Finder makes money from featured partners, but editorial opinions are our own.

Xoom international money transfers review

Enjoy simple, speedy and convenient international money transfers with Xoom.

Avatar

By

Kevin Chen

Edited by

Hannah Nissen-Ellison

Updated

Fact checked

Is Xoom available in Australia?

Unfortunately, you won't be able to sign up for an account in Australia unless you have a bank account in the US or Canada. At this time, Xoom has no plans to expand into Australia, but that doesn't rule it out. You can check out the other options you have for sending money overseas from Australia here. Currently, we recommend Revolut for smaller transfers and TorFX for larger ones.

If you do have a US or Canadian bank account, you can send money to Australia as well as dozens of other countries.

Our Verdict

Xoom is PayPal's answer to global money transfers and an easy next step if you already have a PayPal account. Depending on the country, you can even choose how your funds reach your recipient, be it bank account, debit card, cash pick up or even straight to their home. This is what makes Xoom hugely convenient.

However, what you gain in ease is lost on costs as you'll be saddled with Xoom's poor exchange rates and additional transfer fees. And these costs vary widely between currencies and where you're based. All in all, Xoom seems much less appealing when compared to other specialist transfer services.

Why should I use Xoom?

  • Transfer tracking. You'll receive a text message when your money arrives. Xoom will also email you and your recipient to keep you both informed of the transfer's progress. You can log on to your account any time and track the transaction there, or call customer service and receive an update from a live representative.
  • Money-back guarantee. Xoom offers a money-back guarantee to refund your transaction in full if the money you send doesn't arrive to your recipient.
  • 24/7 support. Phone and email support is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week if you need help with a transaction.

What to be aware of with Xoom

  • Not available for Australian users. For now, Xoom is only available to those with US or Canadian bank accounts.
  • Requires government-issued ID. You'll need to upload a government-issued ID, like a licence or passport, and a recent bank statement to send money.
  • No live chat option. Though you can call or email Xoom for 24/7 customer support.
  • Exchange rate markup and fees. Xoom adds a markup on the mid-market rate and charges additional fees.

Xoom's exchange rates and fees

The total cost of a Xoom transfer varies between online and agent locations. But for online transfers, fees depend on:

  • Payment. Paying by bank transfer is the cheapest option while paying by credit card will have higher fees. Additional cash advance fees may also be charged to your credit card.
  • Recipient's location. Fees depend on where you're sending to.
  • Amount. Different fees are charged based on how much you're sending.
  • Delivery. To send cash, fees are generally higher, while receiving money to a bank account is often less expensive.

Here's an example of the fees you might see while receiving AUD$1,000 through Xoom from the following sending countries:

Sending countryPayment methodFee
UKPayPal balance or bank accountGBP 0.00
USPayPal balance or bank accountUSD 0.00
CanadaPayPal balance or bank accountCAD 2.99
FranceCredit or debit cardEUR 1.99

Accurate as of 14 November 2023

Xoom's exchange rate changes depending on the amount of money you're sending. Use Xoom's fees and exchange rate calculator to see the fees that apply to your transfer destination and amount.

How long does a Xoom transfer take?

Turnaround time on your Xoom transfer depends on how you pay and how the money is received:

  • Fastest option — nearly instant

    Pay for your transfer with a credit card, debit card or PayPal balance. You'll pay more in fees, but your money arrives in as little as 15 minutes, if not instantly. Your credit card might charge you an additional cash advance fee, further increasing the cost of your total transfer. Some destinations may take longer to receive money, even when paying by credit or debit card.

  • Cheapest option — up to 4 business days

    Using a bank account to pay for your transfer is often the cheapest way to send money, but it's the slowest. Sending money to your recipient's bank account may also delay the transfer time.

What currencies can I send with Xoom?

Xoom can send to more than 150 countries and territories worldwide. Xoom can be sent from residents in the United States, Canada, the UK, and select countries in Europe. You can look at the full list of currencies here, but some of the popular currencies that Xoom supports include:

  • Australian dollar (AUD)
  • Bangladesh taka (BDT)
  • Brazilian real (BRL)
  • Dominican peso (DOP)
  • Egyptian pound (EGP)
  • Indian rupee (INR)
  • Mexican peso (MXN)
  • Philippine peso (PHP)

What are Xoom's sending limits?

Xoom separates accounts into 3 levels based on how much verification you've given. For US residents, it looks like this:

Level24-hour limit30-day limit180-day limitRequired information and documents
12,999 USD6,000 USD9,999 USDEmail and phone number
210,000 USD20,000 USD30,000 USDSocial Security number or passport
350,000 USD60,000 USD100,000 USD
  • Driver's licence, passport, or Green Card to verify your identity
  • Utility bill or another proof of address, either a bank statement or a pay stub
  • Plus additional information at Xoom's request

Is PayPal Xoom?

Xoom is a PayPal service and is owned and operated by PayPal. Users in Australia who already have and use PayPal accounts can integrate their existing accounts into Xoom to send money around the world. Recipients of Xoom transfers do not need to create a PayPal account in order to receive money.

Review of PayPal's fees and how it works

Is Xoom safe?

Xoom's parent company, PayPal, is one of the most well-known payment systems. Xoom has additional measures to protect your money while using the service:

  • Encryption: Xoom uses 128-bit data security encryption for its entire website.
  • Regulation: Xoom shares all the same regulations and licences held by PayPal.
  • Money-back guarantee: Xoom guarantees that your money will be received by your recipient, and if it isn't the transaction will be refunded in full.

Xoom reviews

Reviews accurate as of 14 November, 2023.

Trustpilot2.2 out of 5 – based on 22,610 customer reviews
Monito6.4 out of 10 – based on staff reviews

Case study: Our experience transferring money with Xoom

Here's what we found when we sent live transfers to Mexico and France through Xoom:

  • We paid low fees and received competitive rates within 2.4% of the mid-market rate on average, with rates updated multiple times a day.
  • Our transfer to France arrived ahead of schedule, while our funds were deposited into our recipient's Mexican bank account within 24 hours.
  • Xoom's easy-to-use website allowed us to sign up and initiate a transfer in just about 3.5 minutes.

What payment methods does Xoom accept?

Xoom transfers can be paid for in a few different ways, including:

  • Bank account transfer
  • Credit or debit card
  • PayPal balance

Each payment method may have different fees depending on your sending destination, but overall paying with a bank account or PayPal balance tends to be the cheapest option.

How do I send money through Xoom?

Before you can send funds with Xoom in Australia, you must register for a free account with your personal contact information. While you don't need to enter a Social Security number at sign-up, Xoom requires you to upload a government-issued ID, like a licence or passport, and a recent bank statement if you want to send higher amounts. These must show that you're a resident of an eligible country to send money with Xoom.

Steps to send a money transfer with Xoom

What do you need to send money through Xoom?

  • Amount to be sent and currency it will be converted to
  • A valid payment method — credit card, debit card or bank account
  • The recipient's name, address and bank name and account number
  • Your phone number and address

Is there a Xoom app?

Xoom mobile app homepage

Xoom has an app on both Google Play and the App Store. The app makes it possible to:

  • Quick send. Use existing contacts to quickly send money with a few swipes and taps.
  • Track orders. The status of your transfer is quickly accessible through the app.
  • See fees and exchange rates. An in-app fee and exchange rate calculator will help you determine the cost of your next transfer through Xoom.
Ratings accurate as of November 14, 2023
Google Play Store 4.8 out of 5 – based on 305,418 customer ratings
Apple App Store (USA)4.8 out of 5 – based on 1,060,227 customer ratings

More on the best money transfer apps

Bottom line

Xoom's money transfer options are worth considering when you need to send money overseas. Just make sure to compare its services with those of a number of other providers in Australia before deciding on the right money transfer company to handle your transactions.

How does Xoom compare to other services?

1 - 20 of 25
Updated regularly
Name Product Filter Values Fastest Transfer Speed Fees (Pay by Bank Transfer)
TorFX
TorFX
24 hours
$0
TorFX sends money overseas in 40+ currencies, with competitive rates for transfer amounts over $2,000.
Go to site
View details
Xe Large Transfers
Xe Large Transfers
Within minutes
$0
Xe has fast transfers with low fees and a range of foreign currency tools.
Go to site
View details
OFX
OFX
24 hours
$0
OFX has no maximum limit transfers, with competitive exchange rates for 50+ currencies.
Go to site
View details
Send Payments
Send Payments
24 hours
$0

Send provides fee-free transfers via its 24/7 multi-currency payments platform with real-time quotes.
Go to site
View details
Revolut
Revolut
Within minutes
$0
Send money with great rates and low fees in 30+ currencies.
Go to site
View details
Xe Money Transfers
Xe Money Transfers
Within minutes
$0
Xe has fast transfers with low fees and a range of foreign currency tools.
Go to site
View details
Instarem
Instarem
Within minutes
From 0%
50% off first transaction fee from any country in APAC (outside India).
Minimum transfer of $250 and max transfer of $500,000
Go to site
View details
Wise (TransferWise)
Wise (TransferWise)
Within minutes
From 0.41%
Wise uses the mid-market rate and transparent fees to help you send money in 50+ currencies.
Go to site
View details
TorFX
TorFX
24 hours
$0
TorFX sends money overseas in 40+ currencies, with competitive rates for transfer amounts over $2,000.
Go to site
View details
Remitly
Remitly
Within minutes
From $0
Remitly has quick, affordable transfers around the world, with both express and economy options.
Go to site
View details
WorldRemit
WorldRemit
Within minutes
From $0.99
Use promo code 3FREE and pay no fees on your first 3 transfers. Conditions apply.
WorldRemit sends money to 110+ countries for bank-to-bank deposits, cash pick-ups or mobile top-ups.
Go to site
View details
Rocket Remit
Rocket Remit
Within minutes
From $0 to $5
Send money instantly to friends and family in over 45 countries using just your mobile number.
Go to site
View details
MasterRemit
MasterRemit
Within minutes
From $0
Get your 1st and 2nd money transfer for free with promo codes FIRSTFREE and MASTERFINDER!.
Send money in minutes at competitive exchange rates to the Middle East, Africa and South Asia.
Go to site
View details
MoneyGram
MoneyGram
Within minutes
From $1.99
MoneyGram has fast cash pick-up transfers to more than 350,000 agent locations worldwide.
Go to site
View details
SingX
SingX
Within minutes
From 0.5%
SingX offers the real exchange rate every time you make a transfer and can help you send money across the world.
Go to site
View details
CurrencyFair
CurrencyFair
Within minutes
€3
CurrencyFair has bank-beating exchange rates and fast transfer times on 15+ popular currencies.
Go to site
View details
OFX
OFX
24 hours
$0
OFX has no maximum limit transfers, with competitive exchange rates for 50+ currencies.
Go to site
View details
Send Payments
Send Payments
24 hours
$0
Send provides fee-free transfers via its 24/7 multi-currency payments platform with real-time quotes.
Go to site
View details
Western Union
Western Union
Within minutes
From $0
Western Union sends money online to friends and family in 200+ countries around the world.
View details
Qantas Business Money
Qantas Business Money
Within minutes
$0
Earn 1 Qantas Point per every AUD$10 equivalent you transfer into foreign currencies. T&Cs apply.
Set up accounts in 11 different currencies and get rewarded for global business payments by earning Qantas Points.
Go to site
View details
loading

Frequently asked questions

Back to top

  1. Xoom transfer fees

More guides on Finder

Ask an Expert

You are about to post a question on finder.com.au:

  • Do not enter personal information (eg. surname, phone number, bank details) as your question will be made public
  • finder.com.au is a financial comparison and information service, not a bank or product provider
  • We cannot provide you with personal advice or recommendations
  • Your answer might already be waiting – check previous questions below to see if yours has already been asked

Finder only provides general advice and factual information, so consider your own circumstances, or seek advice before you decide to act on our content. By submitting a question, you're accepting our Terms of Use, Disclaimer & Privacy Policy and 6. Finder Group Privacy & Cookies Policy.

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Go to site