Remitly Review [2026]: Transfer fees, exchange rates and speed

Remitly lets you send a payment overseas from the US to over 175 countries, on popular remittance routes globally.

You’ll set up your transfer online or in an app, and then you can choose to have your money deposited in the recipient’s bank or mobile money account, collected in cash or in some cases delivered to their door. Fees, features and services vary depending on the destination country.

Read on for our Remitly review looking at the full picture including fees, whether it’s safe to use, how fast it is, how to get set up, and more

Remitly: Key points 📌

Overall: Remitly offers personal transfers in 100+ currencies from the US. You can send money on many common remittance routes, for cash collection or delivery, or to be deposited to a bank or mobile money account. The range of services and how they’re priced does vary quite significantly between countries, so you’ll need to check what pay out options are available for your specific destination, as well as the fees and rates.

Is Remitly safe to send money? 🔐

Remitly is safe to use. The platform implements robust industry security practices to keep your data and money protected throughout the transfer process.

Here are some of the key safety features Remitly uses:

• Industry-grade data protection: Remitly protects your private personal details and transaction info using advanced Transport Layer Security (TLS) with 256-bit encryption.
• Proactive tracking systems: Automated machine learning tools and predictive technology look out for unusual account behavior to stop fraudulent activity before it starts.
• Strict payment card standards: As a Payment Card Industry (PCI) certified business, the company follows stringent technical protocols to ensure your debit or credit card data remains safe.
• Multi-factor account security: Profiles use two-factor authentication (2FA) and immediate text message alerts to verify your identity whenever changes are made to your login credentials.

➡️ Learn more: Is Remitly safe?

How much can I save with Remitly? 💸

Remitly’s fees vary quite a bit depending on where you’re sending money to, how you want to pay, and how you want the money to be received in the end.

It’s a smart idea to compare a few providers against your bank to find the best value for your payment – but a specialist service can often offer a cheaper transfer with better exchange rates.

Here’s a quick comparison of Remitly against Chase bank and Wise, on a payment sent to a bank account.

We’ve looked at several different transfer values to illustrate:

*Information correct at time of writing – 26th May 2026

What is Remitly? 🔍

Remitly has been around since 2011, and offers digital remittance services you can have paid out to bank accounts, mobile money accounts, collected in cash or even delivered to your recipient’s door.

Remitly offers services for both personal and business customers, but is well known for focusing its services on those working overseas and sending money home.

Key stats:

• Established in: 2011
• Send money to: 175+ countries
• Payout options: 4 available: bank and mobile wallet deposit, cash collection and cash home delivery

Remitly international money transfers

You can send a personal payment with Remitly from the US in 100+ currencies.

That’s handy for people sending money to loved ones.

Because Remitly also offers deposits to mobile money accounts or for cash collection, it’s easy to get money to someone who doesn’t have easy access to a bank account, too. Just send it for cash collection and they’ll be able to collect their money at a nearby agent when they’re ready.

⚙️ How does Remitly work?

You’ll need to register an account to send your first Remitly payment. However, this is very easy to do with just your personal information and SSN or ITIN.

To send a payment you’ll just log in online or in the Remitly app, select the country you’re sending to and use the dropdown boxes to navigate your send options in the destination. Different services and fee structures are available in different countries.

Remitly alternatives

Not sure if Remitly is right for you? Compare their coverage, costs and services with these Remitly alternatives:

• Remitly vs Wise – Wise uses the mid-market exchange rate and transparently splits out the costs of your payment overseas, which can make it easier to check and compare the costs
• Remitly vs WorldRemit – WorldRemit could be a good choice if you want to send a smaller value payment or if you want your money to be collected in cash, deposited to a mobile money account, or used as airtime topup
• Remitly vs Xe – Xe Money Transfer can help you send payments more or less anywhere in the world
• Remitly vs TorFX – TorFX is UK based and offers international transfers and currency risk management services.

💳 Remitly pricing

You’ll often find you can make a couple of different types of Remitly transfer: Express or Economy.

• ⌛ Economy Service – Offers a longer delivery time frame (3 to 5 business days) at lower transfer fees.
• 🚀 Express Service – Offers a much shorter delivery time frame (minutes) at higher transfer fees.

The amount depends on where you’re from and where you’re sending money to. Exchange rates are shown once you have selected which country and how much you wish to send.

Remitly often offer new customers or first time users promotional rates and fees and if you are an existing customer, available promotions will appear on the banner at the top of the page.

💱 Remitly exchange rate

Remitly adds a markup on the exchange rate used to change your USD to the currency your recipient needs.

While promotional rates and fees are frequently available for new customers, adding an exchange rate markup can make it a bit trickier to see exactly what you are paying overall for your international transfer.

⏳ How long does Remitly transfer take?

You can choose between two transfer speeds depending on how quickly you need your money to arrive. Paying with a debit card and selecting the Express track can push your money transfers overseas within minutes, while selecting the Economy option and funding your payment via a bank account will take 3 to 5 business days.

Factors that influence the speed of transfer include:

• How you pay for the transaction (card vs. bank account transfer)
• The currencies you are moving money between
• The countries where the money needs to be sent
• When you are sending your money

Remitly will advise you where your money is and when it arrives via text message, email, and app notifications to keep you in the loop during the transfer process.

*Details correct at time of research – 26th May 2026 (*The speed of transaction claims depends on individual circumstances and may not be available for all transactions)

Remitly limits – How to increase your transfer limit

Like many money transfer service companies, Remitly has limits on how much money you can transfer.

The current maximum sending limit from the United States is 100,000 USD per single transaction. However, the exact amount you can send at any given time depends heavily on your account verification status, your chosen payment method, and any specific receiving caps set by the destination country.

➡️ In this guide, we covered Remitly limits and some alternatives with higher transfer limits: Remitly transfer limits 📚

📝 How to use Remitly

Here’s how to get started quickly with Remitly:

1. Download Remitly app from Apple App store or Google Play store.
2. Login and create an account. Provide your full name, date of birth, email address, last 4 digits of your SS number or ITIN.
3. Choose the country and how much currency you want to send. Select Express or Economy speed.
4. Provide details of where the international money transfer is going including full name, bank account details or mobile phone number or cash up location or home delivery.
5. Pay Remitly.

Remitly will advise you where your money is and when it arrives via text message, email and app notification.

The details you’ll need when you’re sending money

If you’re sending money to a recipient’s bank account you’ll need their full banking information including account number of IBAN, bank name and address, and the SWIFT code.

For cash collection transfers you usually just need the recipient’s name as shown on their government issued ID document.

Remitly payment methods 💵

You can pay for your transfer from the US by credit or debit card, Apple or Google Pay or with a bank transfer (ACH).

✍️ Writer’s tip: While funding an Express transfer with a credit card is convenient, try to stick to your debit card or bank account whenever possible. Paying with a credit card can trigger an additional card processing fee, and your card issuer will likely treat the transfer as a cash advance. As a result, you could face high-interest charges and cash advance fees from your credit card company on top of the standard transfer cost.

Payout methods

You can choose different pay out options depending on where you’re sending money to, including:

• Bank account deposit 🏦
• Mobile money account deposit 📱
• Cash collection 💵
• Cash home delivery 🏠

How to track Remitly transfer

Track your Remitly transfer online or in the Remitly app, once the money is on the way.

📂 How to create an account

You can open a Remitly account instantly entirely online or through the mobile app.

To set up a basic account, you only need to share a few details:

• Your full name
• Your residential address
• Your date of birth
• The last 4 digits of your Social Security Number (SSN) or ITIN

Once your profile information is entered, you can instantly begin setting up your first international transfer. While you won’t always need to upload documents right away for smaller amounts, Remitly may still request a quick photo ID check during your first transaction to verify your identity

What documents you’ll need

To increase your account limits you have to provide some paperwork, usually including proof of ID and address.

ID documents can include:

• Passport
• U.S. Military ID
• Permanent resident card (Green Card)
• Employment authorization card
• National ID issued by a foreign government

Proof of your address may be:

• A utility bill in your name
• A lease agreement
• A pay stub
• A bank or card statement

How long does Remitly verification take? ⏰

Remitly will normally be able to verify your identity within one hour.Because the basic signup process relies on typing in your basic details like your name, address, and SSN, your account can often be approved almost instantly.

However, if you are uploading documents to clear your security checks or to unlock the maximum 100,000 USD sending limit, it can sometimes take a bit longer. Remitly will contact you as soon as possible if any additional information or paperwork is needed to finish setting up your account.

How safe are my Remitly login details? 🔐

Remitly offer extensive security measures through the account verification process including:

• Two factor authentication (2FA) feature to make accessing your account more secure
• Phone verification sent to your phone when you sign in to Remitly with your password
• Internet security – Secure Socket Layer (SSL) with 256-bit encryption, which is the industry standard

🏦 Do I need a bank account for Remitly?

You’ll need a bank account, credit or debit card to pay for your Remitly transfer. However, you can send money to someone who does not have a bank account by selecting cash collection as the delivery option.

Helpful hints

• Make sure your ID is valid and not expired
• Make sure it shows your full name, your current address and date of birth

Ways to receive your money

Different services are available in different destination countries. You may be able to choose the following pay out options:

• Bank account deposit
• Mobile money account deposit
• Cash collection
• Cash home delivery

Remitly accessibility

Remitly is available online and in an app, and you can chat to a team member when you have a problem. Chat is 24/7 and in English, French and Spanish. Phone services are also available 24/7 in English and Spanish. The app is available in an impressive list of languages for ease of use globally 🔤.

📱 Remitly is mobile optimized

Remitly is extremely easy to use on your mobile phone as it was designed specially for mobile use. It’s mobile friendly for both the person sending the money and the person receiving the money. Their website and mobile app allows you to do the whole process including signing up, providing id, sending money overseas and tracking the delivery.

Remitly will send text message alerts so you can see where your money is during the transfer.

Supported currencies

You can send money in 100+ currencies from the US, with Remitly 💱 .

💬 Remitly reviews

Remitly scores 4.6 out of 5 stars on TrustPilot, which aggregates live customer review data.

Over 80% of customers give a 5 star review, with customers commonly commenting on the reliability and ease of use of the service.

Here is what some customers have to say about their experiences:

👤“My money was transferred immediately within minutes. I was also in a bit of a rush to send it to my family so Remitly was a great help. Thank you.” – Robert. R*

👤 “Great business and fast service highly recommend 👌 – Catherine. W*

Where customers have been less impressed with the service, the issue is commonly around security checks and verifications being required. These can slow down a payment or even mean that Remitly can not process the transfer requested.

*Customers were not compensated in exchange for their statements, results may vary based on individual circumstances.

Remitly customer support

Remitly Passbook account (discontinued since May 2023)

Passbook was an account that doesn’t require a social security number (SSN) that an immigrant living in the United States may find difficult to get.

Unfortunately on May 1, 2023 Remitly has announced that they’ll be stopping this service and won’t be accepting new accounts.

Conclusion: Is Remitly a good way to transfer money?

Remitly is a popular digital service for sending payments home to loved ones, which can be deposited in bank and mobile money accounts, or collected as cash at a Remitly agent. The range of options available from Remitly varies based on the country you’re sending to, so you’ll need to check out the pay out features and fees for your specific transfer. Often you can pick a faster Express payment or a cheaper Economy payment, depending on your preference.

Use this guide to decide if Remitly is right for you, and don’t forget to compare some Remitly alternatives to see what else is on offer.

📂 Useful Sources

• Wise: Information on the Wise Multi-Currency Account and the Wise Multi-Currency Debit card.
• Xe: Set custom currency rate alerts and manage large-scale international payments.
• Remitly: Send express remittances online or find global cash pickup points for your recipient.
• OFX: Access dedicated 24/7 support, send money to over 170 countries and find out more about making high-value personal transfers.

Claire Millard

Author

Claire Millard

Fintech Content Writer

Claire Millard is a content and copywriter with a specialty in international finance. Her work has featured in The Times and The Telegraph, as well as industry magazines and leading personal finance blogs.

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Seyma Mektepli

Reviewer

Seyma Mektepli

Editor-in-chief

Seyma is an experienced content writer and editor-in-chief at Exiap, delivering informative articles on personal finance, and money transfers.

Read more

Last updated

June 29th, 2026