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May 14, 2026
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5
min read
Table of contents
Cheapest Way to Send Money by Country
2. Wise (formerly TransferWise)
What to Look for When Comparing Services
Understanding International Transfer Fees
How Long Does an International Transfer Take?
Are International Money Transfers Safe?
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Banks are the most expensive way to send money abroad, often charging $25 to $50 per transfer plus a poor exchange rate. The good news: a new generation of money transfer services has driven costs down dramatically. Here are the best options available in 2026, starting with the cheapest.
Crypto adds one more option: platforms like Oobit let you send crypto to a bank account, often faster and cheaper than the services below.
Costs and delivery rails vary by corridor. Here is how digital dollars settle into a local bank account in some of the world's largest remittance markets:
| Country | Local Network | Speed |
|---|---|---|
| Mexico | SPEI | Seconds |
| Philippines | InstaPay | Seconds |
| Colombia | ACH | Seconds |
| Kenya | PesaLink | Seconds |
| Brazil | Pix | Seconds |
| Romania | Domestic real-time network | Seconds |
| Thailand | PromptPay | Seconds |
| Vietnam | NAPAS 247 | Seconds |
| Argentina | CBU/CVU instant transfer | Seconds |
| UAE | Aani | Seconds |
| Paraguay | SIPAP | Seconds |
| Peru | CCE | Seconds |
| Albania | AIPS | Seconds |
| South Africa | PayShap | Seconds |
| Saudi Arabia | SARIE | Seconds |
Best for: Crypto holders who want to cash out to a euro or UK bank account, or send crypto directly to another wallet.
Oobit's Send Crypto feature covers two different flows worth telling apart, since they have different costs and speeds. Sending crypto to another wallet is a flat, low-cost transfer. Sending to a bank account converts your crypto to fiat and settles into the recipient's linked account, which takes a little longer since it depends on the destination bank's own processing time. Fees are shown upfront before you confirm either way.
Coverage: Euro and UK bank accounts today, with more currencies rolling out.
Cost: $21 on $1,000 to a bank account (roughly 1% Oobit fee, 0.5% FX spread, plus a provider fee that varies by corridor), or a flat $3.25 to send to a crypto wallet.
Speed: Crypto leaves your balance in about 20 seconds. Bank delivery typically takes 1-2 business days, in line with standard bank transfer times.
Supported assets: USDT, USDC, Bitcoin, Ethereum, and more depending on region.
Pros
Cons
Best for: Most international transfers between major currencies.
Wise uses the mid-market exchange rate (the same rate you see on Google) and charges a small, transparent fee. It is consistently one of the cheapest options for USD, EUR, GBP, and AUD transfers and is trusted by millions of users worldwide.
Coverage: 160+ countries.
Cost: Typically 0.4% to 1% of the transfer amount, depending on the currency pair. No exchange rate markup.
Speed: 1 to 2 business days for most transfers; many arrive same day.
Pros
Cons
Best for: Frequent senders who want low fees and a multi-currency account.
Revolut offers fee-free currency exchange up to a monthly limit on its free plan, and unlimited exchanges at the mid-market rate on paid plans. For people sending money abroad regularly, a paid plan can pay for itself quickly.
Coverage: 100+ countries.
Cost: Free within monthly limits on the free plan; small fees beyond that. Paid plans from around $10 per month.
Speed: Instant to same day for most transfers.
Pros
Cons
Best for: Sending to family in Asia, Latin America, or Africa.
Remitly specialises in remittance corridors such as USD to Philippine Peso, USD to Mexican Peso, and GBP to Indian Rupee. It offers two speed tiers: Economy (slower and cheaper) and Express. First-time users often benefit from promotional rates.
Coverage: 170+ countries.
Cost: $0 to $4 on popular corridors; promotional rates often available for new users.
Speed: Minutes on Express; 1 to 3 days on Economy.
Pros
Cons
Best for: Cash pickup in countries with limited banking infrastructure.
Western Union and MoneyGram remain useful when a recipient needs to collect cash rather than receive a bank deposit. Both have extensive physical networks across Africa, Asia, and Latin America.
Coverage: 200+ countries and territories.
Cost: $5 to $20 for most transfers, but exchange rate margins can be wider than specialist services.
Speed: Minutes for cash pickup.
Pros
Cons
6. Bank Transfers (SWIFT / SEPA)
Best for: Large business transfers, particularly within the Eurozone.
SEPA transfers within the EU are typically free or very low cost. Outside Europe, bank SWIFT transfers are usually the most expensive option, with fees of $25 to $50 plus a poor exchange rate. Unless you are sending a very large amount where the fixed fee becomes proportionally small, dedicated transfer services will almost always be cheaper.
Coverage: Global via SWIFT; EU-only for SEPA.
Cost: Free to low via SEPA; $25 to $50+ via SWIFT, plus exchange rate margins.
Speed: Instant to same day for SEPA; 2 to 5 business days for SWIFT.
Pros
Cons
Exchange rate, not just the fee. Many providers advertise zero fees while applying a 2% to 3% margin to the exchange rate. On a $1,000 transfer, that is $20 to $30 lost on the rate alone. Always check the total amount the recipient will receive, not just the upfront fee.
Funding method. Most providers charge more when you fund a transfer with a debit or credit card than with a bank account. Using a bank account to fund your transfer is almost always cheaper.
Delivery method. Match the delivery option to what the recipient can actually use. A cheap bank deposit is worthless if the recipient does not have a bank account.
Country corridor. Providers compete differently by route. A service that is cheapest for USD to EUR may not be the best option for USD to INR or USD to BRL. Always compare for your specific corridor.
Every international transfer has two costs, and most people only notice one of them.
The first is the transfer fee: the flat charge or percentage a provider shows you at checkout. This is easy to spot and easy to compare.
The second is the exchange rate margin: the difference between the mid-market rate (the rate you see on Google) and the rate the provider actually gives you. A provider can advertise zero fees while quietly offering an exchange rate 2% to 3% worse than the real rate. On a $1,000 transfer, that is $20 to $30 lost on the conversion alone, with no fee line to show for it.
The only number that matters is how much the recipient actually receives. Always check that figure, not just the advertised fee, before confirming a transfer.
What Information Do You Need to Send Money Internationally?
The exact details required depend on the destination country, but most international transfers need the following:
Recipient's personal details
Recipient's bank details
If you are unsure of any of these, ask the recipient to check their online banking or contact their bank directly. Getting even one digit wrong can delay or misdirect the transfer, and most providers cannot guarantee a refund once a payment is sent.
With Oobit Send Crypto, sending to a bank account still requires the recipient's bank details, the same as any other bank transfer. The step that's genuinely simpler is sending crypto directly to another Oobit user, which only needs their phone number since the funds stay within the app.
Transfer times vary significantly by provider and payment method.
| Method | Typical delivery time |
|---|---|
| Oobit Send Crypto (to another Oobit wallet) | Seconds |
| Revolut | Instant to same day |
| Remitly Express | Minutes |
| Western Union (cash pickup) | Minutes |
| Wise | Same day to 2 business days |
| Oobit Send Crypto (to a bank account) | 1 to 2 business days |
| SEPA (standard) | 1 business day |
| Remitly Economy | 1 to 3 business days |
| ACH (US) | 1 to 3 business days |
| SWIFT (bank wire) | 2 to 5 business days |
Several factors can slow a transfer down: bank processing hours, public holidays in either country, manual compliance checks on larger amounts, and currency conversion steps. If speed matters, choose a provider with instant or same-day delivery and confirm the delivery method before sending.
Yes, when you use a regulated provider. The key is knowing what to look for.
Legitimate money transfer services are regulated by financial authorities in the countries they operate in. In the US, this means registration with FinCEN and state-level money transmitter licences. In the UK, authorisation from the FCA. In the EU, a Payment Institution licence. Before using any service, check that it is regulated and that you can find its registration details on the provider's website.
Most established providers use standard security measures including encryption, two-step verification, and fraud monitoring. Oobit, for example, applies encryption and continuous fraud monitoring to all Send Crypto transfers.
A few things to watch out for:
Once a transfer is sent, it is very difficult to reverse. Double-check recipient details before confirming.
The cheapest way to send money internationally depends on the destination, the amount, and how the recipient wants to receive it. For crypto holders, Oobit's Send Crypto is a low-cost option: $3.25 flat to another wallet, or $21 on $1,000 to a euro or UK bank account, with more currencies rolling out. For fiat transfers, Wise and Revolut cover most currency pairs at low cost, and Remitly is hard to beat for popular remittance corridors.
Whatever you choose, compare the total cost including the exchange rate before you send.
What is the cheapest way to send money internationally?
It depends on the destination and how the recipient wants to receive funds. For crypto holders, Oobit Send Crypto costs $3.25 flat to send to another wallet, or $21 on $1,000 to a euro or UK bank account, with bank delivery in 1-2 business days. For fiat transfers, Wise and Revolut consistently offer the lowest fees and best exchange rates for most currency pairs.
Open your treasury, hold dollars, and start paying the world.
Abre tu tesorería, guarda dólares y empieza a pagarle al mundo.
Abra seu tesouro, guarde dólares e comece a pagar o mundo.
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Oobit Technologies 2026. © All rights reserved.
Oobit provides technology that enables users to spend digital assets through existing payment networks. Services are subject to regional availability and regulatory requirements. Oobit operates through multiple entities globally. Certain features may be provided by licensed partners depending on your location.
US Cryptocurrency services are provided in partnership with Bakkt Financial Solutions I, LLC. Bakkt is registered with FinCEN as a Money Services Business (MSB) and holds state money transmitter licenses.