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Money Transfers review
Remitly logo

Remitly review

Best for sending to family

App-first remittance service with bank, mobile wallet and cash pickup delivery and an on-time promise. People sending regular support to family abroad, especially when the recipient prefers cash pickup or a mobile wallet. We rank it #3 of 8 in our money transfers comparison, with an editorial score of 9.0 out of 10.

Updated By the ChoosyOwl editorial teamHow we rank
9.0/10
Our editorial score

Remitly scores highest on Speed & tracking because it publishes an on-time delivery promise that refunds the applicable transfer fee if a transfer is late, and well on Delivery options with bank, mobile wallet and cash pickup delivery. It does well on Safety & licensing disclosures with its NMLS number in the footer. It scores lower on Cost transparency than Wise because rates and fees vary by corridor and speed option.

How we score money transfers

Visit site (Remitly, opens in a new tab)

Quick facts

Our rank#3 of 8
Best forBest for sending to family
Ways to payBank account or card (check options in the app)
Delivery optionsBank account, mobile wallet, cash pickup
Exchange-rate approachRate and fee shown in the quote; vary by corridor
Facts checkedNovember 14, 2026

Details are general and can change. Check current plans, prices and terms on the Remitly site. See the Remitly company profile in our brand directory.

Overview

Remitly is a remittance service built around sending money to family and friends abroad. Its US site says it serves more than 175 countries and more than 100 currencies, and recipients can receive money in a bank account, a mobile wallet or for cash pickup, depending on the country.

Remitly says its transfers arrive on time or it refunds the applicable transfer fee, and you can track each transfer in the app. It promotes competitive exchange rates and no hidden fees, but rates and fees vary by destination, amount and delivery speed, so compare the amount your recipient will get in the quote. New-customer offers may apply; check the current offer on the site.

Remitly's footer says Remitly, Inc. is licensed as a money transmitter by the New York State Department of Financial Services and lists NMLS No. 1028236.

Pros and cons

Pros

  • Strong choice of delivery methods for family remittances
  • Published delivery-time commitment
  • Clear licensing statement on the US site
  • Easy app-based sending

Cons

  • Total cost varies by corridor and speed, so compare quotes
  • Sending limits depend on the destination and delivery method
  • Intro offers can make first-transfer pricing look better than later ones

Key features

  • Delivery to bank accounts, mobile wallets and cash pickup
  • On-time delivery promise with a fee refund if late (check terms)
  • Transfer tracking in the app
  • Sends to more than 175 countries, per its site
  • Business payments through Remitly Business

Who Remitly is for

A good fit if

People sending regular support to family abroad, especially when the recipient prefers cash pickup or a mobile wallet.

Look elsewhere if

Anyone moving a large one-off sum who mainly wants the lowest possible markup on a major currency.

How we scored Remitly

Remitly scores highest on Speed & tracking because it publishes an on-time delivery promise that refunds the applicable transfer fee if a transfer is late, and well on Delivery options with bank, mobile wallet and cash pickup delivery. It does well on Safety & licensing disclosures with its NMLS number in the footer. It scores lower on Cost transparency than Wise because rates and fees vary by corridor and speed option.

Our money transfers score weighs cost transparency (30%), delivery options (20%), speed & tracking (15%), coverage (15%), safety & licensing disclosures (20%). See the methodology.

Remitly alternatives

  1. #1
    Wise logo

    Wise

    Best overall

    Online transfers at the mid-market rate with the fee shown separately, delivered to bank accounts.

    • Converts at the mid-market rate with a separate fee (per Wise's pricing page)
    • Pay by ACH, wire, or debit or credit card
    • Delivery to local bank accounts; recipient needs no Wise account
    • Multi-currency account and debit card for spending abroad
    9.4/10
    Editorial score
    Visit site (Wise, opens in a new tab) Read review
  2. #2
    Xe logo

    Xe

    Best for delivery choice

    Long-running currency brand that sends to bank accounts, cash pickup points and mobile wallets.

    • Bank deposit, cash pickup and mobile wallet delivery
    • Pay by ACH, debit card, credit card or wire
    • Mid-market reference rate shown in its converter
    • Rate alerts and a currency converter app
    9.1/10
    Editorial score
    Visit site (Xe, opens in a new tab) Read review
  3. #4
    OFX logo

    OFX

    Best for large transfers

    Bank-to-bank currency transfers for larger sums, with 24/7 human support.

    • Bank-to-bank transfers in more than 50 currencies, per its site
    • 24/7 support by phone or email
    • Rate alerts and historical rate charts
    • Recurring transfers
    8.7/10
    Editorial score
    Visit site (OFX, opens in a new tab) Read review

Head-to-head

See all 8 money transfer services compared

Remitly FAQ

What happens if a Remitly transfer is late?

Remitly says transfers arrive on time or it refunds the applicable transfer fee. Check the current terms on Remitly's site for how this works.

How can my recipient receive money from Remitly?

Depending on the country, recipients can receive money in a bank account, in a mobile wallet or by cash pickup.

Is Remitly licensed in the US?

Remitly's footer says Remitly, Inc. is licensed as a money transmitter by the New York State Department of Financial Services and lists its NMLS number, which you can look up on NMLS Consumer Access.

Sources and fact check

We checked the facts on this page against Remitly's own website on .