International money transfer is all about finding the best service for your purpose.
This “Wise vs Remitly” guide is to point out the major differences between the two leading platforms so you can make a well-informed choice.
If you are looking to invest as an expat or high-net-worth individual, which is what I specialize in, you can email me ([email protected]) or WhatsApp (+44-7393-450-837).
This includes if you are looking for a second opinion or alternatives.
Some facts might change from the time of writing, and nothing written here is financial, legal, tax, or any other kind of individual advice, or a solicitation to invest.
What is Wise?
Wise (TransferWise) was established in 2011 by Taavet Hinrikus and Kristo Käärmann with the vision of making international money transfers cheap and simple.
What does Wise offer?
- International money transfers
- Multi-currency accounts (40+ currencies)
- Debit card for spending in 150+ countries
- Business accounts
- Business debit cards
- Bulk payments and huge transactions
Remitly Background
Remitly was also established in 2011 by Matt Oppenheimer, Josh Hug, and Shivaas Gulati.
Remitly Services
- International money transfers
- Cash pickup services
- Mobile wallet transfers
- Express and Economy transfer services
Who has better rates, Wise or Remitly?
How much does Wise charge?
Wise’s fee structure is transparent and varies depending on the type of transaction and the currencies involved.
The exact costs depend on your specific transfer details, whether you’re sending money, spending with your card, or converting currencies.
Sending Money/Converting Money:
- Fees vary by currency, starting from 0.33% of the transfer amount.
- Fees vary by currency, starting from 0.33% of the converted amount.
For a complete analysis of the transaction, you can utilize the Wise Currency Converter.
ATM Withdrawals:
- Free up to your free withdrawal allowance per month (max 2 withdrawals).
- Subsequent ATM withdrawals charge a variable fee. It may change depending on which country you are in.
Account Funding Transactions:
- A 2% fee is charged for transactions to top up e-wallets or other accounts in specific currencies.
Wise Multi-Currency Card:
- You pay 9 USD (or 7 GBP) for the first card and no monthly subscription fee.
- Online, in-store, or abroad spending in the same currency is free.
Holding Money in Your Account:
- Over 40 currencies can be kept in your account for free.
- One of the big disappointments is that the account can be topped up with only 23 currencies.
Receiving Money:
- Free receipt of money in 23 supported currencies.
- USD Wire/Swift Payments: 6.11 USD flat rate per payment.
- GBP and EUR Swift Payments: 2.16 GBP and 2.39 EUR fixed rates per payment, respectively.
How much does Remitly cost?
Remitly has two transfer speeds, i.e., Express and Economy.
Both along with their respective fee implications, as well as exchange rate margins may affect the overall cost.
The following is a comprehensive breakdown:
Express Transfer:
- It is for instant transfers, but this is usually at a higher fee.
- For instance, transferring less than $500 in the US to the Philippines with a debit card may charge around $3.99. The same fee can be applied for a $1,000 transfer to India.
Economy Transfer:
- Focuses on saving cost with slow delivery and minimum or no fee on most destinations.
- As an example, money transfers from the US to the Philippines through a bank account can be free for transfers that are $500 or less, and bigger transfers like $1,000 to India can be free depending on the channel.
Influence of Payment Method
- Transferring money from a bank account usually has lower fees than making a payment through a credit or debit card.
- Credit card transactions often incur additional cash advance fees by the issuer, adding to the cost.
Destination and Amount Variation
- Fees for popular routes tend to be well-defined and easy, whereas routes used less are expensive.
- The transfer amount can also affect the fee, with higher transfers occasionally being eligible for lower or no fees with Economy mode.
To get a precise estimate of the transaction, you can utilize the Remitly Calculator.
Other Fees: Exchange Rate Margins
- Aside from the transfer fee, Remitly charges an exchange rate margin.
- This margin, which varies with transfer speed and country, is a non-transparent fee and can, on larger transfers, lead to the recipient receiving less than the mid-market rate.
Promotional Offers and Guarantees
- First Transfer Promotion: New customers receive a free first transfer, which is governed by conditions like “new customers only, one per customer, limited time offer.”
- Fee Refund Promise: Remitly guarantees on-time delivery and will refund the fee if the transfer is delayed, adding an extra layer of assurance for users.
Additionally, exchange rate margins may affect the overall cost, so you’ll always see a transparent breakdown of fees alongside the applicable rate markups.
Which is better, Wise or Remitly?
Wise typically completes transfers in 1–2 business days (occasionally hours). It is best for bank-to-bank transfers with clear fees and reasonable exchange rates.
Remitly works on two levels: Express transfers which transfer money within minutes to hours (with increased fees) and Economy transfers which take 3–5 business days (with reduced fees).
Remitly also offers other features such as cash pickup, as well as mobile wallets.
Wise has a simple, easy-to-use interface with email/chat support and strong security features.
On the other hand, Remitly has a mobile-first interface with 24/7 support for urgent requirements.
FAQs
Q. Is Wise cheaper than Remitly?
Wise generally charges lower overall fees because of improved exchange rates, but Remitly could be cheaper for small sizes with cash collection in certain corridors.
Q. Is Wise faster than Remitly?
Remitly’s Express is quicker (minutes to hours) than Wise’s transfer time (1-2 days on average).
Q. Does Wise have better exchange rates?
Wise takes the real mid-market exchange rate with no surprise margins, so you’re getting the best value.
Remitly charges a variable markup that can increase your costs overall.
Q. How do payout options differ between Wise and Remitly?
Wise has bank-to-bank transactions and digital wallet deposits. Remitly has a longer list consisting of cash pickup, home delivery, and mobile wallet.
Q. Which is safer Wise or Remitly?
Both Wise and Remitly apply strong encryption, multi-factor authentication, and regulatory compliance to protect transactions.
Additionally, Wise places importance on segregated accounts and a special fraud team for added protection.
Conclusion
Both Remitly and Wise are great services that beat the traditional banks at international transfers, however, they have different purposes.
Wise is good for value and transparency, so it’s great for budget users and multi-currency needs.
Remitly is good for flexibility and speed, ideal for users who care most about delivery options and fast transfers.
The best option is solely based on your individual transfer requirements, destinations, and priorities.
Most users have accounts on both platforms so that they can employ the best aspect of each service for various occasions.
Either Wise or Remitly, you are significantly upgrading from using traditional bank transfers.
They save money and time and provide you with more control of your cross-border money flows.
Pained by financial indecision?
Adam is an internationally recognised author on financial matters with over 830million answer views on Quora, a widely sold book on Amazon, and a contributor on Forbes.
