Send money to South Africa. Cheap and fast ways to make an international money transfer
Compare the best wire transfer fees and rates to send money to South Africa
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Compare money transfer services to South Africa
To help you find the best provider for your international money transfer to South Africa, we've compared 5 services, ranking them from least to most expensive, taking into account transfer fees and exchange rates.
What is the cheapest way to send money to South Africa?
- XE: 142.95 USD
- OFX: 153.33 USD
- Wise: 155.76 USD
- CurrencyFair: 156.29 USD
- Remitly: 261.59 USD
When you are looking for cheap ways to send money to South Africa it’s important that you calculate the total cost of your USD to ZAR transfer.
XE, the cheapest option, has a US Dollar/South African Rand exchange rate of 18.6748 and a fee of 142.95 USD.
This would save you 118.64 USD compared to Remitly, who has a fee of 261.59 USD.
You'll want to pay attention to both the upfront fee the provider shows you as well as the US Dollar/South African Rand exchange rate.
Often providers will claim to be a cheap international wire transfer provider, with low, or even no fees, but in reality they're hidden within the exchange rate. Right now, US Dollar/South African Rand interbank rate is 18.946. Whenever you compare fees for transferring money to South Africa, it can pay off to look at the exchange rate they offer.
Finding alternative ways to transfer money to South Africa shouldn't be hard, we've put together a list of cheap ways to send money to South Africa to help you with your search.
For example, most traditional banks add a hidden markup to the exchange rate they offer you. If 1 USD is 18.946 ZAR, your bank can add a 3% exchange rate markup and give you a rate of $ 1 = 19.514 R
- XE is the cheapest option, with a USD/ZAR exchange rate of 18.6748. Their fees to transfer money to South Africa is 142.95 USD
- OFX offers a USD/ZAR exchange rate of 18.6551. Their fees to transfer money to South Africa is 153.33 USD
- Wise offers a USD/ZAR exchange rate of 18.7986. Their fees to transfer money to South Africa is 155.76 USD
- CurrencyFair offers a USD/ZAR exchange rate of 18.6520. Their fees to transfer money to South Africa is 156.29 USD
What is the fastest way to send money to South Africa?
- Wise: 0-2 Days
- Remitly: 0-2 Days
- OFX: 1-3 Days
- CurrencyFair: 1-3 Days
- XE: 2-3 Days
Typically sending money to South Africa will be much faster using a money transfer company compared to a bank that can take 3-5 working days. That’s because banks usually process international money transfers through the SWIFT network. This system involves passing a payment through several intermediaries, which slows the process down. Money transfer companies have often built their own networks to process payments faster – which can even mean your money is deposited instantly into your recipient’s account.
The fastest provider in our table to transfer money to South Africa is Wise – 0-2 Days.
Learn more about instant ways to transfer money overseas here.
What is the best rated provider to transfer money to South Africa from the United States?
Of the 5 providers we found for transferring money to South Africa, here's how they stack up in terms of number of reviews and average score:
- XE - Trustpilot rating: 4.3, Excellent
- OFX - Trustpilot rating: 4.3, Excellent
- Wise - Trustpilot rating: 4.2, Great
- CurrencyFair - Trustpilot rating: 4.2, Great
- Remitly - Trustpilot rating: 4.1, Great
How to wire money to South Africa?
You've got a few key options if you need to send money to South Africa:
Wire transfer to South Africa – most banks will let you send money internationally online, by visiting a branch or by phone. Payments to ZAR will be sent directly from your bank account to your recipient's local bank account in your chosen currency.
Walk into a branch – several specialist money transmitter services operate through large branch and agent networks, so you can visit a physical store and make your ZAR payment in cash if you want to.
Send money online to South Africa – if you'd rather make your USD/ZAR payment online or using your smartphone, you can choose your own bank's online banking service, or an international payment specialist. Specialist services can often offer better exchange rates and lower fees than banks.
Cash pickup – sending a payment for cash pickup can often be the fastest way to get your money into your recipient's hands. It's also usually one of the most expensive because it's being prioritized and can even be instant. For example, if you need your recipient to pick up cash in to South Africa, you could use Remitly, and it may cost you $261.59 USD.
How to send money to another bank account in South Africa
Sending money to another bank account to South Africa is often the most convenient option – both for you, and your recipient. Your recipient doesn't need to take any action to receive the money, it just lands in the nominated account in the currency you choose, and can be spent or withdrawn easily.
If you're sending money from a bank account in the United States to a bank account in South Africa, choosing a specialist provider can be the cheapest and fastest way to make your payment. Different providers have their own processes for arranging payments – but the steps you'll take are usually roughly the same:
- 1Create an account
Register a new account with your preferred service, by entering your contact details and some basic information. You may even be able to do this using Facebook or Google for convenience. - 2Verify
Depending on the type of payment you're making, you may need to verify your account by uploading an image of your ID documents. This step helps keep your money safe, and is often a legal requirement. - 3Top up
Add money to your account in dollars, using a bank transfer or card payment. - 4Add recipient details and send
Once you're ready to send a payment, add your recipient's personal and bank account details, check the exchange rate and fee applied to your payment, and confirm. That's it – your money will now be sent, and you can track its progress online or in your provider's app.
Ways to pay for your money transfer to South Africa
Different money transfer services offer different options to fund your international money transfer. Luckily, you have plenty to choose from.
Typically bank transfer is the cheapest payment method, which is why it’s the method we use to compare providers on Exiap. Let's take a look at a few payment options for sending money from the United States to South Africa with these providers:
Online
Bank transfer, Direct debit, Online
Bank transfer, Card (debit or credit), SWIFT, Google Pay, Apple Pay, Online
Online
Bank transfer, Card (debit or credit), Prepaid Card, Online
Best app to send money to South Africa
| Provider | Website |
 |
 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wise | |||
| XE | |||
| Remitly | |||
| OFX | |||
| CurrencyFair |
XE: from the United States to South Africa
You can send money online and in-app with XE from the United States, to over 60 countries. Transfer times vary based on how you choose to pay and the country you’re sending to, and XE exchange rates can include a lower markup compared to a regular bank.
- Send to a broad range of countries from the United States
- Pay for transfers with a bank transfer or card
- XE is a trusted way to send money safely overseas
- Exchange rates include a small markup
- Fees and delivery times vary based on destination and payment type
How much does it cost to send money to South Africa with XE?
- Transfer fees: Fees vary based on how you choose to pay, and the currencies involved
- Exchange rates: Exchange rates include a small markup
- Additional fees: Fees vary based on how you choose to pay, and the currencies involved
OFX: from the United States to South Africa
OFX is a currency specialist which offers quick international transfers and currency risk management solutions for individuals and businesses. You can send payments with OFX online and in-app, or access a 24/7 phone service if you’d rather talk your transfer through.
- Arrange your payment online, in app or by phone
- Access other currency services including currency risk management solutions
- Broad range of supported countries and currencies
- Exchange rates include a markup
- Minimum transfer amount 1000 USD
How much does it cost to send money to South Africa with OFX?
- Transfer fees: No transfer fee from the United States
- Exchange rates: Exchange rates include a markup
- Additional fees: Third party fees may apply
Wise: from the United States to South Africa
Wise offers online and in-app money transfer services to South Africa and 80+ other destinations around the world. You'll get the mid-market exchange rate to convert your US Dollar, with fast transfer times. In fact, 50% of Wise transfers are instant*, and 90% get there in under 24 hours.
- Mid-market exchange rates and low fees from 0.41%
- Send money abroad quickly - transfers can even be instant
- Send in 15+ currencies to 170+ countries
- No cash payment options
- No branch network
How much does it cost to send money to South Africa with Wise?
- Transfer fees: Send money from 0.41%
- Exchange rates: Mid-market exchange rate
- Additional fees: Transfer fees vary based on destination and how you choose to pay
* The speed of transaction claims depends on individual circumstances and may not be available for all transactions.
CurrencyFair: from the United States to South Africa
CurrencyFair can be a cheap international money transfer service with quick delivery times on many currency routes. There’s a low, flat fee per transfer, and you could also find you get a better exchange rate compared to your regular bank.
- Send in 15 currencies
- Low transfer fees
- Many currencies can be delivered on the same day, or within 1 working day
- Exchange rates include a markup
- Pay in US Dollar by bank transfer only, no card option
How much does it cost to send money to South Africa with CurrencyFair?
- Transfer fees: 156.29 USD
- Exchange rates: Exchange rates include a markup
- Additional fees: Third party fees may apply depending on how you set up your transfer
Remitly: from the United States to South Africa
Remitly international money transfers from the United States can be made in 147 countries. You might find Remitly is one of the cheapest ways to transfer money internationally, particularly if you benefit from a new customer promotion.
- Send in a large selection of currencies
- New customer promotions available which can mean better rates and lower fees
- Large selection of payout options including cash collection
- You can’t pay for your transfer in cash
- Exchange rates may include a markup
How much does it cost to send money to South Africa with Remitly?
- Transfer fees: Fees vary based on how you choose to pay, and the currencies involved
- Exchange rates: Exchange rates may include a small markup, promotional rates available for new customers
- Additional fees: Fees vary based on how you choose to pay, and the currencies involved
Details needed to send money to South Africa
The details you'll need to send money internationally from the United States to South Africa may vary by provider, and based on the value of the transfer. At a minimum, whenever you make an international bank transfer you will typically be asked for:
- SWIFT code
- Account number
- Phone number
Best way to send large amounts of money to South Africa from the United States
When you’re sending a high value payment it’s especially important to do your research and find a provider which is safe and which offers low fees and great exchange rates. It’s also well worth comparing some providers based on transfer times, as the delivery time can also vary pretty widely.
Some international money transfer services offer discounts for high value transfers, either through lower fees or a better exchange rate. Use the Exiap cost comparison calculator to make sure you’re getting the very best deal available for your specific transfer.
How to send large amounts of money to South Africa
While sending a high value payment works very similarly to sending any other transfer overseas, the provider may require additional information to verify the payment. You might be asked to prove the source of the funds, for example, to comply with local and international financial services legislation. If you’re sending a large amount of money you’ll also need to make sure the provider you’ve picked can support the amount, as maximum payment limits may apply.
Here’s how to send a large sum of money internationally with a specialist international money transfer service:
- 1Create an account
Register a new account with your preferred service - 2Verify
Verify your account by uploading an image of your ID documents - 3Add the transfer information
Including the value and currency - 4Add recipient details
Add your recipient’s personal and bank account details - 5Fund your payment
Make a local bank transfer, use your card or pick another supported payment method. Your money will be on the move as soon as it’s been received by the provider.
Safest way to send money from the United States to South Africa
The safest way to send money to South Africa is to select a provider which is properly registered and regulated both in the United States and South Africa. There are many global regulators around the world, and it’s common for international money transfer providers to be registered and regulated by dozens of different bodies, depending on where they operate.
In United States for example, you’ll usually find providers are registered with the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN), and they may also need to hold a state license depending on how they’re set up.
International money transfer limits to South Africa
There is no legal limit on how much money can be sent to or from the United States, although banks and other payment providers may impose their own limits. Money transfer limits can vary quite widely between providers, and may also change depending on how you want to fund your transfer. You could find different limits in place when you pay by card compared to paying using a bank transfer, for example.
USD/ZAR exchange rate trends
As with many currencies, the USD/ZAR exchange rate moves over time, due to changes in supply and demand. Exchange rate fluctuations can be caused by underlying shifts in how well the economy in United States or South Africa is doing, changes in political stability, or even simple speculation, where traders buy or sell currencies based on how they think trends are going to change.
Right now, 1 US Dollar buys 18.946 South African Rand.
International bank transfer fee to South Africa
To send money to South Africa using one of the international money transfer providers in our tables, the fees range from 142.95 with XE to 261.59 with Remitly (but the fee could be even higher with a bank). The exact cost depends a lot on where you’re sending money, how much you’re sending, how you want to pay, and how you want the payment to be received.
Typically sending money directly to a recipient’s bank account using a specialist service can be done with fairly low costs, while traditional bank transfer fees can be higher. Paying for your transfer with either a credit card or cash can often mean the fees crank up, too.
When you’re sending money internationally, don’t forget that the overall fee you pay can include the transfer fee, an extra charge wrapped up in the exchange rate used, and third party charges like a cash advance fee from your credit card issuer.
Best money transfer rate to South Africa
The best rate available to send money to South Africa will usually be the mid-market exchange rate. The mid-market exchange rate is the rate used when banks buy and sell currencies on global markets.
However, this rate isn’t always available to individual customers sending money abroad. Instead, providers often add a markup – an extra fee – to the exchange rate they offer customers. This pushes up the costs and makes it harder to see exactly what you’re paying for your international bank transfer.
A provider which uses the mid-market rate for international transfers from the United States to South Africa is Wise. Right now, the mid-market rate for a US Dollar to South African Rand is 18.946.
How long does a bank transfer to South Africa take?
The length of time it takes to transfer money to South Africa depends on a variety of factors including the provider you use, how you’re paying, and how you want your recipient to get the money in the end.
From the providers that we display, the fastest international money transfer provider to South Africa is Wise, which can deliver the money to your recipient in South Africa in 0-2 Days. The slowest provider to send USD – ZAR is XE, which takes 2-3 Days to send money to South Africa.
Send money online with a credit card or debit card
Some specialist international money transfer providers do offer the option to fund transfers with a credit card or debit card. Paying for your transfer with a card can mean your funds are received quickly, so the provider can deposit the payment into the recipient’s account faster. However, this often comes with additional fees which might make it more expensive than paying by bank transfer.
Here’s a handy list of providers that support card payments:
- XE: Online
- OFX: Bank transfer, Direct debit, Online
- Wise: Bank transfer, Card (debit or credit), SWIFT, Google Pay, Apple Pay, Online
- CurrencyFair: Online
- Remitly: Bank transfer, Card (debit or credit), Prepaid Card, Online
Conclusion
When it comes to choosing the best provider for sending money to South Africa from the United States, it really depends on what your needs are.
The cheapest provider shown in our comparison table is XE and the fastest is Wise. If the transfer time is what you're interested in, then Wise is the fastest to transfer money to South Africa. Wise can get your money to your recipient to South Africa in 0-2 Days.
If safety is what interests you the most when it comes to picking the best international money transfer provider to South Africa, then all the providers we listed above are regulated by different financial institutions and should be safe to send money to South Africa with.
Frequently asked question when sending money from the United States to South Africa
There’s no single best way to transfer money to South Africa. It all depends on your priorities. Different providers offer a different balance of cost, speed and convenience. Using our comparison tool to check out a range of providers is a good way to find the best option for you.
You can send money from the United States to South Africa using your bank, a specialist money transfer service, an e-wallet, or by visiting a physical money remittance store. Each option has different pros and cons, so the best for you will depend on your specific transfer and personal requirements.
You can’t send money to South Africa from the United States for free. International transfers cost providers money to arrange, so there’s always a fee somewhere to make sure that the business covers its costs and generates profit. However, many providers choose to make the fees you pay trickier to spot by adding them into the exchange rates used for transfers.
There is no official best time to send money from the United States to South Africa and that depends on a variety of factors such as when you need to send money or when you want the funds to be received. It’s also going to depend on a variety of other factors such as, the time when you send money or the fees you are offered by providers or banks.
All of the providers on our site are financially regulated in the countries they operate and hold the necessary licences. They have the highest security measures in place for fraud prevention and identity protection. However, it’s still better to be safe than sorry.