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Mastercard Send review

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Mastercard Send is the global payment network’s entry into real-time personal payments, supporting transactions that hit your wallet almost instantly. It’s partnered with banks, businesses and digital wallets to deliver money to bank accounts, prepaid debit cards, mobile wallets and select cashout locations.

What is Mastercard Send?

It’s a global platform like Visa Direct that allows banks and businesses to “push” money to a recipient with only their debit card number.

Because it doesn’t rely on a bank’s ACH system, you don’t need to provide your bank’s routing or account number to get your money.

Direct payments mean fast, secure delivery for:

Consumer disbursements
Governments, businesses and nonprofits can pay consumers directly.
Domestic P2P payments.
People and businesses can pay clients and customers within the US.
Cross-border P2P payments.
People and businesses can pay clients and customers internationally.

How does Mastercard Send work?

Rather than a P2P platform like Square Cash or Venmo, Mastercard Send supports cross-border payments from people and places. If your payor uses it, you could see near-real-time reimbursements for, say, side-gig invoices, insurance claims or even lottery winnings.

Mastercard Send gets funds into your hands faster in three steps:

Sender initiates payment.
Mastercard Send works with people, businesses — even the government.
Your payment is processed.
Mastercard Send relies on a global network of financial institutions and companies using Mastercard’s cross-border API.
You receive your money.
Depending on the transaction, you may have the option to get your money as a bank deposit, credit on a Mastercard or other branded card, mobile wallet payout or cash pickup at a storefront.

How much will I pay to send money with Mastercard Send?

Mastercard Send is a payments management service, rather than a provider like Western Union or MoneyGram. Any fees you pay are charged by the organization, business or government you transact with.

Our research shows that Google Pay, for example, doesn’t charge merchants for accepting it as a payment option. Similarly, Allstate doesn’t charge you when it deposits a claim payment to your account or debit card using Mastercard Send.

International companies, however, may charge a fee for the convenience of instant cross-border payments.

Does Mastercard Send support international payments?

Yes. Mastercard Send works with banks, businesses and digital wallets in more than 80 countries, supporting a wide range of currencies.

Mastercard says its exchange rates are competitive. But the rate you get ultimately depends on the service you’re using that relies on Mastercard Send for international payments.

What companies use Mastercard Send?

Mastercard Send is surprisingly coy about who uses its services, listing only Google Pay and Allstate Insurance by name on its site.

Internal documents reveal that Uber and Lyft are using Mastercard Send’s API to pay drivers. And Florida Capital Bank has partnered with the service for debit card disbursements.

Benefits and drawbacks

Benefits

  • Allows for real-time transactions delivered in seconds.
  • Backed by the security and reliability of Mastercard.
  • Flexible delivery options that vary by payor.

Drawbacks

  • US disbursements and P2P payments limited to debit card accounts.
  • If there’s a hiccup, you don’t contact Mastercard directly.
  • No one place to find fees, rates and other transaction details.

Need something different? Compare online money transfer services

Our table lets you compare the services you can use to send money abroad. Compare services on transfer speeds and fees, then click Go to site when you're ready to send.
1 - 12 of 12
Product USFMT Filter Values Fastest Transfer Speed Fees (Pay by Bank Transfer)
24 hours
From 0%
New Instarem customers will get a special FX rate and zero-fees on their first transfer.
Instarem offers offers rewards on every transaction.
Within minutes
From 0.41%
Wise uses the mid-market rate and transparent fees to help you send money in 50+ currencies.
Within minutes
From $0
MoneyGram has fast cash pick-up transfers to more than 350,000 agent locations worldwide.
Airwallex
Airwallex logo
Within minutes
$0
After spending $15k in your first 90 days, receive a one-time $500 bonus that will automatically be credited to your account on any FX conversion.
Airwallex can help you make business payments to 150+ countries in 60+ currencies.
24 hours
$0
Business customers: Send safe, no-limit transfers with no fees and competitive exchange rates.
24 hours
$0
Increase business efficiency with zero transaction fees and same-day transfers.
24 hours
$0
Save your time and money with Xe Money Transfer for business.
24 hours
$0
OFX has no maximum limit transfers, with competitive exchange rates for 45+ currencies.
24 hours
$0
Minimizes costs of international transactions and offers custom solutions for business clients. Currencies Direct may call you to confirm your transfer, so be prepared for a phone call shortly after initiating a transfer.
Within minutes
$3
Xe has fast transfers with low fees and a range of foreign currency tools.
24 hours
$0
CurrencyTransfer lets you shop around for the best exchange rate on its online marketplace.
24 hours
$0
CurrenciesDirect makes transferring money abroad simple with bank-beating exchange rates. Currencies Direct may call you to confirm your transfer, so be prepared for a phone call shortly after initiating a transfer.
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How do I send money through Mastercard Send?

Your business can use Mastercard Send to pay contractors, reimburse clients and donate to worthwhile causes nearly instantaneously.

To sign up, visit Mastercard Send’s website and complete an information request form.

Request form page of Mastercard Send

Bottom line

Mastercard Send is a fast, safe way for businesses and organizations to streamline payments to customers and clients worldwide.

But it’s not yet a solution for P2P payments. If you’re looking to get money to friends, loved ones or businesses, compare money specialists like Wise for ultra-competitive exchange rates or CurrencyTransfer to send funds fee-free.

Frequently asked questions

Whether products shown are available to you is subject to individual provider sole approval and discretion in accordance with the eligibility criteria and T&Cs on the provider website.

Product USFMT Filter Values Fastest Transfer Speed Fees (Pay by Bank Transfer)
24 hours
$0
Business customers: Send safe, no-limit transfers with no fees and competitive exchange rates.
Within minutes
From $0
Xe has fast transfers with low fees and a range of foreign currency tools.
Within minutes
From $0
MoneyGram has fast cash pick-up transfers to more than 350,000 agent locations worldwide.
24 hours
From 0%
New Instarem customers will get a special FX rate and zero-fees on their first transfer.
Instarem offers offers rewards on every transaction.
24 hours
$0
Save your time and money with Xe Money Transfer for business.
Within minutes
From $0
Remitly has quick, affordable transfers around the world, with both express and economy options.
24 hours
$0
CurrencyTransfer lets you shop around for the best exchange rate on its online marketplace.
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.
24 hours
$0
OFX has no maximum limit transfers, with competitive exchange rates for 45+ currencies.
Within minutes
$0
Provides business solutions for small business owners in over 24 currencies worldwide. Try 3 months free of Spotify Premium when you sign up with PayPal.
Within minutes
From $8.16
Enjoy high maximum transfers into more than 40 currencies, while saving up to 90% over local banks.
Within minutes
From 0.41%
Wise uses the mid-market rate and transparent fees to help you send money in 50+ currencies.
Within minutes
From 0.41%
Wise uses the mid-market rate and transparent fees to help you send money in 50+ currencies.
24 hours
$0
Increase business efficiency with zero transaction fees and same-day transfers.
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.
24 hours
€3
CurrencyFair has bank-beating exchange rates and fast transfer times on 15+ popular currencies.
24 hours
$0
OFX has no maximum limit transfers, with competitive exchange rates for 45+ currencies.
24 hours
€3
CurrencyFair has bank-beating exchange rates and fast transfer times on 15+ popular currencies.
Within minutes
From $0
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.
Within minutes
From $0
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.
Within minutes
From $0
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.
Within minutes
From $0
Use PayPal to safely send money and receive payments from around the world in over 25 currencies with just an email address or mobile number. Try 3 months free of Spotify Premium when you sign up with PayPal.
Within minutes
$3
Xe has fast transfers with low fees and a range of foreign currency tools.
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Editor

Rhys Subitch is a personal finance editor at Bankrate and former loans editor at Finder, specializing in consumer and business lending. Rhys has nearly a decade of experience researching, editing, and writing for startups, Fortune 500 companies, universities and websites. They hold a BA in sociology and a certificate of editing from the University of Washington. See full bio

Rhys's expertise
Rhys has written 37 Finder guides across topics including:
  • Personal, business, student and car loans
  • Credit scores and alternative data
  • Debt consolidation and management

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