Remitly International Money Transfer Guide (2026)
Remitly is one of the most widely used international money transfer services in the world, with over 8 million active customers and transfers to more than 170 countries. It was built specifically for international remittances, which means its pricing, delivery options, and country coverage are optimised for the most common corridors between the United States, UK, Canada, Australia, and Europe on one side, and India, the Philippines, Mexico, Nigeria, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and dozens of other receiving countries on the other.
A Remitly international money transfer costs as little as $0 in flat fees on some corridors, with exchange rate margins of 0.5 to 2.5 percent depending on the destination. Delivery can be instant to a bank account, within hours via mobile wallet, or available for cash pickup in minutes. The service consistently ranks among the cheapest options for sending money internationally to remittance destinations, and offers guaranteed delivery times on most corridors.
This guide covers everything about Remitly international money transfers in 2026: how it works, fees and exchange rates, transfer limits, delivery options, supported countries, safety, step-by-step instructions, and a comparison with the closest alternatives.
What Is Remitly?
Remitly is an online money transfer service founded in 2011 and headquartered in Seattle, USA. It specialises in international remittances, letting senders in over 30 countries move money to recipients in 170+ countries around the world. Remitly is fully regulated, holding licences with the FCA in the UK, FinCEN in the US, and equivalent authorities across its operating markets. With over 5 million active customers and more than $30 billion transferred annually, it has established itself as one of the most trusted names in cross-border payments.
The company's mission is to transform the lives of immigrants and their families by providing the most trusted financial services on earth. Remitly was built specifically to serve the immigrant community, a group historically underserved by traditional banks and financial institutions. It has won numerous awards for workplace culture and fintech innovation, and consistently ranks among the top-rated financial apps on both the Apple App Store and Google Play, with millions of five-star reviews from customers across its global user base.
How Does Remitly Work?
Remitly works by collecting your payment in your local currency and paying out the equivalent amount in the recipient's local currency from Remitly's accounts in the destination country. This means the transfer does not pass through the traditional SWIFT banking network, which keeps costs lower and speeds up delivery for the corridors Remitly specialises in.
You sign up online or through the Remitly app, verify your identity, link a payment method (bank account, debit card, or credit card), and enter the recipient's details. The recipient can receive funds via bank deposit, mobile wallet, or cash pickup depending on the country. Remitly shows the exact exchange rate, fee, and guaranteed delivery time before you confirm each transfer.
Express vs Economy
Remitly offers two speed tiers on most corridors. Express delivers funds within minutes to hours and typically costs more in fees or exchange rate margin. Economy delivers within 3 to 5 business days and usually offers a better exchange rate or lower fee. For regular senders, Economy is often the best value when urgency is not a factor. For urgent transfers, Express guarantees delivery and offers a refund if the money does not arrive on time.
Remitly Fees and Exchange Rates
Remitly's fees depend on the sending country, destination country, payment method, delivery method, and transfer amount. The structure is more complex than a simple flat fee, which is why it is important to check the fee for your specific corridor before assuming the cost.
Corridor | Express fee (approx.) | Economy fee (approx.) | Exchange rate margin |
|---|---|---|---|
US to India | $1.99 to $3.99 | $0 for $1,000+ | 0.5 to 1.5% |
US to Philippines | $1.99 to $3.99 | $0 for $1,000+ | 1 to 2% |
US to Mexico | $1.99 | $0 for $500+ | 0.5 to 1.5% |
US to Nigeria | $3.99 | $1.99 | 1 to 2.5% |
US to UK | $3.99 | $1.99 | 0.5 to 1.5% |
UK to India | GBP 2.99 | GBP 0 for GBP 700+ | 0.5 to 1.5% |
Credit card funding adds approximately 3 percent to the cost on top of the standard fee. Bank account and debit card funding are the cheapest payment methods. Remitly also offers promotional rates for first-time transfers, which often include a reduced or waived fee and a better exchange rate on the first transaction.
Remitly's flat fee is low, but the exchange rate margin is the larger cost on bigger transfers. On a $2,000 transfer with a 1.5 percent margin, you lose $30 to the exchange rate. Always check the total your recipient will receive rather than just the headline fee.
Remitly Transfer Limits
Remitly's transfer limits depend on your account verification level. Unverified accounts have lower limits, typically around $2,999 per transaction and $10,000 per month in the US. After completing full identity verification (uploading a government ID and in some cases a proof of address), limits increase significantly, often to $25,000 or more per transaction depending on the corridor.
Verification is usually quick. Remitly's automated system can verify most accounts within minutes using a scan of your passport, driver's licence, or national ID. For higher-value transfers, additional documentation may be requested. Transfer limits are also influenced by the receiving country's local regulations.
How Long Does a Remitly Transfer Take?
Remitly's delivery times depend on the tier you choose and the corridor. Express transfers are typically credited within minutes to a few hours for bank deposits and within minutes for mobile wallet and cash pickup. Economy transfers arrive within 3 to 5 business days. Remitly guarantees the delivery time shown before you confirm the transfer, and offers a refund of fees if the guarantee is not met.
Delivery method | Express delivery time | Economy delivery time |
|---|---|---|
Bank deposit | Minutes to a few hours | 3 to 5 business days |
Mobile wallet (GCash, M-Pesa etc.) | Minutes | Not available on all corridors |
Cash pickup | Minutes | Not typically available |
Home delivery (select countries) | Same day | Not available |
Remitly Delivery Options
Remitly offers four delivery methods depending on the destination country and the recipient's access to financial services.
- Bank deposit: funds are credited directly to the recipient's bank account. Available in all supported countries with banking infrastructure. The most common delivery method.
- Mobile wallet: funds are delivered to a mobile money account such as GCash in the Philippines, M-Pesa in Kenya, bKash in Bangladesh, or Easypaisa in Pakistan. This is the fastest option in markets where mobile wallets have high penetration.
- Cash pickup: the recipient collects cash at a partner agent location. Remitly has thousands of cash pickup partners in most receiving countries. This is the best option when the recipient does not have a bank account or mobile wallet.
- Home delivery: available in selected countries, where Remitly arranges physical delivery of cash to the recipient's address. This is a niche option for areas with very limited financial infrastructure.
Which Countries Does Remitly Support?
Remitly supports transfers from over 20 sending countries to more than 170 receiving countries. Sending countries include the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and most of Europe. The full list of receiving countries covers all major remittance destinations globally.
The highest-volume corridors where Remitly is particularly competitive include: United States to India, Philippines, Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, Nigeria, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Kenya, and Ghana. UK to India, Nigeria, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Ghana. Canada to India, Philippines, and Caribbean countries. Australia to India, Philippines, and Pacific islands.
Remitly supports transfers to over 170 countries worldwide. For the most competitive fees and fastest delivery, focus on corridors from the US, UK, Canada, or Australia to South Asia, Southeast Asia, Sub-Saharan Africa, and Latin America, where Remitly has invested the most in payment infrastructure.
Is Remitly Safe and Legitimate?
Remitly is safe and fully legitimate. It is regulated as a licensed money services business by FinCEN in the United States and holds state licences in all US states where licensing is required. It is also licensed by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) in the UK, FINTRAC in Canada, AUSTRAC in Australia, and by financial regulators across the European Union.
Remitly safeguards customer funds separately from its operating capital, which means your transfer funds are protected even in the unlikely event of a business failure. The service uses 256-bit SSL encryption for data transmission and two-factor authentication for account access. It has processed over $25 billion in transfers and serves over 8 million active customers globally.
Remitly also offers a Happiness Guarantee: if your transfer does not arrive by the guaranteed time, Remitly will refund your fees. If you are not satisfied for any reason, you can cancel a transfer before it is processed for a full refund.
How to Send Money with Remitly Step by Step
- Create an account at remitly.com or download the Remitly app and sign up with your email address.
- Verify your identity by uploading a government-issued photo ID. Most accounts are verified within minutes.
- Select your destination country and enter the amount you want to send.
- Choose the delivery method: bank deposit, mobile wallet, or cash pickup.
- Choose your speed tier: Express for fast delivery or Economy for lower cost on eligible corridors.
- Review the exchange rate, fee, amount your recipient will receive, and guaranteed delivery time.
- Enter the recipient's details: full name, bank account number (for bank deposit), or cash pickup location preferences.
- Select your payment method: bank account (ACH), debit card, or credit card.
- Confirm and send. You will receive a confirmation email and can track the transfer in the app.
Remitly vs Wise vs Xe: Which Is Best for International Transfers?
Remitly, Wise, and Xe all offer significantly lower costs than bank wire transfers for international money transfers, but they have different strengths. Choosing between them depends on where you are sending, how much, and what matters most to you.
Factor | Remitly | Wise | Xe |
|---|---|---|---|
Best for | Remittances to developing countries | Major economies, broad use | Large transfers, exotic currencies |
Countries supported | 170+ | 160+ | 130+ |
Flat fee | $0 to $3.99 | $0 to $10 | $0 to $15 |
FX margin | 0.5 to 2.5% | 0 to 1% | 0.5 to 1.5% |
Fastest delivery | Minutes | Seconds to hours | Same day to 4 days |
Cash pickup | Yes | No | No |
Mobile wallet | Yes (key corridors) | No | No |
For sending money to India, the Philippines, Mexico, Nigeria, or Pakistan, Remitly frequently offers the lowest combined cost and fastest delivery. For sending to Europe, the UK, Canada, or Australia, Wise typically wins on exchange rate and speed. For large transfers over $10,000 to any destination, Xe deserves a comparison.
Wise
Wise is the benchmark for transparent, low-cost international money transfers. It uses the real mid-market exchange rate with no markup and charges a small transparent fee of 0.4 to 1 percent. For transfers to major economies, Wise is usually the cheapest or close to it, and delivers most transfers within hours. It does not support cash pickup or mobile wallets, which limits its usefulness for recipients without bank accounts.
Wise uses the real mid-market rate with no markup and is among the cheapest options for most international transfers.
- Real mid-market rate no hidden FX markup
- Transparent fee shown before confirmation
- 40+ currencies delivered in hours
- 160+ countries fully regulated
Xe
Xe supports 130+ currencies and is the strongest option for large international transfers or less common currencies. It offers competitive rates with low fees on amounts over $5,000 and includes rate alerts. Xe is regulated in the US, UK, Canada, and Australia and does not support cash pickup or mobile wallet delivery.
Xe is ideal when you are sending large amounts and getting the best exchange rate is the priority.
- 130+ currencies including exotic destinations
- Best rates on transfers over $5,000
- Rate alerts to time your transfer
- Globally regulated
Frequently Asked Questions
How does Remitly international money transfer work?
Remitly works by collecting your payment in your local currency and paying out from its local accounts in the destination country, avoiding the SWIFT network for most corridors. You sign up online or in the app, verify your identity, link a payment method, enter the recipient's details, and choose a delivery method (bank deposit, mobile wallet, or cash pickup). Remitly shows the exact exchange rate, fee, and guaranteed delivery time before you confirm. The transfer is typically processed immediately after confirmation.
Is Remitly safe for international money transfers?
Yes, Remitly is safe. It is licensed by FinCEN in the US, the FCA in the UK, FINTRAC in Canada, AUSTRAC in Australia, and by financial regulators across the EU. It safeguards customer funds separately from its operating capital, uses 256-bit SSL encryption, and offers two-factor authentication. It has processed over $25 billion in transfers for over 8 million customers. Remitly also offers a Happiness Guarantee: if your transfer does not arrive by the guaranteed time, fees are refunded.
What are Remitly's transfer fees?
Remitly's transfer fees vary by corridor, amount, speed tier, and payment method. For many high-volume corridors such as US to India or US to Philippines, Economy transfers of $1,000 or more carry a $0 flat fee. Express transfers on the same corridors typically cost $1.99 to $3.99. Funding with a credit card adds approximately 3 percent. The exchange rate margin is separate from the flat fee and typically ranges from 0.5 to 2.5 percent depending on the currency pair. Always check the total cost for your specific transfer before confirming.
How long does Remitly take to transfer money?
Remitly Express transfers typically deliver within minutes for mobile wallet and cash pickup, and within a few hours for bank deposits. Economy transfers take 3 to 5 business days. Remitly guarantees the delivery time shown at the time of transfer and refunds fees if the guarantee is missed. Delivery times can be affected by recipient bank processing times, local holidays, and compliance checks on individual transfers.
What countries does Remitly support?
Remitly supports transfers from over 20 sending countries including the US, UK, Canada, Australia, and most of Europe, to more than 170 receiving countries. The service is particularly strong in high-volume remittance corridors: US, UK, and Canada to India, Philippines, Mexico, Nigeria, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Kenya, Ghana, Guatemala, El Salvador, and the Dominican Republic. The full list of supported corridors is available on Remitly's website.
What is the Remitly transfer limit?
Remitly's transfer limits depend on your verification level and the corridor. Unverified accounts have limits of approximately $2,999 per transaction and $10,000 per month. After completing full identity verification with a government ID, limits increase to $25,000 or more per transfer on most corridors. Some corridors have corridor-specific limits set by local regulations. Verification is usually completed within minutes using the Remitly app.
Does Remitly offer cash pickup?
Yes. Remitly supports cash pickup at partner agent locations in most receiving countries. The recipient can collect cash in local currency at thousands of partner locations including banks, pharmacies, and dedicated money transfer agent offices. Cash pickup is typically available within minutes for Express transfers and is the best option for recipients who do not have a bank account or mobile wallet. Cash pickup availability and specific partner locations vary by country.
How does Remitly compare to a bank wire transfer?
Remitly is significantly cheaper and faster than a bank wire transfer for most remittance corridors. A bank wire typically costs $25 to $50 in flat fees plus a 2 to 5 percent exchange rate markup and takes 1 to 5 business days. Remitly charges $0 to $3.99 in flat fees with an exchange rate margin of 0.5 to 2.5 percent and delivers in minutes to a few hours on Express. On a $1,000 transfer to India, a bank wire might cost $60 to $80 total, while Remitly typically costs under $15 total including the exchange rate difference.
Can I cancel a Remitly transfer?
Yes, you can cancel a Remitly transfer before it has been processed, which usually means within a short window of a few minutes after sending. If the transfer has already been sent, cancellation may not be possible. If you are not satisfied with a transfer for any reason, Remitly's customer support team can assist with cancellation and refund requests. Remitly's Happiness Guarantee means that if your transfer does not arrive by the guaranteed time, your fees are refunded automatically.
Does Remitly support mobile wallet delivery?
Yes. Remitly supports mobile wallet delivery to key wallets in high-volume corridors. Supported wallets include GCash and Coins.ph in the Philippines, M-Pesa in Kenya and Tanzania, bKash in Bangladesh, Easypaisa and JazzCash in Pakistan, and others. Mobile wallet delivery is typically the fastest option where available, with funds appearing in the recipient's wallet within minutes. Not all corridors support mobile wallets, and availability depends on local infrastructure and partnerships.
What payment methods does Remitly accept?
Remitly accepts bank account transfers (ACH), debit cards, and credit cards as payment methods. Bank account transfers are the cheapest funding option. Debit cards add a small convenience fee. Credit cards add approximately 3 percent to the transfer cost and are the most expensive funding method. Prepaid cards are generally not accepted. Payment method availability may vary by sending country.
Is Remitly better than Wise for international transfers?
For remittances to developing countries such as India, the Philippines, Mexico, Nigeria, and Pakistan, Remitly is often better than Wise because its fees on those corridors are very low and it supports cash pickup and mobile wallet delivery that Wise does not offer. For transfers to major economies like the UK, Europe, Canada, and Australia, Wise is usually better because it uses the real mid-market exchange rate with no markup, resulting in a lower total cost. The best choice depends on your specific destination and the recipient's access to financial services.
Mohammad Humaid
Verified AuthorMo is the founder of MoneyTransferStore. As an expat who has experienced the challenges of sending money across borders himself, he set out to help others like him avoid hidden fees and unfair exchange rates on international transfers. With a background spanning fintech, payments, and Web3, Mo brings years of practical experience to building a platform focused on transparency and trust.
