Western Union vs Remitly

Western Union

The most global money transfer network with 200+ countries and 600,000+ agent locations — send money online or in person with bank, cash, or mobile wallet delivery.

Regions

US, Global

Pros

• +600,000+ agent locations across 200+ countries make it the only option for sending money to remote or cash-based locations with no banking infrastructure
• +Multiple delivery methods per transaction including cash pickup, bank deposit, mobile wallet, and home delivery in select markets
• +Online and in-person initiation flexibility allows senders without bank accounts to send money from agent locations with cash
• +Decades-long operational history and brand recognition that recipient agents and pickup locations universally recognize and trust

Cons

• −Exchange rate markup of 1% to 3% above mid-market rate is significantly higher than digital-first competitors like Wise and XE on most corridors
• −Total cost varies unpredictably by corridor, delivery method, and funding source — requiring careful price comparison before each send
• −Maximum transfer of $50,000 is low for business or property purchase use cases, and varies significantly by corridor and chosen delivery method

Remitly

Low-cost transfers with a two-speed option — cheapest Economy delivery at $0 fee or fastest Express delivery in minutes. Send money to 170+ countries with competitive rates.

Regions

US, UK, Europe, Global

Pros

• +Economy tier with $0 fee option makes budget transfers genuinely free for non-urgent sending to 170+ countries
• +Multiple recipient delivery methods — bank account, cash pickup, and mobile wallet — covering recipients at all levels of financial access
• +Excellent coverage on South-to-South corridors that US-centric competitors overlook, including intra-Asia and intra-Africa routes
• +Real-time tracking from funding to delivery with push notification updates at every transfer milestone

Cons

• −Exchange rate markup of 0.5% to 2% is higher than Wise's mid-market rate on most corridors, making total cost unpredictable without comparison
• −Maximum transfer capped at $10,000 per transaction — insufficient for high-value property purchases or large business payments
• −Express delivery fees add up for frequent senders, with the $3.99 maximum fee making multiple small transfers significantly more expensive than batch sending with competitors

Your recipient lives in a rural area or a country with limited financial infrastructure. You need guaranteed delivery through a cash pickup agent.

You prefer managing everything from your phone — from registration and recipient setup to tracking and repeat transfers — with a modern, intuitive interface.

You send money home regularly in smaller amounts and the total cost of each transfer matters significantly to your monthly budget.