The world is shrinking, and the Internet has played an important role. There are a variety of reasons why you would desire to transfer or receive money from someone who lives abroad. Perhaps you work for someone whose company is based in another country. Perhaps you’d like to send some money to your folks back home. Whatever your reason, there are apps available for both Android and iOS that will allow you to transfer money to and from your online account. Well, in this write-up you will discover the 9 Best Apps to Send and Receive Money from Abroad using your Android and iOS cell phones.
Send and Receive Money from Abroad
Let’s have a look at the below-listed Apps to Send and Receive Money from Abroad via Android or iOS mobile phones.
1. TransferWise
TransferWise has quickly made a name for itself when it comes to moving money from one nation to another fast, easily, and cheaply. It is backed by Sir Richard Branson and allows for peer-to-peer money transfers. TransferWise claims to be 90% less expensive than traditional banks. How? Customers pay interbank costs, while TransferWise takes a 1% cut of the transaction.
As a result, there is a low-cost, efficient way to transmit money across locations. The app is now only available in the US, India, and Europe, but it is fast expanding its reach. The ability to pay invoices in a different country is a handy feature. This will be handy for professionals working in different nations. Real-time exchange rates and fees can be determined. Debit and credit cards are also accepted, allowing for a faster transfer.
Pros
- $1 million per transfer.
- Low interbank fees.
- Quick and easy.
- Fair exchange rates.
- Supports multi-currency account.
Cons
- Limited availability.
Download TransferWise: Android | iOS
2. Western Union
Western Union became well-known as a result of its early entry into a market that was mostly devoid of competitors. Moreover, Western Union swiftly rose to the top as a result of its first-mover advantage. Western Union accepts a variety of currencies and accepts payments using credit cards, Apple Pay, and bank transfers.
Google indicated $1 = 0.8838 Euro during my study, whereas Western Union converted the same value to 0.839 Euro. $1 was changed to around Euro 0.873 by TransferWise. Western Union’s costs are likewise on the higher side. Note that fees will vary depending on exchange rates and the resident’s receiving nation.
Western Union explicitly indicates in the footnotes on this page that it makes money from currency rates as well. This implies you’ll be given an exchange rate that’s a little lower than market rates. It isn’t right, but it is what it is.
Pros
- More widely available.
- Works everywhere (example airports).
Cons
- Costly.
- Unfair conversion rates.
Download Western Union: Android | iOS
3. PayPal
PayPal revolutionized the way people transacted business all around the world. What Western Union did for money transfers and remittances, PayPal did for freelancers and small enterprises. I recall setting up my first PayPal account in order to collect my first payment as a freelance writer. I recall likewise canceling my account due to hefty fees and low conversion rates.
PayPal is available in almost every country on the planet. It’s also one of the most common ways to send money from one country to another, or even within a single country. The charge structure for PayPal is convoluted, however, there is a minimum of 2.9 percent plus $0.30 cents. After deducting this sum, there are conversion and bank withdrawal fees, making PayPal one of the most costly mediums. More information about PayPal’s fee structure can be found here.
Pros
- Ease of use
- Widely available
- Powerful API for app integration
Cons
- Higher fees
- Unfair exchange rates
Download PayPal: Android | iOS
4. OFX
For the past few years, OFX has been gaining traction. OFX, based in Australia, offers very reasonable rates and free transfers. The minimum sending limit is $1,000, however, there is no limit on how much you can send. There is no option for cash collection, but only a bank-to-bank transfer is offered. The exchange rate markup is fixed at 1.5 percent, with costs of $15 for sums less than $10,000. Fees for bigger transfers, such as those over $15k, can be as little as 1% or even less.
OFX is a less expensive option, but it is also slower. Although there is no same-day delivery option, consumers choose OFX to send and receive money from other countries. OFX uses a peer-to-peer (P2P) strategy to lower fees by matching customers.
Pros
- No fees
- No maximum limit
- Competitive exchange rate fees
Cons
- The minimum amount it higher than others
5. WorldRemit
In a handful of countries, WorldRemit allows both bank transfers and cash pickups. The benefit of using WorldRemit is that the transfer and processing times are measured in minutes. According to WorldRemit, I can send $1000 from the United States to Europe, and the recipient will receive Euro 874.
The price is usually around $3.99, however, it varies depending on where you wish to transfer your money. WorldRemit is a low-cost, quick, and easy solution to send money internationally. WorldRemit is a convenient way to send money overseas.
Pros
- Low fees
- Ease of use
- Widely available
Cons
- None
Download WorldRemit: Android | iOS
6. MoneyGram
MoneyGram is one of the most well-known and well-established companies for sending and receiving money internationally. Also, MoneyGram can be used to pay bills in other countries. People who have parents at home will find this useful. It has a large network of over 350k locations in over 100 countries. MoneyGram, like Western Union, will cost you a lot of money with exchange rate markups as high as 3%, but it is one of the fastest ways to send money.
When I picked an online transfer and bank deposit of $1000 from the United States to France, their estimate calculator gave $852, which is lower than some other, less expensive options for sending money across the border.
Pros
- Fast transfer
- Ease of use
- Wide availability
Cons
- Higher fees
Download MoneyGram: Android | iOS
7. Azimo
Despite its lack of global popularity at the time of writing, Azimo made it onto our list of the best apps for sending and receiving money from abroad. It is a rapidly expanding enterprise with over 300,000 pick points throughout the world. Azimo rates start at £1, although they might vary based on the amount and destination.
Azimo claims to be able to transfer payments in over 100 countries in under an hour, which is extremely quick. Furthermore, Azimo also connects with iMessages on your iPhone, allowing you to send money directly through Apple’s messaging service.
Pros
- Fast transfer.
- Claims low fees.
Cons
- No detailed breakdown of fees.
8. CurrencyFair
CurrencyFair, as the name implies, provides a simple and inexpensive method of transferring money from one country to another. Moreover, CurrencyFair quoted me a $1000 to Euro 873 rate, which is pretty competitive, despite not being as well-known as some of the other applications on this list.
They offer a fixed fee system that costs £2.5 in fees and £8.5 in exchange rate margin for a £2000 overseas transfer. I know the number isn’t the same as our standard example because I got it straight from their website and it’s quite low. On average, they say you’ll spend 0.4 percent in costs and £3 in fees on a mount transfer.
Pros
- Low fees
- Low exchange rates
Cons
- Less availability
Download CurrencyFair: Android | iOS
9. Xoom
Xoom is a popular way to send money to family and friends in other countries. They take pleasure in being able to move money rapidly, often within minutes, as the name suggests. As a result, the name. While the fees are quite modest ($5), the exchange rate markup can be rather significant, averaging about 3%.
Individual transfer limits are set at $25,000, and cash pickup is available at a number of places. It’s worth noting that Xoom is owned by PayPal, which means the two companies function together and you can fund one with the other. At the time of writing this article, they only had offices in 70 countries.
Pros
- Very fast transfer
- Low fees
- Owned by PayPal
Cons
- Exchange markups can be high
- Not widely available
Final Remarks: Send and Receive Money from Abroad
There are many options on the market, and fees and exchange rate markups can vary substantially based on the amount you wish to transfer, the location, and the agreement that the sending company has. This is why it’s better to compute the loss using at least a few well-known exchange providers with a low-cost method. I recommend that you start with TransferWise.
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