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Alternatives to Ria
The best alternative companies to Ria for sending a money transfer.
Founded in 1987, Ria is a money transfer company with more than 316,000 agent locations in 149 countries. It is the third-largest international money transfer provider in the world. Offering a wide variety of payment options and transfer services, Ria knows how to keep its customers happy with a simple transfer process.
Pros
- Low minimum transfer of $1
- Wide variety of transfer payment options, including cash, debit card, credit card and bank account
- Worldwide transfer network, with over 316,000 agent locations in more than 144 countries
- Cash pickup is available and home delivery option in select countries
- Fast turnaround if you send money with a debit or credit card, taking just 15 minutes
Cons
- Maximum daily transfer cap of $2,999.99; maximum amount you can send in 30 days is $7,999
- Rates and fees depend on amount, location and method of transfer
- Doesn’t offer forward contracts or limit orders
- Bank account transfers take four business days
Ria might have tons of locations and a convenient cash pickup option, but it’s not the cheapest option out there. Learn how you can save on fees and exchange rates when you compare services.
1. WorldRemit
Both Ria and WorldRemit provide a variety of transfer options in more than 130 countries worldwide, including online, bank-to-bank and cash transfers. With both transfer services, fees vary by country you’re sending funds to and the global exchange rate at the time of your transfer, with low minimum transfer amounts starting at just $1. WorldRemit has a maximum transfer amount of $9,000 — $6,000 higher than Ria’s — and also has the added bonus of offering transfers to mobile wallet and mobile airtime accounts.
Why pick WorldRemit instead?
- Low minimum transfer amount of $1
- Available in over 130 countries worldwide
- Flexible payment options, including debit or credit card, bank transfer, Google Pay and ApplePay
- Transfers to mobile wallet accounts
- Cash pickup and home delivery available
- Mobile airtime account transfers
Downsides
- The higher your transfer, the greater the transfer fees
- Low maximum transfer amount of $9,000
- No hedging options to lock-in exchange rate
2. Xe Money Transfer
Xe Money Transfer is a service designed to help you transfer your funds to a bank in a foreign currency — it doesn’t allow same-currency transfers like Ria does. If you’re working far from home, Xe is ideal for getting cash to your family or making investments overseas.
Given how easy it is to transfer your money to foreign companies in their currency, it’s especially ideal for business accounts. Both Xe and Ria offer money transfers to over 130 countries, but Ria offers more payment options than Xe’s limited bank-to-bank option only. Still, Xe offers low fees and has no transfer limit compared to Ria’s $2,999.99 daily transfer cap.
Why pick Xe Money Transfer instead?
- No transfer fees
- Exchange over 60 currencies, allowing for money transfers to over 130 countries
- Competitive exchange rates save you money in the long run
- Quick turnaround means transfer is complete in three to five days
- $500,000 limit per online transaction
Downsides
- Bank-to-bank transfers only
- No same-currency transfers
- Exchange rate comparison tool not available until after you’ve registered with the site
3. Wise
Wise is a money transfer service designed to help you save money on exchanges through a peer-to-peer system. Its unique system allows you to exchange your funds with those of another seeking to convert their money to your currency. It’s basically trading money with another person, but it doesn’t cross borders.
Because of its unique platform, Wise doesn’t allow for same-currency transfers like Ria does, but it does offer a high daily transfer cap of $49,999 compared to Ria’s $2,999.99 cap. Both companies have a low minimum transfer amount of $1 and offer fees that depend on the amount of money transferred, but Ria offers more payment options including cash, debit card, credit card and bank account, while Wise only allows for bank-to-bank transfers.
Why pick Wise instead?
- $3 fee for transfers up to $300; a fee of 1% of the amount sent for transfers up to $5,000; a fee of 0.7% on any amount over the initial $5,000
- Low minimum transfer amount of $1
- High transfer limits — can send up to $1,000,000 per transfer
- Apps for both iOS and Android
- Uses mid-market exchange rate with no hidden fees
Downsides
- Transfers to bank accounts — no cash pickup option
- No same-currency transfers
- Two-step process means you must first wire your money to Wise, which then deposits the money to your recipient’s bank account
- Requires a Social Security number to send money
4. Currencies Direct
Unlike Ria, which has fees dependent on the transfer amount, location and method of payment, Currencies Direct offers no-fee money transfers 90% of the time. However, if you’re looking to send money with cash or a credit or debit card, you’ll need to stick with Ria, as Currencies Direct only offers bank-to-bank transfers. With a relatively low minimum transfer amount of $100 and an unlimited maximum transfer amount, Currencies Direct supports 40+ currencies and is a great option for large or small businesses alike.
Why pick Currencies Direct instead?
- No fees for 90% of its transactions
- Supports over 40 currencies
- Competitive exchange rates
- Supports large transactions at a seemingly unlimited max
- Monitors exchange rates for your ideal transfer
Downsides
- No cash pickup option — bank-to-bank wire transfers only
- High minimum transfer of $2000
5. TorFX
Unlike Ria, which allows you to send money from anywhere in the US, TorFX only allows money transfers from Australia. It’s stricter than other money transfer services and requires that funds be cleared by individuals who hold TorFX accounts — meaning the money must be sent in advance before the transaction can be performed.
TorFX only offers bank-to-bank transfers, while Ria offers a variety of transfer payment options including cash, debit card, credit card and bank account. But TorFX stands out with its no-fee transfers and best rate guarantee, which Ria doesn’t offer.
Why pick TorFX instead?
- Multiple transfer options including spot contracts, forward contracts, limit orders and stop loss orders
- No transfer fees and offer best rate guarantee
- Competitive exchange rates with fixed exchange rate protection — often beating banks by more than 3%
- Offers transfers in 60 different currencies
- Free registration allows you to get access to free market analysis and expert advice
- Low minimum transfer amount of $150
Downsides
- Can only send from Australia
- Bank-to-bank transfers only
- Users report technical and administrative problems that delay transfers
6. MoneyGram
The second-largest international money transfer service in the world, MoneyGram transfers funds in over 200 countries and territories to more than 350,000 agent locations worldwide. Both MoneyGram and Ria have low minimum transfer amounts of $1, offer home delivery and cash pickup and have fees that vary depending on payment type and transfer destination. The biggest difference between the two companies? Ria has a lower maximum daily transfer cap of $2,999.99 compared to MoneyGram’s $6,000 cap.
Why pick MoneyGram instead?
- Extensive global network of 350,000 agent locations in over 200 countries and territories
- Large pool of services available for sending, receiving or financing
- Fast transfers, with same-day service in many locations
- Home delivery and cash pickup options
- Low minimum transfer amount of $1
Downsides
- Maximum online transfer amount of $6,000
- Fees vary depending on payment type and transfer destination
- Transfers must be made in US dollars from the US (no exchanges before transfer)
- Local exchange rates vary by the transfer destination
7. Walmart
Known for its retail business, Walmart offers money transfer services to over 190 countries thanks to a partnership with MoneyGram. Both Walmart and Ria have a low minimum transfer amount of $1; offer a variety of payment options including debit card, credit card, cash or bank account; have home delivery and cash pickup available, and can take as little as 10 to 15 minutes for some transfers. The biggest difference between the two companies is that Walmart has a higher maximum sending limit of $6,000 per transaction — compared to Ria’s $2,999.99 daily transfer cap.
Why pick Walmart instead?
- Widespread network of transfers to more than 190 countries and territories with 350,000 agents worldwide
- Efficient transfers in as little as 10 minutes
- Wide variety of payment options, including debit card, credit card, cash or bank account
- Home delivery and cash pickup are available
- Low minimum transfer amount of $1
Downsides
- Rates and fees depend on location
- Maximum sending limit of $6,000 per transaction — with a maximum of $6,000 per 30 calendar days
8. Sharemoney
Sharemoney is a part of the Omnex group, a company that’s specialized in money transfers for over 25 years. Unlike Ria, which offers money transfers in over 144 countries, Sharemoney transfers money to 70+ countries and has expanded more outside South America and Asian countries. Both Ria and Sharemoney have low minimum transfer amounts of $1 and $20 respectively, and both have a minimum daily transfer cap of $2,999.99. Or, request cash pickup or home delivery options with both money transfer companies, and you could get transfers in as little as 15 minutes.
Why pick Sharemoney instead?
- Low transfer fees starting at only $2.99
- Low minimum transfer amount of $20
- Fast and easy service, with cash and bank transfers taking as little as 15 minutes to 24 hours
- Door-to-door delivery in as short as 48 hours
- Discounts available on Facebook
Downsides
- Limited state availability, with Sharemoney only licensed to operate in 36 out of 50 states
- Only offers one-off transfers
- Can only transfer money to 21 countries, which are largely limited to South America and select Asian countries
- Exact location must be specified for cash pickup
- Low maximum transfer limits of $2,999.99 every 15 days, and $9,999.99 every six months
9. Western Union
Like Ria, Western Union offers transfers to over 144 countries around the world through multiple payment options including cash, debit card, credit card, or bank transfers, with the option of a cash pickup. They each have a low minimum transfer amount of $1 and Western Union has a relatively low maximum transfer of $5,000. While Ria’s rates and fees depend on the amount of money you’re transferring, the location and the method, Western Union is known for its high fees and weak exchange rates that can be nearly 5% more than the mid-market rate.
Full Ria and Western Union comparison
Why pick Western Union instead?
- Low minimum transfer of $1
- Send money in minutes
- Transfer to over 200 countries and territories across the globe
- Multiple transfer options including paying with cash or your debit card, credit card or bank account
- Cash pickup available
- Trusted provider for over 160 years
Downsides
- Weak exchange rates that can be nearly 5% more than the mid-market rate
- High fees, whereas other companies offer free transfers or low-fee transfers
- Low maximum transfer amount of $5,000
10. Xoom
Xoom is a leading provider in the digital money transfer market that offers transfers to 131 countries around the world. Both Xoom and Ria have low minimum transfer minimums of $10 and $1 respectively, offer cash pickup and home delivery options and fees vary depending on where you’re sending money to, how much you’re sending and the method.
The biggest difference between the two companies? Xoom offers a unique money-back guarantee if your transfer doesn’t arrive on time — a perk few transfer services offer.
Why pick Xoom instead?
- Low minimum transfer amount of $10
- Money-back guarantee if your transfer doesn’t arrive on time
- Cash pickup and home delivery are available, depending on where you’re sending your funds to
Downsides
- Transfer fees vary depending on where you’re sending money to, the amount you’re sending and the method you choose
11. PayPal
You’re likely to know about PayPal’s payment platform, but you may not be aware that it supports overseas transfers. Its popularity around the world makes it possible to transfer up to 25 currencies across more than 200 countries. Like Ria, PayPal has a low minimum transfer amount of only $1 and has fees that vary by location of transfer and method. If you’re looking to send a transfer with a cash pickup, you’ll need to go with Ria or another transfer company that has that option, as PayPal does not.
Why pick PayPal instead?
- Send money inside the US for free
- Available in 203 countries
- Offers recurring payments
- Low minimum transfer amount of $1
- Multiple safeguards are in place to protect against fraud and hacking
Downsides
- Fees are proportionate to the amount transferred — the larger the transfer, the more money it charges
- Fees vary by location of transfer and method, with better deals for using a PayPal credit card or account
- No cash pickup is available
Still looking for other options?
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.
Alternatively, learn more about Ria in our review.
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