How to send money to South Africa from Zimbabwe with the best USD-ZAR rate

Find the best deals when you transfer from Zimbabwe to South Africa. Get insights on the fastest, cheapest, and providers with the best USD to ZAR exchange rates.

Read on to get the best value, expert information, and analysis on ways to send money to South Africa from Zimbabwe.

Transferring the other way? Send ZAR from South Africa to Zimbabwe instead.
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November 26th, 2025

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Best money transfer companies

Send money from Zimbabwe to South Africa

Last updated: Today
Mid-market rate as of 11/26/2025: 1 USD = 17.177041 ZAR
Results below are based on a 250 USD search
Promoted
Wise
Recipient gets (ZAR)
R 4,072.41
Full transfer details

"Over 16 million customers use Wise, mostly for their excellent mobile app, transparent fee structure & use of mid-market rates. Now increasingly used for larger transfers."

Personal account manager
Multi-currency card
Receive to bank account
Dedicated support for large transfers
Sort by:
0 of 4 providers
1
Wise
Recipient gets (ZAR)
R 4,072.41
Full transfer details

"Over 16 million customers use Wise, mostly for their excellent mobile app, transparent fee structure & use of mid-market rates. Now increasingly used for larger transfers."

Personal account manager
Multi-currency card
Receive to bank account
Dedicated support for large transfers
Send cash via a Western Union agent
2
Western Union Agent
Recipient gets (ZAR)
R 4,030.59
Full transfer details

"Western Union agents help you send money from a wide variety of countries. Find a local branch near you to deposit cash and send your funds abroad."

7.7
Personal account manager
Multi-currency card
Receive to bank account or debit card
Cash pickup
Send cash via a MoneyGram agent
3
MoneyGram Agent
Recipient gets (ZAR)
R 4,030.59
Full transfer details

"With MoneyGram you can send money globally. Find a local MoneyGram branch near you to deposit and send cash abroad."

7.5
Personal account manager
Multi-currency card
Receive to bank account or debit card
Cash pickup
Send Money Between PayPal Accounts
4
PayPal App
Recipient gets (ZAR)
R 3,972.02
Full transfer details

"If you and the person you are sending money to both have PayPal apps, you can quickly and easily send money between each other."

5.4
Personal account manager
Multi-currency card
Receive to bank account or debit card
P2P transfer
Mid-market rate updates every 60 minutes
Promoted
Wise
Recipient gets (ZAR)
R 4,072.41
Full transfer details

"Over 16 million customers use Wise, mostly for their excellent mobile app, transparent fee structure & use of mid-market rates. Now increasingly used for larger transfers."

Personal account manager
Multi-currency card
Receive to bank account
Dedicated support for large transfers
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Overall best option: Wise

Wise is our recommended company for sending money to South Africa from USD.

Of the 4 companies that support USD to ZAR, Wise offered the best combination of cost and speed.

Sending 250 USD to ZAR will cost you $12.86 in fees, and you will receive 4,072.41 ZAR. The delivery time usually is same day, but can be longer depending when you make the transfer.

So for a great mix of cost, speed & features, send US Dollars to South Africa using Wise.

Wise is the top rated company for sending money from Zimbabwe (USD) to South Africa (ZAR) - Wise Screenshot

Compare for the best deal on your Zimbabwe to South Africa transfer

Summary of recent searches

Top rated for transfers from Zimbabwe to South Africa
Wise
Total number of ZW - ZA providers
4
Average cheapest fees & rate
Wise
Average fastest transfer
PayPal App
Average transfer time
Within minutes
Best for bank transfers
Western Union Agent
Best for debit card
PayPal App
Best for credit card
PayPal App

Transfer consider from Zimbabwe to South Africa

1

Compare available providers

A comparison of providers offering services between Zimbabwe and South Africa is paramount. Based on your specific transfer amount, the best way to send money to South Africa could change. Comparing ensures the best price for your needs.

For services allowing you to send US Dollar to South Africa we've compared 4 providers.

This coverage of the market ensure you will get the best options for your transfer to South Africa from Zimbabwe.

Overall, we rated Wise as the best, but remember comparing for your specific transfer gives you a comprehensive view of all the options for transferring money from Zimbabwe to South Africa.

2

Getting the best US Dollar-Rand exchange rate

3

Choose the right payment method

4

Financial regulators

5

Consider transfer limits

6

Consider how the money will be received

7

Have your ID ready

8

Tax declarations in South Africa

The fastest way to send money to South Africa from Zimbabwe is by sending cash

Cash transfers are almost instant in most cases.

However, in some cases, it can take a few days to process, depending on your branch, how much you are sending, and the deposit method you use.

Considering there aren’t many USD/ZAR transfer options available, this is by far the fastest way to do it.

The cheapest way to to send money to South Africa from Zimbabwe is via PayPal P2P Transfer

The coverage of USD/ZAR transfer options is very limited, therefore, PayPal’s P2P transfer service is one of the cheaper options you have, along with cash transfer via Western Union and MoneyGram.

With PayPals P2P transfer, the main cost is the conversion between currencies, which can go as high as % on top of the mid market rate, as well as a USD transfer fee.

You can also opt to use a cash transfer via MoneyGram or Western Union, which are cheaper in some cases (depending on the amount, deposit method, and your branch).

Screenshot

Need to make a large transfer?

For big transfers between Zimbabwe and South Africa, competitive pricing & strong customer service are key.

Wise is the best option for large transfers of the
4 providers compared.

While Wise may not always be the cheapest or fastest way to send USD from Zimbabwe to South Africa, it's a great provider for larger transfers for things like buying or selling property.

Understanding the cost of sending money to South Africa from Zimbabwe

The cost of sending money from South Africa to South Africa, is made-up of a combination of fees and exchange rates:

The Mid-Market and Exchange Rates: The mid-market rate determines a mid-price for buying currency. The current mid-market rate from USD-ZAR is 17.1465 ZAR per US Dollar.

  • Finding a provider offering an exchange as close to 17.1465 as possible will ensure more Rand received when transferring.

  • For context, the USD-ZAR mid-market rate for the past 7 days has averaged 17.2882 ZAR per US Dollar. This includes a high of 17.3742, and low of 17.177.

  • Wise currently offers the best exchange rate on transfers from Zimbabwe to South Africa.

For the most part the USD-ZAR exchange rate you receive is the biggest factor impacting the cost of sending USD to South Africa.

Fees: Outside of exchange rates, you may need to pay a fee to send. Wise currently offers the lowest fees on transfers to South Africa from Zimbabwe. They charge 12.86 USD per transfer.

Although this does include large transfers as well, we recommend searching for your exact send amount for an exact fee.

Amount Received: The amount received in Rand is the amount you started with, minus the amount you paid in the exchange and fees.

The better deal you get on exchanging US Dollars to ZAR, paired with a low fee, means a higher total amount received in South Africa.

Getting best exchange rate for sending US Dollar to Rand

Timing is essential when tracking the mid-market rate between USD and ZAR. The end exchange rate you secure impacts how much ZAR you get for your USD.

Mid-market Rate
1 
USD
=
17.146450 
ZAR

The recent mid-market rate trends are:

  • Over the past 7 days, the mid-market rate from USD to ZAR was 17.2882.

  • During this period, it hit a high of 17.3742, and a low of 17.177.

  • Wise, which is our recommended service to send money online from Zimbabwe to South Africa offers an exchange rate that is only 0.02% above the mid-market rate.

Want to secure the best USD-Rand exchange rates?

Sign up for our rate alerts and we'll tell you when it's the best time to move your money from Zimbabwe to South Africa!

Zimbabwe to
South Africa money transfer payment methods

  • Bank transfers

    Bank transfers are often the best payment method for money transfers from Zimbabwe to South Africa.

    A money transfer company like Western Union Agent offer bank transfers between Zimbabwe and South Africa with lower fees and better exchange rates than you would get from a traditional bank. 


    On average, Western Union Agent is the cheapest provider for bank transfers of the 4 we tested when sending USD to South Africa.

    Western Union Agent has a fee of 3 USD for money transfersfrom Zimbabwe to South Africa. Overall, they offer a great combination of competitive exchange rates and lower fees.


  • Debit and prepaid cards

    Sending money from Zimbabwe to South Africa with a debit or a prepaid card is very simple with Wise.


    Wise is a leader in debit card payments for transfers from Zimbabwe to South Africa, competing among a total of 4 active money transfer companies on this route.

  • Credit cards


    We recommend avoiding credit cards where possible due to a lack of support and high fees.

    If you have to use a credit card, we recommend comparing your options to find the company with the lowest fees.

    Fee alert: using a credit card to transfer money can result in a fee being charged by your card issuer as it is considered as a cash advance. That's why we recommend bank transfer or debit card instead.

How we analyze the market

We track the cost, speed, and product offerings of the leading money transfer services available between South Africa and Zimbabwe.


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 from Zimbabwe to South Africa.


We also provide unbiased and detailed reviews of all the top money transfer companies. You can use these reviews to send USD to ZAR.


For a deeper understanding of our commitment to integrity and transparency, we invite you to read our editorial policy and review methodology.

Money transfer company reviews

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How long does it take to send money from Zimbabwe to South Africa?
What is the best exchange rate I can get for sending money from Zimbabwe to South Africa?
Are there any minimum or maximum transfer amounts for sending money from Zimbabwe to South Africa?
Can I schedule regular transfers between Zimbabwe and South Africa?

Contributors

Keith Hodges
Keith is an experienced Content Specialist with a rich background in both marketing and journalism within the financial sector. At MoneyTransfers.com, Keith plays a pivotal role in driving the business forward and broadening its reach in various international money transfer markets. His expertise is a key factor in the company's expansion and success.
Luke Eales
Luke is the founder and CEO of MoneyTransfers.com, with over 10 years’ experience building consumer products across finance, insurance, and travel. A frequent traveler himself, Luke has hands-on experience testing payment and transfer services globally, giving him a unique perspective on the real-world challenges users face. Luke focuses on the payments sector and foreign exchange markets, as well as personal finance more broadly.
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