Many or all companies we feature compensate us. Compensation and editorial research influence how products appear on a page. Personal Finance Western Union 2025 Review: Ideal for International Transfers, If You Don’t Mind the Price Updated Apr 14, 2025 8-min read Reviewed by Lindsay VanSomeren Reviewed by Lindsay VanSomeren Expertise: Mortgages, personal loans, student loans, auto loans, banking, budgeting, debt, insurance, credit cards, credit Lindsay VanSomeren is a personal finance writer living in Suquamish, Washington. She's passionate about helping people learn how to manage their money better so that they can live the life they want. In her spare time, she enjoys outdoor adventures, reading, and learning new languages and hobbies. Learn more about Lindsay VanSomeren Best for Worldwide Coverage Visit Site Money Transfer Has a rewards program No bank account needed Available in most countries Many ways to transfer money May be more expensive Some transfers take longer Confusing payment structure Western Union is one of the original fintech companies, and we mean that quite literally—it was the first company to put up a transcontinental telegraph line all the way back in the 1800s. These days, it connects people in a different way: by helping them send money to each other. International money transfers are where Western Union stands out today. It has a wider footprint than any other company, offering multiple transfer options in over 200 countries and across 130 different currencies. It’s a great choice if you’re looking for a reliable transfer service, but be prepared to pay a higher cost, depending on your specific transfer details. We’ll cover what you need to know in this Western Union review. Table of Contents Is Western Union legitimate? How does Western Union work? Western Union pros and cons Western Union vs. alternatives FAQ Is Western Union legitimate? Western Union is about as legitimate as it gets. But that doesn’t mean it’s without problems, such as scammers who get people to send money via Western Union that they can’t easily get back. That’s a problem with money transfer services in general, not just Western Union. But it only gets more attention and negative reviews online because it’s such a large service. Whenever you use Western Union or any other service, it’s best to ensure you’re not accidentally sending cash to a scammer. PlatformRatingNumber of reviewsTrustpilot4.3/5117KBetter Business Bureau1.0/584Google2.2/516Collected on March 20, 2025. How does Western Union work? The basic idea behind Western Union is simple: You use it to send money to someone else, generally in a different country. In return, Western Union charges a fee depending on what country you’re transferring money to, how you’re paying, and how you want the receiver to get the money. Western Union operates in basically every country, including correctional facilities. Since financial systems work differently worldwide, your options for sending and receiving money can vary tremendously. The timelines can vary, too; more expensive options are instantaneous, while slower transfers can take a few days. In general, Western Union lets you send money through a few routes: Debit card Credit card Bank account withdrawal Cash drop-off at an in-person location (often inside retail stores) You can also usually select from the following options for your recipient to get the money: Mobile wallet deposit Bank account deposit Cash pickup at an in-person location Western Union fees When you send money via Western Union, you pay the cost. The receiver doesn’t pay anything; they simply receive the money minus the fees. Since so many factors change day by day when it comes to sending and receiving money, there isn’t one set price. Instead, you can only check prices on a case-by-case basis. Western Union offers a handy price estimator tool to do just that. But in general, Western Union is more expensive than other companies that may not offer the level of service Western Union itself provides. Like other companies, it makes money by charging a transfer fee and marking up currency exchange rates between countries. Western Union pros and cons Here are the benefits and drawbacks of transferring money via Western Union. Pros Has a rewards program Earn a flat rate of 100 points on every transfer, with 500 points needed to knock $2 off a transfer fee. You can also get discounts from certain brands. No bank account needed You’ll need a bank account for many transfers. But it’s also possible to do bankless transfers by paying cash at a Western Union location, to be picked up in cash at another storefront. Available in most countries The only countries where Western Union doesn’t work are Iran and North Korea. Rates and transfer options may differ by country. Many ways to transfer money Western Union makes it easy to transfer money by just about every method, in between its online service, mobile app, and storefronts. It may even offer doorstep delivery in some areas. Cons May be more expensive Western Union generally charges higher transfer fees and exchange rates than other companies, pocketing more money. You can often find cheaper options. Some transfers take longer Depositing money directly into someone’s bank account is usually cheaper, but it can take several business days. Larger transfers require extra security checks and take longer, too. Confusing payment structure Prices vary so much that it’s hard to make heads or tails of things if you’re shopping for the best option. That’s true of all money transfer services, but since Western Union offers many options, that factor ramps up even more. Western Union customer service Western Union offers comprehensive support options. (You’d hope so, given that it’s a global service operating in every time zone and with most languages worldwide!) If you need help, it’s easy to get in touch with someone at the company through various routes: Website chat In-person help at any Western Union location Customer support phone line: 1-800-325-6000 How does Western Union compare to alternatives? It’s not as easy to compare money transfer services with those of other personal finance companies. For example, when you shop for personal loans, it’s fairly easy to compare the annual percentage rates and look for the lowest one. However, with transfer services, the costs vary depending on the fees and exchange rate markups companies charge for various countries and transfer options. So to make comparisons easy, we’ll compare costs for a $1,000 transfer from a United States debit card to a bank account in Mexico. It’s worth noting that some services like RemitFinder and Monito can help you compare these costs faster since your transfer costs may differ. Here’s what Western Union would charge for our theoretical international transfer: Western Union vs. Remitly Remitly came in as the cheapest option in our head-to-head comparison, charging both the lowest transfer fee and offering the best exchange rate. (When we tested it, it charged an exchange rate of 1 USD to 19.90 MXN as its normal, non-promo rate.) Remitly is available in 170 countries, slightly fewer than Western Union. Western Union vs. MoneyGram MoneyGram is likely Western Union’s closest competitor, offering the same types of transfer options in over 200 countries around the world. However, obtaining transfer pricing isn’t as easy with MoneyGram; it only allows you to see one price without signing up. On the flip side, MoneyGram charged a lower transfer fee than Western Union and offered a better exchange rate, making this a worthy competitor to add to your toolbox when shopping around for rates. (Assuming you want to bother with setting up an account you might never use.) Western Union vs. Xoom Xoom is a subservice of PayPal, so it really specializes in online transfers. Your recipient can pick up cash at certain locations, but you can’t pay cash for the transfer like you can at Western Union. Xoom offered the most transparent, upfront pricing of the four companies we looked at, with a menu of transfer options and fees for each of the 160 countries you can send funds to. It charged a much higher fee for a bank account deposit—$6.39, compared to $2.99 for Western Union—but offered a slightly better exchange rate. Some transfers—especially those done through PayPal—were free. How to open an account with Western Union You don’t necessarily need an account if you’re sending cash at a storefront location. But setting up an account online makes transfers faster and easier, and you can earn rewards, too. You can set up an account on Western Union’s website or through its mobile app. To start, you’ll enter your email address and create a new password: After that, you’ll be prompted to enter your personal details, like your name and age. You’ll also need to have a government-issued ID, and be at least 18 years old to send or receive money through Western Union. FAQ Can I cancel a transfer on Western Union? Yes, you can cancel a Western Union transfer, but whether you get a refund depends on the transfer status. If the money hasn’t been picked up or deposited, you can typically cancel it through the Western Union website or app, or by calling customer service. If the transfer has already been completed, refunds may not be possible. Fees may also be non-refundable depending on the circumstances. Does Western Union offer a referral program? Western Union does not have a referral program for individual customers. However, the company occasionally runs promotional campaigns that may offer rewards for referring new users. If you’re a business user, Western Union Business Solutions may have partnership opportunities. It’s best to check the official website or app for the latest offers. Can I send money from a business account with Western Union? Yes, Western Union allows businesses to send money, but you’ll need to use Western Union Business Solutions. This service enables companies to send payments internationally, pay employees, and manage cross-border transactions. However, standard Western Union personal transfers typically require a personal funding source, such as a bank account, credit card, or cash. Does Western Union have transfer limits? Yes, Western Union imposes transfer limits, but they vary based on location, payment method, and recipient country. For example, online transfers in the U.S. typically have a $5,000 per transaction limit, while some agent locations may allow higher amounts. Business transactions may have different limits. To check specific limits, log into your Western Union account or visit an agent location. Can I use Western Union without a bank account? Yes, you can use Western Union without a bank account. The service allows you to send and receive money in cash at agent locations worldwide. You can also use debit or credit cards to fund transfers without needing a bank account. However, fees may be higher for cash-based transactions compared to bank transfers.