Safest Way to Send Money Internationally (2026)

Updated: Jun 15, 2026

When you need to send money across borders, security is your first concern. The safest way to send money internationally is through a licensed, regulated service that holds your funds in segregated accounts, uses bank-grade encryption, and is authorised by financial regulators in every market where it operates. Choosing the right provider makes the difference between a safe international money transfer and a costly, unprotected one.

Specialist services like Wise, Remitly, and Xe offer secure international money transfers under the same regulatory frameworks that govern banks. They are required to hold client funds separately from their own operating capital, undergo independent audits, and comply with strict anti-money-laundering rules. These are not optional extras. They are legal requirements.

Is it safe to transfer money internationally? Yes, in virtually every case, as long as you use a service that is properly licensed and regulated. The question of what is the safest way to transfer money internationally comes down to three factors: who regulates the provider, how your funds are held during transit, and what technical security is in place. This guide walks through all three so you can choose the safest option with confidence.

This guide explains exactly what makes the safest way to transfer money internationally, which services rank highest for safety and trust, how traditional bank wire transfers compare in terms of cost and protection, and what red flags to watch for when choosing a provider. By the end, you will know how to send money internationally as safely as possible and how to protect yourself at every step.

Compare Secure International Money Transfer Rates Now

Before diving into the security details, use the comparison tool below to see live rates from the safest international money transfer services available today. The safest options are not always the most expensive. In most cases, a regulated specialist delivers the same or better security as a bank wire at a fraction of the cost. Use this to find the most secure way to send money internationally for your specific currency pair.

People frequently ask what is the safest way to transfer money internationally when they consider sending money abroad for the first time. The most honest answer is that safety depends less on which specific provider you choose from the regulated options and more on verifying that the provider is licensed before you send. Is it safe to transfer money internationally with a bank? Yes. Is it safe to transfer money internationally with a specialist like Wise or Remitly? Also yes. The difference lies in the cost and speed, not the level of legal protection.

What Makes an International Money Transfer Safe?

The word 'safe' covers three distinct areas when applied to international money transfers: regulatory protection, financial safeguarding, and technical security. Understanding each one helps you identify the safest way to transfer money and distinguish a genuinely protected service from one that simply looks reputable.

Regulatory Licensing and Oversight

A safe international money transfer service must hold a valid licence from a recognised financial regulator in every country where it operates. In the UK, that regulator is the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). In the US, it is the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) plus individual state money transmitter licences. In Australia, it is ASIC. In Canada, it is FINTRAC. These are the bodies that set the rules for money transfer businesses and enforce compliance.

Licences are not decorative. A licensed provider must comply with anti-money-laundering rules, report suspicious activity, maintain minimum capital reserves, and submit to regular audits. If a provider does not appear on an official regulator register, that is an immediate red flag. You can verify registration on the FCA register at fca.org.uk or through the FinCEN database at fincen.gov. The safest way to transfer money internationally always starts with a licensed, verifiable provider.

When assessing a safe international money transfer service, look for explicit mentions of their licence numbers, not just vague claims of being 'regulated' or 'compliant'. Legitimate providers display their regulatory credentials prominently and link directly to their regulator profiles.

Fund Safeguarding and Segregated Accounts

When you send money through a regulated service, your funds are held in segregated accounts, meaning the money is kept completely separate from the company's own operational funds. If the company were to face financial difficulties, your money is ring-fenced and cannot be used to pay creditors. This is a legal requirement for regulated e-money institutions in the UK, EU, and most major markets, and it is one of the core features that defines the safest way to transfer money internationally.

Wise, for example, holds customer funds in FDIC-member banks in the United States. This means your money sits in the same type of institution that insures standard bank deposits. A safe international money transfer service will always be transparent about where and how your funds are held while the transfer is processing. If a provider cannot answer this question, treat it as a warning sign.

The practical implication for senders is this: with a regulated provider, your money is protected even before it reaches the recipient. With an unregulated provider, it may not be. This distinction matters most when transferring larger sums or sending to higher-risk corridors.

Encryption, Authentication, and Data Security

On the technical side, a secure international money transfer service protects all data with TLS (Transport Layer Security) encryption, the same standard used by online banking. Data transmitted between your device and the provider's servers is encrypted in transit, making it unreadable to anyone attempting to intercept it. Most reputable services also use additional layers such as 256-bit AES encryption for data at rest.

The safest providers require multi-factor authentication (MFA), also called two-step verification. Even if someone gains access to your password, they cannot access your account without a second form of verification, typically a code sent to your mobile device or generated by an authenticator app. MFA is now standard across Wise, Remitly, and Xe, and you should enable it on your account immediately after signing up. It is the single most effective personal security step you can take to protect your international transfers.

Safest Ways to Send Money Internationally

The three services below are consistently the safest way to send money internationally for most individuals and families. All three are licensed across major markets, hold customer funds in segregated accounts, use bank-grade encryption, and have strong long-term track records. Each has a different strength, so the best match depends on your corridor, transfer size, and priority.

When people ask what is the safest way to transfer money internationally without a bank, the three providers below are the consistent answers from financial experts and consumer finance publications alike. Each is the safest way to wire money internationally for a different type of sender: Wise for transparency and low cost, Remitly for guaranteed delivery on remittance corridors, and Xe for large amounts and professional FX requirements. All three combine regulatory credibility with technology that protects your money and your data.

Wise: Regulated Across Five Continents

Fees & Exchange Rates10.0
Transfer Speed9.0
Safety & Trust10.0
Service & Quality9.5
Read our review

Wise is one of the most widely regulated money transfer services in the world. It holds licences from the FCA in the UK, FinCEN in the US, ASIC in Australia, BaFin in Germany, the Monetary Authority of Singapore, and equivalent regulators across more than 40 countries. It is publicly listed on the London Stock Exchange, which means Wise must publish regular financial disclosures and submit to independent audits, adding a layer of transparency that private companies are not required to provide.

Customer funds are held in segregated accounts at FDIC-member banks in the United States. Your money is never mixed with Wise's own capital. With over 16 million customers and more than $10 billion in transfers processed each month, Wise has the compliance infrastructure of a mid-tier bank, not a startup. Fraud prevention teams monitor transfers around the clock, and any unusual activity triggers an immediate review. For the safest way to transfer money internationally with full fee transparency, Wise charges a small fixed fee plus a percentage of 0.4% to 2% depending on the currency pair, all shown upfront before you confirm.

Wise holds a Trustpilot score of 4.3 out of 5 from over 291,000 reviews, with the dominant themes being low fees, transparent pricing, and fast delivery. Security incidents rarely appear in customer reviews, which reflects the strength of Wise's safeguarding practices. For a safe international money transfer that is also cost-effective, Wise is the benchmark.

Wise is the safest way to transfer money internationally for most personal and business senders, combining FCA and FinCEN regulation, FDIC-backed fund storage, and bank-grade encryption in a single transparent service.

  • FCA, FinCEN, and ASIC regulated: fully licensed across 40+ countries
  • Segregated accounts: funds held at FDIC-member banks in the US
  • Mid-market exchange rate: no hidden markup on the exchange rate
  • MFA on every account: two-factor authentication required to log in
  • 16M+ customers: proven track record at large scale

Remitly: Secure Transfers with a Delivery Guarantee

Fees & Exchange Rates8.5
Transfer Speed8.0
Safety & Trust10.0
Service & Quality9.0
Read our review

Remitly is licensed as a money transmitter in all 50 US states and Washington, D.C., and is regulated by the FCA in the UK. The company has been operating since 2011 and serves more than 5 million customers globally. Customer funds are held in segregated accounts, and Remitly maintains capital reserves well above regulatory minimums. The safest way to send money internationally often means choosing a service that puts its guarantee behind its promises, and Remitly does exactly that.

Remitly's standout safety feature is its service guarantee. If your transfer does not arrive within the promised timeframe, Remitly refunds your fees. This guarantee is only possible because of Remitly's strong operational infrastructure and commitment to predictable, reliable delivery. For a safe international money transfer to South Asia, Latin America, Africa, or Southeast Asia, Remitly is particularly well-suited, with competitive rates on high-volume corridors and a proven record of on-time delivery.

Remitly offers two transfer speeds: Express (typically within minutes) and Economy (one to three business days, lower fees). Both options use the same underlying security and compliance infrastructure. You choose the right balance of speed and cost, but you do not sacrifice security either way. The secure international money transfer experience on Remitly is consistent across all corridors.

Remitly is a secure international money transfer service with strong regulatory backing and a service guarantee that protects your funds on every transfer.

  • Licensed in all 50 US states and regulated by the FCA in the UK
  • Delivery guarantee: refund if your transfer is delayed past the promised time
  • Segregated accounts: your money is never used for Remitly's own operations
  • 2FA on all accounts: additional protection against unauthorised access
  • 5M+ customers: established provider on major remittance corridors

Xe: Regulated and Backed by Euronet Worldwide

Fees & Exchange Rates7.5
Transfer Speed10.0
Safety & Trust10.0
Service & Quality9.0
Read our review

Xe is regulated by the FCA in the UK, FinCEN in the US, ASIC in Australia, FINTRAC in Canada, and financial authorities across more than 60 countries. Xe is a subsidiary of Euronet Worldwide, a publicly listed US company with a market capitalisation exceeding $2 billion, which processes billions of dollars in transactions annually. This institutional backing gives Xe the capital reserves and compliance infrastructure of a large financial institution, not just a standalone startup.

The safest way to wire money internationally for large amounts often points to Xe. The company specialises in high-value transfers, business FX, and currency forwards, which means its compliance team is built to handle the scrutiny that large international transfers attract. Xe offers dedicated currency specialists for transfers above a certain threshold, and its forward contract feature allows you to lock in a rate for future transfers, protecting against exchange rate risk while maintaining the same level of security.

Xe uses 256-bit SSL encryption on all connections and requires multi-factor authentication. Transfers are monitored in real time by a compliance team trained to detect unusual patterns. For a most secure way to send money internationally where transfer size, rate certainty, and institutional reliability are priorities, Xe is a strong choice with a long-established reputation.

Xe is backed by Euronet Worldwide, regulated in 60+ countries, and built for high-value secure international money transfers. It is one of the most established names in international currency transfers.

  • Euronet-backed: publicly listed parent company with $2B+ market cap
  • Regulated in 60+ countries: FCA, FinCEN, ASIC, FINTRAC and more
  • 256-bit SSL encryption: bank-grade data protection on every transfer
  • Real-time compliance monitoring: specialist team watches for unusual activity
  • 130+ currencies: widest coverage among regulated specialists

Are Banks the Safest Way to Send Money Internationally?

What is the safest way to transfer money internationally when your bank is your first instinct? Banks genuinely are safe, in the sense that they are fully regulated and your funds are covered by deposit protection schemes. The most secure way to send money internationally via a bank is through an official international wire transfer or SWIFT payment, not through unverified third-party platforms that claim to be affiliated with your bank. The most secure way to send money internationally is simply to choose a provider whose licence you have verified, whether that is your bank or a specialist service.

Banks are the default 'safe' option in most people's minds, and in terms of regulatory standing, they deserve that reputation. But safe and best value are not the same thing. The cost of using a bank for an international transfer is significantly higher than using a specialist service, while the level of protection is broadly comparable. Here is what you need to know before defaulting to your bank for a safe international money transfer.

Bank Wire Transfers: Regulated but Expensive

Your high-street bank is regulated by the same financial authorities as Wise, Remitly, and Xe. In that sense, a bank wire transfer is a legitimate and safe international money transfer option. Banks do not compete on price, however. They apply an FX markup of 2% to 4% above the mid-market rate, and they charge a flat wire fee of between $25 and $50 per transfer depending on the bank and the destination. These costs add up quickly and represent real money that leaves your transfer before it reaches the recipient.

On a $2,000 international transfer, a major US or UK bank typically charges around $45 in wire fees plus roughly $60 to $80 in exchange rate markup, totalling more than $100 in costs. The same transfer via Wise costs around $12 to $18 in fees with no exchange rate markup, because Wise uses the mid-market rate without adding a percentage. The security level is comparable between the two. The cost difference is not. The safest way to send money internationally does not require paying bank prices.

To be clear: banks are not unsafe. The question 'is it safe to transfer money internationally through my bank?' has the same answer as 'is it safe to use Wise or Remitly?' Both yes, because all are regulated. The distinction that matters for most senders is cost efficiency, not safety. The safest way to send money internationally while keeping fees as low as possible is through a regulated specialist, not your bank.

When a Bank Transfer Makes Sense

There are situations where using your bank for an international wire transfer is the practical choice. If you are sending a very large sum and your bank offers priority or private banking support, the personal relationship and familiarity may be worth the premium. For regulated business payments requiring specific SWIFT reference numbers or correspondent bank relationships, your bank's international wire service may be the only available route.

For most personal transfers, though, a regulated specialist service delivers the same level of security with dramatically lower fees. The cheapest and safest way to transfer money abroad for everyday personal transfers is almost always through a specialist. Use the comparison tool at the top of this guide to see the current difference on your specific currency pair and decide which option makes sense for your situation.

Red Flags: How to Spot an Unsafe Money Transfer Service

Understanding the safest way to wire money internationally also means understanding what unsafe looks like. Many people ask is it safe to transfer money internationally through services they find via social media ads or email offers. The safest answer is to treat any unsolicited money transfer offer with scepticism. Genuine regulated providers do not cold-contact customers with promises of exceptional rates. The safest way to send money internationally always involves choosing a provider you have independently verified, not one that found you.

Knowing the safest way to send money internationally also means knowing which services to avoid. The money transfer space attracts fraudulent operators who target people looking to send money abroad cheaply. The warning signs are consistent once you know what to look for.

Signs a Service Is Not Safe

The first check is regulatory licensing. Search the provider's name on the FCA register at fca.org.uk/register or the FinCEN database at fincen.gov. If they do not appear on one of these registers, or the equivalent in your country, do not use them. A legitimate safe international money transfer service will point you directly to its regulatory profile.

Other red flags include: no verifiable physical address or contact information on the website, exchange rates that appear significantly better than competitors (a common indicator of hidden costs elsewhere or outright fraud), no requirement to verify your identity before sending money (all legitimate providers require KYC, or Know Your Customer, verification), and no clear information about where your funds are held during transit. Any one of these signals warrants extreme caution. Multiple signals together mean you should not use the service at all.

Social proof matters too. Search the provider name plus 'scam' or 'review' before sending a significant amount for the first time. A safe international money transfer service will have a substantial, publicly verifiable review history on platforms like Trustpilot. A complete absence of reviews, or exclusively five-star reviews with no critical feedback at all, is itself a red flag.

Common International Money Transfer Scams to Avoid

Even when using a genuinely safe provider, you can still fall victim to a scam if you are not careful about who you are sending money to. The most common international transfer fraud is business email compromise (BEC), where a fraudster intercepts or spoofs email communications and substitutes their own bank details into a payment instruction. This typically happens with supplier invoices, property deposits, or large one-off payments where the transfer details arrive by email.

Romance scams and advance-fee fraud also frequently involve international money transfers. The pattern is consistent: a person you have met online builds trust over weeks or months, then requests an urgent international transfer for a plausible-sounding reason, such as a medical emergency, travel costs, or a business opportunity. Legitimate friends, family members, and businesses do not ask you to transfer money internationally under time pressure to an account you have not previously verified. If anything feels rushed or unusual about a transfer request, stop and call the recipient directly on a known phone number before sending.

Fake investment platforms and unregulated cryptocurrency exchanges are another common source of international transfer fraud. They accept your funds via wire transfer or a third-party service and then disappear. The rule is simple: a secure international money transfer goes to a recipient whose identity you know and have independently verified. If you are uncertain about who you are sending to, that uncertainty is reason enough not to send.

How to Send Money Internationally as Safely as Possible

The safest way to transfer money internationally starts before you log in to your chosen service. It starts with choosing correctly. Every regulated provider featured in this guide is the safest way to transfer money for standard personal transfers. What makes one provider better than another for your specific transfer is the corridor, amount, and delivery speed you need. The safest way to send money internationally is to compare your options among licensed providers, never among unregulated alternatives.

The safest way to transfer money internationally is as much about the process you follow as the provider you choose. A consistent transfer process dramatically reduces the risk of fraud or error on every international payment.

Steps for a Secure International Transfer

Start by choosing a provider from the regulated services above. If you are sending a significant sum for the first time, verify the provider's regulatory registration independently before proceeding. Enable multi-factor authentication on your account immediately after signing up. This one step blocks the most common form of account takeover, where a fraudster with your password tries to transfer funds to themselves.

Before confirming any transfer, verify the recipient's bank details directly and independently. Do not copy account details from an email, a PDF, or an online message, as all of these can be intercepted or altered. Call the recipient on a phone number you already know, not one provided in the same message as the bank details, and read the account number back to them to confirm. Triple-check the account number, sort code or IBAN, BIC/SWIFT code, and the currency. The safest way to send money internationally requires this verification every time, not just on the first transfer to a new recipient.

Keep records of every transfer, including confirmation emails, reference numbers, screenshots, and any correspondence with the recipient. For a safe international money transfer involving large amounts, these records are your evidence if something goes wrong.

What to Do If Something Goes Wrong

If you suspect a transfer has been sent to the wrong account or as a result of fraud, act immediately. Contact the provider's customer support team as soon as possible and explain what has happened. Regulated providers have a legal obligation to investigate and assist with disputed transfers. The faster you act, the higher the chance of recovery, as funds can sometimes be recalled if they have not yet settled with the recipient's bank.

You should also report the incident to the relevant authority. In the UK, report to Action Fraud at actionfraud.police.uk. In the US, file a report with the FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) at ic3.gov or the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB). Both maintain databases of fraud cases and can investigate patterns across multiple victims. If your provider fails to respond or assist, escalate to the FCA (UK) or FinCEN (US). For the most secure way to send money internationally, documentation is your insurance policy.

Find the Safest and Cheapest International Money Transfer Now

Ready to compare? The tool below shows live rates from the safest international money transfer services side by side. Enter your corridor and amount to see exactly what each regulated provider charges today. The cheapest and safest way to transfer money abroad is the one that costs least from a provider you have verified is regulated in your country.

Whether you need the cheapest and safest way to transfer money abroad for a regular family remittance, the safest way to wire money internationally for a large business payment, or simply a reliable service for a one-off personal transfer, the providers above all qualify. Use the tool to compare costs in real time and make sure the service you select is licensed in your country. Is it safe to transfer money internationally with any of these options? Yes, it is, as long as you verify your recipient's details before every transfer.

Frequently Asked Questions

The questions below are the most common ones people have when they first send money internationally. They cover what is the safest way to transfer money internationally, whether specialist apps are safer than banks, how to check if a provider is licensed, and what to do when something goes wrong. Each answer is based on the regulatory and security frameworks described above.

What is the safest way to send money internationally?

The safest way to send money internationally is through a regulated money transfer service licensed by recognised financial authorities such as the FCA in the UK or FinCEN in the US. Services like Wise, Remitly, and Xe hold customer funds in segregated accounts, use bank-grade encryption, and require multi-factor authentication. They are required by law to follow strict anti-money-laundering rules and maintain minimum capital reserves. For most transfers, a regulated specialist is both safer in practice and far cheaper than a traditional bank wire, since banks typically apply 2% to 4% exchange rate markups on top of fixed wire fees of $25 to $50 per transfer. Choosing a licensed provider and verifying recipient details independently before every transfer gives you the highest possible level of protection.

Is it safe to transfer money internationally?

Yes, it is safe to transfer money internationally when you use a licensed, regulated provider. The key is to verify that the service holds a valid money transmitter licence before sending. In the UK, check the FCA register at fca.org.uk. In the US, verify through FinCEN at fincen.gov. Regulated services use the same level of encryption and data protection as online banking, and your funds are legally required to be held in segregated accounts separate from the company's own money. Following basic precautions, such as enabling MFA and verifying recipient details directly, makes an international money transfer as safe as any domestic payment.

Are specialist money transfer services safer than banks for international transfers?

Regulated specialist services and banks operate under similar regulatory frameworks, so the level of legal protection and fund safeguarding is comparable. The practical difference is cost, not security. Banks charge 2% to 4% above the mid-market exchange rate plus flat wire fees, while specialist services like Wise use the mid-market rate with a small transparent fee. A safe international money transfer does not require using a bank. A regulated specialist gives you the same protection with significantly more money arriving at the other end.

What is the safest way to transfer money internationally without a bank?

The safest way to transfer money internationally without using a bank is through a regulated specialist service such as Wise, Remitly, or Xe. All three are licensed by major financial regulators and hold customer funds in safeguarded accounts. Wise offers the mid-market rate with a small transparent fee, Remitly provides a delivery guarantee on every transfer, and Xe specialises in larger amounts and complex currency pairs. All three use multi-factor authentication and bank-grade encryption. For most everyday transfers, these services offer the same legal protection as bank wire transfers at a fraction of the cost.

Is Wise safe for international money transfers?

Yes, Wise is one of the safest ways to transfer money internationally available to individuals today. It is regulated by the FCA in the UK, FinCEN in the US, ASIC in Australia, and equivalent authorities across more than 40 countries. Customer funds are held in segregated accounts at FDIC-member banks in the US, so your money is ring-fenced from Wise's own capital. Wise is publicly listed on the London Stock Exchange, which requires regular financial disclosures and independent audits. With over 16 million customers and a Trustpilot rating of 4.3 out of 5 from more than 291,000 reviews, Wise has a transparent and proven track record.

Is Remitly a secure way to send money internationally?

Yes, Remitly is a secure international money transfer service licensed in all 50 US states and regulated by the FCA in the UK. Customer funds are held in segregated accounts, and Remitly maintains capital reserves that exceed regulatory minimums. Remitly also provides a service guarantee: if your transfer does not arrive on time, fees are refunded. The service requires two-factor authentication on all accounts and monitors transfers in real time for unusual activity. Remitly has served over 5 million customers since 2011 and is a trusted choice for safe international money transfers to South Asia, Latin America, Africa, and Southeast Asia.

How do I know if an international money transfer service is safe?

You can verify whether a service is safe by checking its regulatory registration directly with the relevant authority. In the UK, search the FCA register at fca.org.uk/register. In the US, check FinCEN at fincen.gov. A safe international money transfer service will be transparent about where customer funds are held, will require identity verification before allowing any transfer, and will have clearly visible contact details and a physical address on its website. Check independent review platforms like Trustpilot for a substantial, verified review history. Any provider that cannot confirm its regulatory status or that discourages identity verification should be avoided entirely.

What is the most secure way to send money internationally?

The most secure way to send money internationally combines a regulated provider with strong personal security practices. Choose a service licensed by the FCA, FinCEN, or equivalent, and verify their registration independently before your first transfer. Enable two-factor authentication on your account immediately. Always verify recipient bank details by calling the recipient directly on a known number, never by copying details from an email or message. For very large transfers, Xe offers dedicated specialist support, forward contracts, and real-time compliance monitoring, making it a particularly strong choice when security and rate certainty both matter.

Can I get my money back if an international transfer goes wrong?

Whether you can recover funds from an international transfer depends on how quickly you act and whether the transfer was fraudulent or an error. Contact your transfer provider immediately if you suspect fraud or sent money to the wrong recipient. Regulated providers are legally required to investigate and assist with disputed transfers. If funds have not yet settled at the recipient's bank, there is a meaningful chance of recall. However, once an international wire transfer has fully cleared and been credited to the recipient, recovery becomes significantly more difficult, which is why verifying recipient details before every transfer is so important.

What are the safest ways to wire money internationally?

The safest ways to wire money internationally are through licensed specialist services like Wise, Remitly, or Xe, all of which are regulated by major financial authorities and hold funds in segregated accounts. Traditional bank wire transfers via the SWIFT network are also safe from a regulatory standpoint but significantly more expensive. For large international wire transfers, Xe is particularly strong due to its institutional backing from Euronet Worldwide and its specialist compliance infrastructure. The safest way to wire money internationally always involves verifying recipient details independently before confirming the transfer and keeping records of every step.

Is it safe to use online money transfer apps for international transfers?

Yes, it is safe to use online money transfer apps for international transfers as long as the app is regulated by a recognised financial authority. Apps like Wise and Remitly are fully licensed and use the same security standards as online banking, including TLS encryption and multi-factor authentication. The key check is regulatory status: verify the app holds a valid licence from the FCA, FinCEN, or the equivalent in your country before sending. Unregulated apps or services without clear licensing information should be avoided regardless of how professional they appear. Regulated apps are often faster and cheaper than bank wire transfers for a safe international money transfer.

What is the cheapest and safest way to transfer money abroad?

The cheapest and safest way to transfer money abroad is through a regulated specialist service like Wise, which uses the mid-market exchange rate and charges a small transparent fee of 0.4% to 2% depending on the currency pair. On a $1,000 transfer, Wise typically charges between $5 and $20 in fees, compared to $50 to $100 via a traditional bank when you account for both the wire fee and the exchange rate markup. Wise is FCA and FinCEN regulated, holds customer funds in segregated accounts, and requires two-factor authentication. Remitly is a close second for the cheapest and safest way to transfer money abroad on high-volume remittance corridors to Asia, Africa, and Latin America. Neither option compromises security for cost savings.

About the Author
Mohammad Humaid

Mohammad Humaid

Verified Author

Mo 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.