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The key difference between Wise and Remitly is the cost and payout options.
Wise is generally cheaper than Remitly, while Remitly offers cash pickup, and home delivery.
If you're sending money to someone with no access to the bank, Remitly is a better option, otherwise, Wise is a better option.
Wise vs Remitly: Who wins?
If you do not have either one, here’s a quick overview of when it’s best to use Remitly or Wise:
Wise is better for… | Remitly is better for… |
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Exchange rate & fees
Wise is much cheaper compared to Remitly.
Wise charges a fee but charges no extra markup on the exchange rate (all transfers are made with the real exchange rate).
Remitly on the other hand adds a markup and charges fees on top.
It's also worth noting, Remitly offers discounted fees on the first transfer.
This is how Wise vs Remitly compare side-by-side in terms of cost.
Wise
The main reason for the win is the mid-market exchange rates, while Wise charges a fee for transfers, Remitly charges a fee and adds a markup to their exchange rates.
Wise has a varied fee structure comprising a fixed and variable fees.
But the key takeaway is the mid-market exchange rate offered.
This means you don't lose out on any exchanges with Wise, you just pay them the fee for transferring.
Check the table below to see exactly what we mean.
Currency pair | Wise exchange rate | Wise transfer fee | FX markup | Receive amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|
USD / CAD | 1.3969 | $8.76 | 0.00 | $686.21 |
USD / COP | 3882.0000 | $18.38 | -0.14 | $1,869,648.84 |
USD / EUR | 0.8612 | $8.43 | -0.01 | €423.33 |
USD / GBP | 0.7470 | $8.65 | 0.01 | £367.04 |
USD / INR | 88.7888 | $9.44 | 0.00 | ₹43,556.23 |
USD / MAD | 9.1472 | $19.64 | -0.15 | MAD 4,393.95 |
USD / MXN | 18.4180 | $9.88 | 0.00 | $9,027.03 |
USD / NGN | 1496.9800 | $10.72 | -1.99 | ₦732,442.37 |
USD / ZAR | 17.2540 | $17.22 | 0.00 | R 8,329.89 |
Remitly
Remitly’s transfer fees depend on how much you send and the delivery speed you opt for.
If you send more than $500 and pay using your bank account with Remitly, you won’t be charged any fees.
But Remitly also adds a margin to their exchanges. The markup can go up to almost 4% above the mid-market rate, depending on the currency pair (see the the Remitly's live rates below).
This means that the amount your transfer ends up costing will depend a lot on which currencies are involved.
If you were to convert the same amounts and currencies as above, this is what it would cost you (and how much you will get in the end).
Currency pair | Remitly exchange rate | Remitly transfer fee | FX markup | Receive amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|
USD / CAD | 1.3590 | $0 | 2.75 | $679.5 |
USD / COP | 3739.5200 | $0 | 3.60 | $1,869,760 |
USD / EUR | 0.8558 | $1.99 | 0.62 | €427.9 |
USD / GBP | 0.7288 | $0 | 2.47 | £364.4 |
USD / INR | 88.3300 | $0 | 0.51 | ₹44,165 |
USD / MAD | 8.9990 | $0 | 1.49 | MAD 4,499.5 |
USD / MXN | 17.7100 | $0 | 3.92 | $8,855 |
USD / NGN | 1444.2000 | $0 | 1.60 | ₦722,100 |
USD / ZAR | 16.8900 | $0 | 2.13 | R 8,445 |
As you can see, Remitly can be cheaper in few cases, but largely Wise is cheaper, especially with larger transfers.
Remitly vs Wise transfer examples
It's much easier to see which one is better when it's side by side.
Below is a table of live rates and fees for Remitly and Wise for different currencies and amounts (use the tabs to switch).
It is clear that Wise is the winner overall when it comes to the cost.
If you want to send money cheaply, we suggest picking Wise.
However, there is a reason behind Remitly's cost.
Remitly is one of the few companies that focus on delivery methods (including cash transfers), which are typically more expensive.
If you are looking for a cash transfer, pick Remitly otherwise, choose Wise.
Transfer speed
It's a tie, both, Wise and Remitly offer fast transfer times.
Usually, both companies complete transfers within minutes, although some transfers can take up to 2 business days.
The timing is affected by the recipient’s bank processing speed as well as how you pay for your transfer.
Paying for your transfer through the bank takes longer than using a debit or credit card.
Here's a side-by-side comparison of Wise vs Remitly when it comes to transfers speed.
If you need to send money quickly, we recommend checking our guide to the fastest international money transfer companies.
Transfer limits
Wise wins again, with a high wire transfer limit of $1.6 million.
Remitly has a much smaller maximum limit of only $100,000 per transaction (after verification).
For this comparison, we are specifically talking about the service limits, not the limits imposed by your bank.
For example, some banks may block large transactions if you don't let them know in advance.
If you are planning to make a large transfer, make sure to let your bank know in advance to avoid delays.
Both Remitly and Wise have no minimum send limit, making them useful for small transfers.
However, if you need to send a large amount, Wise is the better option, with a maximum limit almost 10 times larger than Remitly's.
Here's how Remitly and Wise compare when it comes to the limits.
Product offering
Wise wins here as well.
Wise has the wider product offering overall, with varied deposit options, multi-currency account, business account, debit card, and more.
However, Remitly covers more currencies and more payout options.
Wise supported destinations
Currency pair | Wise fee |
|---|---|
Afghanistan | £49.01 |
Albania | £49.01 |
Algeria | £49.01 |
Angola | £49.01 |
Antigua and Barbuda | £49.01 |
Argentina | £101.41 |
Australia | £19.97 |
Bahrain | £49.01 |
Bangladesh | £112.86 |
Barbados | £49.01 |
Belarus | £49.01 |
Belgium | £20.32 |
Bermuda | £49.01 |
Bhutan | £49.01 |
Brazil | £57.23 |
Bulgaria | £26.25 |
Cameroon | £49.01 |
Canada | £20.01 |
Chad | £49.01 |
Chile | £40.8 |
Costa Rica | £86.38 |
Cuba | £49.01 |
Curacao | £49.01 |
Czech Republic | £24.23 |
Denmark | £20.11 |
Dominican Republic | £49.01 |
East Timor | £22.6 |
Egypt | £56.73 |
El Salvador | £22.6 |
Eritrea | £49.01 |
Ethiopia | £49.01 |
France | £20.32 |
Gambia | £49.01 |
Germany | £20.32 |
Ghana | £94.39 |
Gibraltar | £49.01 |
Greece | £20.32 |
Guinea | £49.01 |
Honduras | £49.01 |
Hong Kong | £22.27 |
Hungary | £32.13 |
Iceland | £49.01 |
India | £30.58 |
Indonesia | £30.74 |
Iran | £49.01 |
Iraq | £49.01 |
Ireland | £20.32 |
Israel | £31.56 |
Italy | £20.32 |
Jamaica | £49.01 |
Japan | £25.45 |
Jordan | £49.01 |
Kazakhstan | £49.01 |
Kenya | £64.59 |
Kosovo | £20.32 |
Kuwait | £49.01 |
Kyrgyzstan | £49.01 |
Latvia | £20.32 |
Lebanon | £49.01 |
Liberia | £49.01 |
Libya | £49.01 |
Liechtenstein | £20.36 |
Lithuania | £20.32 |
Macedonia | £49.01 |
Madagascar | £49.01 |
Malawi | £49.01 |
Malaysia | £25.08 |
Malta | £20.32 |
Mauritius | £49.01 |
Mexico | £36.52 |
Moldova | £49.01 |
Montenegro | £20.32 |
Morocco | £119.08 |
Mozambique | £67.82 |
Myanmar [Burma] | £49.01 |
Namibia | £52.83 |
Netherlands | £20.32 |
New Zealand | £20.59 |
Nigeria | £34.43 |
Norway | £20.23 |
Oman | £49.01 |
Pakistan | £36.2 |
Paraguay | £49.01 |
Philippines | £37.01 |
Poland | £24.13 |
Portugal | £20.32 |
Qatar | £49.01 |
Romania | £23.69 |
San Marino | £20.32 |
Saudi Arabia | £49.01 |
Serbia | £49.01 |
Seychelles | £49.01 |
Sierra Leone | £49.01 |
Singapore | £21.36 |
Slovakia | £20.32 |
Slovenia | £20.32 |
South Africa | £41.52 |
South Korea | £37.46 |
Spain | £20.32 |
Sudan | £49.01 |
Swaziland | £49.01 |
Sweden | £21.43 |
Switzerland | £20.36 |
Syria | £49.01 |
Taiwan | £49.01 |
Thailand | £36.43 |
Trinidad and Tobago | £49.01 |
Tunisia | £49.01 |
Turkey | £25.09 |
Uganda | £42.96 |
United Arab Emirates | £23.32 |
United Kingdom | £0.61 |
United States | £22.6 |
Uruguay | £79.73 |
Venezuela | £49.01 |
Vietnam | £35.98 |
Yemen | £49.01 |
Zambia | - |
Zimbabwe | £22.6 |
Remitly supported destinations
Currency pair | Remitly fee |
|---|---|
Antigua and Barbuda | £0 |
Australia | £0 |
Barbados | £0 |
Belgium | £0 |
Botswana | £0 |
Bulgaria | £0 |
Canada | £0 |
China | £0 |
Croatia | - |
Czech Republic | £0 |
Denmark | £0 |
East Timor | £0 |
El Salvador | £0 |
France | £0 |
Germany | £0 |
Greece | £0 |
Hong Kong | £0 |
Hungary | £0 |
India | £0 |
Ireland | £0 |
Israel | £0 |
Italy | £0 |
Japan | £0 |
Kenya | £0 |
Kosovo | £0 |
Latvia | £0 |
Liechtenstein | - |
Lithuania | £0 |
Malta | £0 |
Mauritius | £0 |
Mexico | £0 |
Montenegro | £0 |
Morocco | £0 |
Netherlands | £0 |
New Zealand | - |
Norway | £0 |
Philippines | £0 |
Poland | - |
Portugal | £0 |
Romania | £0 |
San Marino | £0 |
Singapore | £0 |
Slovakia | £0 |
Slovenia | £0 |
South Africa | £0 |
Spain | £0 |
Sri Lanka | £0 |
Sweden | £1.99 |
Switzerland | - |
Thailand | £0 |
Turkey | £0 |
Uganda | £0 |
United Arab Emirates | - |
United States | £0 |
Zimbabwe | £0 |
Wise deposit and withdrawal methods
Wise offers more payment options than Remitly, including:
Bank transfer
Wire transfer
Debit and credit card
Apple Pay & Google Pay
Paypal
And a range of local deposit options (like Pix, Interac e-transfer, PayID, and others)
However, when it comes to withdrawals, you are mostly limited to:
Bank account deposit
Account deposit (multi-currency account)
Debit/credit card
It's not bad, as these are the cheapest and mostly used withdrawal methods, but it's clearly missing cash pickup and airtime (check our WorldRemit review if you need airtime transfer).
Remitly deposit and withdrawal methods
It's the opposite with Remitly, you have less deposit options but better withdrawal options.
With Remitly you have the following deposit options:
Bank transfer
Debit/credit cards
Google pay
Which again, is fine majority of transfers.
However, Remitly has more payout options. These include:
Bank transfer
Cash pickup
Mobile money
Home delivery
This makes it perfect for sending money to those without bank access.
Additional features comparison
Wise's coverage is not the only strong side, as already mentioned, Wise offers a multi-currency account, P2P transfers for domestic payments between friends and family, as well as offers a business account (same as Remitly).
Where Wise really pulls ahead is its additional features.
As a combined remittance service and bank, Wise allows you to open a multi-currency bank account, capable of holding up to nine different currencies at once.
You also get access to a payment card that can be used overseas free of charge, so long as you have enough of the correct currency in your account.
And you can make transfers between Wise users for free (known as P2P transfers).
However, Remitly has been improving their product over the last year, and soon releasing Remitly One.
Remitly One is a new service that's coming soon and will act as a place to send, spend and grow your money.
Whats interesting, is that as part of it, they will be releasing a "Send now, pay later" scheme, similar to traditional "Buy Now, Pay Later".
We've covered more about it in our Send Now, Pay Later guide.
Here's how Remitly and Wise compare on additional features:
Business accounts
Wise wins when it comes to the business offering.
Both companies offer business accounts, however Wises is much more advanced, offers more features, bigger coverage and better integrations.
What's interesting, Remitly's business account is gaining popularity as well.
I've noticed that more and more sellers online (especially from Asia) are switching to Remitly from PayPal for taking payments.
Here's a quick comparison of key business features of Remitly vs Wise.
For more information on their business accounts and offering, check out our business reviews below.
Customer service and experience
It's a tie.
In reality, both companies could do better with the customer service.
Unfortunately it's the case with most top money transfer companies, the support is much worse compared to a currency broker.
However, it is good enough for managing small transfers.
Both, Wise and Remitly offer FAQs, general support phone number, and email.
You can contact them about any issues, but expect to wait a few days to get a response.
Here's a quick comparison of Remitly and Wise when it comes to support, service quality, and general usability.
Ease of use
Wise can't be beaten on its ease of use.
The Remitly site isn't the easiest to navigate, and the app has its issues.
Wise keeps everything as easy as possible, with a simple display of how to make your transfer, and a clear breakdown of the currencies you hold in your account.
I've been using Wise for over 3 years now and always had easy time sending or spending money with it.
Check out our video reviews below for more.
Wise video overview
Safety and regulations
Both providers are safe to use, but the transparency of Wise's fee structure and regulatory coverage gives it the lead.
What are regulators?
In simple terms, for a company to be able to make transfers from a country, it needs someone in that country to give it a stamp of approval.
That someone is usually a financial regulator. And it is different in every country, state, or region.
Like all the providers we recommend, Remitly is fully regulated to make financial transactions.
Remitly is regulated by the FCA and is holds multiple state licenses to be able to trade in the US and parts of Canada.
Remitly also employs a multi-level security system when you log in, helping keep your finances safe.
Wise on the other hand is regulated in 15 countries by FinCEN, FCA, ASIC, MAS, BSP, CNBV, BNM, KLFB, CMISA, BI, RBI, CCE, BCB, NBB, DIA.
As well as you can take advantage of their multi-factor authentication when you log in.
However, Wise's transparent fee structure gives it the edge, and you can work out exactly how much your transfer will cost before you make it by using the on-site calculator.
Here's the Remitly vs Wise side-by-side comparison:
Customer feedback
This is where Remitly takes the win.
As of 2025, Remitly has almost 100,000 reviews on Trustpilot with 4.6/5 score vs 270,000 reviews for Wise with 4.4/5 score.
Remitly's app is also much better rated on the app stores (for both iOS and Android).
In both cases, users say it's a reliable app with affordable fees as the main benefits, while others state they experienced hefty delays at times.
Wise reviews favor the platform's ease of use and transparent fee structure, but some accounts have been closed for security reasons without notice.
Here's a quick overview of Remitly's and Wise's user feedback.
In addition to the online reviews, our users have left feedback for both companies.
As you can see below, Wise and Remitly both have fair share of positive and negative reviews.
Wise user reviews
Comments
Alan
Unable to transfer money from Philippines to any other country. Philippines Wise does not work
Anonymous
Retiro de dinero en transferencia
Uwe
great rates and service - unfortunately for some countries not yet available
Martin Premprakash Anantharaman
On the first transfer to a hospital in NY they were already screaming that this was a sure scam and the same on my next transfer to a fried in Nigeria. They then summarily closed my account TERMINATING THE RUNNING TRANSFER TO NIGERIA, claiming that, hold on, I was being scammed🤦♂️ Sure, I could have appealed but immediately found that I would have had to provide so much intrusive detail that I desisted.
Martin Premprakash Anantharaman
Setting up is a bit unwieldy if you want to make a one-off transfer, as you have to create an account with complete identification - but it works and the process as well as charges are great.
Anonymous
My brother wants to send me money from India to Nigeria but he's finding it difficult how can he do it
Mohammed
WARNING : Wise was Great until main office decided to ruin WISE By letting the TW India office control handling Random verifications and do what ever they want by insane replies and no replies etc.
If you want to waste your time and enjoy a journey into Black Hole of Insane then go ahead and try WISE !
Anonymous
Can't receive money from php to idr so far
sudheir
They don't allow transfer to Brokerage firms from India
Anonymous
Good app to transfer money
Remitly user reviews
Comments
Anonymous
The Exchange rates are Terrible. Lost £150.00 by sending £5000
That is a huge amount. When other companies have much better rates. costing about £25-£35 for the same amount of funds transferred
Anonymous
Was told the money would be there same day, transferred money for an emergency 3 days later and they keep saying something different each time we call. It’s not a small amount of money and the money is no longer in our bank account.
Andrew Lippert
Too convoluted - Not worth the time
Anonymous
MY BANK REFUSE TO DO BUSINESS WITH THIS COMPANY
Anonymous
I am not currently a customer, having an experience of delivery to the wrong account and slow resolution with MoneyGram .
Jymmy François
Okkkkkkkkkkk
Ray
After 14hours of waiting & 6 phone calls by me, recipient never received currency, was told overseas bank problem. Used another currency operator, money arrived in seconds. Poor Show, now waiting for full refund!
Anonymous
Can't send to Russia
Anonymous
Good service
Anonymous
Not possible to send money to a bank account
Alternative to Wise & Remitly
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