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Transferring money in this day and age has become as simple as a few taps on your smartphone. Whether you're supporting a friend in another state with their rent or covering your cousin's concert ticket, there are limitless reasons to send (and receive) money on the fly.
However, making sure you have the best money transfer service can be a difficult decision. With so many finance apps and transfer services out there, it can be hard to say which one offers the best features or the best fee schedule. The choice of money transfer service can change from person to person based on their financial needs.
Tuesday, March 19th
PayPal, with nearly 400 million users, is one of the most popular and reliable money transfer services out there today. It offers high transfer limits, fee-free domestic transactions, and a shop-now-pay-later option with PayPal Credit. Despite some international transfer fees, PayPal's top-tier security, purchase protection, and efficient customer service make it the top-rated choice for a comprehensive range of money transfer needs.
Venmo, a modern money transfer site, focuses on peer-to-peer payments. Part of the PayPal family, Venmo offers top-notch security measures. It has expanded services, allowing payments to vendors, managing money, and investing in crypto. Venmo stands out for minimal fees, except for a 3% fee when using a credit card. It doesn't support overseas payments but offers strong security backed by PayPal's purchase protection. Venmo earns a very high rating for its simplicity, minimal fees, and positive app store ratings, making it an excellent choice for casual spending.
XE provides a comprehensive platform for international money transfers, allowing users to send funds to 220+ countries and territories through various methods, including ACH, wire transfer, and card payments. With a focus on international transfers, XE has gained a solid reputation for user-friendliness and trouble-free transactions. XE stands out with no fees for bank transfers and wire transfers, making it an attractive option for international payments. However, the lack of clarity regarding domestic transfers lowers its rating.
MoneyGram, with over 80 years of experience, provides a versatile money transfer service through various channels. While offering convenient features, MoneyGram's fees, especially for international credit transfers, are relatively high. With a mixed reputation, including an "A+" BBB rating but over 600 complaints, MoneyGram falls behind some companies with fewer complaints. On the other hand, MoneyGram's reviews elsewhere are excellent, receiving praise for its user-friendly app and efficient transfers. While competitive for domestic transfers, cost-conscious users may find better options with higher-ranked services.
With a nearly 200-year history, Western Union offers a money transfer service with global coverage. Western Union stands out for low-cost international transfers, charging just $0.99 for cash-to-cash transactions. Another feature is the inclusion of bill payment, but otherwise, the features here are fairly standard. Despite some mixed reviews, Western Union is a strong choice.
Ria, a money transfer service since 1987, offers a full range of services with a mobile app but has smaller, lesser-known cash pickup locations. Concerningly, security measures cause delays, and customer reviews indicate concerns about canceled transfers and slow customer service response. With a mixed reputation, Ria receives a lower rating in our review, suggesting more reliable options may be more worth your time.
Zelle, available through over 800 US banks, offers fee-free money transfers within the country. However, it lacks international options, user protection, and dedicated customer support. While Zelle receives praise for speed, its mixed reputation with more than a few 1-star client reviews, raises concerns about reliability. Despite being a convenient service for domestic transfers, Zelle falls short in terms of customer service and international capabilities, earning a lower-than-average rating overall.
Remitly, a mobile-only app focused on international transfers, allows payments to 170 receiving countries. It excels in offering flat-rate fees for overseas payments, secure SSL encryption, and a delivery guarantee. However, with no option for domestic transfers, Remitly falls behind most competitors. Despite its solid reputation, highlighted by an "A+" BBB rating, Remitly receives a lower-than-average rating for not standing out in comparison to other services in our review.
Xoom, part of the PayPal family, offers money transfer services with unique features like delivering cash to recipients' doors. However, fees apply to all domestic transactions, ranging from $1 to $5.99. While international transfers have low (or no) fees, the exchange rates are less favorable. With a 2-star rating on Trustpilot and complaints about rejected transfers and poor customer service, Xoom shows a disappointing pattern of lackluster customer satisfaction.
TransferGo, established in 2012, offers affordable and swift international money transfers. However, it does not support transfers from the United States, limiting its usability for US customers. While praised for its flat-rate fees, clear exchange rates, and high customer satisfaction, especially outside the US, TransferGo receives a low rating for its significant usability restrictions and inability to facilitate domestic or international transfers from the US.
In the current era, one of the most notable conveniences of money transfers is the ability to complete the entire process online. The days when you had to visit physical locations with cash in hand, navigating unfamiliar neighborhoods - an experience that often felt uncomfortable and less secure - are long gone. Nowadays, whether you want to send money from your bank account to a friend or transfer funds between credit and debit cards, you can effortlessly manage it all from the comfort of your home or while on the go through your smartphone.
And you're not even missing out if you want to send cash. If your recipient needs to receive funds in cash, tons of modern money transfer options offer cash transfers with in-person pickup at secure partner locations. And if that wasn't enough, many money transfer platforms now offer the added convenience of paying bills, from utilities to subscription services, or even shopping from your favorite retailer. Some services even integrate directly into your pre-existing banking app for minimal stress if you don't like making tons of new app accounts.
Selecting the right money transfer service might seem overwhelming. The good news is that you can opt for more than one, depending on your destination and the purpose of the transfer - whether it's covering everyday expenses or making online purchases. For example, you might be looking to make international payments whereas someone else might just want to send a birthday surprise to someone close by.
To help you make sense of all the numbers, percentages, and fees, and make an informed decision, consider the following factors when narrowing down your options:
To help you get a handle on money transfers, Top Consumer Reviews has carefully evaluated and rated the top money transfer services on the market today. We hope this helps you select the ideal platform for effortless and cost-effective money transfers. Whether you choose one or multiple apps to serve your needs, you'll be sending and receiving money in no time!
Select any 2 Money Transfer Services to compare them head to head