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Here’s a quick summary of the top 5 money transfer apps in India:
Aspora - Best for ultra-low fees and mid-market rates from the UK, UAE, and Europe
Remitly - Best for instant transfers and flexible payout options (UPI, cash, mobile wallet)
XE - Best for large, high-value transfers with no fees
Wise - Best for transparent pricing and multi-currency features
Ria Money Transfer - Best for cash pickup, home delivery, and hard-to-reach locations
Below, I’ll go over these in a bit more detail.
Aspora App
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Aspora is the best option for sending money to India cheaply and efficiently.
It uses the mid-market exchange rate same as Wise (the rate you see on Google), and charges a flat, capped fee:
Up to £3 for transfers from the UK
Up to €3 for transfers from Ireland or Italy
Currently no fees for transfers from the UAE
Transfers often arrive the same day, and in most cases instantly.
However, if you're after online transfers or recurring payments, it's not the best option.
How Aspora compares to other apps:
Cheaper than Remitly and Ria for UPI or bank deposits under £1,000
Often beats Wise on GBP to INR due to lower fixed fees
Limited withdrawal options if your recipient needs cash pickup or delivery, for example
Remitly App
Remitly supports nearly every payout method in India, including UPI, cash pickup, and home delivery.
They offer two transfer options, Express and Economy:
Express transfers usually arrive in minutes
Economy takes a few days but costs less
It’s great for people sending from the US, UK, or EU who want speed and flexibility.
But exchange rate markups can get expensive, especially for small or frequent transfers.
Here's how Remitly compares to other apps in India:
More flexible than Aspora or Wise if you need cash delivery or in-person payout
Slower and more expensive than Aspora or Wise for direct UPI transfers
Better suited to first-time users who want fast, no-fuss delivery options
XE App
XE offers one of the highest sending limits in the market (including India).
If you are sending large amounts (over 500 USD, GBP, or EUR), transfers have much lower fees (often free) and offer better rates than banks.
However, there’s no UPI support or cash pickup, and smaller transfers come with higher markups and flat fees.
We'd recommend picking XE only for large or business transfers to India.
Here's how XE compares to similar apps in India:
Better than Wise or Remitly for large bank transfers to India
Not ideal for small transfers, use Aspora or Wise instead
No UPI or non-bank payout support, for these, try Ria or Remitly if your recipient needs that
Wise App
Wise shows you exactly how much your recipient will get, using the mid-market exchange rate with no hidden markup.
It is often known as the best option for small to mid-size transfers, however, for transfers to India, it is actually a bit more expensive than Aspora.
For example, a £2000 transfer from the UK to India would cost you £10.66 with Wise vs £3 with Aspora.
Now, if you send money back home every month, that's a £91.92 difference per year.
Most transfers to India with Wise are usually fast where UPI and bank transfers often arrive same day or faster.
It also offers a multi-currency account with a prepaid card, making it ideal if you’re managing money across borders or spending in INR.
However, the card is only available to open in the UK and the EU, so you won't be able to open it in India.
This option is better if you live in the EEA and frequently travel back home to India.
Here's why and when we recommend using Wise:
Often cheaper than Remitly or Ria for smaller or recurring transfers
Not as fast as Aspora for GBP to INR transfers
No cash pickup, use Ria or Remitly if your recipient needs that
Ria App
Ria supports cash pickup, UPI, mobile wallet, and even home delivery in India, making it ideal if your recipient cannot accept a bank deposit.
Transfers made via card to India can arrive in minutes, especially if your receiver is picking it up as cash.
However, it’s not cheap compared to other apps on the list.
The fees and exchange rates can vary widely depending on the transfer method, the amount, and the withdrawal method.
For regular or digital transfers to Indian bank accounts, Ria will cost more than Wise or Aspora.
Here's when and why we recommend using Ria Money Transfer:
Best for offline access, cash, or UPI in remote areas (they have the biggest coverage of all)
More expensive than Aspora and Wise for digital transfers
Not suitable for high-value or business online transfers, consider using XE instead
Other money transfer apps worth considering
While the top apps cover most use cases for sending money to India, there are a few others that could be a better fit depending on your preferences, especially if you’re looking for a strong first-time offer, UPI support, or transfers from specific countries.
WorldRemit
WorldRemit supports UPI, mobile wallet, and cash pickup to India, and has one of the most flexible recipient options (including airtime and transfers to phone numbers).
It’s an option for transfers to India when you don't have the full recipient bank details. However, it is generally more expensive than similar apps.
Atlantic Money
Instarem
Profee
ICICI Money2India
LemFi
Skydo (Business only)
Some providers support it.
Aspora accepts Apple Pay, and Remitly may offer Google Pay depending on the country you are sending money from.
Always confirm within the app during checkout.
Choosing the right app for sending money to India
When sending money to India (regardless of what app or platform you use), there are a few things you should know about beforehand.
UPI support
One of the fastest ways to deliver money to India is through UPI (the Unified Payments Interface) that powers instant transfers to most Indian bank accounts.
Apps like Remitly, Ria, WorldRemit, and Aspora support UPI, often enabling the money to arrive within minutes.
If your recipient prefers speed and convenience over physical pickup, choose a provider that supports UPI payouts.
Exchange rates and fees
If value matters more than convenience, look for providers that combine mid-market exchange rates with transparent, low-cost fees.
Wise and Aspora stand out since both use the real mid-market rate, with minimal or capped fees.
Atlantic Money also does this, though it's more limited in features.
Apps like XE and Profee become especially cost-effective for larger transfers, where fees are waived or capped, and rates improve with volume.
INR transfer speed
If you need money now, send cash or a UPI transfer.
If you need the money to arrive instantly or same-day, Remitly (Express) and Ria (with card funding or in-store) consistently deliver in 15 minutes or less.
Aspora, Wise, and WorldRemit also offer same-day delivery to India (thanks to the UPI transfers).
Receiving methods
Not all recipients in India have easy access to digital banking.
If your family member or recipient prefers cash, look for apps with cash pickup or home delivery.
Ria and Xoom have large payout networks across India for in-person collection, while Remitly supports both pickup and UPI.
For rare situations where doorstep delivery is needed, Ria is one of the few apps offering it.
Transfer size
If you’re sending more than ₹10 lakh (approx. £10,000 or $12,000), costs and limits become more important.
XE and Wise offer generous transfer limits with relatively competitive rates and no hidden fees.
Remitly supports mid-size transfers, especially if you're in Tier 2 or Tier 3 verification (it's a bit more expensive than others, but it offers cash pickup)
These apps are typically better suited than cash-first platforms for larger, documented remittances.
Recurring payments
Whether you're supporting family monthly or paying tuition regularly, only a few apps allow recurring or scheduled payments.
Wise supports this using its balance feature, and Ria offers scheduled transfers in its app.
However, platforms like Aspora and Atlantic Money don’t currently support recurring or future-dated payments and you’ll need to initiate each transfer manually.
Cancellations
Usuaully, you can cancel your transfer unless it's been already delivered.
For fast options (like UPI or card-funded transfers), cancellation is often not possible.
You’ll need to contact your chosen providers support immediately.
If you're transferring over ₹1 crore (around £100,000), or need hands-on support for a large or complex payment, consider a currency broker instead of an app. Providers like Currencies Direct, TorFX, and Key Currency offer personal account managers, rate alerts, and more tailored support. They're ideal for one-off high-value transfers where timing, rate negotiation, and reassurance matter.
Ways to receive money in India
One of the big advantages of using international transfer apps is flexibility, and India supports more payout options than almost any other country.
Here are the most common ways money can be received in India via apps, and how they compare.
UPI (Instant bank-linked payment)
This is the fastest and most popular option today.
Most major apps, including Aspora, Remitly, WorldRemit, and Ria, support UPI as a payout method in India.
All you need is the recipient’s VPA (UPI ID), and the money typically arrives in seconds or minutes.
This option is best for those with an Indian bank account and a UPI-enabled app (e.g., Google Pay, PhonePe, Paytm).
Bank transfer (NEFT/IMPS)
Cash pickup
Mobile wallet
Home delivery
Transfers may be paused for verification (especially first-time or high-value transfers).
Most providers will request ID or source-of-funds docs before resuming.
This is common and usually resolved within a few days.
Regulations in India on money transfers
Sending money to India is generally straightforward from countries like the UK, the US, or Europe, especially when using regulated apps.
That said, it’s helpful to understand the basics of how the process is monitored on both ends.
Transfers into India are governed by RBI (Reserve Bank of India) regulations, which allow individuals to receive foreign remittances freely for personal use, family support, tuition, or investments.
If you’re sending money to someone’s NRE or NRO account, make sure you know the difference, some apps (like DollarPe or XE) only support one or the other.
Here's a quick overview of the two accounts:
NRE (Non-Resident External): For foreign income, tax-free in India, accepts only foreign currency.
NRO (Non-Resident Ordinary): For Indian income, taxable, accepts INR from abroad.
Not all services support transfers to NRE accounts, so always check before sending.
Apps like Wise, Remitly, Ria, and Aspora all work with licensed Indian partners and follow RBI-compliant flows.
They’ll ask for your recipient’s account details and sometimes full name as per bank records, especially for UPI transfers.
As a sender, your own country’s limits or ID checks might apply. For example:
UK: Providers like Wise or XE may ask for proof of address or ID for large transfers.
US: Remitly and others follow state-level money transmitter laws and federal limits.
EU: Apps may verify your identity once you cross certain yearly thresholds (often around €10,000).
Usually no, most providers will trigger identity checks for high-value transfers. XE, Wise, and TorFX offer higher limits but still require additional documents for large amounts.
