Many or all companies we feature compensate us. Compensation and editorial research influence how products appear on a page. Personal Finance Remitly 2025 Review: Great for Fast Transfers, But Watch the Fees Updated Apr 03, 2025 9-min read Reviewed by Deb Hipp Reviewed by Deb Hipp Expertise: Mortgages, personal loans, credit cards, insurance, debt Deb Hipp is a freelance writer with more than a decade of financial writing experience about mortgages, personal loans, credit cards, insurance, and debt. Learn more about Deb Hipp Best for Same-day Express Transfer Visit Site Money Transfer Send money to over 150 countries using more than 75 currencies Express transfer delivered instantly or within one day using a credit card Company provides exact date and time for expected delivery of money Various delivery options, depending on the country Regularly offers promotional discounts, rates, and bonuses to new customers Economy transfer takes 3 – 5 business days and must be a bank account or check May charge up to a 3% credit card fee on express transfers from the U.S. $25,000 limit ($30,000 to India) on transfers from the U.S. When sending money abroad, the Remitly app securely transfers money to over 150 countries in over 75 currencies. Remitly was originally founded to help immigrants securely send money to their families, but anyone can send money internationally with Remitly. The Remitly app earns high customer scores on Google and other online review websites for transfer security and a smooth process for sending money abroad. However, many reviewers also reported poor customer support, late transfers, and slow refunds. We recommend Remitly for the app’s security, convenience, and low fees compared to some competitors. Read on to learn about how Remitly works, fees, and the pros and cons of the Remitly app. Table of Contents Is Remitly legitimate? How does Remitly work? Remitly fees Remitly pros and cons FAQ Is Remitly legitimate? Remitly is a legitimate company with an A+ Better Business Bureau rating and mostly positive reviews on Trustpilot and Google. Reviewers cite the app’s ease of use, convenience, and on-time deliveries. However, a small percentage of reviewers mentioned transfers not being received on time, poor customer service, and delays due to the company requesting additional documents to complete the transfer. Reddit online reviews range from those who said they’ve used Remitly for years with no problems to reviewers who said they lost money due to no refund and called the company a scam. With negative reviews, it’s crucial to read all the details of negative reviewers’ experiences and weigh them against positive reviews to come to your own conclusions. When it comes to security, the Remitly app takes measures to ensure your money is transferred securely to the recipient, specifically: SSL encryption Two-step verification Monitoring for unusual or fraudulent activity PlatformRatingNumber of reviewsTrustpilot4.6/575,439Google Play Store4.8/51 millionBetter Business Bureau1.12/576Collected on March 21, 2025. How does Remitly work? With the Remitly app, you can send money to family members or others in over 150 countries and in more than 75 currencies. To transfer money with Remitly, download and install the app from Google Play or the App Store on your smartphone or sign up for an account on your computer. Once you set up a Remitly account, specify the country where the transfer will originate, the delivery country, payment option, and method of delivery, such as bank or debit card transfer, mobile app, cash pickup, or home delivery. Depending on the delivery destination, some delivery options may not be available. The total cost of the transfer, including transaction fees, foreign exchange rate fees, and any new customer discounts, will be displayed. Then, choose your delivery speed from one of two options: express (instant or same-day) or economy, which takes longer. Here’s the Remitly app in a nutshell: Countries supported: 150+ Currencies supported: 75+ Rates: Vary depending on foreign exchange rates, country of origin and destination, and bank or credit card fees Transfer speeds: Within minutes or the same day (Express); 3 – 5 business days (Economy) Delivery methods (based on recipient location): Credit card (Express only); Bank or debit card deposit; Cash pickup; Home delivery Remitly fees Remitly fees are based on the exchange rate in the country where you transfer money and the payment method used. The Remitly website provides a link to its pricing page from its FAQ section. However, when we checked, that link was broken. For example, for a $1,000 transfer using a credit card as a new customer from the U.S. to Mexico on March 18, 2025, the fee was $1.99 ($3.99 for subsequent transfers), but was subtracted as a new customer discount. An additional credit card fee of $31.99 was also charged. To find fees that apply to your transfer, input the country of origin of the transfer, the delivery country, and the delivery method. The fees charged will appear in the total cost. Remitly pros and cons Here are the benefits and drawbacks of using Remitly for your international transfers. Pros Send money to more than 150 countries in 75-plus currencies This is a greater number than some competing international money transfer apps, such as Wise, which supports 50 currencies, or PayPal, which supports 26 currencies Express transfers Delivered within minutes or later that day. Remitly provides the exact date and time for the expected money delivery The transfer recipient will know when to expect their money. Choose from bank or debit card deposit, cash pickup, mobile wallet, or home delivery Choice may depend on which are available in the delivery country. Customer phone support in English and Spanish You can read the company website in multiple languages. Cons Economy transfers don’t get the money to recipients who need it immediately These transfers generally have a lower fee and take 3 to 5 business days. Up to a 3% credit card fee Fee applies to express transfers from the U.S. Limit on transfers from the U.S. Remitly’s $25,000 limit ($30,000 to India) may seem restrictive to those who want to send more. Remitly customer service Remitly offers 24/7 phone support in English and Spanish, a chat (live or bot chat not specified), and answers to a few questions on its help page. When I called Remitly’s phone customer support on three occasions, I waited about five minutes, and all three representatives were polite and helpful, answering my questions. However, when I asked a question on the chat option about how Remitly ensures transfers are safe and secure, the chat agent asked for my birth date and full name, which I wasn’t comfortable providing for privacy reasons and because I hadn’t set up a Remitly account. Several minutes later, a different live chat rep on the same chat asked how he could help me. That rep was able to answer my security questions to my satisfaction. A big plus to the Remitly website is that you can easily switch languages with the language tab at the top of the home page to read text about the Remitly app and transfer process in 18 different languages. Here’s how to contact Remitly customer support: Phone customer support: 1-844-604-0924 Chat: Chat button under “How do I contact Remitly?” at the company website help center Remitly has no email contact for customer support. How does Remitly compare to alternatives? Here’s how Remitly compares to three other personal finance companies that provide money transfer services. Remitly vs. Wise Remitly and Wise both support more than 150 countries. However, Remitly comes out ahead for the number of currencies supported, with 75+ compared to Wise’s 50 currencies. While Remitly offers fast, convenient individual transfers, Wise offers both individual business transfers and may have lower transfer fees, starting at 0.33%. Remitly vs. Western Union Both Remitly and Western Union’s money transfer apps display exchange rates. However, Remitly doesn’t display the exchange rate until you input the delivery country. With Western Union, you can view all exchange rates using a widget on the mobile app. Both apps use encryption software to ensure a safe and secure transfer. Western Union supports more than 200 countries and over 130 currencies—far more than Remitly. Remitly vs. PayPal You can send money to 200 countries using PayPal, compared to Remitly’s 150+ countries. However, PayPal supports only 26 currencies, compared to Remitly’s 75+ currencies. Both apps are easy to use for safe and secure transfers. PayPal’s fees for international transfers may be higher than Remitly’s typically low fees. How to open an account with Remitly To set up an account with Remitly, follow these steps: Download and install the Remitly app from Google Play or the App Store to your smartphone, or sign up on the Remitly website using your laptop or desktop to send money. The app will prompt you to set up an account with your email and a secure password to start your first transfer: From there, click “Get started,” choose your language, and input the country where your transfer will originate and the delivery country. The total cost of the transfer, including foreign exchange and any other fees, will appear: Choose the recipient’s bank. Next, enter the recipient’s bank account details, name, and address, the sender’s full name and date of birth, and any additional information needed for the transfer. FAQ Can I cancel a transfer on Remitly? Yes, you can cancel a transfer before it has been completed. To do this, log in to your Remitly account, go to the Transfer History section, and select Cancel Transfer. If the transaction has already been completed, you may need to contact customer support to see whether a resolution is possible. Does Remitly offer a referral program? Yes, Remitly has a refer-a-friend program where you can earn rewards by inviting new users. The referral bonus varies by location and promotion. Typically, both the referrer and the new user receive a bonus after the first qualifying transfer. You can find your referral link in the Remitly app or website under the Invite Friends section. Can I send money from a business account with Remitly? No, Remitly is designed for personal money transfers only. It does not support business-to-business (B2B) or commercial transactions. If you need to send money for business purposes, you may need to use Wise (formerly TransferWise), PayPal, or a similar service. Does Remitly have transfer limits? Yes, Remitly imposes transfer limits based on your account verification level (higher limits are available for verified users), the destination country’s regulations, and the payment method used (bank transfers may have higher limits than card payments). For example, new users often have a 24-hour limit of around $2,999, which increases once they provide additional verification. Can I use Remitly without a bank account? Yes, Remitly allows you to send money using debit or credit cards instead of a bank account. Some countries also offer cash deposit options where you can fund transfers in person at partner locations. However, using a credit card may incur extra fees.