Keeping up with bills at home while living abroad? You need to pay your mortgage or rent wherever you happen to be, and utility bills and business expenses often can’t wait for you to return home. Or perhaps you simply want to help out loved ones overseas.
International money transfers aren’t complicated or expensive. And those better-known companies are no longer your only options. Newer digital providers are undercutting the competition on exchange rates, fees and speeds — as well as making it easier than ever to get your money where it needs to go around the world.
Key takeaways
Online money transfer services offer faster, cheaper alternatives to sending checks or bank wires overseas.
Options for sending money include bank transfers, online services, cash pickups and international checks.
To find the best provider for you, compare exchange rates, fees, transfer limits, payment methods, speed and customer service.
Favorable exchange rates might come with higher fees, so balance both when choosing a provider.
Just as online payments are phasing out the need to write checks to pay your bills, more affordable online options for sending money overseas are rendering older methods unnecessary.
While you can still send a secure international check overseas to pay bills or help family, you’d need to pay a fee and be willing to wait for the check to arrive. Similarly, sending an international wire transfer with your bank is no longer the most convenient or affordable option. With a bank, you’ll typically pay fees of up to $35 to $40 and receive exchange rates that are anywhere from 2% to 5% or more above the mid-market rate.
Unlike your typical US bank, an independent money transfer provider specializes in one thing: safely moving your money from the US to countries around the world. This one focus means that they can offer more options — and stronger exchange rates — than a bank can.
While the best-known providers include Western Union and MoneyGram, the past decade has seen a rapid rise in specialist competitors.
Providers like OFX, Wise and WorldRemit allow you to send bank account transfers overseas, but with much stronger exchange rates and lower fees than you’d pay with your local bank. Not only that, but they’re also fast and secure.
Why would I need to send money overseas?
With an expanding global economy, your needs for sending money overseas could include:
Rent. Whether you need to pay rent back home while you’re on vacation or maintain an overseas rental for a relative, you might need to send an overseas payment.
Mortgage. Your mortgage obligation doesn’t go on vacation when you do, so you may need to take care of a payment for your domestic or overseas home.
Utilities. Bills for gas, water and electricity keep coming, even when you are away.
Goods and services. If you’re purchasing items overseas, you’ll need an efficient way to get money to the seller — and a credit card payment isn’t always an option.
Paying staff or contractors. Whether you’re employing people overseas for your business or hiring workers to build you a house, you’ll need to ensure they’re paid promptly.
Family ties. Lots of us are helping out loved ones abroad — or surprising them with celebratory funds.
Money transfer services to pay international invoices
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.
Bank transfers. Many major US banks will allow you to wire money to banks around the world. But with higher fees and weaker exchange rates than you’ll find elsewhere, bank transfers aren’t a cost-effective way to pay overseas bills.
Online money transfer services. Online providers can offer more competitive exchange rates and lower fees — sometimes $0 fees, depending on how much you’re sending.
Providers with cash pickup. While many bills these days are paid electronically, sometimes you need to send cash. Western Union, MoneyGram and Ria offer fast, reliable transfers that your recipient can collect in cash from agents worldwide.
Checks and money orders. Although not a quick option, you could send an international check overseas, obtained from your bank or US Postal Service.
How can I compare money transfer providers?
With so many companies competing for your business, choosing the right one can be difficult. Before handing over your cash, compare:
Exchange rates. Nearly all providers skew exchange rates for a profit. Compare the rate you’re offered to the mid-market rate — the rate banks and transfer services use when they trade among themselves — and look for the smallest margin between them.
Transfer fees. Find out whether the provider charges a flat fee or a percentage of your transfer. If you’re sending a large amount, ask whether you qualify for a fee-free transfer.
Transfer limits. Your best option might depend on how much you want to send. For large transfers, weigh the best exchange rate — especially since providers encourage large transfers by offering low fees. For smaller amounts, consider the fees you’ll pay on top of the exchange rate.
Payment and delivery methods. Some transfer companies allow you to pay with a credit card online, by phone or through an app. Others offer agent locations for cash payments and pickups. Also ask how your recipient can receive your funds: bank account, cash pickup, mobile wallet and more.
Available currencies. Consider whether the currencies and countries will serve your international bill payment requirements in the future.
Transfer speed. If it needs to be there fast, some providers allow for quick cash pickups, often in minutes. If you’ve more time, you’ll get better rates and fees with an independent provider.
Customer service. Most companies offer customer service by Internet chat, phone, in person or by email. Make sure help will be available if you need it.
When comparing fees, remember that companies with more favorable exchange rates sometimes charge the highest fees.
What are the pros and cons of paying overseas bills with an international money transfer?
Pros
It’s easy. You can send money overseas with a few simple clicks and by providing basic personal information.
It’s convenient. Send transfers from the comfort of your home or from your smartphone anywhere.
Stay on top of your finances. Whether you’re on vacation or live on the other side of the world, international money transfers allow you to stay current with your bill payments.
Cons
Fees apply. As if bills aren’t annoying enough, tacking on a transfer fee can be frustrating.
Frequently asked questions
How can I pay bills in any other country around the world?
Find a money transfer provider to send your funds almost anywhere. But specific countries may be excluded from transfer destinations, including North Korea, Iran and Myanmar.
Why is it important to find the best exchange rate?
The exchange rate is crucial in determining how much money your beneficiary receives. And even a slight difference in the rate can make a big difference in how much your recipient receives.
Suppose you’re deciding between two companies to get your money to Italy. One offers an exchange rate of 1 USD = 0.87 EUR, while the other offers 1 USD = 0.89 EUR. If you’re sending $1,000 overseas, using the company with the stronger exchange rate could result in 20 more euro for your recipient.
How can I track an international money transfer?
Transfer providers offer tracking services through their websites. You should receive a transaction reference number that you can use to monitor the status of your funds.
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.
Shirley Liu is Finder's global program manager. She was previously the publisher for banking and investments and has also written comparisons for energy, money transfers, Uber Eats and many other topics. Shirley has a Master of Commerce and a Bachelor of Media, Journalism and Communications from the University of New South Wales. She is passionate about helping people find the best deal for their needs. See full bio
Every money transfer service has different requirements for signing up and initiating a transfer. Find out what information is required to send money overseas.
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