Paysend vs Remitly – Which one is better for Americans?

When you need to send money overseas, choosing the right money transfer provider can make a big difference in how much you pay and how quickly your money gets there. Paysend and Remitly are both popular options for international money transfers, and they allow you to easily send money online without needing to go anywhere.

But how does Paysend vs Remitly compare? These providers might look similar on the surface, but there are important differences you should be aware of when it comes to sending money abroad.

Here's everything you need to know about Paysend vs Remitly, including their global reach, fees, transfer times, limits, and more.

We'll also introduce Wise — your international money transfer alternative. Use Wise to send stress-free transfers to over 140 countries - all at the standard mid-market exchange rate.

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Paysend vs Remitly – general overview

Both Paysend and Remily are money transfer services that simplify the process of sending money internationally. They allow you to reach over 170 countries worldwide.¹²

With Paysend, you can use their mobile app to transfer money using your bank cards, bank accounts, or just a mobile number. The platform offers bank-level security and provides global 24/7 customer support for users who need help with their transfers.¹

Remitly works similarly and offers multiple ways for recipients to collect money, including bank deposits, cash pickup locations, and mobile wallet transfers.²

With both providers, available payment options and delivery methods depend on your destination country and other factors. The best way to find out if what you want is possible is to try setting up your specific transfer.

Paysend and Remitly are convenient, but you'll likely be paying a lot in fees. Both services charge transfer fees and add markups to currency exchange rates, which increases the total cost of your transfer.

Also, neither is designed for large transactions, such as property purchases abroad. Remitly caps single transfers at 25,000 USD, and Paysend limits most transactions to 10,000 USD, even with full account verification.³⁴

Pros & cons

Paysend vs Remitly – fees

Both Paysend and Remitly charge fees to send money abroad.

Neither provider charges a fixed fee, so how much you pay isn't always transparent and can change depending on your payment method and delivery options.

That said, here's how Paysend vs Remitly fees compare at a glance:

Now, these fees are just loose estimates.

For example, when you send money with Remitly from the US to Colombia, you can expect to pay 2.99 USD for economy transfers under 200 USD, but express transfers cost 4.99 USD.⁷

If you want to send a transfer between 1,000 USD and 1,999 USD, an economy transfer will cost you 8.99 USD, and an express transfer will cost a whopping 19.99 USD. The costs only go up the more money you want to send, reaching as high as 59.99 USD.⁷

Overall, Paysend and Remitly fees can get quite expensive.

Paysend vs Remitly – exchange rates

A transfer fee isn't the only cost you'll have to cover with both Paysend and Remitly. Both providers make money by giving you exchange rates that are worse than the mid-market rate you see on Google.

This markup is essentially a hidden fee that's built into your transfer.

For example, if Google shows that 1 USD = 20 MXN, Paysend or Remitly might only give you 19.2 MXN for your USD. On a 500 USD transfer, this difference would cost you about 20 USD extra, even though it's not shown as a separate fee.

Often, the currency exchange markup can cost you more than the transfer fee, but it's hard to tell because it’s not being clearly disclosed as a fee.

To save money on your transfer, it's important to compare your options and look for providers that don't charge a currency exchange rate markup, such as Wise.

Supported countries

Both Paysend and Remitly let you send money to over 170 countries worldwide, giving you broad international coverage for your transfers.¹²

However, the specific delivery options and pickup methods available can vary a lot by destination country. Some locations might only offer bank transfers, others have cash pickup locations, and Remitly even has certain countries with home delivery options.⁶

The best way to find out what's available for your specific destination is to start setting up a transfer and see which options appear. Both providers are constantly working to add new delivery methods and expand their services, so the available options can change over time.

Transfer times

Remitly offers 2 main speed options: Economy transfers take a few business days to arrive, and Express transfers are faster but cost more.⁵ The exact timing depends on your destination country and how your recipient plans to collect the money.

Paysend transfers can take up to 3 business days, depending on your recipient's bank processing times.¹

Paysend also offers a special service called Paysend Libre that provides instant transfers from the US to Guatemala and Mexico.

However, these instant transfers come with slightly lower sending limits and are only available in the US if you want to send money to Mexico or Guatemala.⁴⁸ Other countries aren’t available for US customers.

Safety & security

Both Paysend and Remitly are safe for international money transfers.

Paysend has security protections, with all money transfers certified by Visa, Mastercard, China UnionPay, and the FCA (Financial Conduct Authority). The platform is also PCI DSS certified, which means it meets strict security standards for handling payment information.¹

Remitly uses encryption and regulatory oversight to protect your transfers and personal information during the sending process.

However, you should still watch out for scams when sending money internationally.

Common warning signs include someone asking you to send money for a "prize" you won, romantic interests you met online requesting emergency funds, or anyone pressuring you to send money quickly.

Only send money to people you know and trust, and be especially careful with cash pickup options since these transfers are often impossible to reverse once completed.

Frequently asked questions

Does Paysend work in the USA?

Yes, Paysend works in the US. You can use their service to send money from the US to over 170 countries worldwide through their mobile app or website.¹

What is the maximum amount you can send on Paysend?

Paysend has different sending limits based on your verification level.⁴

With basic verification (Tier 1), you can send up to 999 USD per day, 10,000 USD per month, and 15,000 USD biannually.

Higher verification levels (Tier 2 and Tier 3) allow you to send more, with the ultimate tier allowing up to 10,000 USD daily and 50,000 USD biannually.

Some states have different limits. For example, Arizona residents are capped at 999.99 USD for all time periods, and Florida residents can send up to 2,999.99 USD daily, monthly, and biannually. These limits are very low.

What is the most money you can send through Remitly?

You can send up to 25,000 USD in a single transaction with Remitly, but limits vary by destination country and delivery method.³ This amount isn't guaranteed for all transfers. You may also have to submit additional verification documents to send a large amount of money.

Final verdict: Which provider is better?

Paysend and Remitly are relatively similar ways to send money internationally, and both can get expensive because of transfer fees and currency exchange rate markups. Before choosing either option, it's worth comparing different money transfer services to find a better deal.

Learn more about Wise

Sources

1. Paysend - Home (US Version)
2. Remitly - Home
3. Remitly - Send more money home
4. Paysend - Paysend Account Terms
5. RemitBee - Remitly Money Transfer Review
6. Remitly - USD to DOP
7. Remitly - USD to CRC
8. Paysend - What is Paysend Libre?

Sources checked 09/10/2025