WorldRemit vs Wise: Which one is better for Americans

Sending money internationally can be overwhelming when you're trying to figure out which service gives you the most bang for your buck. WorldRemit and Wise are both money transfer providers that'll get your money where it needs to go, but there are important differences between them.

Here's everything you need to know about WorldRemit vs Wise, including how they approach fees and exchange rates.

At a glance, WorldRemit will likely be the option for you if you need to send cash or a mobile top-up. Wise doesn't offer these services, but it can help you save more on international payments because it uses the mid-market exchange rate.

Table of contents
WorldRemit vs Wise: Overview WorldRemit vs Wise: Fees & pricing WorldRemit vs Wise: Supported countries WorldRemit vs Wise: Money transfer times WorldRemit vs Wise: Security Frequently asked questions

WorldRemit vs Wise: Overview

What is WorldRemit and how does it work?

WorldRemit connects you to over 130 countries through their online platform and mobile app. You can send money that arrives as cash pickup, bank transfers, mobile money, or even airtime top-ups for phones.¹ So, you've got lots of convenient options there.

The signup process takes just a few moments, and you can pay for transfers using bank deposits, credit cards, or debit cards. To send money overseas with WorldRemit, you'll need:¹

• Personal details: Your full name, email address, mobile number, gender, birth date, and address for account setup
• Transfer details: Choose your send amount, select how your recipient wants to receive money, and pick your payment method
• Receiver details: Your recipient's full name, mobile number, and email address, plus additional details depending on the delivery method you choose
• Payment details: A bank account, debit card, or credit card to fund your transfer

However, WorldRemit caps transfer amounts at relatively low limits.

When we tested their calculator for popular destinations like Colombia and the Philippines, we couldn't send more than 5,000 USD.¹ For larger international transfers, you'll need to use one of the WorldRemit alternatives.

✅ Pros	❌ Cons
Send a cash pickup, bank transfer, mobile money, or airtime top-up	Transfers to most countries are capped at 5,000 USD¹
Easy signup process	Fewer supported countries than some competitors
Fast transfers to 130+ countries¹	Hefty exchange rate markups
No recipient account required	Transfer fees

What is Wise and how does it work?

You can send money to over 160 countries with Wise, and it also offers other services.

You can get a Wise multi-currency account that holds 40+ currencies at once, and you get local bank details in 9 countries so people can pay you like you're a local. The Wise debit card also works globally without foreign transaction fees.

Plus, perhaps the biggest difference between Wise vs WorldRemit is that Wise doesn't charge exchange rate markups. Instead of sneaking extra costs when you switch currencies like most services, Wise uses the mid-market rate and charges you one transparent fee.

If you need to send cash, Wise likely won't be the option for you because it doesn't offer cash pickups. You also can't do mobile top-ups in the same way as you can with WorldRemit.

However, on the plus side, Wise can handle much larger amounts, up to 1,600,000 USD, compared to WorldRemit's 5,000 USD limit. So, if you need to send money to buy a property or share an early inheritance with your loved ones, Wise is the better option.

✅ Pros	❌ Cons
Mid-market exchange rate with no markup	You can’t send cash
Multi-currency account	No physical locations for support
Global debit card	No airtime top-up options
Transparent pricing—fees from 0.57%²	You’ll still pay a transfer fee
You can send large amounts, up to 1,600,000 USD for most accounts³

WorldRemit vs Wise: Fees & pricing

Exchange rates

When you send USD to someone in a country that uses a different currency, like MXN in Mexico, your USD needs to be converted. This conversion happens through an exchange rate, which determines how much foreign currency your recipient gets for each dollar you send.

WorldRemit makes money by giving you a worse exchange rate than the mid-market rate (the rate banks use to trade with each other).¹ The markup is usually just a few cents on every dollar, but it adds up, especially on larger amounts.

For example, if the mid-market rate is 1 USD = 20 MXN, WorldRemit might only give you 19.2 MXN per 1 USD. That missing 0.8 pesos on every dollar goes to WorldRemit as profit. With a 1,000 USD transfer, you lose about 40 USD worth of MXN. Plus, you pay a transfer fee on top of that.

Wise uses the mid-market exchange rate. They earn money by charging you a clear transfer fee that you see before sending. You're still paying for the money transfer service, but at least you're not paying twice through the transfer fees and then the hidden fees in the currency exchange.

Costs

You'll have to cover some costs with both WorldRemit and Wise. No service makes sending money abroad truly free. If providers don't charge transfer fees or offer surprsingly low ones, it likely means they earn more in currency exchange markups.

Here's what to expect with WorldRemit vs Wise:

Feature	WorldRemit	Wise
Account opening	Free	Free
Transfer fees	Varies	From 0.57%²
Exchange rates	Includes markup	No markup
Minimum transfer	1 USD	1 USD
Maximum transfer	Up to 5,000 USD for most countries¹	Up to 1,600,000 USD³

Keep in mind that credit cards typically cost more than debit cards or bank transfers because your credit card provider can charge an extra fee.

✨ With both WorldRemit and Wise, you'll see the fee show up before you confirm your transfer. However, with WorldRemit, it can be hard to see exactly how much you're paying through the currency exchange rates.

Transfer fees

You'll pay for your transfer with both WorldRemit and Wise, but both providers charge relatively low fees. These fees are based on your destination country, how much you're transferring, and your payment method.

WorldRemit claims to give you a better deal than many other providers. According to their own study, they're on average 5% cheaper than Ria, MoneyGram, and Xoom, and 41% cheaper than sending through most banks.⁴

However, Wise is still likely to be cheaper overall when you factor in exchange rate savings.

Wise's transfer fees start at 0.57%, and you'll see them upfront.² WorldRemit doesn't say if they charge a fixed fee or a percentage, but we tried sending money from the US to Colombia, and the fee consistently stayed 1.99 USD regardless of the amount for bank transfers.¹

A quick price comparison

Even when WorldRemit's upfront fee looks competitive, your recipient usually gets more money with Wise because there's no hidden exchange rate markup. Here's an example:

⚠️ Always compare the final amount your recipient receives because the transfer fee is just one piece of the puzzle.

WorldRemit vs Wise: Supported countries

You'll be able to send money to most popular destination countries with both WorldRemit and Wise. WorldRemit covers 130+ countries and Wise 160+ countries, but most Americans will find that both services support their desired destinations.

Here's how the two services compare on other key features:

Feature	WorldRemit	Wise
Supported countries	130+ countries	160 countries
Cash pickup locations	Yes	No
Currencies supported	70+ currencies⁵	40+ currencies
Multi-currency account	Yes	Yes
Debit card	No	Yes
Business accounts	No	Yes

WorldRemit offers a wallet service in the US, but it's limited compared to a Wise multi-currency account. You can only hold USD, PHP, UGX, and XAF, with a maximum balance equivalent to 2,000 USD across all currencies.⁶

With the Wise account, there's a lot more you can do.

WorldRemit vs Wise: Money transfer times

Both WorldRemit and Wise are pretty fast, but your exact transfer times depend on where you're sending the money, how your recipient gets it, and what payment method you use. Some countries and currency pairs take longer than others.

With WorldRemit, some transfers arrive instantly, especially to mobile wallets or for airtime top-ups. Others take 1-2 business days.⁷ Before you send money, WorldRemit shows you an estimated delivery time so you know what to expect.

Wise delivers most transfers quickly, too. About 64% of Wise transfers arrive in under 20 seconds, and 95% complete within 24 hours.⁸*

With both services, you'll be able to track your transfer so you stay up-to-date on when it's going to get to your recipient.

*Transaction speed claimed depends on individual circumstances and may not be available for all transactions

WorldRemit vs Wise: Security

Both WorldRemit and Wise are legitimate and regulated companies. They take serious steps to protect your money so, generally speaking, you shouldn't worry about your transfers getting lost.

WorldRemit has been operating safely since 2010 and is authorized by the British Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). Wise is regulated in multiple countries with licenses worldwide and employs over 1,000 security specialists.⁸⁹

However, even with all the safety measures that both money transfer providers are taking, it's possible to fall a victim to a scam. If you willingly send money to someone, there's not much that WorldRemit and Wise can do to return it to you.

Watch out for these common scams:

• Romance scams: Someone you met online claims to love you but urgently needs money
• Prize scams: Fake notifications saying you won money but need to pay fees to claim it
• Family emergency scams: Someone pretending to be a relative in trouble who needs money immediately

There are many other types of scams out there, and scammers are always coming up with new ways to cheat you out of your money.

Never send money to strangers, even if they seem trustworthy online, and always take your time to think. Scammers try to create fake urgency to pressure quick decisions.

Frequently asked questions

What apps are like WorldRemit?

You can also use Remitly, Western Union, Ria Money Transfer, MoneyGram, and other money transfer services. They work similar to WorldRemit. You'll get multiple ways for recipients to receive money (including cash, in most cases), but you should also be prepared to pay both transfer fees and exchange rate markups.

Is WorldRemit a good service?

It can be. WorldRemit is a reliable option for international transfers, and it can work especially well when your recipient needs cash pickup, mobile money, or airtime top-ups. It's also a good option for when you're sending smaller amounts, usually under 5,000 USD for most countries. That said, make sure that you're not overpaying in currency exchange rate markups.

Is there a monthly fee for WorldRemit?

No, you don't have to pay a monthly fee to use WorldRemit. You just need to pay when you send money. There are no ongoing account maintenance fees or minimum balance requirements.

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You can safely send money abroad with both WorldRemit and Wise, but make sure to compare the costs.

Wise typically saves you more money overall because it doesn't charge a currency exchange rate markup. It can also handle much larger transfer amounts, and has other handy features, like the multi-currency account and the debit card.

With Wise, you can send up to 1,000,000 USD per wire transaction to 140+ countries, with the mid-market exchange rate and low, transparent fees.

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Sources

1. WorldRemit - Home
2. Wise - Pricing
3. Wise - Full Guide to (Transfer)Wise Limits
4. WorldRemit - WorldRemit Pricing Comparison
5. WorldRemit - About Us
6. WorldRemit - FAQ about the WorldRemit Wallet
7. WorldRemit - How long do international bank transfers take
8. Wise - Home
9. WorldRemit - How to stay safe online

Sources checked 09/12/2025