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All you have to do is set up a security question and answer. Some people are signed up for auto-deposit, which is even easier and doesn’t require a secret question and answer. The best part is that it can all be done from your mobile device.
While e-transfer is so convenient in Canada, you’re unable to send money online outside of Canada with it. Do not worry, though; there are plenty of other ways you can send money overseas, such as online money transfer services. Let’s take a look at how some of these money transfer apps work.
Best International Money Transfer Apps
In Canada, there are plenty of different money transfer apps that allow you to send money throughout the world right from your chequing account. While there are many different options, let’s take a look at some of the most popular. It’s important to keep in mind that many of these apps have offers for your first money transfer, and the rates could change after that. Many of them also have maximum transfer amounts but no minimum transfer amounts.
XE Money Transfer
With XE Money Transfer, you can send money to over 200 different countries in over 100 different currencies. On top of that, it also has some of the lowest fees for money transfer apps. It’s also fast and efficient. Your funds will be transferred to the recipient in one business day. They even offer a few different ways to send your money. These are:
- Wire Transfer
- Credit or Debit Cards
- Automated Clearing House (CH), also known as direct debit.
While it can be scary to send money through an app, you can be sure that XE money transfer is safe. They are backed by Euronet Worldwide, which is an American global electronic payment service provider.
XE is one of the best money transfer apps for sending money to different countries; there are a few countries that are best rated for sending money from Canada. These countries are:
- The United States
- India
- The United Kingdom
- Pakistan
- Poland
- The Philippines
Western Union
With Western Union, you can send international transfers online or with their app. One thing that differentiates Western Union from other money transfer apps is that you can also send or receive money from one of their convenient cash pick-up locations. You can also get a free estimate without having to commit to sending the money.
If you’re choosing to send money using their website or the app, the transfer limit is $7,500. If you want to send more than that, you can go to one of their locations to send money abroad. You can also make cash payments in person at any of their locations.
As someone receiving money from Western Union, you can get the funds directly deposited into your bank account, at any of their cash pickup locations, or through a mobile wallet.
Ria Money Transfer
Ria Money Transfer offers low transfer fees and reasonable foreign exchange rates on international money transfers. They send money to over 165 countries, and before you even send the money, you can use their currency calculator to see your estimated total fees and live exchange rates.
With Ria, you can transfer funds online, via the app, or in person, similar to Western Union. Ria is a subsidiary of Euronet Worldwide Inc. and is actually one of the 4 large remittance companies.
Wise
Another popular money transfer app that’s used to transfer money internationally is Wise. Wise is a FINTRAC (Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre) service and has helped over 16 mission people transfer money.
They’re very transparent about the fees they charge. They charge a direct debit fee as well as a transaction fee and will display the total amount, including the currency conversion and conversion rate. It’s important to note that Wise does offer the mid-market rate for all their transactions.
With Wise, there are a few different ways to save money, including:
- Direct debit payments
- Debit card payments
- Credit card payments
- Bank transfer
World Remit
With World Remit, the cost of the transfer is dependent on the method of payment, the method of receiving payment and the country in which the money is transferred. There are a few ways the receiver can get their funds.
- Bank transfer
- Mobile money
- Cash pickup
- Airtime top-up (mobile phone top-up for prepaid phones)
In order to send money using World Remit, you can send money from your bank account to your World Remit. You also have the option of different payment methods, including paying with a credit card or a debit card. No matter which method you choose to pay with, the money transfer company is transparent with their fees, and they have a currency converter that shows you the conversion rates. You even get to see the amount your receiver will receive. They’re even licensed in the different countries they operate in and ensure your funds are safe and secure.
OFX
OFX, formally known as CanadianForex, specializes in moving money globally. They’re FINTRAC-regulated, have 20 years of experience and use advanced technology to detect any suspicious activity. They even have multi-factor authentication enabled as an extra layer of security for all accounts.
Before you send any funds with OFX, you can enter the amount and currencies you wish to send. You’ll then be able to see the conversions and the fees for sending the money. With EX, the transfer limit is $10,000, and they have currency experts you can reach 24/7 if you need any assistance.
Paypal
Many people think PayPal is just used as a payment method to shop online, but it’s actually also used to send money. You can send money to your friends directly to their PayPal accounts for domestic transfers. Alternatively, you can also send money globally using Xoom. It can be received in multiple ways, including through the receiver's bank account or at cash pick-up locations. The receiver doesn’t even have to have PayPal to receive the money.
Once you begin the process of sending funds through PayPal, you’ll be able to see the current conversion rate as well as the total fees you’ll be charged. You can send money to over 130 different countries, which makes it a convenient and flexible service,
Alternatively to Paypal, many people like to use Apple Pay, but unfortunately, you can’t send funds with Apple Pay in Canada. In Canada, you can use Google Pay but only to pay for things online; you can’t use it to transfer money to people.
Remity
Remity sends money to over 150 different countries using over 75 different currencies. The money delivery options that they offer are:
- Bank transfer
- Cash pick-up
- Mobile money
- Home Delivery
They also offer low transfer fees and transparent exchange rates.
Instarem
With Instarem, not only do they offer low fees and provide a fast transaction time, but they are also licensed and regulated in 11 countries. They’re transparent about all costs, and you earn rewards with every transaction. Another cool feature about Instarem is that you can send money from Canada using Interac e-transfer. You can even send funds for business with their Instarem for Business site.
Best Apps to Send Money to India
If you’re in Canada and looking to send money to India, any of the apps listed above could help you out. That said, there are two that are the most recommended. These are XE Money Transfer and Remity. They have great rates and flexible options for the receiver to get the funds, and they are credible sources for sending money that many different customers highly trust.
Best Apps to Send Money to the US
When it comes to sending money to the US, many of the money transfer apps we mentioned are good options. That said, one does stand out a bit above the rest, and that’s XE Money. They offer great rates, transfers are fast, and the company is known for its security. While you may not receive instant money transfers, you won’t be waiting long.
The Best Website to Send Money to Canada
One of the best things about the apps mentioned above isn’t that they send money globally but that you can also send money internationally from them to Canada. Any of them is a great choice for transferring money, but the most popular is Wise. They have some of the lowest transfer fees to Canada, and it only takes one to two business days to receive the funds for most transactions. While these aren’t instant transfers, this is a pretty fast transfer speed.
If you’re in the US, you can’t use money transfer apps like Cash App, Venmo or many of the other apps you can find in the Apple App Store. Those apps only send funds to those in the US.
Sending Money Internationally Through Your Financial Institution
While money transfer apps are a great way to send money globally, they aren’t your only option. Many Canadian financial institutions, such as the Big 5 banks, allow you to do more than just pay bills. Many also offer international money transfer services, also known as wire transfers, at a low cost directly from your account.
These bank transfers through your banking app may not be as flexible as the apps, but they’re definitely an option. Just like with any international transaction method, foreign exchange rates apply. If you bank with credit unions, they may or may not offer these services.
RBC
In order to use the RBC app to send money internationally through bank transfer, all you need is an active Canadian bank account with RBC and be enrolled for online banking and the app. You’ll also need the recipient's bank account number or Business Identifier Code to the financial institution where the funds will be received. You’ll have access 24/7, and the funds will be received within 1-3 business days, which are pretty decent transfer speeds.
The only RBC bank accounts you can’t send funds from are a High-Interest Savings Account and US Dollar accounts. All bank fees are dependent on the transaction as well as the type of account you hold with RBC.
BMO
With BMO, you can send money to around 50 different countries in multiple different currencies. You get real-time rates, and you are able to save all your recipient's information and track your transfers. It’s actually quite similar to Interac E-transfer, just some extra fees because of the conversion rate. The funds will be deposited into the international bank accounts specified in the transaction.
TD
TD international transfers allow you to send money to over 150 different countries. The recipient will receive the funds within 1-5 business days, and you have a maximum transfer limit of $6,500 every 24 hours. The transfer fees that you pay will depend on your transaction but will be given to you in an estimate before you submit. If you’re transferring to the US, then there will be no fees.
CIBC
CIBC has many different flexible options for global money transfers. You can send money to over 130 different countries and choose how you want to send the funds. You can use:
- Moneygram for cash pick-up
- Alipay
- Visa debit or Visa credit card
- China UnionPay
- Bank transfer
In order to send the money, you can use CIBC online or mobile banking and take advantage of competitive exchange rates. The funds can be received as soon as one business day, and there are no transfer fees.
Scotiabank
Scotiabank international money transfer has changed a bit recently. You can send for as low as $1.99, or if you have the New to Canada or Ultimate Package, you can get transfers for $0. Once these funds have been transferred from your account, it can take up to 5 business days to enter the recipient's bank account. You don’t have to worry about your money either because Scotiabank’s Security Guarantee protects all transfers.
Safest Money Transfer App
When you choose to send money through money transfer apps, you want those funds to be safe. With any of the apps we have mentioned above, your funds are safe. All of these apps use top-of-the-line security technology to protect your funds. However, you may prefer one method of transfer over the other, so not all the apps will work for you.
If you’re looking for an app, though, that has been around for a while and is trusted around the world, then your best bet would be Western Union. Not only do they offer a money transfer app, but they also have plenty of physical locations around the world. You can even track your money while it’s in transit using the transaction details.
Overview
As you can see, there are plenty of ways to send money globally from Canada. You have the option of using your financial institution or the more flexible choice of going with a money transfer app. Either way, though, the fees are relatively low. However, they all allow transactions to different countries and have different methods of receiving the funds, different maximum transaction limits and different transaction speeds. No matter which method you choose, though, you can be confident that your funds are secure and they’ll be received in a timely manner. If it’s a program you’re unfamiliar with, you should do some research beforehand just to verify they’re legitimate.
