Through XE’s extensive network, you’ll be able to transfer money to more than 130 countries in almost 100 currencies. And there’s only a small fee to pay on transfers below £1,000, which you’ll be shown upfront. But pay close attention to transfers without a fee and check you’re ok with the exchange rate markup as you won’t find the mid-market rate being used on any of XE’s transfers or its online calculator.
Delivery speeds tend to be slower than competitors, with funds taking between 1 and 4 working days to reach your recipient. And if your recipient doesn’t have a bank account, you have the option of sending a cash pickup but this is only available via the mobile app.
Xe calculator
Enter the amount you want to send and the currency you want to send to, then click Calculate to see up-to-date Xe rates.
Please note: You should always refer to quotes you receive from transfer services themselves directly for exact amounts as they may vary from our estimates.
Low fees. Xe charges a £1.99 fee for amounts below £1,000.
No sending limit. Transfers placed over the phone have no limit, but online transfers are limited to £350,000 or sending currency equivalent per transaction.
Custom alerts. Create currency pair alerts by email to receive notifications when your desired mid-market rate is met.
Worldwide network. Send money to more than 130 countries from 6 different regions around the world.
Forward contracts. Xe has the option to “buy now, send later”, which allows you to agree your rate in advance and send your transfer at a specified date in the future.
Cons
Need to create an account. To get a quote on the current exchange rate for your transfer, you need to create an account and sign in.
No mid-market rate. Xe transfers do not use the mid-market rate, so customers must pay attention to the transfer rate they’re being offered when sending money.
Slow transfer speeds. Transfers can take up to 4 working days, depending on the efficiency of your recipient’s bank.
How much are Xe Money Transfer’s fees?
Xe charges a £1.99 fee for all international money transfers below £1,000 and no fee for any transfers above that amount. You’ll be notified if your money transfer is subject to a small fee before you send it.
You may also come across third-party charges with your transfer, although this is rare. This is when your recipient’s bank charges fees for receiving wire transfers.
How are Xe Money Transfer’s exchange rates?
Like many other money transfer providers, the exchange rate you receive when making a transaction with Xe is different from the mid-market rate. Exchange rates vary, but are typically between 0.5% and 2%.
Xe specialises in a wide range of foreign currency solutions and allows customers access to live exchange rates that reflect market conditions. These rates change regularly throughout the day to keep pace with any fluctuations in the market and are typically better than the rates offered by major banks.
What are the ways I can send money abroad with Xe Money Transfer?
You can send money to your recipient through Xe Money Transfers by either a traditional bank transfer or as a cash pickup option. Keep in mind that the cash pickup option is only available on the Xe app.
How to send money transfer with Xe Money Transfer
To send a money transfer with Xe you will first need to create an account. You can do this via its website or through its app. Xe recommends that you use its app for transfers if possible, as this has more transfer options.
Head to the Xe Money Transfer website or download its app. Click on Create your account and follow the steps when prompted. This will include providing the country you live in and an email address. You will also need to create a password and security questions and provide some documents to prove your identity or address. Please note, you will need to wait for your account to be approved before making your first transfer.
Once you have signed into your account, you will need to enter your transfer details. This will include your starting currency, your recipient’s currency and the amount you want to send.
Choose whether you want to send your funds by bank transfer or cash pickup. Keep in mind, cash pickup is only available if you are using the app.
You will need to provide your recipient’s name and banking details (if you are making a bank transfer).
Pay for your transfer. You can do this with a debit or credit card, or via a bank transfer.
This is the time to review your transfer details, including your sent rate, send fee, transfer times and recipient’s details. If you are happy with everything, then click confirm and send your money.
What types of transfers can you make with Xe?
Xe offers a few different tools to help you make your money transfer, including:
Market orders. Choose an ideal exchange rate and your transfer will automatically go through when it’s met.
Regular payments. Set up a recurring payment at a frequency that suits you.
Forward contracts. Lock in today’s exchange rate for a transfer in the future.
Business transfers. Xe has a separate product specifically for businesses.
What are Xe Money Transfer’s payment options?
You can pay for your Xe Money Transfer by bank or wire transfer, credit card or debit card. Xe does not accept payments by cash, cheques or bankers drafts.
If you wish to pay for your transfer by card, this can only be done online or through the app. Xe is unable to accept card payments over the phone.
How long does an international transfer with Xe take?
Once you’ve confirmed your money transfer, you’ll see an expected payment date – although this is the earliest estimated time your funds can be sent. Once Xe has received your payment, it will take between 1 and 4 working days for your money to arrive at your chosen destination.
Transfers typically take
1-4 days
Is Xe money transfer safe?
Founded in 1993, Xe is a trading name of HiFX Europe Limited, which is authorised and regulated in the UK by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) under the Payment Services Regulations 2017 (registration number 46244). Whichever money transfer service you opt for, make sure it’s FCA-authorised – you can check in the Financial Services Register.
Both Xe and HiFX are under the umbrella of Euronet, a forex behemoth which also owns the transfer service Ria. Xe/HiFX/Euronet is authorised by various other local regulators in other countries, for example in Canada (where Xe is headquartered) the Financial Transactions and Reporting Analysis Centre of Canada (FinTRAC).
As part of its regulation Xe is required to use 2-factor authentication to protect your Xe account. This usually means that, as well as your password, you’ll typically have to enter a code texted to you when you log in. The “2 factors” can be any of “something you know” (e.g. a password), “something you have” (e.g. your mobile – confirmed by a texted code) and “something you are” (e.g. a fingerprint).
It’s worth noting that Xe and other money transfer services which aren’t banks don’t benefit from protection under the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS) – which can compensate users if a bank goes bust.
Ultimately it’s one of the biggest money transfer providers around, and Trustpilot users give Xe a score of 4.3 out of 5, based on over 50,000 reviews (as at August 2022).
Yes, Xe has an iOS app available from the App Store and an Android app on the Google Play Store. You can use the app to make money transfers, monitor up to 10 currencies of your choice and set rate alerts and notifications.
Yes, you can use a credit card to pay for your Xe money transfer from the UK. You may incur a fee from your card issuer. Read more in our guide to paying for international transfers by credit card.
Xe will send you an email notification whenever you place an order, while you can always track a transfer using the company’s reporting features when you log in to your account. Finally, you’ll also receive an email once your transaction is complete.
You’ll need to contact Xe as soon as you can on 01753441844. If the money hasn’t already been sent, there’s a good chance they’ll be able to reverse the transfer, but there may be a cancellation fee involved.
Xe offers lower fees, better exchange rates and faster transfers than PayPal. Check out our comparison guide to deep dive into how PayPal stacks up against Xe.
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Kate Steere is an editor at Finder, specialising in fintech, banking and cryptocurrency. She has previously written for The Motley Fool UK and Fitch Solutions, where she covered a wide range of personal finance topics and kept a close eye on market trends. Kate has a Bachelor of Arts in Modern History from the University of East Anglia. When not working, she can usually be found curled up with a good book or heading out for a run. See full bio
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