Using your bank for international transfers is slow due to interbank networks and processing times. With a bank, you will also get poor exchange rates and pay high fees.
Thankfully, there are better alternatives available.
Specialist money transfer companies offer:
Faster transfers made within their own networks
Better exchange rates
Low or no fees
A mix of online, app and managed services
Wise is the fastest provider in most cases, with 45% of transfers completed in less than 20 seconds.
If you'd like to send a large amount, XE may be the fastest provider, with 90% of its transfers completed in 24 hours.
The fastest ways of transferring money
Company | Transfer Speed | Fee | Markup |
|---|---|---|---|
Within one day | From 0.35% | No markup | |
From 24 hours to 4 days | No fees | 0.4% - 1.5% | |
Within one day | $1.99 - $24.99 | 0.5% - 1.25% | |
Within one day | From 2% | No markup | |
1-2 days | No fees | from 1.3% | |
1-3 days | Free up to $1,000 | From 0.4-1.5% | |
1-3 days | From 0.7% | From 1.5% | |
1-5 days | No fees | From 1.3% | |
Airwallex (Business Only) | 1-3 days | No fees | From 0.5% |
Money transfer providers are the fastest way to send money.
Unlike ACH bank transfers, money transfer providers can transfer funds quickly and efficiently between accounts, whether the recipient’s bank account is based in the US or overseas.
Here's how each of them works:
Finding the fastest provider
Our search results include over 50 providers operating from Australia, more options than many others on the market. This gives us an unparalleled view of who the fastest money transfer providers are.
To compile this list, we tested all providers across multiple combinations of countries and sending amounts.
In every article, we cover fees, exchange rates, user reviews, online feedback, and supported currencies. This is to ensure we provide you with the best possible information on who is the fastest company, but also the best company for your needs.
Every transfer is different and we always recommend searching for the amount you want to send, and where you want to send it to. This will give you a live price on how best to send your money.
Testing the fastest providers
Transfer Speed | Within 24 hours |
|---|
One of the fastest ways you can transfer money is through Wise. 45% of Wise transfers take less than 20 seconds to be deposited, with 90% delivered in 24 hours.
Wise also pre-confirms how long your transfer will take before you make any payments.
- Offers the fastest transfers on average across all of our comparisons
- Has an app, web option, and multi-currency account that work well together and make the process of sending money simple
- Exchange rates are the cheapest on the market at 0% (the mid-market rate) and fees are competitive at 0.35%
- Supports a high number of currencies (70) and sending countries (130)
- Customer support can be limited, with an emphasis on online-only contact - although they are launching a hands-on service for larger transfers
- Fees on larger transfers can often be much higher than competitors
Transfer speed | From 24 hours to 4 days |
|---|
Xe specializes in large transfers, with a high limit of $535,000 per transfer.
Like Wise, over 90% of Xe's money transfers are completed within 24 hours, but this is usually the minimum. The average transfer speed for larger transfers is one to four business days.
This is one of the fastest ways to send large amounts.
- Transfers for large payments often arrive within 4 days, but usually quicker. This is compared to a bank where you can expect large transfers to take up to 7 days.
- There are no fees above $500 with Xe. This aids in making them one of the more competitive options for larger transfers at speed.
- Exchange rates are higher than competitors like Wise who offer transfers at the mid-market rate.
- Sending small amounts is more expensive than most competitors.
Transfer speed | Within one day |
|---|
WorldRemit lets you pay by mobile money, cash pickup, airtime top-up, or bank transfer. Companies like Wise or Xe do not offer this as an option.
In most cases, WorldRemit transfers are completed within minutes. On the downside they can be more expensive than other companies.
- Multiple payout options that include airtime and cash pickup
- App is easy to use and works intuitively with the web portal offered by the company
- Offers access to many African markets that other providers in the space do not
- Lower transfer limits of up to $9,000 every 24 hours, and $5,000 per transfer. Compared to over $500,000 with Xe
- Exchange rate markups can make transfers expensive, with some as high as 1.25%
Transfer speed | Within a day |
|---|
Global66 offers some of the fastest transfers in the market, particularly for customers in and accessing South America. However, you will pay an average 2% for speed into these markets.
Around 50% of transfers through Global66 arrive within 24 hours, and transfers to other app users are instant.
The setup process can be quite cumbersome, so it’s a good idea to sign up for an account before you need to send any money to avoid unnecessary delays.
- One of the better providers for access to South American markets like Mexico
- Mid-market exchange rate offered on most transfers
- Has a fast P2P service that outshines many other options on the market
- Limited country coverage for users in Europe
- Fees are from 2%, which is higher than most companies in the market
Transfer speed | 1-2 days |
|---|
OFX offers a range of money transfer services and is particularly good for regular payments, paying bills and aiding in relocating to a different country.
Transfers generally take 1-2 days, and there are no fees associated with transferring through OFX. Exchange rates are around 1.3%.
They make our list of top providers as they offer 24 hour customer service options, including for smaller and regular payments. They also specialise in tax and bill payments. As such, they're one of the most helpful, and fastest, providers for international workers or those considering relocation.
- Fast payments supported by 24/7 over-the-phone customer service
- Specialist support for expats and overseas workers needing to pay tax in their home country
- Offers forward contracts for relocation that can work alongside settlement periods
- Exchange rates are above those of Wise, Zing and Global 66 at 1.3%
- Users have a minimum threshold of $1,000 in transfers per year to keep the account active, so it would not be suitable for infrequent smaller transfers
Transfer speed | 1-3 days |
|---|
Transfers between Revolut accounts are pretty much instant ,with international transfers usually arriving within 24 hours, but they can take up to 3 days.
Revolut is highly rated by its users for speed, consistently averaging 4.5/5 and above for the last 12 months (going back to July 2023).
That being said, Revolut is a neobank before it is a money transfer provider. So, currencies are limited to 40 and there's also limits of $1,000 per month in transfers before you start paying higher fees.
- Instant transfers to other Revolut accounts make it a great option for sending money to friends and family, or for regular payments
- Can be used as a general spending card in the US as well
- Has a number of additional features, like cash back, that can make the account worthwhile
- Fees structure is complex in places, with different transfer limits per level
Transfer speed | 1-3 days |
|---|
Remitly is one of the fastest money transfer providers for cash pickup. For traditionally harder to reach locations they are also cheaper than companies like Wise.
Fees start from 0.7% and the markup is around 1.3%, so you can expect to pay around 2% of the total transfer amount.
For transfers to bank accounts, this is a little steep. However, for cash pickup and the speed offered, this is one of the better deals on the market.
- Offers access to over 100 currencies and 150 countries, more than most and includes typically hard to reach locations for cash pickup
- Partnered with a number of cash pickup partners like Caribe Express, Alawan Express, and Banco Azteca
- Some of the best rates on the market for cash pickup
- Not competitive for more common routes like USD to EUR
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Transfer speed | 1-5 days |
|---|
RegencyFX offers managed services for global transfers. They make the list for faster transfers as they provide a hands-on, account managed, service that is faster than competitors.
Generally, you will be a slightly higher exchange rate (around 2%) but no fees. Managed services are best for things like managing currency risk and particularly large or complex transactions.
The benefit of a company like RegencyFX is that when the money is sent, it tends to arrive very quickly - but you can take your time in deciding when is best to send it.
- Offers fast transfers with currency risk and forward contracts included
- Provides hands-on account management to speed up complex transfers
- Exchange rates do tend to be a little higher with managed services and Regency FX is no exception here
- Not suitable for small or regular transfers
Transfer speed | 1-3 days |
|---|
Airwallex is listed here as it is the fastest way to make business transfers in most cases.
The provider is a specialist business money transfer provider and offers a lot of perks, like multi-currency accounts and marketplace support. Making it great for receiving fast payments as well.
Exchange rates are around 0.5%, which is competitive in the market generally, but as a business provider - with the service offered - are unmatched.
- Offers businesses multiple options for fast incoming and outgoing transfers
- Comes with accounting integration that can speed up the day-to-day work, as well as the speed of the transfer
- It's possible to send up to 1,000 batch payments and speed up payments to employees and suppliers
- ATM fees and accepting card payments are higher than other business options
Airwallex is a provider specifically for businesses making international payments. If you are looking for support for international business transfers, we recommend comparing all specific business providers.
Fastest providers by country
To give an idea of who the fastest transfer providers are, we've outlined the cost of a $1,000 transfer to some popular locations.
1000 AUD transfer from the Australia to...
Country | Fastest provider | Speed | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|
🇮🇳 India | Wise | 1-2 Hours | |
🇨🇦 Canada | Global66 | Same day | |
🇬🇧 United Kingdom | Wise | 1-2 Hours | |
🇺🇸 United States | Wise | 6-12 Hours | |
🇵🇭 The Philippines | WorldRemit | Same day |
What impacts the speed
Even if you choose a quick transfer provider, there are some things that may slow down your transfer. These include:
The payment method
Associating your bank account with a money transfer account is normally the quickest way. Debit card payments into money transfer accounts are also fast.
The amount
Higher send amounts may require additional AML checks and can take longer to make their way through correspondent banks or networks.
When you start
Most money transfer services are available 24 hours a day, but they may be subject to banking hours in order to complete payments.
The destination
Transferring money to some countries takes longer than others due to factors such as regulatory checks or timezone differences.
Check the withdrawal limits on your bank account before you make any payments. If you’re making a transfer that’s above your withdrawal limit, the payment will be refused, which will delay your transfer. Make sure your transfer amount doesn’t exceed your withdrawal limit, or use an account with a higher limit before transferring.
Tips for making fast money transfers
When you need to send abroad quickly, consider the following:
Use a money transfer provider for international transfers
Register before you need to transfer
Make sure the money is available
Use multi-currency accounts
Check the recipient’s details
Track the exchange rate
Other ways to send money quickly
As well as money transfer providers, there are other ways you can send money quickly. These include:
P2P payment apps
P2P payment apps like Venmo and Zelle are a way of transferring funds using digital platforms.
While P2P payment apps are fast ways of sending money domestically, not many allow international money transfers. However, Wise and Revolut both offer multi-currency accounts with P2P options.
Apart from this, Cash App is available for use in the US and the UK, allowing you to transfer money between these countries. PayPal permits international transfers but charges high transfer fees for the privilege - upwards of 5% of the overall cost in most cases.
International P2P Options
Wise and Revolut both offer P2P apps with international payment and currency conversion options.
They can both be used for domestic P2P payments as well.
Our guide covers each and how P2P payment apps work in more detail.
Google Pay and Apple Pay
Google Pay and Apple Pay let you transfer money online using your bank cards from your phone. These apps don’t charge their own fees for domestic or international money transfers, but remember - you’re still using your bank account to make the payment.
This means you’ll be charged the same fees as you would for a standard card payment from your bank, and the transfer speed will usually be the same as for other international card payments.
Wire transfers
Wire transfers are quicker than bank transfers, but they’re still not as fast as money transfer providers or P2P payment apps.
International wire transfers take an average of two business days, but can take up to five.
Faster isn’t always cheaper
The fastest money transfer app for smaller amounts, Wise, is also one of the cheapest ways of sending money. However, when you start sending larger amounts the 0.35% fee can grow.
This makes the higher-than-average exchange rates of Xe your best option for amounts over $10,000, in most cases.
Where possible, it’s always best to prepare in advance, set up an account with your chosen provider, and make sure the funds are available, and ready to send.
When this isn’t possible, you should still be able to make fast money transfers when needed, but you may miss out on the best fees and exchange rates.
Help & FAQ
Get answers to the most common questions asked when sending money abroad. Covers costs, fees and the best way to compare.
