These services are chosen from among the partners we work with based on special features or offers and the commission we receive. Keep in mind that our promoted picks may not always be the best fit for you. Consider your needs and compare other ways to transfer money to the United States in the table below.
Looking for the best way to send money from Canada to family, friends or businesses in the United States (or even to your own overseas bank account)?
Don't head straight to your Canadian bank – compare specialist money transfer services instead. They nearly always offer better USD exchange rates and lower fees, so for the same amount of Canadian dollars you send, your recipient will receive more US dollars.
Of the companies we've compared, Instarem is among the cheapest, with competitive exchange rates and fees starting from $0. Need a really fast transfer? Instarem can get money to your recipient in the United States within minutes.
Best ways to send money to the US from Canada
The best way to send money to the United States depends on your payment method, how you want your money to be received and how fast you need it to arrive.
Online money transfer provider. When buying Canadian dollars
or US dollars
, money transfer specialists typically offer better rates and cheaper fees than a local bank.
Bank transfer. Bank transfers are an easy way to send money to the United States, but they charge extra for the convenience and are often slower than other methods.
Compare the best money transfer companies to send money to the US
Use our table to compare the best money transfer companies to send money to the United States. You can compare deposit and receiving options, fees and transfer speeds, then click the "Go to site" button when you've found the best one to get your money to the United States.
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Cheapest way to send money to the US
Bank transfers are typically the cheapest way to get your money to the United States. Instarem and Africhange have some of the lowest bank transfer fees of the brands we've compared.
When you're hunting down the cheapest ways to send money to the United States, it's more important to look at the overall cost of your transfer. This has a couple of elements:
Transfer fees. While still cheaper than your Canadian bank, some money transfer services charge either a fixed or percentage-based fee for making your transfer.
Exchange rates. Another way money transfer providers make money is to add a margin to the mid-market CAD/USD exchange rate.
Some providers may charge the mid-market rate but add fees on top. Others may have very low fees but apply a markup on the exchange rate. This means it is important to compare exactly how many US dollars your recipient will end up with.
Fastest way to send money to the US
Many online providers can offer transfers to the United States within minutes, although you're likely to pay a premium for the convenience.
Here are some of the fastest average transfer speeds to the United States:
Instarem — within minutes
Africhange — within minutes
Xe Money Transfers — within minutes
Actual transfer times from Canada to the United States can depend on several several factors including transfer amount, payment method and currency.
Safest way to send money to the US
The safest way to get your money to the United States is to use a provider registered with Canada's industry regulator, the Financial Consumer Agency of Canada. All the companies we've compared in our table are overseen by a local regulator and comply with the relevant laws and regulations in both Canada and the United States.
A great way to dive deeper is by reading our extended
reviews of each transfer service
and researching first-hand customer feedback on Trustpilot and similar platforms.
Large money transfers to the US
If you need to make a sizable money transfer to the United States, consider using a provider such as OFX or Xe Money Transfers to benefit from its expertise in handling larger transfer amounts.
Using a large transfer specialist can have the following advantages:
Tax guidance. Large transfers to the United States may have tax implications for you or your recipient. A transfer specialist can help get you up to speed on the CRA's latest advice.
Foreign exchange (forex) tools. Advanced tools such as forward contracts, limit orders and stop-loss orders can help you lock in the USD exchange rate you want.
Account manager. Some money transfer providers assign a personal account manager who can help and advise you on your transfer needs.
Phone service. If you want to talk your transfer through with someone, providers such as OFX and Wise (TransferWise) can give you support over the phone.
How to send money to the US from Canada
To send money to the United States, you'll need the necessary documentation, your recipient's details and a way to pay.
Compare your options.
Use our table to find a money transfer provider that sends funds to the United States. One may be better for cash pickups, while another may suit a bank transfer. Once you've found the best one for your requirements, click "Go to site".
Create an account.
You'll need to give your name, address, contact details, proof of ID and method of payment.
Provide your recipient's details.
Enter your recipient's name and contact information. If you're sending straight to their American bank account, you'll need the account number,
SWIFT or IBAN
plus their bank branch's address.
Enter your transfer amount.
Make sure you're happy with the fees, exchange rates and transfer speed, then enter the amount you wish to send. Double-check the total US dollars your recipient gets.
Complete your transfer.
Send your money transfer to the United States. Keep your transaction reference number safe so you can track your transfer. Your recipient may need it, too.
Example: Robert sends money to the United States
Robert is working in Canada as a doctor and he regularly contacts his elderly parents back home in the United States. His parents need some funds to help pay off a mortgage, so Robert plans to send them $2,000 from Canada.
He decides to compare a bank and a money transfer specialist to see which one can save the most money on his transaction.
Bank
Money transfer company
Exchange rate
1 CAD = 0.00 USD
1 CAD = 0.00 USD
Transfer fee
$10
$2.50
Transfer method
Bank account deposit
Bank account deposit
Processing time
2 - 5 working days
Next day
Amount received
0.00 USD
0.00 USD
The money transfer company enables Robert to send an extra $0.00, which is transferred straight to his parents' Wells Fargo account.
How to choose the best money transfer companies to send money to the US
When choosing a money transfer provider to send money from Canada to the United States, it's important to consider the cost, how you want your recipient to receive the funds and the turnaround time. Here are other features to review:
Exchange rates. Banks and transfer services use the mid-market rate to trade with one another. It is the best rate you can get. However, not all money transfer providers offer you this mid-market rate so compare the USD you're offered to the mid-market rate and look for the smallest difference.
Transfer fees. Are you being charged a flat fee or a percentage of your transfer amount? For example, a provider offering to transfer your money to the United States for a flat or low fee might work out better if you plan to send a large amount.
Transfer type. Does your recipient have an American bank account or is cash or cell phone top-up a better option? Each transfer type has different fees. For example,
instant cash pickups
tend to be more expensive than
bank transfers
.
Transfer speed. If you need your transfer to arrive quickly, you can pay for an express delivery. Some companies offer instant cash pickups but may charge more. If you're not in a rush, online money transfer services offer the best value and get your money to the United States faster and cheaper than banks.
Transfer limits. Find out how much you can send with each service. For example, Instarem has a transfer limit of $3,000 while Xe Money Transfers allows transfers up to $560,000 online (no max offline) .
Discounts. Some providers may offer you a free transfer simply for signing up. Others may offer a discount if you transfer more than a specific amount of US dollars.
Frequently asked questions
There are multiple ways to pay for your money transfer to the United States. The most common payment methods include bank transfer, credit card and debit card.
How you pay can influence how quickly your US dollars arrive and the total cost of your transfer, so consider both when deciding.
Photo identification: Most providers require a driver's license, passport or other Canadian government-issued ID.
A way to pay: Your options depend on the provider's services. Popular methods include cash, debit or credit card and bank account transfers.
Recipient information: You'll need their name (matching their ID) plus contact details. If sending to a American bank account, you'll need their account number, SWIFT and branch details.
Transfer number: The reference number – sometimes called a PIN, MTCN or tracking number.
Government-issued ID: An official ID, such as a American passport or driver's license.
The transfer amount: To know how much has been sent, usually to within 10% of the total.
Sender information: The sender's name and address and the transfer's country of origin.
This depends on your chosen provider, as each will have a sending limit. For example, services such as Wise (TransferWise) and Instarem allow you to transfer as little as $1, while others will have a significantly higher minimum threshold.
Remember that some providers will have maximum transfer amounts as well, either as a result of Canadian tax policies or because their service is more limited. If you need to send a large transfer, look for a provider with higher or no sending limits to the United States.
The turnaround time for a money transfer to the United States depends on the provider and how you pay for the transfer. Expect your transfer to arrive within minutes if you pay using cash or with a debit or credit card. Paying by bank transfer can take longer – usually 2–5 days.
Yes, you can still send a money transfer if neither you nor your recipient in the United States has a bank account. Look at cash transfer providers , where you can pay with cash, and your recipient can collect it as cash or as a mobile phone reload on the other end.
If I send money to China by using citibank plus account, how much total cost would expect?Citibank doesn’t charge but reciving bank or intermidate bank charge for the service. Say, Today I send money US$1000 to Bank of China. How much I have to send AU$ to receiver side to get US1000?
Finder
JodieMay 28, 2015Finder
Hi Wolfgang,
Thank you for reaching out.
Please visit our send money to China page to find information regarding sending funds from AU to China including fees and exchange rates for multiple exchange services.
Regards
Jodie
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finder.com is an independent comparison platform and information service that aims to provide you with the tools you need to make better decisions. While we are independent, the offers that appear on this site are from companies from which finder.com receives compensation. We may receive compensation from our partners for placement of their products or services. We may also receive compensation if you click on certain links posted on our site. While compensation arrangements may affect the order, position or placement of product information, it doesn't influence our assessment of those products. Please don't interpret the order in which products appear on our Site as any endorsement or recommendation from us. finder.com compares a wide range of products, providers and services but we don't provide information on all available products, providers or services. Please appreciate that there may be other options available to you than the products, providers or services covered by our service.
We update our data regularly, but information can change between updates. Confirm details with the provider you're interested in before making a decision.
If I send money to China by using citibank plus account, how much total cost would expect?Citibank doesn’t charge but reciving bank or intermidate bank charge for the service. Say, Today I send money US$1000 to Bank of China. How much I have to send AU$ to receiver side to get US1000?
Hi Wolfgang,
Thank you for reaching out.
Please visit our send money to China page to find information regarding sending funds from AU to China including fees and exchange rates for multiple exchange services.
Regards
Jodie