Cheap International Money Transfer (2025): Wise vs Revolut vs Remitly Fees Compared
Wise vs Revolut vs Remitly: Cheapest Way to Send Money Abroad (2025)
International money transfers can incur surprisingly high costs if you're not careful. In 2025, fintech services like Wise, Revolut, and Remitly compete aggressively to offer lower fees and better exchange rates. In this guide, we'll break down their features, compare costs, and share proven tactics to send money abroad more cheaply.
1. Key Criteria: What Makes a Transfer Cheap?
Before comparing services, let’s align on what really matters when judging cost:
- Exchange rate mark-up / spread — how far from the mid-market rate the provider quotes.
- Transfer / transaction fees — fixed or variable costs charged per transfer.
- Funding & payout methods — bank transfer, card, cash pickup, etc.
- Speed & reliability — faster options often cost more.
- Limits & availability — some services cap amounts or restrict corridors.
- Regulation & safety — licensed providers are safer, though slightly more regulated.
2. Overview of Wise, Revolut & Remitly
2.1 Wise (formerly TransferWise)
Wise is known for transparency. It uses the real mid-market rate (no hidden markups) and adds a clear fee.
- Fees often start around ~0.1% to ~1%, depending on corridor.
- Funding by bank transfer is typically cheapest; card payments tend to cost more.
- Delivery time is often minutes to hours, but some currencies can take up to 1–2 business days.
- Strong coverage across multiple currency corridors.
- Full breakdown of fees is shown before you confirm a transfer.
2.2 Revolut
Revolut is more than a money transfer service — it’s a digital bank/fintech app with many features.
- Send money abroad via bank transfer or instant Revolut-to-Revolut transfers.
- No extra exchange fee on weekdays within plan limits; fair usage and plan tiers apply.
- Premium plans may include higher limits or better terms.
- Exchange spreads/markups can vary by currency pair and time (e.g., weekends).
- Transfers between Revolut users are often instant; bank transfers may take 1–3 days.
2.3 Remitly
Remitly focuses on remittances and offers two main speed options: Economy and Express.
- Exchange rate usually includes a markup above mid-market, commonly about ~0.5% to ~3% depending on the corridor.
- Charges a transfer fee that varies by amount, corridor, and speed (Express usually costs more).
- Express delivery is often minutes; Economy may take a day or more.
- Some corridors feature promotional rates for first-time users.
3. Side-by-Side Comparison: Cost, Speed, Use Cases
Provider | Exchange Rate / Markup | Transfer Fee | Speed | Best For |
---|---|---|---|---|
Wise | Mid-market, no hidden markup | ~0.1%–~1% depending on route | Minutes to 1–2 days | Business transfers, larger sums, transparency |
Revolut | Variable spreads / markups | Often zero within plan limits; extra for cards or beyond limits | Instant between Revolut; bank transfers 1–3 days | Everyday users, multi-currency wallet, occasional transfers |
Remitly | Mid-market + markup (~0.5%–~3%) | Varies by corridor & speed | Minutes (Express) / 1+ days (Economy) | Small remittances, family/friend payments |
4. Tips & Strategies to Reduce Transfer Costs
4.1 Use Bank Transfers (Not Cards)
Funding via bank transfer is almost always cheaper than using credit/debit cards, which can incur extra fees or surcharges. Wise especially emphasizes this in its pricing.
4.2 Send in Larger Batches
Because many fees are partially fixed, splitting into multiple small transfers increases overhead. Consolidate transfers when possible.
4.3 Time Transfers Strategically
Exchange rates fluctuate. Use alerts or wait for favorable rates before sending. Also, avoid weekends or non-business hours when spreads may widen.
4.4 Compare Full Cost (Fee + Spread)
Don’t just look at the “fee” — check the total cost including the exchange-rate markup. Use provider calculators side by side.
4.5 Use Transfers Between Same-Provider Accounts
If both sender and receiver use the same service (e.g., Revolut → Revolut), some providers waive fees and deliver instantly.
5. When Each Service Makes Sense
- Wise: Best for transparent cost, larger transfers, business use, frequent transfers.
- Revolut: Great for users who already use the app, want multi-currency wallets, and occasional transfers.
- Remitly: Useful when you need quick remittances (instant pickup or quick delivery) for smaller sums.
Conclusion
In 2025, Wise remains a strong choice for transparency and low markups. Revolut is convenient if you already use it and stay within plan limits. Remitly is tailored more to consumer remittances, with trade-offs in markup and speed. By using bank funding, batching transfers, timing your currency, and comparing full costs, you can send money abroad more affordably than many default banking options.
References & Credible Sources
- Wise — International Money Transfers, Fees & Transparency
- Wise vs Remitly — fee and exchange rate comparisons across corridors
- Wise vs Revolut — pricing and features comparison
- MoneyTransfers.com — Remitly vs Wise comparison
- NerdWallet — Best ways to send money internationally (2025)
- TransferGo — Wise vs Remitly cost & speed comparison
- PayPal — How to minimize international transfer fees
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