- User RatingTrustPilot or Feefo User Ratings
- Transfer Type
- Coupon
- Fee
- Speed
- Regular Payments
- Mobile App
- Min Transfer Amount
World Remit
- 9.5/10
- Online OnlyOne off transfers Phone assistance available
- $3 - 4For example. Sending €10,000
from Australia would incur
€50 fee + 4-5% exchange
rate fee on top of market rates. - 1 - 3 Days
- Regular payments to PayPal registered merchants is possible.
Regular payments to family or friends PayPal accounts is not currently possible. - Their website is responsive so it auto-scales to your screen size.
- €/£/$1
Western Union
- 8.8/10
- Online
Phone
RetailOne off transfers - ~£2.90Western Union have a disclaimer stating that some banks may charge a fee to receive the transaction. This applies to bank account transfers.
- 4 Days
- Regular payments to PayPal registered merchants is possible.
Regular payments to family or friends PayPal accounts is not currently possible. - Their website is responsive so it auto-scales to your screen size.
- €/£/$1
WorldRemit or Western Union – is one of these international fund transfer companies preferable ton the other? There is no straightforward answer to this question, given that both companies specialize in overseas repatriation of funds. However, there is no disputing the fact that both companies excel beyond the prominent banks.
When comparing online businesses, you can turn to Trustpilot to find out what customers have to say. Scores of the Western Union vs. WorldRemit comparison on this platform are along expected lines. While Western Union’s average score is 8.0 out of 10, WorldRemit achieves a considerably better score, averaging at 9.5 out of 10.
Regardless, selecting Western Union or WorldRemit requires that you pay attention to different aspects. This comparison is divided into sections accordingly:
- Exchange Rates
- Fees
- Countries
- Ease of Use
- Security
- Regular Overseas Payments
- Coupons
Foreign Currency Exchange Rates
The volatile nature of the forex market affects exchange rates offered by both companies on an ongoing basis, which is why there is no clear frontrunner in this section of the WorldRemit vs. Western Union comparison. The best way forward is to compare the rates of both companies immediately before your transfer.
WorldRemit
- The calculator on the WorldRemit homepage gives you an easy means to check prevailing inter-bank rates for different currencies.
- Access to the WorldRemit calculator is free for all users.
- Before you finalize a transfer, WorldRemit informs you of the guaranteed exchange rate.
Western Union
- The Western Union price estimator lets you check current exchange rates easily.
- The exchange rate offered by Western Union can vary depending on the transfer method you choose.
International Funds Transfer Fees
If you do not want to pay the typically high transfer fees that most banks charge, you can use either WorldRemit or Western Union.
WorldRemit
- The destination country can influence WorldRemit transfer fees.
- WorldRemit transfers to a given country, irrespective of the amount and method, usually attract a flat fee.
- Transfers to cash pick-up centers tend to attract higher fees in comparison to bank account transfers.
- Read the WorldRemit review for more details.
Western Union
- Western Union fees can vary according to the destination country and transfer method.
- A bank account transfer is normally less expensive than transferring funds to a cash pick-up center.
- Making a payment via an electronic bank transfer attracts lower fees in comparison to paying with a debit or credit card.
- Check how much you will have to pay as fees by using the Western Union price estimator.
Destination Countries
Both companies rate well in this section of the Western Union vs. WorldRemit comparison, letting you transfer funds in a range of currencies, to countries the world over.
- The WorldRemit review provides information about the countries this company supports.
- Western Union lets you check its list of supported countries at the very start of the fund transfer process.
Ease of Use
You can sign up with Western Union or WorldRemit in a matter of minutes. After the company you sign up with verifies your credentials, you can begin transferring funds.
WorldRemit
- You can access the WorldRemit website in English, Spanish, and French.
- The most common ways to pay for your WorldRemit transfer include bank account transfers and debit cards.
- WorldRemit also accepts payments via credit cards.
- Depending on where you live, other payment options include POLi, iDeal, Interac, and SOFORT.
- WorldRemit processes electronic transfers to bank accounts in most countries.
- In some countries, recipients can visit cash pick-up locations to collect transferred funds in person.
- If the recipient lives in the Philippines, he or she can receive transferred funds at home.
- WorldRemit lets you top off mobile wallets and mobile airtime in some countries.
- The company provides apps for devices that run on iOS and Android.
Western Union
- You can use the Western Union website in a number of languages other than English, some of which include French, German, Italian, Japanese, Portuguese, and Spanish.
- Depending on where you live, you can pay for your transfer using a credit card, a debit card, an electronic bank transfer, or cash.
- You can transfer funds using the Western Union website, by visiting any Western Union center, or over the phone.
- Available transfer methods depend on the destination country. Your options can include sending money to a cash pick-up center, transferring funds to a bank account, and topping off a mobile wallet.
- You can use Western Union to transfer funds to inmates in the U.S.
Security
Both companies perform well in this section of the WorldRemit vs. Western Union comparison. All the information you provide on websites of both companies is kept secure by high levels of encryption. Both companies hold their clients’ funds in segregated bank accounts.
WorldRemit
- The UK Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) regulates operations of WorldRemit.
- WorldRemit partners follow stringent guidelines to keep data in all forms secure.
Western Union
- Different state regulatory bodies in the U.S. have issued relevant licenses to Western Union.
- Western Union International Bank GmbH, licensed by the Financial Markets Authority of Austria, provides online forex services in the UK.
Regular Overseas Payments
If you want to set up scheduled transfers, choosing WorldRemit or Western Union will do you no good, since neither company offers this service currently. Some companies that let you schedule transfers according to your needs include OFX, TorFX, HiFX, and World First.
Coupons
You can save extra money by using promotional offers provided by both companies at various times.
- WorldRemit does not have any ongoing offers.
- The Western Union My WU rewards program lets you earn reward points every time you make a qualifying transfer.
Learn More
- Learn more about Western Union Competitors and Alternatives.
- Should one consider TransferWise or are their better alternatives?
- When CurrencyFair and TransferWise go head to head.. who wins?
WorldRemit Vs Western Union Updates
- Yay! No updates!
Kasubi says
Plus WorldRemit’s website and process are so much easier to navigate. I was so happy when I found this alternative to Western Union, whose website kept sending me to the US version, not the UK one, and whose customer service was more of a disservice. I make regular overseas payments and highly recommend WorldRemit. The option to send to mobile money is fabulous, and the one time I had a problem, their help team contacted me within the hour and fixed it right away. Western Union was revolutionary in its day, and held the market for a long time, but you can’t help feeling they’re slipping behind the technological times.
iCompareFX says
Hi Marion ,
Thanks for your comment. We think it’s a great idea to shop around, compare your options and make sure you are getting the best deal.
Keep up the great work at http://www.kumvaconsulting.com!
Regards,
The iCompareFX Team