12 alternatives to Western Union in the UK

Need to send money abroad from the UK? An online transfer service could be a cheaper, faster and more convenient way to do it, compared to using your bank.

If it’s your first time using this kind of service, it’s tempting to go straight for a big name such as Western Union. But did you know that there are lots of other alternatives available in the UK? By comparing a few transfer providers, you could get lower fees and better exchange rates.

In this guide, we’ll make it easy to find the best way to send money internationally. We’ll give you the lowdown on 12 Western Union alternatives, including the money services provider Wise. With Wise, you can send money worldwide for low fees and great exchange rates.

Please see the Terms of Use for your region or visit Wise fees & pricing for the most up-to-date information on pricing and fees.

What services and products does Western Union offer?

Before we dive into our list of alternatives, it’s useful to know a little about what Western Union actually offers.

It’s primarily a money transfer service, specialising in international transfers and operating in 200+ countries and territories.¹

You can use Western Union to send money online or via the mobile app, sending to bank accounts and mobile wallets worldwide. But you can also make and receive transfers in person, at one of thousands of Western Union agent locations.

Pros and cons of Western Union

Pros:

• A worldwide network in 200+ countries and territories¹
• Convenience - as WU has a wide choice of delivery and collection methods
• Cash pickup and payment available
• Easy tracking with the Western Union app
• Fully regulated around the world
• Has a partnership with the Post Office.

Cons:

• Western Union adds a markup to the mid-market exchange rate, making transfers more expensive³²
• Some transfer fees do apply - and they may not always be the most competitive
• You may pay more for faster services, as well as payment in cash²
• Not all delivery/collection methods are available for all destinations.²

Quick comparison of Western Union and alternatives

Now, here’s your at-a-glance look at Western Union alternatives, so you’ll know all of the different options available to you.

Provider name	Transfer fees	Exchange rate	Coverage
Western Union	Varies	Mid-market rate + markup³²	200 countries 130 currencies¹
Wise	From £0.21 + 0.43%	Mid-market rate	160 countries 40+ currencies
Remitly	Varies	Mid-market rate + markup⁵	170 countries 100+ currencies³
Revolut	Varies	Mid-market rate + likely markup⁸	29 currencies⁷
Ria Money Transfer	Varies	Mid-market rate + likely markup¹⁰	165+ countries⁹
Xoom (a PayPal service)	Varies	Mid-market rate + markup¹⁴	160+ countries¹¹
MoneyGram	Varies	Mid-market rate + markup¹⁷	200+ countries¹⁵
WorldRemit	Varies	Mid-market rate + markup²⁰	130+ countries 70+ currencies¹⁸
TorFX	None	Mid-market rate + markup²¹	40+ currencies²¹
Xe	Varies (can include third-party fees)	Mid-market rate + markup²³	200 countries 100 currencies²²
OFX	Varies	Mid-market rate + markup²⁶	170 countries 50 currencies²⁴
Currencies Direct	None	Mid-market rate + markup²⁸	40+ currencies²⁷
Moneycorp	Varies	Mid-market rate + markup³¹	190+ countries 30+ currencies³⁰

12 best alternatives to Western Union for sending money abroad

1: Wise

Wise is a UK-based international money transfer specialist, which works a little differently to other providers.

By keeping local bank accounts in countries around the world, Wise cuts out all the expensive international fees that come with sending money across borders.

You can send money in 40+ currencies all over the world, using your Wise account. You can do it online or via the handy Wise app. There’s even a Wise card for spending like a local in 150+ countries.

Pros:

• Mid-market exchange rates - with no markups
• Offers a multi-currency account and a card alongside money transfers
• Free account sign-up
• Fast and secure payments
• Wise app for managing your money on the go

Cons:

• Wise does charge transfer fees, but these are always low and transparent
• No cash pickup

2: Remitly

The US-based online money transfer service Remitly offers fast, convenient online payments worldwide. As it doesn’t have any physical locations, Remitly works by delivering money through partners, such as banks and other money transfer services.

You can send to 170+ countries around the world in 100+ currencies³, choosing from a range of payment and receiving methods. In some countries, cash delivery is available.

Pros:

• Promotional offers available for new customers³
• Send online or via the Remitly app
• Worldwide network

Cons:

• No cash pickup available
• Transfer fees apply for some transactions, and you’ll pay more for faster services⁴
• Adds a small margin to mid-market exchange rate⁵

3: Revolut

If you like the idea of managing your money on your phone, then Revolut could be a good alternative. It’s a digital money app, offering many of the same services as a bank account.

There’s a free plan available, or you can upgrade and pay between £2.99 and £45 a month for a paid plan.⁶ These offer an increasing number of extras the more you pay, including higher limits, lower fees and perks like travel insurance. Revolut plans also come with a debit card.

When it comes to sending money internationally, Revolut lets you make fast, easy payments in 29 currencies⁷ using just your phone. It offers low fees and competitive exchange rates.

Pros:

• Account and card available alongside money transfer services
• Transparent fees and pricing
• User-friendly Revolut app
• Wide range of features available, including on the free Standard plan

Cons:

• You’ll need to upgrade to a paid plan to get discounted international transfer fees
• Revolut charges a 1% fee for currency exchange on weekends⁷
• There’s a monthly exchange allowance, and fees if you exceed it⁷
• Revolut uses its own exchange rate for currency conversions, which may include a fee or a markup⁸

📚 Read more: Revolut vs. Wise (UK): everything you need to know

4: Ria Money Transfer

Ria Money Transfer is an established service for international payments, with an extensive global reach. It offers a choice of methods to set up a payment, including online, from its own mobile app and in person from one of 500,000+ worldwide locations. You can send money to over 165 countries.⁹

Pros:

• Promotional offers for new customers⁹
• Choice of delivery methods, including cash pickup (depending on destination)
• User-friendly Ria Money Transfer mobile app available

Cons:

• Likely to add a markup to mid-market exchange rate¹⁰
• Transfer fees apply, and may not be the most competitive⁹

📚 Read more: Western Union vs. Ria Money Transfer

5: Xoom

PayPal service Xoom is specially designed for money transfers funded with your PayPal account (along with other payment methods). With Xoom, you can make online transfers to bank accounts, mobile wallets and debit cards. You can send to over 160 countries.¹¹

In a number of locations, you can also request cash collection and even delivery right to your recipient’s door.

Pros:

• Money-back guarantee if anything goes wrong¹²
• Transfer fees available upfront
• Xoom app available
• Backed by PayPal and all of its customer protections

Cons:

• Transfer fees can be quite high for some transactions, such as those involving cash pickup¹³
• Exchange rates include a currency conversion spread¹⁴

📚 Read more: Western Union vs PayPal in the UK: Which is better?

6: MoneyGram

MoneyGram is one of the world’s largest money transfer providers, aside from Western Union. It offers a wide range of different options for sending, funding and collecting transfers, and has an extensive global network. Payments are fast, secure and easy to set up online.

You can send to 200+ countries and territories worldwide.¹⁵

Pros:

• Promotional offers for new customers¹⁶
• Fast and secure payments - many arriving within minutes¹⁷
• MoneyGram app available
• Cash pickup available

Cons:

• Must register/sign in to see fees and exchange rates
• Fees can be high with MoneyGram, depending how you fund the payment and your chosen collection method¹⁷
• Exchange rates include a margin on the mid-market rate¹⁷

7: WorldRemit

Money transfer provider WorldRemit offers fast, secure online transfers all over the world, to 130+ countries and in 70+ currencies.¹⁸ It offers a choice of flexible payment options. You can send to mobile money accounts, mobile airtime top-ups or arrange cash pickup.

Pros:

• Promotional offers for new customers¹⁹
• Track payments via the WorldRemit mobile app
• Wide choice of payment and delivery methods, including cash pickup
• WorldRemit mobile app

Cons:

• Exchange rates include a margin on the mid-market rate²⁰

8: TorFX

The UK-based money transfer specialist TorFX offers 24/7 online transfers for no upfront fees. You can send money in 40 currencies.²¹

Pros:

• No transfer fees²¹
• TorFX mobile app available
• Free account registration
• Fast, secure transfers

Cons:

• Exact fees and rates aren’t available upfront - you need to register to get quotes for your transfer
• Exchange rates include a margin on the mid-market rate²¹
• No cash pickup available

9: Xe

The money transfer specialist Xe, a sister company to Ria Money Transfer, is a trusted and established name in the international transfer market.

And like other alternatives to Western Union, it has a range of funding and collection methods to choose from. This includes cash pickup and mobile wallets, although it depends which destination you’re sending to.

With Xe, you can send money to 200 countries in 100 currencies.²²

Pros:

• XE mobile app
• Cash pickup available (depending on destination)
• Fully secure transfers
• Live tracking and notifications
• Free sign-up

Cons:

• Exchange rates include a margin on the mid-market rate²³
• Need to register/sign-in to see the full range of fees - only estimated fees for certain transfer types are available on the Xe website

10: OFX

Australian transfer company OFX offers fast, secure transfers from the UK to over 170 countries in 50 currencies.²⁴ You can make a single payment or set up recurring transfers, benefiting from locked-in exchange rates.

Pros:

• Promotional offers for new customers²⁵
• Make payments online or via the OFX app
• 24/7 customer support

Cons:

• Difficult to find fees and rates without registering
• Exchange rates include a margin on the mid-market rate²⁶

📚 Read more: The best UK banks for sending money abroad

11: Currencies Direct

With a headquarters in London, Currencies Direct was one of the first money transfer providers in Europe when it launched in 1996. It provides online and app-based money transfer services to both personal and business customers. It’s FCA-authorised as an Electronic Money Institution (EMI).²⁷

You can send money to 120 countries in 40+ currencies, and pay no transfer fees.²⁷ Payment for transfers can be made by bank transfer or debit card.

Pros:

• Free account²⁷
• No upfront transfer fees
• Make transfers online, via mobile app or over the phone

Cons:

• Adds a markup to the mid-market exchange rate²⁸
• Fees can apply to some corporate transactions²⁹
• No cash pickup

12: Moneycorp

Serving both businesses and personal customers in the UK, money transfer specialist Moneycorp offers secure and straightforward international payments.

It has a 24/7 online platform, from which you can send money in 30+ currencies to 190+ countries.³⁰ You can choose from standard or express services, depending how fast you need the transfer to arrive.

Pros:

• No upfront transfer fees online³⁰
• 24/7 access
• Lock in exchange rates

Cons:

• Adds a markup to the mid-market exchange rate³¹
• Difficult to find exact fees and rates without registering

Wise – Money for here, there and everywhere

Want low fees, great rates and an easy way to send money worldwide? Open a Wise account online in just a few clicks, and you can start managing your money in 40+ currencies (including in British pounds).

You can send payments worldwide for low fees and mid-market exchange rates. There’s even a Wise card for spending in over 150 countries, where your pounds are automatically converted to the local currency at a great rate.

There aren’t any monthly fees with Wise, and you can open an account for free.

Sign up with Wise today 🚀

Please see the Terms of Use for your region or visit Wise fees & pricing for the most up-to-date information on pricing and fees. Eligibility is subject to verification of customers' identity.

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After reading this, you should have a better idea of the Western Union alternatives out there. There are a lot of them, so make sure you compare fees, exchange rates and features carefully so you get the best deal.

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Sources used:

1. Western Union - Home (US)
2. Western Union - Send Money
3. Remitly - Home
4. Remitly - Vietnam - Pricing
5. Remitly - User Agreement
6. Revolut - Our Pricing Plans
7. Revolut - Money Transfer
8. Revolut - Standard Fees
9. Ria Money Transfer - Home
10. Ria Money Transfer - FAQs on fees and exchange rates
11. Xoom - About
12. Xoom - Austria - Send Money
13. Xoom - Australia - Send Money
14. Xoom Help - How much does it cost to send with Xoom?
15. MoneyGram - Sending money
16. MoneyGram - Home
17. MoneyGram - How to send money online
18. WorldRemit - About Us
19. WorldRemit - International Money Transfer
20. WorldRemit - FAQ
21. TorFX - FAQs
22. Xe - Send money
23. Xe - Home
24. OFX - Send money to friends and family
25. OFX - Personal
26. OFX - Exchange Rates
27. Currencies Direct - Home
28. Currencies Direct - Terms and Conditions UK
29. Currencies Direct - FAQ
30. Moneycorp - Personal - Make payments
31. Moneycorp - Terms and Conditions
32. Western Union - Terms and Conditions

Sources last checked on date: 19-Sep-2023