WorldRemit Review

WorldRemit Review

Our honest review of WorldRemit and if its the right choice for you when sending money abroad.

Quick Summary:

When it comes to sending money abroad WorldRemit are one of the most popular companies due to the speed and ease, our review will show you if it's right for you.

  • Ability to send to 130+ countries
  • Flexible range of ways to pay and collect the money
  • 4+ million customers
  • Competitive fees when sending smaller sums (less than a few thousands at a time)

If you do want to use them make sure to use the code "3FREE" here via WorldRemit to get 3 months fee free service.

Updated:

July 10, 2023

By Max

We've sent money transfers internationally for years, both from a personal point of view as well as a business one, therefore we know what is needed when it comes to finding a good money transfer service, hence we've created this in-depth WorldRemit review so you can see if it's right for you and your needs and make an informed decision.

If your time is limited, then cutting to the chase, WorldRemit offers one of the most popular money transfer services with over 4 million customers worldwide, sending money to over 130 countries. They pride themselves on being 46% cheaper than most banks, are fast, allow you to pay by bank transfer, debit or credit card and show you the exchange rate with no hidden fees.

WorldRemit boasts a 4.2 out of 5 rating on TrustPilot with over 70,000 reviewers praising it for its fast and easy-to-use service, good customer service and availability of cash pickup points. The downsides to WorldRemit often are the fees and exchange rates which aren't always the most competitive, despite this many choose to use them due to ease and speed.

Things we love about WorldRemit

Having used WorldRemit ourselves, we tend to sway towards it when we want a fast and effective service when sending money,

  • Ability to send to 130+ countries
  • Large network of cash pickup points across the world
  • Intuitive app and well designed
  • Flexible payment options including the ability to pay with bank deposits, credit card or debit cards
  • Over 4 million customers
  • The ability to get 3 months fee-free using code "3FREE" here via WorldRemit

When we don't like WorldRemit

We tend to sway away from them when the exchange rate and the fees are important so on larger amounts or those that are regular or when we have more time to look up the market and see the most cost effective service to use at the time we need to send it.

  • There are often cheaper rates available if you search around
  • Although fees are clear and often appear as good value, the exchange rates can sometimes be higher and hence they make more money on this side of things.

When should you use WorldRemit

There are times when WorldRemit will be the right choice for you and then they'll be times when it isn't, we'll explain our honest opinion of these, but of course, this will differ depending on your personal situation and money transfer needs so please be aware of this.

When it's a good option

Of course, if you need to send money to countries abroad then using a money transfer service like this will nearly always be a better choice than sending via a traditional bank, you'll benefit from:

  • When you're sending smaller amounts - hundreds to low thousands of dollars, GBP, Euros or other currency
  • Lower fees in comparison to most banks
  • Better options and flexibility when funding and sending money
  • When you need flexible payment options
  • For paying oversees bills

The best use case for this service is when you need to send smaller amounts to people in other countries and this is the most popular use of the service we've found.

When you need to send cash to someone you will of course need to fund that cash pickup in some way, with Worldremit you'll have the option for sending this via bank transfer, debit or credit card, Apple Pay and even Klarna. This gives customers more options so may be more suitable for some where this is key.

One other great feature is the ability to be able to pay foreign bills such as gas, electric, water, phone and other such bills whether they are your own or on behalf of someone else.

When it's not the best option

Just because something is great for one thing, doesn't mean it's great for another and in this case when sending larger amounts it's not the best option for you. So if you're considering doing any of the following then WorldRemit may not be right:

  • When you're sending large amounts of money - think several thousand and up, this is due to the fees and the fact the service isn't designed for large money transfers
  • When you are cost-sensitive i.e you want the best rate possible
  • For businesses who regularly send money abroad

If you're looking to send larger money transfers, around $5,000/£3,600+ then Worldremit may not be right for you, this is because they are not designed for these amounts, they can often do it but because of this, you'll find the rates you get are not the best and with larger sums this will be significant and worth your time exploring other options.

The fees on the smaller amounts are often competitive but in our experience, if you hunt around enough you will find better rates, of course, this may take time and so you may consider the time to value saving is not worth it.

For founders and businesses looking to send international money transfers then as it currently stands Worldremit doesn't have a dedicated business account option, so you may be better going for a company that is dedicated to businesses.

The sign up process

Our experience of signing up to Worldremit was smooth, fast and easy, we'd like to think this won't pose an issue for anyone.

One thing to note is that during the signup process you can enter a code in order to get 3 months of transfers fee free which means you can save money on every transfer.

WorldRemit promo code

You should always consider using a Worldremit promo code if you're a new customer as it means you can save money on transfers, by using the promo code "3FREE" on this WorldRemit page you'll be able to get 3 months of fee free transfers, saving you money every time you send.

We regularly check and update the promo codes and coupons on this page so you can be assured that they work and are active, we also often negotiate directly with the company to get our readers and members exclusive codes to save even more.

Worldremit sign up

Is WorldRemit Safe?

One of the most common questions around this company relates to is Worldremit safe, this a sensible question to ask when it comes to any financial transaction. Worldremit are a reputable company having been founded in 2010 and serving over 4 million customers across the world. Each year they transfer billions of dollars across the world and hence have some of the best security and technology in place to ensure that it can be as safe as possible for customers.

With headquarters in London, they are regulated and authorized by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), which gives them not only trust, but credibility as well accountability and redress. It is also registered with the AUSTRAC and the FSPR in New Zealand adding to the credibility of this company.

As with any financial service, always make sure you're extra cautious when doing any transactions or receiving any emails from the company as spoof email scams are a common threat.

Is WorldRemit Legit?

Similar to the above question about the safety of Worldremit, the legitimacy of it is also something people wonder, in this case, the answers are similar, they are FCA regulated, as they are a UK headquartered company, so they have to keep to a high level of standards in order to keep their FCA status and be able to provide the services that they do.

As well as being regulated in the UK, they are also regulated in the US, Canada and Australia.

Our experience using Worldremit

We like to make sure that our Worldremit review is as accurate as can be and so we go through the process of joining and sending money ourselves.

The signup process is straightforward, very user-friendly, and quick and we see this causing very few issues for anyone.

Navigation around the site and menu is also very nice, meaning you can quickly get to the place on the site or within the app you need to.

The important part, the transfer process is clear and the fees are transparent, however, be aware that exchange rates sometimes have additional fees within them but it does make this apparent however at a quick glance you may not notice.

The Pay-In methods available

When it comes to sending money, you'll need to fund this payment and unlike other services where you only really have the option for bank transfer, WorldRemit offer a variety of different methods for paying in, these include:

  • Bank deposits
  • Cards including debit, credit and prepaid cards
  • Apple Pay
  • and a variety of other country-specific options

Please note, they no longer accept Google Pay which could be a deal breaker if you prefer to use this

The Pay-Out methods available

Receiving a money transfer needs to be as easy as possible and so companies that offer as many different options as possible are always preferred. WorldRemit offer a good amount of choices which should cover most customers needs.

  • Bank deposits - the money is credited directly to your bank account
  • Mobile money - this transfers the money to your mobile wallet
  • Cash Pickup - You can use one of thousands of cash pick up points around the world
  • Mobile credit - Credited to your mobile phone's balance to be used for calls, texts and data

WorldRemit app

Worldremit app

A high proportion of customers will mainly use the WorldRemit app, therefore it's important that this matches the useability of the website and works on both iOS as well as Android devices.

The good news is that it does, and the app is easy and nice to use, the downside for Android users is that if you mainly use Google Pay this currently is no longer supported as a payment method.

How it works

Sending money internationally is straightforward when you use WorldRemit, after all this is what they are designed to do, having sent many transfers ourselves on various different apps and services we put this app down as one of our top 4 when it comes to ease of use.

Step 1 - Sign in/Sign up

Sign in (or sign up) to your account and make sure all of your details are correct and you have a payment method sorted

Step 2 - Check the rates

This is the key step when sending money abroad, you'll want to know what the exchange rate looks like for the transaction you're doing and if it's the right time to do it and if WorldRemit is the right platform to do it with

Step 3 - Verifying your identity

You may need to verify your identity when sending money, this is for security reasons and to prevent fraud and is ultimately for your safety. This typically will involve a form of ID such as a driving license, proof of address such as a utility bill and often proof of the funds i.e a payslip

Step 4 - Start the transfer

This step involves entering the amount of money you're sending, the destination country and currency that you are sending to, and the delivery method (i.e bank deposit, cash pickup etc)

Here you'll get a full picture of exactly how much it will cost you to send, the rates and fees and how the receiver will get it, and how much they will get.

Please make sure you read, understand, and double-check this part!

Step 5 - Add the beneficiary

This will be the person who is receiving the money you are sending, you'll need to include their name, address, contact details and also why you are sending the money.

Step 6 - Send!

This is the last step and is essentially where you pay and initiate the transfer. Once you've completed this step you're done.

WorldRemit fees

The fees that WorldRemit charges vary depending on a number of factors including:

  • The amount of money you're sending
  • The currency and location you're sending to
  • The way you pay for the transfer (Bank transfer, Apple Pay, etc)
  • The way that the receipt will get the payment (i.e cash pick up, bank transfer etc)

As mentioned above, one of the downsides of WorldRemit is that they don't make it totally transparent about the fees before you start. As you go further into the transfer process and select the way you will send it and how it will be received the fees become more apparent.

They may not be the most cost effective option for you, but they are still widely popular and this is due to the ease and flexibility of their service. So if you're price sensitive it may not be right for you, but if you value your time more then they are worth considering.

Although you may see the initial costs and fees at this point, down the line when the exchange rate is used this is where you may find that you don't get the best rate, this is because they don't use the mid-market exchange rate.

As with any international money transfer, it will likely change from day to day as the exchange rates around the world and currency rates change, so sending say $500 one day will likely be different if you send the same amount the next day.

Also, it's worth remembering that if you opt to use a credit card during the payment process, some companies will charge this as a cash advance and you'll likely be charged for this, so it's worth both bearing this in mind and checking with your credit card company.

WorldRemit exchange rates

WorldRemit operates with a fee structure that primarily consists of transfer fees, without openly disclosing any additional charges. However, it is important to highlight that they do not provide transparency regarding their exchange rate margin. Approximately 69% of the overall cost associated with your transfer remains undisclosed within this margin, representing the disparity between the true mid-market exchange rate and the comparatively lower rate offered by WorldRemit. As a result, WorldRemit retains the difference for itself.

WorldRemit Reviews and Ratings

Don't just take our word for it, although we do aim to give you an open and honest review it is always worth noting other reviews and opinions of the company.

One of the most popular review companies in the world, TrustPilot, gives them an overall rating of 4.2 out of 5 stars and this is from over 70,000 customers. This is a good indication of the overall consensus of the company.

Of course, mixed in with these positive reviews will also be negative ones, so it's worth noting them too in case they bring up a negative that you feel may influence your decision to use them.

Customers seem to love:

  • The fast transfers and ease of use
  • The flexibility in terms of how to send money but also how people can receive it
  • The app and website experience
  • The competitive rates and fees

Customers tend to leave negative reviews that mention:

  • Some issues with customer service although many say positive things about this
  • The cost when relating to larger transfers
  • Some customers experienced delays with money being transferred

WorldRemit FAQ's

How much can you send through WorldRemit?

The limits will vary from country to country as well as depending on the payment method you're using. In general, you'll find the limit is around $20-30k. As mentioned though the rates for sending these larger transfers may not be the best you can get and in our opinion, WorldRemit is best when it comes to sending lower-value transfers.

What are the cash pickup options like?

They have over 30,000 different locations around the world where you can pick up cash from a transfer, these are typically at banks, post offices, and other locations.

What are the alternatives?

You should look into similar companies such as Wise, Remitly and Revolut

Which countries do they cover?

The WorldRemit app and service lets you send money online to over 130 countries these are all listed within the app and we recommend checking on that for the most up-to-date list.

If you see a * next to a link it means we are affiliated with the company and therefore may make a small commission if you sign up, this does not affect our reviews or information provided, this simply helps us run FounderPass and help give you the best information possible.

Information we provide is for general information and does not constitute financial advice. Always ensure do your own research when making decisions especially financial ones.