The 6 best Paysend alternatives & competitors in 2023

The Paysend app offers a fast, simple and convenient way to send money overseas. But it’s not the only money transfer app out there, and it could pay to compare options.

Here, we’ll run through 6 of the best apps like Paysend so that you can make an informed choice. This includes Wise, Remitly, XE, WorldRemit, Instarem and Western Union.

What apps are like Paysend?

Let’s run through a handful of the money transfer apps you can choose from, all offering a similar service to Paysend.

1: Wise

The popular Wise money transfer app lets you:

• Send money in 40 currencies in just a few taps
• Receive payments from abroad
• Check exchange rates and set up rate alerts
• Pay bills
• Repeat regular transfers without needing to set up from scratch
• Pay for transfers with Apple Pay and Google Pay – when you order our debit card for a one time fee.

Simply sign up for a Wise account online, download the app for your device and set up your first transfer.

Based in the UK but available worldwide, Wise offers low, transparent fees. Best of all, it uses mid-market exchange rates, which have no margin on top, so your money goes further.

This is one of the main advantages Wise has over apps like Paysend, which is likely to add its own margin to the rate. So with Wise, you may be able to save money on your transfer.

See how much you can save with Wise:

Please see Terms of Use for your region or visit Wise Fees & Pricing: Only Pay for What You Use for the most up-to-date pricing and fee information.

2: Remitly

The US-based transfer specialist Remitly has a dedicated mobile app for Android and Apple devices. It lets you do everything you can do on the Remitly website, but from your phone (which is handy if you’re on the move). This includes:¹

• Send money in 75+ currencies²
• Check the status of transfers
• Editing transfers
• Uploading documents securely
• Setting up transfer notifications
• Increasing your sending limits
• Referring friends and receiving rewards.

3: WorldRemit

One of the popular names in global money transfers, WorldRemit’s app is free to download and is available for Apple and Android devices. You can use it to send money in minutes to more than 130 countries worldwide.³

Features of the WorldRemit app include:⁴

• Choice of payment and delivery methods
• 95% of money transfers arrive in minutes
• Encrypted data and multi-level security features
• Set up daily exchange rate notifications

4: XE

Foreign exchange specialist XE has an app for Apple and Android devices that offers the following features:⁵

• Send international transfers to over 130 countries
• Check live mid-market and XE send exchange rates
• Track transfers
• Easily add unlimited recipients
• Access to comprehensive currency charts
• Set rate alerts.

5: Instarem

Singapore-based Instarem offers a smart, fast way to send money worldwide through its user-friendly app. Features include:⁶

• Send money to 60+ countries
• Fast transfers taking no more than 2 business days
• In-app currency converter so you can check exchange rates
• Set rate alerts
• Choice of payment and pay-out options.

As an extra feature, Instarem also offers rewards on every money transfer. You’ll get InstaPoints for every transfer you send, as well as when you open an account and refer friends. You can use these points to save money on future transactions.

6: Western Union

Lastly, we have Western Union. The money transfer giant has a dedicated mobile app which lets you do pretty much everything you can do on the WU website, but all from your phone. This includes:⁷

• Send money 24/7 to 200+ countries worldwide
• Scan your credit/debit card to avoid mistakes when entering payment details
• View the latest exchange rates
• Quickly repeat transfers
• Pay bills.

Western Union also offers a wide choice of payment and payout methods, including cash. You can even set up a transfer using the WU app, then pop to a WU agent location to pay for it in cash.

Like Instarem, Western Union also offers rewards with its My WU program, where you can earn points for every transfer.⁷

Bottom line

Lots of apps do what Paysend does, but they’re not all exactly the same. You need to look at things like the fees and exchange rates on offer, along with how many countries and currencies are supported.

Plus, there are apps like Western Union and Instarem that offer rewards, which could be a good pick if you make frequent transfers.

Ultimately though, it may come down to cost. With apps like Wise, you’ll always get the mid-market exchange rate, with no margins and no hidden fees. It could save you money compared to some apps like Paysend.

Learn more about Wise

FAQs

Is Paysend in the US?

Yes, Paysend is available in the US, although it’s based in the UK.

Is Paysend a good service?

Paysend is pretty well reviewed on sites like TrustPilot, where it gets a 4.3 rating based on nearly 32,000 user reviews (as of 29 June 2023).⁸

Is it safe to send money with Paysend?

Paysend says it offers “bank-level security”, where all transfers are certified by Visa, Mastercard, China UnionPay, the FCA, and are PCI DSS certified.⁹

Sources used for this article:

Sources checked on 29-Jun-2023.