Alternatives to Western Union

Need a cheaper alternative for sending cash transfers?

Updated Mar 4, 2021

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Western Union has tons of locations and a convenient cash pick-up option, but it's not the cheapest option out there and you may be better off using a different money transfer company. Here are some other options to consider.

Why is Western Union so popular?

Around for more than 160 years, Western Union is one of the oldest and most recognisable names in money transfers. Available in 200 countries and territories across the globe and with more than 500,000 agent locations worldwide, money pickups are easy and accessible.

Pros

Low minimum transfer of $1
Send money in minutes
Transfer to a wide range of countries
Cash pick-up

Cons

Can be more expensive than other transfer companies
High fees and unfavourable exchange rates can take a bite out of your money transfer

Alternatives to Western Union

TorFX
WorldRemit
OFX
XE Money Transfer
Wise

Travelex
Ria
MoneyGram
PayPal

TorFX logo

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More info

1. TorFX

TorFX is a money exchange and transfer company that focuses on getting your funds where they need to go quickly. Unlike other services, it requires funds to be cleared by individuals who hold TorFX accounts. The money must be sent in advance before the transaction can be performed.

Pros

Competitive exchange rates
Free market news
Price match guarantee

Cons

Can only send from Australia
Can only send from bank accounts, to bank accounts

WorldRemit logo

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More info

2. WorldRemit

WorldRemit provides a variety of transfer options, letting you send money from over 50 countries, and to more than 120 countries. It offers online, bank-to-bank and cash transfers. Similar to Western Union, the fees vary by country and situation.

Pros

Flexible payment options
Quick transfer process
Transfers to mobile wallet accounts
Cash pickup available
Mobile airtime account transfers

Cons

Fees vary widely and can sometimes be high

OFX logo

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More info

3. OFX

Like Western Union, OFX offers money transfers to many countries in a variety of currencies. But with higher maximum transfer amounts and no fees, OFX could be better if you're looking to do business or pay for exports overseas.

Pros

Offer services to over 200 countries
Wide range of transfer options available

Android and iOS apps available for mobile transfer and tracking

Cons

Significant amount of transfer fee applies for some countries
Not the best exchange rate

No cash payment or pickup, only bank deposits
Transfer minimum of $250

Limited currency options
Not compatible with all online marketplaces yet

XE Money Transfer logo

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More info

5. XE Money Transfer

XE Money Transfer is a service designed to help you transfer your funds to a bank in a foreign currency, send cash to your family, make investments overseas or facilitate international business transfers. It charges $4 for transfers below $500.

Pros

A trusted and established name in money transfers
Low fees and competitive exchange rates
Offers limit orders, forward contracts and other features

Cons

Not available in as many countries or currencies as Western Union

Wise logo

Go to site
More info

6. Wise

Wise is a money transfer site focused on value for money. Uniquely, it offers mid-market exchange rates. However, it also charges fees of a fraction of a percent of the total transfer plus a flat amount.

Pros

Offers mid-market exchange rates
Apps for both iOS and Android
Straightforward fees

Cons

Transfers to bank accounts only. No cash pick-up option
High fees can offset the benefits of mid-market exchange rates

Travelex logo

7. Travelex

Around since 1976, Travelex is an international money transfer service in around 200 countries worldwide. In addition to money transfer services, it offers a range of travel solutions such as foreign currency sales and travel cards.

Pros

Forward contracts and other options can get more favourable rates
Will be competitor prices with a valid quote
No fee for transfers of $10,000 or more
Exchange to more than 45 different currencies

Cons

Exchange rates not always the most competitive
A $15 fee applies to transfers under $10,000

RIA Logo

8. Ria

Ria is the world's third-largest money transfer service, with more than 240,000 agent locations in 130 countries. It's known for its simple transfers, and aims to offer competitive fees and exchange rates.

Pros

Wide variety of transfer options
Good rates and minimal fees
Online price calculator simplifies money conversion

Cons

Cost-effectiveness varies depending on where you send money
Maximum transfer limits may be too small for your needs

Moneygram logo

9. MoneyGram

As the second-largest international money transfer service in the world, MoneyGram is one of Western Union's biggest contenders. Its transfers and exchanges currencies in over 200 countries and territories around the world to more than 350,000 agent locations worldwide.

Pros

Extensive global network of 350,000 agent locations
Secure and reliable
Fast transfers, with same-day service in many locations

Cons

Maximum online transfer amounts may be too low for your needs
Fees can be high depending on payment type and transfer destination
Exchange rates vary and may not always be the most competitive

PayPal Logo

10. PayPal

In addition to payment support for online purchases, PayPal also offers overseas transfers to more than 200 countries and territories. While PayPal is like a digital banking service, its rates are competitive compared with most banks and financial institutions.

Pros

Available worldwide
Offers recurring payments
Exchange rates fixed at 2.5% above mid-market rates
Clear transfer fees, starting from $0.99

Cons

Fees increase with amount transferred
Credit card payments incur fees of a percentage of the total transfer
Recipient also needs a PayPal account

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Still looking for the right money transfer provider? Compare more options below

Check out the table to see some of the other money transfer companies in the industry. You can see how much a transfer would cost with each of them by using the calculator below. Alternatively, learn more about Western Union in our review.

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Min. Transfer Amount	Transfer Speed	Online Transfer Fee	Rate	Amount Received	Description	CTA	Details
AUD 3	1 - 2 days	AUD 8.00	0.716	USD 7,153	Transfer money overseas for $0. Valid till 15 February 2022. T&Cs apply. Use one account to transfer money in up to 10 currencies without transaction or ATM fees.	Go to site	Compare	Show details	Details Minimum transfer amount AUD 3.00 Transfer methods Online, Phone, Agent, Bank Account to Bank Account Transfer options Regular payments, One off payments, Market orders Customer service Phone, Chat, Email, Branch Available currencies AED, AUD, CAD, CHF, CNY, DKK, EUR, GBP, HKD, JPY, MXN, NOK, NZD, SAR, SEK, SGD, THB, USD, ZAR Go to site Read the full review
GBP 0	1 - 2 days	AUD 0.00	0.713	USD 7,129	Azimo sends money directly to a bank account or over 280,000 cash pick-up points. It also has fast transfers to 50+ countries.	Go to site	Compare	Show details	Details Minimum transfer amount GBP 0.00 Transfer methods Online, Bank Account to Bank Account Transfer options One off payments Customer service Chat, Email Available currencies AED, ALL, AMD, AOA, ARS, AUD, AWG, AZN, BAM, BBD, BDT, BGN, BHD, BIF, BMD, BND, BOB, BRL, BSD, BTN, BWP, BYR, BZD, CAD, CDF, CHF, CLP, CNY, COP, CRC, CVE, CZK, DJF, DKK, DOP, DZD, EGP, ERN, ETB, EUR, FJD, GBP, GEL, GHS, GIP, GMD, GNF, GTQ, GYD, HKD, HNL, HUF, IDR, ILS, INR, ISK, JMD, JOD, JPY, KES, KGS, KHR, KMF, KRW, KWD, KZT, LAK, LBP, LKR, MAD, MDL, MGA, MKD, MNT, MOP, MRO, MUR, MVR, MWK, MXN, MYR, MZN, NAD, NGN, NIO, NOK, NPR, NZD, OMR, PEN, PGK, PHP, PKR, PLN, PYG, QAR, RON, RSD, RUB, RWF, SAR, SBD, SCR, SEK, SGD, SLL, SRD, STD, SZL, THB, TJS, TMT, TND, TOP, TRY, TTD, TWD, TZS, UAH, UGX, USD, UYU, UZS, VND, VUV, WST, XAF, XCD, XOF, XPF, ZAR, ZMW Go to site Read the full review
AUD 2,000	1 day	AUD 0.00	0.715	USD 7,154	TorFX guarantees to match any competitor's exchange rate. Conditions apply. TorFX sends money overseas in 30+ currencies, with competitive rates for transfer amounts over $2,000.	Go to site	Compare	Show details	Details Minimum transfer amount AUD 2,000.00 Transfer methods Online, Phone, Bank Account to Bank Account Transfer options Regular payments, One off payments, Market orders, Forward contracts Customer service Phone, Email Available currencies AED, AUD, CAD, CHF, CZK, DKK, EUR, GBP, HKD, HRK, HUF, ILS, JPY, NOK, NZD, PLN, SEK, SGD, THB, TRY, USD, ZAR Go to site Read the full review
AUD 1	Within an hour	AUD 0.00	0.715	USD 7,149	New customers get their first transaction for free with code FIRSTFREE. T&Cs apply. Send money in minutes at competitive exchange rates with this Australian money transfer service.	Go to site	Compare	Show details	Details Minimum transfer amount AUD 1.00 Transfer methods Online, Bank Account to Bank Account, Cash Transfer Transfer options N/A Customer service Phone, Email, Branch Available currencies AUD, BWP, GHS, KES, MYR, RWF, TRY, TZS, UGX, USD, VND, ZAR Go to site Read the full review
AUD 250	1 - 2 days	AUD 0.00	0.715	USD 7,152	$0 transfer fees for Finder customers. OFX has no maximum limit transfers, with competitive exchange rates for 45+ currencies.	Go to site	Compare	Show details	Details Minimum transfer amount AUD 250.00 Transfer methods Online, Phone, Bank Account to Bank Account Transfer options Regular payments, One off payments, Market orders, Forward contracts Customer service Phone, Email Available currencies AED, AUD, AZN, BGN, BND, CAD, CHF, CNY, CZK, DKK, EGP, EUR, FJD, GBP, HKD, HUF, IDR, ILS, INR, JPY, KRW, KWD, LKR, MAD, MGA, MXN, MYR, NOK, NZD, OMR, PEN, PGK, PHP, PKR, PLN, RUB, SAR, SBD, SCR, SEK, SGD, THB, TOP, TRY, TWD, TZS, USD, VEF, VND, VUV, WST, XOF, XPF, ZAR Go to site Read the full review
AUD 2,000	1 day	AUD 0.00	0.716	USD 7,158	Send guarantees to match any competitor’s exchange rate. T&Cs apply. Send provides fee-free transfers via its 24/7 multi-currency payments platform with real-time quotes.	Go to site	Compare	Show details	Details Minimum transfer amount AUD 2,000.00 Transfer methods Online, Bank Account to Bank Account Transfer options Regular payments, One off payments, Forward contracts Customer service Phone, Email Available currencies AED, AUD, BGN, BHD, CAD, CHF, CNY, CZK, DKK, EUR, GBP, HKD, HUF, IDR, ILS, INR, JPY, KES, KWD, MXN, MYR, NOK, NZD, OMR, PHP, PLN, QAR, RON, SAR, SEK, SGD, THB, TRY, USD, ZAR Go to site Read the full review
AUD 1	Within an hour	AUD 0.00	0.715	USD 7,151	XE has fast transfers with low fees and a range of foreign currency tools.	Go to site	Compare	Show details	Details Minimum transfer amount AUD 1.00 Transfer methods Online, Phone, Bank Account to Bank Account Transfer options One off payments, Market orders Customer service Phone, Chat, Email Available currencies AED, AMD, AUD, BAM, BBD, BDT, BGN, BHD, BND, BRL, BSD, BWP, CAD, CHF, CLP, CNY, COP, CRC, CVE, CZK, DKK, DOP, EUR, FJD, GBP, GEL, GTQ, HKD, HNL, HRK, HUF, ILS, INR, JMD, JOD, JPY, KES, KRW, KWD, KZT, LKR, LSL, MAD, MKD, MUR, MWK, MXN, MYR, NAD, NOK, NZD, OMR, PEN, PGK, PHP, PKR, PLN, PYG, QAR, RON, RSD, RUB, RWF, SAR, SBD, SCR, SEK, SGD, SZL, THB, TND, TOP, TRY, TTD, TWD, TZS, UGX, USD, VUV, WST, XCD, XPF, ZAR Go to site Read the full review
AUD 1	Within an hour	AUD 3.99	0.709	USD 7,090	Use code Take10AUD to get $10 off when you spend $20. Valid till 31 January 2022. T&Cs apply. Use promo code 3FREE to send your first 3 transfers with no fee. Conditions apply. WorldRemit sends money to 110+ countries for bank-to-bank deposits, cash pick-ups or mobile top-ups.	Go to site	Compare	Show details	Details Minimum transfer amount AUD 1.00 Transfer methods Online, Bank Account to Bank Account, Cash Transfer Transfer options One off payments Customer service Phone, Chat Available currencies AED, ALL, AMD, ANG, AOA, ARS, AUD, BAM, BBD, BDT, BGN, BHD, BIF, BOB, BRL, BWP, CAD, CDF, CHF, CLP, CNY, COP, CRC, CVE, CZK, DKK, DOP, EGP, ETB, EUR, FJD, GBP, GEL, GHS, GMD, GNF, GTQ, HKD, HNL, HRK, HTG, HUF, IDR, ILS, INR, ISK, JMD, JOD, KES, KGS, KHR, KMF, KRW, KWD, KYD, KZT, LAK, LBP, LKR, LRD, LSL, MAD, MDL, MGA, MRO, MUR, MVR, MWK, MXN, MYR, MZN, NAD, NGN, NIO, NOK, NPR, NZD, OMR, PAB, PEN, PGK, PHP, PKR, PLN, PYG, QAR, RON, RUB, RWF, SCR, SEK, SGD, SLL, SOS, SRD, THB, TJS, TND, TOP, TRY, TZS, UAH, UGX, USD, UYU, VND, WST, XAF, XCD, XOF, ZAR, ZMW, BYN Go to site Read the full review
AUD 1	1 - 2 days	AUD 45.00	0.715	USD 7,118	Wise uses the mid-market rate and transparent fees to help you send money in 50+ currencies.	Go to site	Compare	Show details	Details Minimum transfer amount AUD 1.00 Transfer methods Online, Bank Account to Bank Account Transfer options Regular payments, One off payments Customer service Phone, Chat, Email Available currencies AED, ARS, AUD, BDT, BGN, BRL, BWP, CAD, CHF, CLP, CNY, COP, CRC, CZK, DKK, EGP, EUR, FJD, GBP, GEL, GHS, HKD, HRK, HUF, IDR, ILS, INR, JPY, KES, KRW, LKR, MAD, MXN, MYR, NGN, NOK, NPR, NZD, PEN, PHP, PKR, PLN, RON, RUB, SEK, SGD, THB, TRY, TZS, UAH, UGX, USD, UYU, VND, XOF, ZAR, ZMW Go to site Read the full review
AUD 200	1 - 2 days	AUD 50.00	0.717	USD 7,133	Exclusive: Use code FINDER60 to get AUD 30 off your first two transfers. Valid for transfers over AUD 250 and till 31 January 2022. T&Cs apply. Instarem offers simple transfers with a flat 0.5% transfer fee for most transfers.	Go to site	Compare	Show details	Details Minimum transfer amount AUD 200.00 Transfer methods Online, Phone, Bank Account to Bank Account Transfer options One off payments Customer service Phone, Chat, Email Available currencies AUD, BDT, CAD, CNY, EUR, GBP, HKD, IDR, INR, KRW, LKR, MYR, NPR, PHP, PKR, SGD, THB, USD, VND Go to site Read the full review
AUD 1	1 day	N/A	N/A	N/A	Pay no fees on your first two transfers, up to $3,000. SingX offers the real exchange rate every time you make a transfer and can help you send money across the world.	Go to site	Compare	Show details	Details Minimum transfer amount AUD 1.00 Transfer methods Online, Bank Account to Bank Account, Cash Transfer Transfer options One off payments Customer service Phone, Chat, Email Available currencies AUD, EUR, GBP Go to site Read the full review
AUD 1	1 day	AUD 52.00	0.714	USD 7,106	Pay no fees on your first two transfers, up to $3,000. SingX offers the real exchange rate every time you make a transfer and can help you send money across the world.	Go to site	Compare	Show details	Details Minimum transfer amount AUD 1.00 Transfer methods Online, Bank Account to Bank Account, Cash Transfer Transfer options One off payments Customer service Phone, Chat, Email Available currencies AUD, CAD, CNY, EUR, GBP, HKD, IDR, INR, JPY, KRW, LKR, MYR, NPR, NZD, PHP, SGD, THB, USD, VND, ZAR Go to site Read the full review
AUD 10	Within an hour	AUD 2.99	0.71	USD 7,098	Special offers like free transfers and better exchange rates available for new customers. Remitly has quick, affordable transfers around the world, with both express and economy options.	Go to site	Compare	Show details	Details Minimum transfer amount AUD 10.00 Transfer methods Online, Bank Account to Bank Account, Cash Transfer Transfer options N/A Customer service Phone, Chat, Email Available currencies ARS, AUD, BDT, BGN, BOB, BRL, CLP, CNY, COP, CRC, CZK, DOP, EGP, ETB, GHS, GTQ, GYD, HNL, HRK, HTG, HUF, IDR, INR, JMD, KES, KMF, KRW, LKR, MAD, MXN, MYR, NIO, NPR, PEN, PHP, PKR, PLN, PYG, RON, RWF, THB, TND, TRY, TZS, UGX, USD, UYU, VND, XAF, XOF, ZAR Go to site Read the full review
AUD 5	1 - 2 days	EUR 3.00	0.715	USD 7,149	Special offer: New customers get unlimited fee-free transfers for their first 3 months. T&Cs apply. CurrencyFair has bank-beating exchange rates and fast transfer times on 15+ popular currencies.	Go to site	Compare	Show details	Details Minimum transfer amount AUD 5.00 Transfer methods Online Transfer options One off payments Customer service Phone, Email Available currencies AED, AUD, CAD, CHF, CZK, DKK, EUR, GBP, HKD, HUF, IDR, ILS, INR, NOK, NZD, PHP, PLN, SEK, SGD, THB, USD, ZAR Go to site Read the full review

Compare up to 4 providers

The "Rate" and "Amount Received" displayed are indicative rates that have been supplied by each brand or gathered by Finder.

Exchange rates are volatile and change often. As a result, the exchange rate listed on Finder may vary to the actual exchange rate quoted for the brand. Please confirm the actual exchange rate and mention "Finder" before you commit to a brand.

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Andrew Munro

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Andrew Munro was the global cryptocurrency editor at Finder, covering all aspects of cryptocurrency and the blockchain. Andrew has a Bachelor of Arts from the University of New South Wales.

BFX Money Transfer review Calculate today’s exchange rates with a currency converter

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HSBC International Money Transfers

Transfer money overseas for $0. Valid till 15 February 2022. T&Cs apply.
Use one account to transfer money in up to 10 currencies without transaction or ATM fees.

More info

Azimo International Money Transfers

Azimo sends money directly to a bank account or over 280,000 cash pick-up points. It also has fast transfers to 50+ countries.

More info

TorFX International Money Transfers

TorFX guarantees to match any competitor's exchange rate. Conditions apply.
TorFX sends money overseas in 30+ currencies, with competitive rates for transfer amounts over $2,000.

More info

MasterRemit International Money Transfers

New customers get their first transaction for free with code FIRSTFREE. T&Cs apply.
Send money in minutes at competitive exchange rates with this Australian money transfer service.

More info

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Alternatives to Western Union

Need a cheaper alternative for sending cash transfers?

In this guide

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Reviews

Send money to

Exchange rates

Promo codes and discounts

Banks

Guides

Why is Western Union so popular?

Pros

Cons

1. TorFX

Pros

Cons

2. WorldRemit

Pros

Cons

3. OFX

Pros

Cons

5. XE Money Transfer

Pros

Cons

6. Wise

Pros

Cons

7. Travelex

Pros

Cons

8. Ria

Pros

Cons

9. MoneyGram

Pros

Cons

10. PayPal

Pros

Cons

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Compare up to 4 providers

Andrew Munro

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HSBC International Money Transfers

Azimo International Money Transfers

TorFX International Money Transfers

MasterRemit International Money Transfers

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