1. WorldRemit
Customers that have used Western Union are likely to feel comfortable using WorldRemit. The most important thing that Western Union and WorldRemit have in common is cash pick up. While WorldRemit don’t offer it for every location they can transfer money to, it’s worth checking. Often you will find the rates they off are better than Western Union’s exchange rates.
It's also important to know what makes them different. You can make a higher transfer with WorldRemit. While Western have a transfer limit of $5,000 you can send up to $10,000 with WorldRemit, depending on the currency.
- Very low fees and excellent exchange rates for transfers to India, the Phillipines, Africa and South America.
- Their website and app is easy to use and allows you to pay by credit or debit card.
- Great alternative when you need cash pick-up.
2. OFX
OFX is another excellent alternative to Western Union. We like them because their rates and fees are generally much lower. You can also make much larger transfers with them, if you need to. OFX have an easy to use website and app but unlike Western Union, do not offer cash pick-up as an option.
They are also one of the larger global transfer companies. They support international money transfers from over 190 countries in more than fifty currencies. If you’re making an online transfer, it is definitely worth looking at OFX as an alternative to Western Union.
- Great exchange rates across a range of currencies and amounts.
- Lower fees than Western Union.
- Access to 24/7 customer support.
3. XE
If you want to use a large and established company, XE could be the one for you. They are one of the few companies on this list that are as large as Western Union. They are a really good option for making transfers online. Unlike Western Union, XE do not charge any fees and generally have much more competitive exchange rates.
Owned by Euronet and home to xe.com, the company has an incredibly wide reach. They are able to transfer money to bank accounts in many countries worldwide, and don’t charge fees no matter how much you’re sending
- Generally, they have more competitive exchange rates than Western Union.
- They don't charge any fees or commission for making a transfer.
- Large and well established global reach.
4. MoneyGram
MoneyGram is the second largest provider of money transfers in the world. Their service is available in 197 countries with an huge network of agents including 7-Eleven and global convenience stores. There are two ways to use MoneyGram for international money transfers: online or through an agent.
- MoneyGram's fees are variable and can be hard to calculate.
- Cash transfers can arrive within minutes.
- You can send money as cash or a bank transfer.
5. PayPal
If you have an account, you may have considered making an international money transfer with PayPal. They are one of the world’s most popular payment systems to purchase goods and pay for services. It is a convenient way to transfer money to people in the same country and internationally, if they also use PayPal.
If you’re thinking of using PayPal as an alternative to Western Union, it’s important to keep a couple of things in mind. PayPal doesn’t offer cash pick up, and the person you’re sending money to must also have a PayPal account. Finally, know that PayPal isn’t necessarily cheaper than Western Union.
- They are good for sending money within the same country, but can be expensive internationally.
- Accept a variety of payment methods.
- If you’ve used them before, the process is very straightforward.
