look for an app with robust security features and customer support.

Mobile apps like Wise and Remitly have emerged to enable users to transfer funds quickly and inexpensively via a user-friendly interface. But they’re not the only way to send money overseas

Wire transfers

A wire transfer allows you to send money electronically from your bank account to your recipient’s account, through networks like Fedwire or SWIFT. It’s faster than some other methods and, without the need for physical checks or cash, it’s considered more secure.

A domestic wire transfer can be completed the same day and international transfers within a few business days. In either case, the transfer is usually irreversible once completed.

Cash transfer services

If you’re sending cash to someone without access to a bank account, you can use a cash transfer service like Western Union or MoneyGram, both of which have more than 30,000 agent locations in the U.S. alone, as well as online platforms and mobile apps.

At CNBC Select, our mission is to provide our readers with high-quality service journalism and comprehensive consumer advice so they can make informed decisions with their money. Every app review is based on rigorous reporting by our team of expert writers and editors with extensive knowledge of personal finance products. While CNBC Select earns a commission from affiliate partners on many offers and links, we create all our content without input from our commercial team or any outside third parties, and we pride ourselves on our journalistic standards and ethics.

We also considered CNBC Select audience data when available, such as general demographics and engagement with our content and tools.

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