Wise vs Remitly international transfers: Fees, exchange rates and transfer times in 2024

When you send money abroad, whether for personal or business reasons, it involves some important considerations, including the fees you pay, exchange rates, transfer times and security. 

This detailed comparison examines two major providers in this space, Wise and Remitly, to help you make a well-informed choice. 

Let’s get started!

Wise vs Remitly overview

In terms of international money transfers, both Wise and Remitly both offer specific advantages, with products tailored to diverse user needs.

Let’s look at each one in turn.

Wise overview

Known previously as TransferWise, Wise is renowned for its commitment to transparency and cost-effectiveness. 

It offers transfers at mid-market rates without hidden fees or markups, making it a good choice for cost-conscious users managing cross-border transactions.

Remitly overview

Established in 2011 and headquartered in the Greater Seattle Area, USA, Remitly has supported over three million customers, managing international transfers across 170 countries. 

It offers versatile payout options including bank deposits, cash pickups and mobile wallet transfers.

Key differences

Wise and Remitly each have distinct advantages.  

Wise offers rapid transfer times and minimal fees, often delivering funds within minutes without adding a margin on the exchange rate. 

Remitly, on the other hand, while offering a wide array of payment options, typically charges a markup of 0.5% to 3.0% over the mid-market rate and may include additional fees based on the size and speed of your money transfer.

Exchange rates and transfer fees

Wise exchange rates and transfer fees

Wise has built a reputation for clear fee structures aimed at affordability. It operates at the mid-market rate, ensuring you get transparent exchange rates and no hidden costs. 

Overall, it does a good job of providing cost-efficient international money transfers.

Exchange fees: Wise follows a zero-margin policy on the exchange rate. This means that you benefit from rates that mirror the mid-market. It makes its profits by adding either a percentage or a fixed fee to each transfer you make.

Transfer fees: Typically starting at 0.43%, Wise’s transfer fees vary depending on the currency pair and the transaction volume.

Just like us here at TransferGo, Wise promotes full disclosure of fees upfront, so you can calculate the total cost before making an international transfer.

Remitly exchange rates and transfer fees

Remitly’s pricing model adds fees to the exchange rate and charges an additional fee on top.

For transactions over $500 paid via a bank account, Remitly often waives these fees.

Exchange fees: Remitly adds a markup ranging from 0.5% to 3.0% above the mid-market rate, depending on the currency pair involved.

Transfer fees: The fees vary based on the amount sent and the delivery speed chosen, with no fees on transfers over $500 when paid by bank account.

While Remitly provides a practical option for international transfers, those looking for a more cost-effective and transparent solution might find Wise and TransferGo more straightforward.

Service quality and user experience

Although cost is probably your number one consideration, you cannot overstate the importance of good service and user experience.

Customer reviews provide the best insight into service quality and overall satisfaction levels, so in this section, we compare the performance of Wise and Remitly based on existing customer feedback.

Wise customer satisfaction

Wise’s online platform is best known for its user-friendliness and straightforward fee disclosure, earning it a Trustpilot score of 4.2 out of 5. 

Customers seem to appreciate the ease of navigation and fee transparency, which simplify transactions and build trust.

Did you know?

In comparison, TransferGo surpasses Wise in customer satisfaction with an ’Excellent’ TrustPilot rating of 4.7/5, making it a more popular alternative with savvy money transfer shoppers.

Remitly customer satisfaction

Remitly is best known for providing reliable transfer services with a wide variety of delivery options. This makes it popular with regular remitters like pension recipients. 

This has earned the platform a TrustPilot score of 4 out of 5, which is lower than both Wise and TransferGo.

Transfer times

Wise money transfer times

Wise boasts efficient processing times, with a significant portion of transfers completed in minutes. 

The exact timing can vary depending on how quickly funds reach Wise, any necessary verification steps and the payout currency’s processing speed.

Generally, the time frame for a transfer ranges from a few minutes to up to four business days.

Remitly money transfer times

Remitly’s transfers typically take two to three days, but the service offers faster options for an additional fee. 

This flexibility allows customers to balance cost against urgency, with tiered service speeds ranging from economy to express.

Did you know?

TransferGo provides various delivery options tailored to your preferences. Standard transfers generally arrive within one business day, with the option of faster delivery (as quick as 30 minutes), or you can opt for slower transfers with zero fees.

Security and trustworthiness

Both Wise and Remitly are secure money transfer providers, fully regulated in every country they operate. They adhere to high standards of safety and compliance, providing peace of mind for anyone using their services.

Just like Wise and Remitly, TransferGo also places a strong emphasis on security and user trust, aligning with the industry’s best practices.

As a licensed Authorised Payment Institution regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority, TransferGo adheres to stringent regulatory standards. This ensures the safety and security of users’ funds thanks to advanced encryption protocols and security measures to protect users’ personal and financial information, mitigating the risk of unauthorised access or fraudulent activities.

Final verdict

When comparing Wise and Remitly for international money transfers, the choice really depends on your specific needs. 

Wise is great for quick transfer times and a transparent fee structure, which makes it an excellent option for those who value speed and cost efficiency. 

On the other hand, Remitly offers more flexible payout options across a broad network of 170 countries, making it great for users looking for versatility in delivery methods.

Overall, Wise stands out with its ability to handle large transfers effectively, offering a high transfer limit which makes it particularly attractive for significant transactions. 

Meanwhile, Remitly provides tiered sending limits that can appeal to users with more complex needs.

In summary, if your priority is cost-effective, rapid transfers and high transfer limits, Wise is likely to be the better option. 

However, don’t overlook TransferGo, which combines competitive exchange rates, transparent fee structures and swift transfer times with exemplary customer service. It’s a strong contender if you are looking for a reliable and user-friendly money transfer service.