WorldRemit review

WorldRemit focuses on remittances to countries where mobile money and cash pickup matter as much as bank accounts, with popular routes such as Ghana, Nigeria and the Philippines. From the US its app sends to over 130 countries, and depending on the route you can choose bank transfer, cash pickup, mobile money or airtime top up, which WorldRemit says carries no extra fees. You can pay by bank deposit, debit card or credit card, and WorldRemit notes that debit cards are cheaper than credit cards, whose issuers may charge an advance fee. Fees and rates are shown before you confirm, and WorldRemit claims to be on average 46% cheaper than most banks, a figure we could not check independently. Its US fee page did not load when we checked, so we list its price as pending. It covers fewer destinations than Xe or Western Union and offers nothing for travel spending.

Who it is for

senders to Africa and Asia who need mobile money delivery

Price

See vendor pricing (USD check pending).

US price check pending. See the vendor pricing page.

Key features

• Up to four receive methods: bank transfer, cash pickup, mobile money and airtime top up
• App sends money from the US to over 130 countries
• Airtime top up with no extra fees
• Pay by bank deposit, debit card or credit card
• Fees and exchange rate shown upfront before you send

Strengths and weaknesses

• Strength: Mobile money delivery suits recipients without bank accounts
• Strength: WorldRemit says it is on average 46% cheaper than most banks
• Strength: Free app for iOS and Android
• Weakness: No public US fee table, so the price only appears in a quote
• Weakness: Credit card payments may trigger issuer fees
• Weakness: Fewer destinations from the US than Xe or Western Union

Key facts

• Fees: Shown upfront per transfer
• Destinations from the US: 130+ countries
• Receive methods: Bank, cash pickup, mobile money, airtime
• Airtime fees: No extra fees
• Payment methods: Bank deposit, debit card, credit card

Where it ranks

WorldRemit is No. 8 in our Best Currency Exchange Apps verdict.