The best money transfer app depends on where the money's going and how your family wants to receive it: a bank account, a mobile wallet or cash. Compare the exchange rate, the fees and the delivery time on the final screen before you confirm. Nine apps follow in no particular order, plus how to send safely.
Sending money home used to mean queuing at a counter. Now most transfers start in an app, and the differences between them are in the details: which countries they reach, how the money lands and what you see before you press send.
The nine apps below are listed alphabetically and in no particular order, from big remittance brands to smaller specialists. Each description comes from the app's own website or store listing, re-checked today. If clients abroad send you money as a freelancer, my guide to using Wise in Kenya shows how one route works in practice.
Money transfer apps compared
In the free plan column, Yes means the app's own site or store listing describes a free app, free account or free first transfer, Trial only means a time-limited trial and No means neither is stated. A free app still charges fees or builds a margin into the exchange rate on most transfers, so read the final screen.
| Tool | Type | Good for | Free plan |
|---|---|---|---|
| Atlantic Money | International transfers | Large transfers between currencies | Yes |
| CurrencyFair | International transfers | Overseas property and pensions | Yes |
| Instarem | International transfers | Fast transfers to Asia | Yes |
| Remitly | Remittance app | Sending to family abroad | Yes |
| Ria | Remittance service | Cash pickup in many countries | Yes |
| Sendwave | Mobile money transfers | Paying into mobile wallets | Yes |
| TransferGo | International transfers | Sending from the UK and Europe | Yes |
| Wise | International account app | Holding and spending other currencies | Yes |
| WorldRemit | Remittance app | Airtime and mobile money | Yes |
Nine money transfer apps
Atlantic Money
Best for: Expats moving larger sums between their own accounts in different countries, such as savings or a deposit.
CurrencyFair
Best for: People paying for an overseas property or receiving a pension from abroad who want transfers between bank accounts.
Instarem
Best for: Workers abroad sending money home to India, Southeast Asia and other routes where speed matters.
Remitly
Best for: Families supporting relatives abroad who want bank deposits, mobile wallets or cash pickup at the other end.
Ria
Best for: Senders whose family prefer collecting cash from a local agent rather than receiving money into a bank account.
Sendwave
Best for: Senders to Africa and Asia whose family use mobile money wallets rather than bank accounts.
TransferGo
Best for: Workers in the UK and Europe sending money home to Eastern Europe, Asia and beyond.
Wise
Best for: Freelancers and travellers who want to hold several currencies and send or receive international payments.
WorldRemit
Best for: Diaspora communities who send money and mobile airtime top-ups to relatives in many countries.
What a US provider has to tell you
There's a rule that protects you, and most senders never read it. The CFPB says that for most remittance transfers from the US you must receive information about when the money will be available, your right to cancel transfers, what to do in case of an error and how to submit a complaint.
What that means for you: the disclosure screen is your best comparison tool. It shows exactly what the recipient will get and when, so compare apps on that final amount, not on the headline fee.
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Bank deposit, mobile wallet or cash pickup?
Bank deposit apps suit families with bank accounts and larger sums. Mobile wallet transfers land straight in services like M-Pesa, which is often fastest in parts of Africa and Asia. Cash pickup suits relatives who don't use banks or wallets and prefer collecting from a local agent.
Ask your family how they'd like to receive the money first, then pick the app that serves that route well. It's also worth asking how far they'd travel to collect cash, and whether their bank charges to receive international payments.
Sending money abroad safely
- Check the recipient's name exactly matches their bank or wallet.
- Send a small amount the first time you use a new app or route.
- Compare the amount received, not just the fee.
- Keep the receipt and tracking number until the money arrives.
- Turn on two-step login for the app.
- Never send money to someone you've only met online.
Scams that use money transfers
- Romance scams. Someone you've never met asks for help with an emergency.
- Fake job offers. You're asked to pay upfront for training or equipment.
- Prize or tax tricks. You're told to send money to release a prize or settle a bill.
- Overpayment. A buyer sends too much and asks you to wire back the difference.
If you receive money from abroad too
Freelancers who receive money from overseas often need a different setup from people sending to family. Look at whether an app can hold balances in other currencies and give you local account details. My guide to Payoneer in Kenya shows how one receiving route compares. Whichever way the money flows, keep records of what you sent and received, because banks and tax offices sometimes ask where a transfer came from.
Do you make a money transfer app? Tool makers can ask to be considered for a featured place on this list.
My plain advice on choosing a money transfer app
Pick by route, not by brand. The app that's best for sending from the UK to Poland may be a poor choice for the US to the Philippines, so try two or three for your route and compare what lands at the other end.
Once you've found one that works, stick with it and save your recipients, which cuts the risk of mistakes. And treat any request to send money from someone you haven't met in person as a scam until proven otherwise.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best app to send money abroad?
It depends on the country and how the money's received. Compare a few apps for your route on the amount your recipient receives.
Are money transfer apps free?
The apps are usually free to download, but most transfers include a fee or an exchange rate margin.
Can I cancel an international transfer?
In the US, the CFPB says providers must tell you about your right to cancel. Act quickly if you spot a mistake.
What's the fastest way to send money abroad?
Mobile wallet and card transfers are often fastest; bank transfers can take longer depending on the route.
Can my family collect cash?
Some services offer cash pickup through local agents. Check which countries and agents are covered.
Is it safe to send money through an app?
Licensed apps are generally safe, but transfers are hard to reverse, so check details and avoid strangers.
