NALA money transfer review: Fees, exchange rate and more

NALA is an international money transfer service that lets customers in the UK and other supported countries send money to destinations across Africa and parts of Asia. Whether you're sending money to family and friends or making regular international payments, NALA offers a mobile-first way to transfer funds abroad.

This review covers everything you need to know about using NALA in the UK, including who can use the service, where you can send money, its fees, exchange rates, transfer limits and delivery times.

We’ll also introduce Wise as a smart alternative for international transfers – with over 18.9 million people worldwide moving £52 billion each quarter.

With Wise you get low, transparent fees, mid-market exchange rates, and secure, trackable transfers, with dedicated support and volume discounts when sending large amounts. On a £50,000 transfer, you could save up to £1,000 with Wise vs your bank.

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What is NALA money transfer?

NALA is a money transfer platform that lets users in supported countries send money to a growing network of countries across Africa and Asia. The service focuses on international remittances, allowing customers to send money directly to bank accounts, mobile money wallets and other NALA users, depending on the destination country.

Available through its mobile app, NALA aims to make international transfers simple, with transparent pricing, competitive exchange rates and in-app support. It is available to customers in supported sending countries, including the UK, the US and selected European countries, with recipients across Africa and parts of Asia.

Is NALA available in the UK?

Yes, NALA is available to use in the UK for residents who meet the eligible criteria.

It is also available in other international territories such as the US and selected European countries, providing a global framework which links back to the African continent.¹ Naturally, NALA is also available to download in those African nations.

Eligibility

To be eligible to use NALA in the UK, you must meet a few critical criteria. First, you must be a resident of the UK. Secondly, you must also be over the age of 18. You must be able to provide legal proof of both and can do this by submitting government-recognised ID such as a driver’s licence or a passport.

You must also have a platform to access NALA through such as a smartphone, and must have a bank account set up in your name to make payments from and to. You will also be required to provide both your name and phone number to use the app.² You don’t need any prior connection to Africa to be eligible.

Can you use NALA in the UK?

Yes, the UK is one of NALA's supported sending countries. It is a critical part of a European network that also connects the EU to the vast array of African nations available through NALA.

Where can you send money with NALA?

NALA lets customers in supported sending countries, including the UK, send money to a growing range of countries across Africa and Asia. At the time of writing, you can send money to:¹

• Bangladesh
• Cameroon
• Congo
• Côte d'Ivoire
• Gabon
• Ghana
• India
• Kenya
• Nigeria
• Pakistan
• Philippines
• Rwanda
• Senegal
• South Africa
• Tanzania
• Uganda

How to use NALA in the UK

To be able to use NALA in the UK, you have to progress through a series of simple steps. First, you’ll need to download the app and sign up to NALA Money.

Next, you’ll need to go through the registration process. This is where you provide your ID, phone number and name as evidence that you are in the UK.

You can then link up to your existing bank account and begin using NALA’s many features. That includes being able to set up a NALA wallet and send money to other NALA users.

NALA money transfer pricing, fees and exchange rate

NALA isn’t completely free to use, but it does feature low-cost money transfers and doesn’t hide additional costs that prevent you from using any of its functionality. These are the key fees to be aware of:³

• Variable exchange rates based on the country you’re sending to.
• All transfers over £20 are free.
• The first three transfers each month under £20 are free.
• Every transfer under £20 following that is £0.65.

So, whether you’re looking for the cheapest way to send money to Nigeria or the most cost-effective platform to set up ongoing payments to Kenya, this guide will provide coverage of what NALA offers.

International transfer fees

NALA charges just a small amount for international transfers. The system in place encourages users to send larger amounts at a time. Any transfer over the price of £20 that is being sent internationally, will be absolutely free.

However, if you’re looking to send smaller amounts, there is a caveat. Every month, NALA will provide the first three transfers under the price of £20 for free. However, after that limit is reached, NALA will charge £0.65 per transfer.

So, if you’re looking to use NALA on a regular basis, the best way to make the most of the platform in a cost-effective way is by always transferring over £20 internationally, to avoid those additional charges.

FX fees

For those who are not familiar with the term FX fees, this refers to the costs that banks and financial providers expect to be paid when making international transactions. It essentially translates to foreign exchange fees.

While NALA largely wants to stick with its low-cost features, there are some FX fees which are applied to specific countries. NALA continues to provide transparent coverage of those fees. Always check the NALA website before making your transaction.

Some of those FX costs at the time of writing include a £5.99 fee if you’re in the UK and are sending money to Uganda and a £5.99 fee for a UK to Tanzania transfer.⁴

What exchange rate does NALA use?

NALA generally uses the mid-market exchange rate as a starting point before adding a currency conversion markup.⁵

The app provides a transparent overview of the rates being used, meaning you can always step away and return depending on rate fluctuations.

Send international transfers without hidden fees with Wise

When you’re comparing international transfer providers, it's worth focusing on the total cost of the payment rather than any single fee. A provider that appears cheaper upfront may not always offer the best overall value.

Banks and other providers may claim to have “no fees” but they could be adding a sneaky mark-up to their exchange rate. This can impact your budget by up to 2% when sending money abroad. On a £50,000 transfer, you could save up to £1,000 with Wise vs your bank.

Wise has built its own payment network that allows customers to send money internationally for less. You’ll get the mid-market exchange rate (close to the one you see on Google) with no hidden markups and low, transparent fees.

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**Investments are not guaranteed, and your capital is at risk.

Wise is an Electronic Money Institution (EMI), so features like Interest and Stocks may be covered by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS). For standard cash balances, we safeguard your funds to meet regulatory obligations.

In the UK, Interest and Stocks are provided by Wise Assets, the trading name of Wise Assets UK Ltd, which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA number 839689).

We do not provide investment advice, and taxes may apply. If unsure, seek qualified financial advice. Full fund information is available on our website.

NALA money transfer limits

While NALA might encourage larger transfers through its financial incentives, there are still limits on what you can send. The NALA app will inform you of your transfer limits based on your country. These will include daily and monthly limits.

These limits reset every 30 days and are also influenced by whether you have registered an ID on your account or not. The general cap is around £5000 per day, $5000 per day in the US and €5000 in the EU.⁶

Can you receive international transfers with NALA in the UK?

Yes, NALA does provide a platform to receive international transfers in the UK. Although the app is set up to primarily focus on sending money abroad, the digital wallet allows its users to also receive funds.

You can use NALA Friends to quickly send and receive money between other NALA users in the same region, either UK to UK, or EU to EU.⁷

How long does a NALA money transfer take?

The NALA app is designed to provide easy, friction-free money transfers. That means that the majority of your financial moves are almost instant. Delivery to mobile accounts can take just a few seconds at most for countries such as Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Ghana, Rwanda, Cameroon, Senegal, Côte d'Ivoire and Bangladesh. Delivery to mobile wallets in Pakistan and the Philippines typically takes a few minutes.

However, the delivery times associated with sending money to bank accounts can vary more broadly. Sending money to a bank account in Nigeria may take a few seconds. However, a bank in Kenya won’t receive the funds for several minutes. Tanzania, Uganda, Ghana and Bangladesh will take a few hours.

Always consult NALA’s official guide to transaction delivery times to get the best estimate as to how long it’ll take to send your money. You may also find that sending via the app alone is the most efficient and effective way to ensure that your cash arrives on time.⁸

NALA money transfer app

Most customers use NALA through its mobile transfer app. This platform is available on all major app stores including Android’s Google Play Store, Apple’s iOS store and through the official website. That does mean that you will need a mobile or smart device to be able to use NALA and access its features.

The NALA money transfer app offers an easy-to-use and intuitive interface that allows you to send money to Africa, the EU and Asia. The app is free to download.

How to contact NALA money transfer

If you need to contact NALA for support with the app, to file a complaint or for any additional information, you can head to the official NALA help page.

If you are in the UK, you may also call +44 1483 947084 or email mamanala@nala.com for general enquiries and support@nala.money for more specific security issues. Complaints may be sent to complaints@nala.money.

Is NALA money transfer right for you?

Deciding on whether NALA money is right for you is entirely dependent on your financial needs. If you are looking for a reliable way to regularly make payments to African nations, sending money home to friends or family, or perhaps to secure your business interests, then NALA might be right for you.

Key takeaways

• NALA allows residents in the UK, US, and selected European countries to send international money transfers to a growing network of nations across Africa and Asia.
• To be eligible for the service in the UK, users must be over the age of 18 and provide legal proof of identity, such as a passport or driver’s licence.
• International transfers over £20 are free, while users get three free transfers under £20 each month, after which a £0.65 fee applies per transaction.
• While NALA uses the mid-market exchange rate as a starting point, it adds a currency conversion markup and charges specific FX fees for certain destinations, such as a £5.99 fee for transfers from the UK to Uganda or Tanzania.
• General daily transfer limits on the app are capped around £5,000 per day in the UK, while transfer speeds range from almost instant for mobile wallets to several hours for certain overseas bank accounts.

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Sources used:

1. NALA Money – What countries can send and receive money to and from using NALA
2. NALA Money – UK Terms of Service
3. NALA Money – Why is there a fee when sending small transfers?
4. NALA Money – Why is there a fee when sending money to a bank account?
5. NALA Money – How does NALA make money?
6. NALA Money – NALA homepage
7. NALA Money – Send money to a NALA friend
8. NALA Money – How long does it take to send my money?

Sources last checked: 25/03/2026