Money Transfer Fees by Service
Estimate fees for services like Wise, Skrill, Revolut and more when sending money abroad. Compare international transfer costs and find the best rates for your needs.
Fee calculators by service
Wise
International money transfers with real exchange rates
Remitly
International money transfer service
Western Union
Global money transfer and payment services
Instarem
Fast and affordable international money transfers to 60+ countries with competitive rates
Taptap Send
Mobile-first transfers to Africa, Asia and Latin America, priced as a fee plus a margin in the exchange rate
Paysend
Flat-fee card-to-card international transfers to 170+ countries
XE
Trusted currency exchange and international transfers since 1993
Sendwave
Send from the US, Europe, UK and Canada to Africa, Asia and Latin America (mobile wallets, cash and bank)
BOSS Money
Send from the US to Latin America, Africa and Asia (cash pickup, bank deposit, mobile wallet and debit-card)
Pangea
Send from the US to Latin America, India, the Philippines and more (cash pickup and bank)
MoneyGram
Global money transfer with 350,000+ locations for cash pickup and online transfers
Ria Money Transfer
490,000+ pickup locations worldwide with fast cash pickup and multiple delivery options
WorldRemit
Digital money transfers to 130+ countries with mobile wallet delivery
TransferGo
Fast, low-cost international transfers from Europe and the UK to 160+ countries
Revolut
Digital banking with international transfers, SEPA payments and Revolut-to-Revolut transfers
Xoom
Fast international transfers powered by PayPal to 160+ countries
OFX
Large-transfer specialist: a flat fee waived on larger amounts and a margin built into the exchange rate, to 190+ countries
Profee
Fast money transfers to Eastern Europe and CIS countries with competitive rates
Skrill
International money transfers and digital wallet with cryptocurrency support
Monzo
UK bank account: a fixed fee plus a margin in Monzo's exchange rate to send money abroad, in 44 currencies
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Complete Guide to Money Transfer Service Fees in 2026
What a money transfer costs depends on the service, the route, the amount and how you pay, and the margin hidden in the exchange rate is often bigger than the fee. Traditional banks can take a large share of a small transfer once the wire fee and the markup are counted. For someone sending $500 a month from the US to a bank account in the Philippines, paid from a bank account, choosing Wise over Western Union would save about $117.72 a year at the prices in quotes collected November 10, 2026.
| Service | $100 | $500 | $1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wisepaying from a bank account, delivered to a bank account | $1.57 | ≈$4.18 | $7.43 |
| Revolutdelivered to a bank account | $1.31 | ≈$3.89 | $5.74 |
| Western Unionpaying from a bank account, delivered to a bank account | $4.35 | ≈$13.99 | $26.03 |
| Remitlydelivered to a bank account | $1.70 | ≈$8.48 | $16.97 |
All-in cost (fee plus the margin in the exchange rate) for a transfer from the US to a bank account in the Philippines, in quotes collected November 10, 2026. Where a provider prices by payment or delivery method, the method its quote is for is named under it; a provider without one prices the same however you pay or receive. Green marks the cheapest standing price where two or more providers answer the same question. ≈ marks a price between two amounts the provider quoted. How we collect these prices.
For comparison, a US bank's international wire costs $30 to $75 (nothing at Fidelity) in published fees (checked October 2026), plus a markup in the exchange rate: where we could measure it (Chase and Wells Fargo, October 7, 2026), the markup was 2.9% to 4%, or $15 to $20 on $500. It usually arrives in 3-5 days.
Hidden Cost Alert
Western Union's quote for $500 in the table carried a $1.99 fee and converted at 2.41% below the mid-market rate: about $13.99 all-in. Wise charged a $4.19 fee and converted at the mid-market rate: about $4.18 all-in. A low fee can hide a wide margin in the exchange rate, so compare the amount that arrives, not just the fee.
Use Digital Services
Online services such as Wise and Revolut show the fee and the exchange rate before you send. A bank adds a markup in the exchange rate on top of its wire fee: where we could measure it (Chase and Wells Fargo, October 7, 2026), the markup was 2.9% to 4%.
Avoid Credit Cards
Pay with bank transfer or debit card. Credit cards can add extra fees on top of transfer costs.
Send Larger Amounts
Fixed fees hurt small transfers. Send $1,000 monthly instead of $250 weekly to minimize per-transaction costs.
Understanding International Transfer Fees
- Transfer fees:
- Fixed or percentage-based charges
- Exchange rate markup:
- Hidden costs in poor exchange rates
- Intermediary fees:
- Charges from correspondent banks
- Receiving fees:
- Charges to the recipient’s bank
- Bank transfer:
- Direct to recipient’s bank account
- Cash pickup:
- Recipient collects cash at agent locations
- Mobile wallet:
- Transfer to digital wallet services
- Home delivery:
- Cash delivered to recipient’s address
How to Choose the Best Money Transfer Service
Look at both fees and exchange rates to find the true cost.
Consider how quickly you need the money to arrive.
Ensure the service operates in your destination country.
Check customer reviews and regulatory compliance.
Want a shortlist first? Our picks of the best online money transfer services match each one to the job, from the exact mid-market rate to cash pickup.
Typical Fee Ranges by Service Type
Money Transfer Fees: Frequently Asked Questions
What are typical money transfer fees?
It depends on the service, the route, the amount and how you pay, and the exchange-rate markup counts as much as the fee. On a $500 transfer from the US to a bank account in the Philippines, paid from a bank account, cheapest first: Revolut at about $3.89 all-in, then Wise at about $4.18, Remitly at about $8.48 and Western Union at about $13.99, in quotes collected November 10, 2026. A US bank's international wire costs $30 to $75 (nothing at Fidelity) in published fees (checked October 2026), plus a markup in the exchange rate: where we could measure it (Chase and Wells Fargo, October 7, 2026), the markup was 2.9% to 4%, or $15 to $20 on $500.
Which service has the lowest fees?
No one service is cheapest everywhere: the answer changes with the route and the amount. On a transfer from the US to a bank account in the Philippines, paid from a bank account, the cheapest quote was Revolut on $100 ($1.31 all-in) and Revolut on $1,000 ($5.74 all-in), in quotes collected November 10, 2026. Route specialists, such as TapTap Send for Africa and Asia or Profee for Eastern Europe, are worth checking on their own routes. Always compare the total cost, including the exchange rate.
Are there hidden fees in money transfers?
Yes, the exchange-rate markup is the biggest hidden fee. At a 4% markup, for example, $500 would lose $20 in the rate. On a $500 transfer from the US to a bank account in the Philippines, paid from a bank account, Western Union's exchange rate was 2.41% below the mid-market rate and Wise's was the mid-market rate, in quotes collected November 10, 2026. Always compare the amount the recipient gets, not just the fee.
How do Western Union fees compare to Wise?
On a $500 transfer from the US to a bank account in the Philippines, paid from a bank account, Western Union came to about $13.99 all-in (a $1.99 fee, converted at 2.41% below the mid-market rate) and Wise came to about $4.18 all-in (a $4.19 fee, converted at the mid-market rate), in quotes collected November 10, 2026. On that transfer Wise was the cheaper of the two. The gap changes with the route, the amount and how you pay, so price your own transfer in both calculators. Western Union also offers cash pickup in 200+ countries, valuable for recipients without bank accounts.
Do fees depend on how much I send?
Yes. Percentage fees scale with the amount, while fixed fees do not. For $100, a $4 fixed fee is 4% of the transfer; for $1,000 it is 0.4%. Sent from the US to a bank account in the Philippines, paid from a bank account, Wise's own quote came to 1.57% of $100 all-in, against 0.74% of $1,000, in quotes collected November 10, 2026. Fixed fees work better for larger transfers.
Calculate Your Transfer Costs
Use our calculators to compare exact costs and find the best deal for your transfer.
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