Our verdict

Enjoy quick, easy money transfers with competitive exchange rates and straightforward fees.

Remitly is a solid option if you need to send money to one of the 100 countries it operates in and you can choose express delivery if your transfer is urgent. Your recipient also doesn’t need to have a bank account as cash pickups, mobile wallets and home delivery are available in some countries alongside bank transfers. Another big plus to Remitly is its delivery promise - if your transfer doesn’t arrive on time, your fees will be returned.

But there are low maximum limits to how much you can send and there aren’t any forex tools to help your money go further. Remitly’s exchange rates are also inconsistent with the markup varying depending on the country and the delivery speed.

Pros

Large network. Remitly is an online international money transfer service that allows people in countries like the UK, US, Canada, Europe and Australia to send money to over 100 countries worldwide, with cash pickup possible at certain locations.
Delivery promise. Remitly guarantees that your money will be delivered by a specified time or the fees are refunded.
Speed. Express options make it possible to have your money there faster, typically within a few minutes if you pay by credit card.
Diverse delivery options. Send money to bank accounts, for cash pickup, directly to a mobile wallet or even for home delivery in select markets.
Rewards. Remitly's referral program makes it possible to earn rewards by referring friends and family members.
Strong customer service Good for for inexperienced users with a helpful customer service team.

Cons

Low maximum limits. A limit is placed on all new accounts, and you'll need more ID to increase daily, monthly and 180-day sending limits.
No hedging options. Remitly doesn't have recurring transfers, limit orders and any other hedging tools to help you save money by planning your money transfer in advance.
Inconsistent exchange rate margins. Different countries are charged different exchange rate margins, and the speed of your transfer also factors into the exchange rate you'll be offered.

Details

Product details

Product Name	Remitly
Pay by	Credit card, Debit card, Bank transfer
Receiving options	Cash pickup location, Bank account, Mobile wallet, Home delivery
Customer service	Phone, Live chat
Available currencies	ALL, AMD, ARS, AUD, AZN, BAM, BBD, BDT, BGN, BHD, BIF, BMD, BND, BOB, BRL, BSD, BTN, BWP, BYN, BZD, CAD, CDF, CHF, CLP, CNY, COP, CRC, CVE, CZK, DJF, DKK, DOP, DZD, EGP, ERN, ETB, EUR, FJD, GEL, GHS, GIP, GMD, GNF, GTQ, GYD, HKD, HNL, HTG, HUF, IDR, ILS, INR, ISK, JMD, JOD, JPY, KES, KGS, KHR, KMF, KRW, KWD, KYD, KZT, LAK, LBP, LKR, LRD, LSL, MAD, MDL, MGA, MKD, MMK, MNT, MOP, MRU, MUR, MVR, MWK, MXN, MYR, MZN, NAD, NGN, NIO, NOK, NPR, OMR, PEN, PGK, PHP, PKR, PLN, PYG, QAR, RON, RSD, RUB, RWF, SAR, SBD, SCR, SEK, SGD, SOS, SRD, THB, TJS, TMT, TND, TOP, TRY, TTD, TWD, TZS, UAH, UGX, USD, UYU, UZS, VND, VUV, WST, XAF, XCD, XOF, ZAR, ZMW, SLE
Bank account required?	Yes
Personal account manager?	No

How much are Remitly’s transfer fees?

Remitly’s fees and exchange rates in the UK vary based on sending destination but typically depend on the following:

Amount. The amount you send may change the fee you are charged.
Destination. Sending money to popular destinations is often cheaper than sending it to more remote locations.
Payment. Paying with a bank account is usually the cheapest.
Speed. Remitly offers two transfer speeds: Express and Economy.

Sending money from the UK to the Philippines

Remitly’s fees can vary based on the country you send from and to. For example, as of June 10, 2022, transfers sent from the UK to the Philippines have a flat fee of £2.99.

How are Remitly’s exchange rates?

Remitly updates its exchange rates daily to align with exchange rates on global markets, locking in the exchange rate you see at the beginning of your transactions.

For some countries, you’ll find weaker exchange rates than those of competitors in the UK. It’s best to compare the displayed rate on Remitly with the current interbank rate to calculate the size of the margin charged. You can then use this as a benchmark for comparing the rates of other money transfer providers.

New customers at Remitly

Every new customer in the UK gets a special offer on their first transfer with Remitly, which typically offers you stronger exchange rates and no fees for your first transfer. Even if you aren’t considering using Remitly consistently over time, taking advantage of its new customer promotions can be an easy way to potentially save money on a one-off transfer in its network.

What are the ways I can send money abroad with Remitly?

Remitly offers a wide range of delivery options in the UK that are dependent on your sending destination. Remitly’s delivery methods include:

Bank deposit. Funds will be sent directly to your recipient’s bank account.
Cash pickup. You can opt for the funds to be delivered to a cash pickup location. Just be sure that your recipient brings an ID that matches the name on the transfer.
Mobile money. There is also the option to have funds delivered to a mobile wallet, such as GCash and PayMaya in the Philippines, HellowCash in Ethiopia and other similar options.

How to send a money transfer with Remitly

You can send money quickly from your computer or the Remitly app in the UK by completing the following steps.

What are Remitly’s payment options?

You can only make on-off international money transfers with Remitly in the UK, and you can pay using the following methods:

Debit or credit card. Funds are sometimes available in minutes but can be subject to a 3% fee charged by your credit card company if using a credit card.
Bank account. Typical transfer speeds are three to five days, but these can also be subject to delays from bank holidays.

How long does an international transfer with Remitly take?

Transfer speeds will depend on the amount of fees you are comfortable paying and how quickly you need it to arrive.

Express – as little as a few minutes
If you pay for your transfer with a credit or debit card and select the Express option, your transfer could arrive in as little as a few minutes. However, you will pay a higher fee and your credit card provider could also charge you a cash advance fee, further increasing the cost of your total transfer.
Economy – Up to five business days
Remitly’s Economy option is the cheaper of the two options. Transfers through Economy will be slower, but you’ll almost always get a better exchange rate and fewer fees than with Express.

Transfers typically take

1 to 5 days

How much can I send with Remitly?

Remitly’s transfer limits in the UK are based on the tier you’re approved for. To progress through Remitly’s tiers to higher maximums, you need to provide more personal information and an ID:

Tier 1. Send up to £5,000 daily, £15,000 monthly and £50,000 every six months.
Tier 2. Send up to £25,000 daily, £25,000 monthly and £75,000 every six months.
Tier 3. Send up to £25,000 daily, £25,000 monthly and £150,000 every six months.
Custom tier. You can speak with a representative to discuss custom sending limits, depending on your needs.

Please see the table below for what additional information is required to be approved for the higher tiers:

Information needed	Tier 1	Tier 2	Tier 3
Full name
Residential address
Date of birth
Government-issued photo ID
Additional information on source of funds
Additional information at request

Is Remitly safe to use?

Remitly safeguards your money in a variety of ways:

Registering with regulatory agencies in the UK, Ireland, Canada and the US.
Protecting all transactions with 256-bit SSL encryption.
Monitoring accounts for suspicious activity manually and automatically.
Verifying new accounts to protect users from fraud.
Offering a 100% satisfaction money-back guarantee if your transfer arrives late.

Want to compare Remitly with other services side-by-side?

How are Remitly’s reviews?

Ratings accurate as of 10 June 2022

Trustpilot score	4.1 out of 5, based on 35,123 customer reviews
Monito	8.8 out of 10, staff reviewed

Bottom line

If the country you want to send to is supported, Remitly is worth checking out. With its two-speed system, it makes the choice of speed versus fees a straightforward one. However, it is always a great idea to compare your options before making any transfer since you never know how much fees and exchange rates have changed.

Frequently asked questions

Remitly may have cancelled your transaction for a variety of reasons, including:
- You had insufficient funds in your bank account to pay for the transaction.
- Your account or transaction was flagged for suspicious activity.
- The name on your account didn't match your payment details.
- The recipient's bank refused the transaction.
Contact Remitly support to find out the next steps needed to complete your transaction.
Remitly makes money in two ways:
- Fees: Remitly charges a fee to use its money transfer service.
- Mid-market markup: Remitly makes a small percentage on transfers by adding a margin to the mid-market rate.
Remitly transfers can be received in more than 100 countries, while users in over 15 countries can send transfers. You can check out the full list here, but the following are some of the most popular:
- EUR Euro
- INR Indian rupee
- CNY Chinese yuan
- EGP Egyptian pound
- KES Kenyan shilling
- BDT Bangladeshi taka
- PHP Philippine peso
- PLN Polish zloty
Sending money with Remitly will require the following documentation and information:
- Contact information. Your full name and contact information are needed. If you're transferring money from your bank account, you'll also need your banking information.
- Proof of ID. A government-issued ID, such as a driver's licence or passport.
- Recipient information. Be prepared with your recipient's name and contact information. If you're transferring to a bank account, you'll also need their bank name, SWIFT code and account number.
- Payment method. A valid method of payment is necessary for all transfers. Online transfers can be paid for through a bank account, credit card or debit card. For in-person transfers, you can also pay with cash.
Signing up with Remitly was straightforward and took us less than five minutes total. I had all of my information on hand and ready to go before signing up, including a photo of the front and back of my driver's licence. Here are some key takeaways:
- Did I have to interact with customer service? No, everything was done through the website automatically.
- How long did it take? The entire process took less than five minutes. It helped that I already had photos of the front and back of my driver's licence saved on my computer.
- What was unexpected? The rates offered to new customers are different than the standard rates offered by Remitly, so chances are your first transfer will be cheaper than future transfers.
To track your Remitly transfer you'll need to log into your account or contact customer service by phone.
- Online: To track your Remitly transfer online, log in to your account and look for the Transfer history section on the page. This section will display the status of past and current transfers.
- By phone, email or chat: To track by phone, email or chat you'll provide the customer service representative with details of your transfer, including the amount sent, the destination and personal information about your account.
Yes, Remitly has an app on both Google Play and the App Store. The app makes it possible to do the following:
Log in using biometrics. Both face and fingerprint recognition can be used to log in.
Check Remitly exchange rates on the go. Current currency exchange rates and fees can be found in the app.
Share order details with your contacts. Sending key order information to your recipient can be done with just a few taps.
Platform Rating
Google Play Store 4.8 out of 5, based on 411,438 customer reviews
Apple App Store 4.9 out of 762,441 customer reviews
Reviews accurate as of 10 June 2022

Your reviews

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Platform	Rating
Google Play Store	4.8 out of 5, based on 411,438 customer reviews
Apple App Store	4.9 out of 762,441 customer reviews

Review: Remitly money transfers

Pros

Cons

How much are Remitly’s transfer fees?

Sending money from the UK to the Philippines

How are Remitly’s exchange rates?

New customers at Remitly

What are the ways I can send money abroad with Remitly?

How to send a money transfer with Remitly

Step 1: Create a free account

Step 2: Select country

Step 3: Enter recipient's information

Step 4: Choose your payment method

Step 5: Confirm your transaction

Step 6: Check your mobile phone

What are Remitly’s payment options?

How long does an international transfer with Remitly take?

1 to 5 days

How much can I send with Remitly?

Is Remitly safe to use?

Want to compare Remitly with other services side-by-side?

How are Remitly’s reviews?

Bottom line

Why did Remitly cancel my transaction?

How does Remitly make money?

What currencies can I send with Remitly?

What do I need to sign up for Remitly?

What is a transfer with Remitly like?

How can I track my Remitly transfer?

Is there a Remitly app?

Your reviews

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