The 10 Best Apps To Receive Money Internationally

The greatest money transfer applications make transferring cash to family and friends, or purchasing goods and services from a mobile device, as simple and quick as possible. Because banks were hesitant to embrace the internet, several third parties created solutions that made moving money between people painless and easy.

Transferring money across borders using different currencies is simple, quick, and hassle-free with transfer apps. Such transactions generally have an associated fee, so double-check the expenses before making a decision. The finest services typically have reasonable rates that are well worth the expense of convenience. Money transfer apps provide excellent security for your money, especially if you need to receive or move funds from one country to another.

How Money Transfer Apps Work

Money transfer applications allow you to receive or move money easily and swiftly. Some apps may keep your money while others may send it from one bank to another. Specific consumer-oriented money transfer applications exist.

Factors To Consider When Selecting The Best International Money Transfer Apps

After a while, all of the features and methods for sending and receiving money may seem overwhelming. That’s why we’ve divided down the most important components to consider when selecting the appropriate app for you. The way and purpose behind your financial transactions will be determined by your requirement, so try to figure out which elements are most important to you. 

  • Overall Cost Of The Transfer: Have you ever had a situation in which you sent money to a particular country but the recipient received considerably less? The cost of hidden fees is one such example. These charges are often added via the exchange rate, although it also depends on the type of card you use and how you withdraw the cash. Make sure you thoroughly read your money transfer service’s terms and conditions or discover a money transfer company that displays all of its fees upfront. It might prevent you from receiving unpleasant surprises.
  • Transfer Speed: Which option you pick and what your eventual costs will be are typically determined by how quickly or slowly you need to receive or send the cash. In situations of emergency, the speed of money transfer becomes even more important for those who are away from home. Some older money transfers might take days to arrive in the bank accounts of your beneficiaries. However, newer firms like TransferGo and Wise, use advanced technology and local accounts to expedite transactions.
  • Geographic Location: Not all applications are available in every country and location. Many appealing money transfer alternatives are restricted by the locations and nations they serve. While conducting your research on which one to choose, be sure you’re looking for ones that work in your country.
  • Convenience: Convenience is sometimes put to the side when seeking a good rate and a low cost. But, isn’t it true that the objective of executing an online transfer is to make it as simple as possible? So be sure you use a company that provides an easy-to-use system with no hindrances or difficulties. Check to see if there are any negative ratings about the software; this could mean that it contains a bug or isn’t functioning properly for current users.
  • Customer Support: When you have a problem with a payment or can’t locate a transaction, having exceptional customer support might make all the difference. If you’d rather talk to someone on the phone, be sure your provider offers a real person who is available at convenient times. If you’re more likely to send an email, make sure your provider has easily accessible service request forms or email addresses. 

How Long Does It Take To Receive An International Transfer

A money transfer may take 1-5 days to complete, depending on how the funds are sent. In certain cases, for example, cash transfers can be immediate, while other transactions might take considerably longer. The time it takes for funds to move from one account to another is highly dependent on several factors, including the transfer service, the source, and destination nations, the currencies used, the sort of transfer, and when it was initiated (holiday or weekday).

Is There A Fee To Receive Money From Another Country

The majority of the costs involved with an international money transfer are incurred by the sender, although there may be some expenses associated with receiving funds from another country. These are:

  • Intermediary Fees: The SWIFT network is used by most overseas money transfers. SWIFT is a worldwide network of banks that processes international payments. A bank’s transfer begins at one or more intermediary banks and eventually reaches the account of the beneficiary. Intermediate banks charge a fee, which might be prepaid ahead of time or deducted from your receiving money. The intermediary could cut your payment by a significant amount depending on the number of intermediaries involved in the transaction.
  • Receiving Fees: The sender is responsible for all transfers and other expenses. However, your bank might charge a cost for processing and sending an international payment. The difference is subtracted from the overall amount you receive. Before agreeing to receive a payment from another country, contact your bank first.

What Factors Determine How Much Money I Get

Let’s assume one of your clients paid you a $500 payment from overseas. You only see a credit amount of $450 in your bank account when you check; where is the remaining $50? There are a few things to double-check before calling your client or the bank. These fees might alter how much money you receive at the end:

  • Fees: You will have to pay fees if you want money into your account. These charges may alter the total amount that appears in your bank account. Additionally, because many banks impose costs on customers who withdraw funds from their checking accounts, you may be charged a fee for withdrawing money.
  • Exchange Rate: The most prevalent reason for a difference in the quantity sent and received is due to an exchange rate margin imposed by a provider. You may try to determine how much you will receive after you’ve sent the money by consulting Google’s current currency rate. However, you should be aware that this is not always the bank or money transmission firm’s rate. The exchange rate margin is the charge that financial institutions and banks impose on the mid-market rate. When you’re receiving a lot of money, the exchange rate margin applied to a transaction is far more significant to the overall transfer price than a flat fee.

Is There A Maximum Amount Of Money I Can Get From Overseas

The majority of banks and financial institutions have restrictions on how much money you may send in a single transfer. They also have weekly and daily limits. Some specialize in tiny remittance payments, while others concentrate on larger transfers. If you need to receive very large sums, you’ll need to divvy it up into smaller amounts over several days.

There might also be limitations on the amount that can be automatically changed by your bank, or there could be legal issues if you were to receive very large amounts from foreign nations. Before beginning any overseas transfer, both the sender and receiver should verify their restrictions and legal situation.

What Information Is Necessary For You To Receive An International Money Transfer

It’s dependent on how you’ll be receiving the funds. If you’re getting money sent to your home, your address and identification are important pieces of information, but if the cash is going to a mobile wallet, you’ll need to supply accurate account data to the sender.

To get payment directly into your bank account, you must provide the sender with the following information:

  • Your bank account number.
  • Your address and full name.
  • Your routing number.
  • Your bank’s BIC or SWIFT code.
  • Your bank’s name and address.

The 10 Best Apps To Receive Money Internationally

best apps to receive money internationally

1. PayPal

PayPal money transfer solutions are more user-friendly, flexible, and secure than those of its competitors. You can receive and move money for free between a PayPal account and bank account or American Express Send account. For a fee, you may use PayPal Instant Transfer to receive and send funds immediately.

PayPal uses strong encryption to keep your information secure. The firm keeps track of transactions 24/7 and provides resolution if you have concerns with a transaction. You may also use the PayPal Security Key to receive a temporary security code via SMS immediately after you log in.

Brand recognition builds trust quickly.
Easy to use and install.
Secure and fast.
High transaction costs.
Might hold cash.
Difficult customer support.

2. WorldRemit

For its excellent upfront exchange rates, low fees, and no hidden fees, as well as the flexibility to transfer to over 130 countries, the WorldRemit app won this category. WorldRemit allows you to receive and send money to people all over the world in just 10 minutes. Most transactions are complete within 24 hours, regardless of where recipients reside in the globe. You and a friend may get a voucher for your next transaction if you introduce them to WorldRemit.

Worldwide quick deposit options.
Simple to use.
Can only send to a select group of nations.
Transfer fees are complex.
Limits on large transactions to specific locations.

3. Cash App

You can deposit and withdraw up to $1,000 every 30 days using the Cash App. However, you may go above these restrictions by proving your identification. Note: money does not move immediately through the app; it takes 1 to 3 business days for funds to arrive.

Cash App accepts American Express, Visa, MasterCard, and Discover debit and credit cards. The app works with most government-enabled prepaid cards but a deposit is not possible on them. ATM cards, business debit cards, and PayPal are not supported at this time by Cash App.

Fast and simple.
Provides more than simply payment options.
Perfect for cash requests for family and friends.
If you send money to the incorrect individual, you must rely on someone else to return it.

4. Venmo 

Venmo combines the best of both worlds by providing a fast and easy method to move and receive money while also offering a potential “parking place” for your cash. You can use Venmo to pay, send, or exchange money into your bank account. 

You may use the peer-to-peer payment application to transfer or receive money for free, but Venmo charges a 3% fee for sending funds through a credit card.

Offers a social approach to dividing money.
Cash moves instantly.
To make payments, there’s no need to add money to Venmo.
Prior security issues.
Cash-out fees for immediate cash-out payments to your bank account

5. Zelle 

No other money transfer app offers such a simple bank-to-bank process. Zelle users may use the user-friendly platform to send or request funds using a phone number or an email address. You can receive from individuals who have a Zelle account. A text message or email with a link to approve is usually sent by Zelle.

Funds transfer in a Swift manner.
Cash is federally insured.
Widely used by most banks.
It’s not possible to link a credit card to your account.
Only works with local banks.

6. Remitly

Remitly is an online-only remittance service provider with over 130 financial institutions. If you receive or send more than $1,000 through either method, there are no fees. Remitly also establishes its exchange rate, which is lower than the midpoint rate of the banks’ exchange rate.

Fast transfer option.
Easy tracking for the recipient and sender.
Guaranteed delivery.
Higher fees.
Limited transfer to certain nations.

7. MoneyGram

It’s one of the most established operations, with a long history and enormous scale. Because of its size and scope, it’s conceivable to send or receive cash almost everywhere at low costs, however, rates are determined by where funds are delivered. MoneyGram does have a loyalty program that gives you a discount on future transactions. The other benefit of MoneyGram is the sheer number of locations worldwide, which is frequently appealing to many recipients of cash transfers.

Fast transfers.
Lower fees.
Payout flexibility.
Low exchange rates.
Lower threshold.

8. Wise

Wise formerly TransferWise is a P2P money transfer service that is now available in 59 countries and has ambitious plans to grow its presence even further in the near future. The company provides simple money transfers, but it also offers a multi-currency account option. This allows you to maintain over 50 currencies at once and convert them as needed.

Easy to use.
Reliable transfer.
Lower fees.
It might be difficult to determine the sort of money to send and what type of currency will be received.
It might be difficult to grasp at first.

9. Payoneer

Payoneer is an excellent platform for receiving payments from clients all around the world. It’s quick, dependable, and simple to use. You may get paid in a variety of currencies at a very low service cost, and you have the option to withdraw funds to your local account or spend them using a Mastercard prepaid card, which takes 1 to 2 days. 

Great customer support.
You can receive payments from different parts of the world.
Easy to use.
Lower exchange rates.
Has transaction limits.

10. Skrill

Skrill is a versatile marketplace and platform that allows you to receive and send money directly to your bank account via your Skrill digital wallet. There are no fees for receiving money into your bank account or creating an account. To move cash from your Skrill wallet to your bank account, you will be charged a processing fee of 5.50 EUR.

It is safe.
Operates on many devices.
Usually comes with a prepaid card.
Customer service is limited.
Verification may take a long time.

Is It Possible To Cancel An Overseas Money Transfer

The sender can cancel or recall a money transfer if they detect a problem with the international payment, or if they make an error. This will only work if the cash has not been given to or taken by the recipient. Only after a certain period following the transfer’s commencement may a recall be requested. There is no way for the sender to cancel the transaction once it has been initiated beyond this deadline, and the bank is unable to refund any payments that have been made for an international money transfer.

In summary, once a transfer has been initiated, it’s usually difficult or impossible to cancel it. There is a tiny period during which the payer might be permitted to recall the payment; make sure you give accurate information to the individual sending the money.

Is There A Tax Obligation When I Get Money From Abroad

This will vary from one country to the next, so double-check with the legislation to ensure you’re following all requirements. In general, the precise answer is determined by why you received the money. If you received the money as capital gains or income, you’ll probably need to report it and pay tax on it.

If the money is provided as a gift or comes from a family member or friend, it is less likely to be taxed. Before agreeing to have cash sent to you from another country, however, check for yourself because there’s no such thing as a universal solution.

Is It Safe to Use Money Transfer Apps

Money transfer apps generally have strong security features to safeguard your funds. However, it is vital to note that if you transfer cash to the incorrect recipient, you might not get your cashback. Providers may be unable to assist with misdirected money retrievals. Just send money to individuals you trust and know.

Bottom Line

With fast waiting times and numerous alternatives from which to pick, receiving an international money transfer has never been more convenient than it is today. You may now choose how you want to get money from a variety of options, ranging from bank transfers to cash being dropped off at your home. The time it takes to receive money from abroad, the method used, and the cost of doing so all vary based on the sender’s chosen money transfer provider as well as the country and currency in which you’ll be receiving funds.

The sender pays the majority of the fees incurred throughout an international money transfer. You, on the other hand, maybe charged an intermediary fee and a receiving fee. The amount you receive in your account will be determined by the exchange rate and any additional costs incurred on both ends of the transaction.

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