Overall best choice: Wise
We tested & reviewed 19 best money transfer providers to South Africa, and Wise scored the highest.
Wise appeared in 96.3% of ZAR searches, and was the best way to send money to South Africa out of 19 that support Rand transfers.
So for a great mix of cost, speed & features, make your South Africa transfer using Wise via Bank transfer.
How to send money to South Africa with the best rate
Consider this before sending money to South Africa
Don't settle for the first option. Always compare ways to send money to South Africa to find out about fees, speed, and reliability.
Our analysis included 19 providers that operate in South Africa.
Through this, you get a comprehensive view of all the options you have when sending money to South Africa.
Cheapest way to send money to South Africa: OFX
If you want to make the most of your ZAR transfer, the cheapest way to send money to South Africa is to use OFX and pay for your transfer with a Bank transfer.
Over the past 6-months OFX appeared 36.6% of the time in our comparison as the cheapest transfer option to South Africa.
With just $0 in fees and 0% markup, OFX is % cheaper than the next best option.
Bank transfer is the cheapest deposit option to South Africa, pair it with OFX to receive the most ZAR.
*The transfer cost to South Africa depends on the country of origin, amount of ZAR sent, payment method, and the exchange rate ‘markup’ on Rands.
Fastest way to send money to South Africa: Paysend
Our data shows that Paysend came up as the fastest way to send money to South Africa in 38.1% searches on MoneyTransfers.com over the past six months.
Paysend charges $0 in fees on average and adds a 1.48% markup, which is also 0% cheaper than the next fastest option.
Pair it with a Bank transfer deposit to get your ZAR abroad fast and cheap.
Our ‘fastest’ way to send money to South Africa includes the transfer amount, deposit method, and transfer and withdrawal times.
Easiest way to send money to South Africa: Wise
Our 6-month analysis shows that Wise came up as the top-rated provider for transfers to South Africa in 96.3% of the searches.
By “easiest”, we mean the service that is easy to get started with, is fully transparent and offers a good balance of cheap and fast transfers.
Need to send over $10,000?
Opt for a service proven with large transfers when size matters. For transfers over $10,000, your best bet is Wise.
While Wise may not always be the cheapest or fastest way to send ZAR, it’s the provider that will keep you safe and relaxed while your money moves into South Africa.
Understanding the costs involved when moving money to South Africa
When calculating the cost of money transfers to South Africa, here's what really matters: the country of origin, amount, payment method, fees, and the markup on the ZAR exchange rate.
Exchange rate markup
This is a percentage added on top of the "real" ZAR rate (known as the mid-market rate).
Wise, for example, offers the best exchange rate. It adds 0% markup to the USD-ZAR exchange rate (17.7391 ZAR + 0% per US Dollar).
Transfer fees
These are fixed and/or percentage fees added for the service when sending money to South Africa.
Let's imagine you want to send $2,000 from the US to South Africa.
After analyzing 19 companies supporting Rand, we found PayPal to offer the lowest fees ($0 in fees and 4.1% markup).
However, exact fees vary by deposit method and the service, for example:
Bank transfers vary from $0 to $0
Debit cards range from $132.76 to $25.39
Credit cards can go from $226.78 to $54.51
How to find the best exchange rate for Rand transfers
An exchange rate is a constantly changing value of ZAR in relation to another currency. The exchange rate you secure impacts how much ZAR you will get, so timing your transfer is essential to get the most out of it.
Let's dive into some recent ZAR trends.
Over the past six months, the exchange rate from USD to ZAR has seen some fluctuation. On average, it stood at 18.4144 Rand.
During this period, the highest value recorded for Rand was 19.2948, while the lowest was 17.4309.
Wise, which is our recommended service to send money online to South Africa offers an exchange rate that is only 0% above the mid-market rate.
Want to secure the best Rand exchange rates?
Sign up for our rate alerts and we'll tell you when it's the best time to move your money to South Africa!
Payment methods available to fund your transfer to South Africa
How we analyze the market
We track the cost, speed, and product offerings of the leading money transfer services available in South Africa.
Our comparison engine and algorithms evaluate providers based on over 25 factors, including transfer fees, ease of use, exchange rates, mobile apps, transfer times & customer support.
We also consider how these services are rated on platforms like TrustPilot, AppStore, and Google Play, giving you a comprehensive view of what to expect.
This thorough analysis helps you get the best available deal - every time you want to move money to South Africa.
We also provide unbiased and detailed reviews of all the top money transfer companies. You can use these reviews to find the best service for your needs when sending money to South Africa
For a deeper understanding of our commitment to integrity and transparency, we invite you to read our editorial policy document.
Related transfer routes
Send money from United States
Send money to South Africa
Keep your money safe
Making sure your funds are safe when transferring to South Africa is really important. Ensure you send money to the recipients in South Africa you know and trust.
Always choose providers that are regulated by financial authorities.
If you don’t know what the key regulatory bodies are in South Africa, please refer to our directory of financial regulators worldwide.
FAQs
Find answers to the most common questions on our dedicated FAQ page.