Remitbee Review: Exchange Rates, Transfer Fees & Alternatives
Remitbee is a trusted and cheap way to send money from Canada, with customers able to transfer funds quickly and efficiently to almost 50 countries worldwide, including the Philippines, India, and Sri Lanka. Currently, Remitbee is only available in Canada.
In this review, we’ll look at all aspects of Remitbee: its exchange rate margins, transaction fees, how to make international payments, customer feedback, and any other thing you could want to know if choosing a money transfer provider.
Started by immigrants in 2015, Remitbee has brought together a team of about 16 money transfer professionals. Whether you are a private or corporate client, this team is knowledgeable and helps customers send money abroad.
Customers can access the transfer platform both through its website and also through the dedicated Remitbee mobile app. The provider has a variety of payment and withdrawal options; depending on your transfer destination abroad you can send money to your recipient’s bank account, cash pickup location, or even have the money delivered right to their doorstep. You can only transfer up to $3,000 per transaction, however, so Remitbee isn’t the best service if you want to make a large transfer.
Remitbee exchange rates and fees
Remitbee makes its revenue from the transfer fees and the exchange margins it charges. Unlike some other money transfer companies, the provider is transparent in the fees it charges and displays the applicable exchange rates upfront on the transfer widget. The first transfer you make is free of charge, but after that, there are fees to consider.
Here's an overview of the rates and fees charged by Remitbee so you can see if they’re right for you.
Exchange rates
Remitbee offers competitive rates with a low margin above the mid-market rate. It’s hard to give just one precise number as the margins charged will depend on a variety of factors such as where you’re transferring funds and which currencies you are using. Here’s a selection of the rates Remitbee charges on specific transfer routes:
Canada-India: The margin is 0.50%
Canada-Philippines: The margin is 0.55%
Canada- France: The margin is 1.05%
Canada-South Africa: The margin is 2.80%
Canada-Australia: The margin is 1.32%
As you can see, the size of the margin depends mainly on the transfer route you’re using. Popular destinations such as India, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka have the lowest margins, with less frequented country choices such as South Africa attracting the highest.
Fees
Transaction fees on Remitbee begin from CA$2.99 and vary depending on the amount you are sending and how you are sending it. Here is an overview of the fees charged, broken down into a few individual scenarios:
Sending CA$10 -500
If transferring funds already in your Remitbee account, you will pay CA$2.99
Using Interac e-Transfer you’ll also pay CA$2.99
If using a debit card, the fee increases to CA$8.99
Sending CA$501 -1,000
If using your Remitbee wallet, transfers above $500 are free
Using Interac e-Transfer you’ll pay CA$2.99
Using a debit card, you’ll pay CA$8.99
Sending CA$1,001-1500
Using your Remitbee wallet these transfers are free
You’ll pay CA$2.99 on Interac e-Transfer
Using a debit card for transactions above CA$1,000 causes the fee to rise to CA$14.99
Sending CA$1,500-2,000
These transactions are free if using your Remitbee wallet
Using Interac e-Transfer you’ll pay CA$2.99
Above CA$1,500, the fee for debit card payments increases to CA$19.99
Sending CA$2,001-2,500
Free when using your Remitbee wallet
CA$2.99 on Interac e-Transfer
Debit card fees rise to CA$24.99 for transfers over CA$2,000
Sending CA$2,501-3,000
Again these are free from your Remitbee wallet
When using Interac e-Transfer the fee stays at CA$2.99
These attract the largest debit card fees of CA$29.99
Additional costs
When sending money overseas, some banks may charge you landing fees. These will be deducted from the amount the recipient is to get. These are not charged by providers such as Remitbee, so it is important to check with your bank.
Remitbee pros and cons
Remitbee is a platform proudly designed for immigrants who fully understand the struggles people face when sending remittance payments back to family and friends overseas. This has led them to make a solid platform for international money transfers, but as with any service, there are pros and cons to consider.
Pros
Cons
What kind of payments can I make with Remitbee?
Remitbee gives you several options to choose from when paying for your transfer. Similarly, the recipient can get the money through a variety of payout methods depending on the transfer destination. Here’s a look at the options available.
Payment methods available
There are several options you can use to pay for your transfer with Remitbee. Here’s a quick summary of the options available:
Remitbee wallet: This is a built-in e-wallet on the Remitbee transfer platform. You can add funds to the wallet through bill payment or Interac e-Transfer. However, if you choose bill payment your funds may take up to 72 hours to get to Remitbee. The advantage of using this feature is that you pay no transfer fees when sending money from your Remitbee wallet.
Interac e-Transfer: You can log into your Canadian bank online platform and pay for your transfer by sending money to the designated Remitbee bank account. It can take up to 30 minutes for your transfer to be received by the provider.
Interac Online: This method varies slightly from Interac e-Transfer in that it is instant and you can access it directly from the Remitbee platform.
Pre-authorized debit: You can authorise the provider to debit your account by entering your payment method details onto your Remitbee account.
Debit card: If you have a Visa or Mastercard branded debit card, you can link it up and use it to pay for your transfer.
Withdrawal options available
Your beneficiary can receive the funds sent through any of the following payout options:
Bank deposit: Remitbee transfers the funds directly into your recipient’s bank account. Depending on the country you are sending to, it can take 1-3 business days for your transfer to be delivered.
Cash pickup: If you are sending money to countries such as the Philippines, you can use the cash pickup option. The transfer is delivered in minutes.
Door-to-door delivery: In some select cities and countries such as Vietnam, the provider offers cash delivery right up to the recipients’ doorsteps.
How to send and receive money with Remitbee
Remitbee has simplified the process of sending and receiving money. In just a few clicks, your money is on the way to your beneficiary. Here’s what it takes to send and receive payments with Remitbee
How to send money with Remitbee
Making a transfer through Remitbee is a very easy process, all you need to do is follow the four steps outlined below.
1.Step 1 Create your free account
2.Step 2 Verify your identity
3.Step 3 Add your recipient and amount
4.Step 4 Choose a payment method
How to receive money with Remitbee
There are three ways to receive payments with Remitbee, with each requiring different things from the recipient.
Bank deposit: If the money is deposited directly into the recipient’s bank account, there is nothing they are supposed to provide. They can just access it and use the money as soon as it clears in their account.
Cash pickup: The recipient will get a notification when the transfer is complete. To collect the cash, they must visit their nearest pickup location with their ID and the transaction code for verification purposes. You will be given the verification code when making the transfer and will need to send it to them.
Door-to-door deliveries: The Remitbee representative will bring the cash to the recipient’s doorstep. To receive the cash, the beneficiary must provide their ID and the transaction code.
Does Remitbee have a mobile app?
Yes, it does. The Remitbee mobile application is available as a free download on the App Store and Play Store. Here are some of the app’s functionalities:
Sign up for an account
Send money
Add recipients
Check the status of your transfers
View historical transfers
Check exchange rates and transfer fees
Get rate alerts
On Play Store, the app has a 4.5/5 rating after 135 reviews. On the App Store, it has the same rating but with only 80 reviews. The app is available only to customers in Canada.
How fast are Remitbee’s transfer speeds?
Transfers through Remitbee usually take 1-3 days to be completed. When sending money to countries such as India, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka customers will find that transfers can be delivered the next day.
Are there maximum and minimum transfer amounts?
Remitbee has daily and monthly limits that vary depending on the verification status of your account. Here’s a quick rundown of the limits:
Unverified accounts: You’ll have a daily limit of CA$995
Verified accounts: You’ll have a daily limit of CA$3,000 and a monthly limit of CA$25000
Can I trust Remitbee?
The short answer to this is yes. Remitbee has grown to be a reliable and trusted money transfer service helping Canadians to send money to 48 countries around the globe. It is a platform created, owned, and operated by immigrants in Canada who understand the pains of sending money back home.
To give you the full picture of the company, here is an overview of Remitbee’s history, regulatory compliance, customer security measures, and other trust factors you should know.
History
Remitbee was founded by Peratheepan Yoganathan, Yogatheepan Yoganathan, and Manotheepan Yoganathan on April 14, 2015. It is registered as Remitbee Incorporated under the Canada Business Corporations Act and assigned corporation number 9254919.
The provider operates from 107A Dundas Street East Mississauga ON L5A 1W7, its registered office. Its team of employees consists of about 16 professionals including customer service specialists, software developers, and compliance analysts.
Regulatory compliance
Remitbee is registered and regulated by the Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada (FINTRAC) as a Money Services Business (MSB). Through its registration number M08768213, the provider is permitted to offer foreign exchange and money transfer services.
As part of the Proceeds of Crime (Money Laundering) and Terrorist Financing Act (PCMLTFA), Remitbee is required to verify the identities of its customers and keep their records.
The provider is also an accredited business with an A+ rating on the Better Business Bureau (BBB).
Encryption and customer data
Remitbee has the latest data security installations including Amazon AWS and Microsoft Azure cloud systems for data management and security. The provider has also put in place an impenetrable data protection barrier for personal details and transaction records using SHA-256 RSA encryption. It also has McAfee SECURE Certification for enhanced customer safety.
When transacting on the mobile app, your security is guaranteed. Remitbee has installed a fraud detection system operationalised through authentication and verification processes.
Investors and awards
Remitbee secured seed funding from 500 Startups, a Silicon Valley-based venture capitalist firm on October 30, 2015. The provider was recognised on March 25th, 2019 as one of the top Financial Technology companies in Toronto by Toronto Finance International (TFI).
Compare Providers NowCustomer satisfaction
Customers ratings on social media, Play Store, and App Store have given the provider excellent ratings. On Trustpilot, Remitbee doesn’t have a lot of reviews but the entries that have been made are very positive. So far it has 67 reviews and a trust score of 4.8/5. 4 and 5-star reviews comprise 99% of all Remitbee’s reviews on the platform. Here’s a short summary of what Remitbee’s customers had to say:
Pros
Cons
Can I cancel my transfer?
Remitbee allows customers to cancel transfers if they have not yet been completed. On the ‘Transaction History’ tab, click on the transaction you want to cancel. You have a window of approximately 10 minutes from the time you initiate a transfer to cancel. If you manage to cancel a transfer, your money will be refunded in 3-4 working days.
Top destinations for using Remitbee
The provider allows you to send to 48 countries from Canada using its website or mobile application. The following are the most popular countries for customers sending money with Remitbee:
Customer support
Remitbee has dedicated customer support specialists ready to jump on any issue you raise. You can reach out to them through any of the following avenues:
Email: You can get email support with a 24-hour response time through customercare@remitbee.com
Live chat: There is a live chat option with an average response time of 10 minutes.
Telephone: You can call their toll number at 1-647-689-2323 to speak to a customer support professional. You can also ask them to call you back and they will do so within 15-20 minutes.
Facebook Messenger: You can use Facebook messenger to get your queries addressed.
All customer care services are available during business hours which are Monday to Sunday 10 am EST to 8 pm EST. Support is available in English only.
Summary
Remitbee is an Ontario-based money transfer service provider founded by immigrants to help other people who have moved to Canada to send money to businesses and individuals abroad. Leveraging frequent transfers to countries like India, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka, the provider offers very competitive rates and low, transparent fees. Sending CA$500 and above is free using its mobile wallet and costs only CA$2.99 through Interac e-Transfer.
Funds can be deposited directly into your recipient’s account, sent to a cash pickup point, or delivered right to their doorstep. The platform is also well secured with all the data backed up on Amazon AWS and Microsoft Azure cloud systems.
One of the few drawbacks with Remitbee is that you cannot transact beyond CA$3,000 per day and the monthly limit is CA$25,000. If you are looking to transfer funds for purposes such as purchasing a home abroad or anything else that incurs larger expenses, you will have to shop around for an alternative provider.
With our money transfer comparison tool, you can quickly analyse the top providers on your transfer route. You’ll see who is the fastest, cheapest, and most efficient. Remitbee will likely be high up on our recommended list of options for transfers from Canada, but always make sure to compare your options before choosing a money transfer provider.
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