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Instant International Money Transfer

Compare your instant money transfer options right here with Savvy.

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, updated on August 17th, 2023       

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Compare instant international money transfer providers with Savvy

Do you need to send money overseas quickly?  Are you wanting to make an instant international money transfer?  If so, Savvy can help you compare providers, find one with the fastest service and lowest fees and get your transfer underway quickly.  Start your transfer process with Savvy today and have your funds arrive at their destination before you know it.

site-logos OFX
  Minimum Transfer Amount Transfer Speed Transfer Fee Total Currencies Available  
site-logos $250 1-3 days $0 50+
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Special Offer: 5 fee free transfers (saving you up to $75 in fees) + preferential rates for international money transfers

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site-logos Instarem
  Minimum Transfer Amount Transfer Speed Transfer Fee Total Currencies Available  
site-logos $1 Within minutes From 0% to 1% 55+
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Enjoy $40 bonus on your first money transfers of $250 & above! Use code*: SAVVY20X2 (Minimum transfer of AUD 250 Valid till 31st August 2023)

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site-logos Xe
  Minimum Transfer Amount Transfer Speed Transfer Fee Total Currencies Available  
site-logos $0 1-3 days From $0 100
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Xe is a 2021 Canstar Award Winner and offers the best exchange rates, low to no fees so customers save the most money

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site-logos Western Union Money Transfer
  Minimum Transfer Amount Transfer Speed Transfer Fee Total Currencies Available  
site-logos $0 1 - 2 days $0 35
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Send money to over 200 countries and territories across the world online

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site-logos Wise Money Transfer
  Minimum Transfer Amount Transfer Speed Transfer Fee Total Currencies Available  
site-logos $0 1-3 days From 0.41% 53
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Send money cheaper and easier with Wise with no hidden fees.

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site-logos TorFX
  Minimum Transfer Amount Transfer Speed Transfer Fee Total Currencies Available  
site-logos $200 0-2 days $0 35
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Excellent exchange rates with no transfer fees. Trusted by over 325,000 customers. Awarded Canstar’s 5 star rating 2018-2021.

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site-logos Currencyfair
  Minimum Transfer Amount Transfer Speed Transfer Fee Total Currencies Available  
site-logos $5 Within minutes From $0 20+
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Send money overseas at better exchange rates, with no hidden fees.

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site-logos Remitly
  Minimum Transfer Amount Transfer Speed Transfer Fee Total Currencies Available  
site-logos $0 0-2 days From $0 21
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Remitly offers fast, safe and secure money transfers with excellent rates to over 100 countries

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site-logos Revolut
  Minimum Transfer Amount Transfer Speed Transfer Fee Total Currencies Available  
site-logos $0 Within minutes From $0 27+
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Fast and easy, with super competitive rates across all major currencies. Join 25+ million customers saving on global transfers.

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Disclaimer: Savvy is not advising or recommending any particular product to you. We provide general information on products for the purposes of comparison, but your personal situation or goals are not considered here. Although we try to make our comparisons as thorough as possible, we do not have information on all products on the market on our site.

If you decide to initiate a money transfer with one of the providers listed above via our website, you will not be dealing with Savvy; any applications or enquiries will be conducted directly with the provider offering that product.

More about instant international money transfers

What are my instant international money transfer options?

There are several different types of money transfer services available when it comes to transferring your money instantly. Some of these include:

International transfers through specialist money transfer providers

If you do need to send money overseas globally in a hurry, an instant transfer through an online specialist international transfer company is usually your quickest option. Companies that specialise in foreign exchange offer affordable currency transfer services to both retail and business clients and can have your funds transferred internationally in a matter of seconds in some cases.

While not all providers can facilitate instant transfers, you can still get your money overseas very quickly (within two days on average). Some companies allow you to pay extra for a same-day transfer option, which guarantees delivery of your funds within 24 hours.  The exact transfer delivery time will depend on the country you need to get the funds to and the time of day in the receiving country (and its time difference compared to Australia).

International transfers with cash

Some providers also offer a cash transfer service to certain countries, although this is a less widely available option. This can be completed instantly and doesn’t require your recipient to have a bank account. You may also be able to have cash delivered, such as if a relative is in an overseas hospital. However, this transfer type is often much more expensive than transferring with an online provider, so it may not be the best option for you.

International transfers through your bank

In general, the large banks will take between three and five days to deliver your money abroad, so using a bank isn’t a viable option if you want your money transferred instantly. Their fees are also often much higher than those of specialist providers, potentially ranging up to $30 per transfer.

Other methods

PayPal is a service which offers same-day global money transfers.  However, even though the money may appear in your PayPal account the same day, there may be a delay to receive it in your bank account, which could be up to five days.  In addition, same-day transfers with PayPal often attract higher fees and a weaker exchange rate.

How do I complete an instant international money transfer?

The process to make an instant international money transfer online is:

  1. Use Savvy to help you compare exchange rates and choose which provider is the best one for you.
  2. Either create a new account or log into the transfer service provider you’ve chosen with an existing account. You’ll have to provide your username and password for your account.
  3. Check whether transfers are offered by that provider to the country of your choice.
  4. If the service is available to your chosen destination, enter the details of the person you wish to send money to. The platform will tell you the exact details which are required, such as your recipient’s account information.
  5. Enter in the details of the amount you wish to transfer. Many providers offer handy currency tools and calculators to help you work out how much to send if you need your recipient to receive a set amount.
  6. Once you’ve sent the transfer, keep a copy of the delivery notification or receipt just in case there are any queries in the future.

How do I compare instant international money transfer providers?

Exchange rate

Naturally, you’ll want the highest exchange rate possible to get the biggest bang for your buck.  Try and find a company offering an exchange rate as close to the advertised mid-market rate as possible, as this will mean that no major markup is being added to the current true exchange rate.

Fees

Some companies charge a set fee (from $6 to $15), while others charge a fee based on a percentage of the transfer (0.4% to 0.5%). Others come with no fees, however, which can apply in certain situations. It’s important to compare different providers with Savvy, as transfers advertised as ‘free’ may not always come with the most competitive exchange rates. 

Currencies offered

Not all providers offer transfer services to all destinations and in all currencies.  Check the transfer service provider you choose is able to make a transfer to your desired country and in your preferred currency.

Minimum and maximum transfer limits

There are usually minimum and maximum transfer limits for international money transfers.  For example, TorFX has a minimum of $200 and a maximum of $50,000.  OFX has a minimum transfer limit of $250, but fee-free transfers over $10,000.  Compare and check transfer limits to make sure you get a provider compatible with your needs.

Exchange rate guarantees

Does the provider you choose offer a guaranteed spot price on the exchange rate quoted?  Is this price guaranteed not to change for a set number of hours? This can vary between providers from 12 to 36 hours, so it’s important to consider this if you don’t wish to make your transfer immediately.

Currency tools

Would you like to receive an alert when the currency exchange rate reaches a limit you’ve had your eye on for a while?  Some companies offer a range of exchange tools such as alerts, limit orders and forward orders which can all help you access the best exchange rate for your international money transfer. 

Why compare money transfer services with Savvy?

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There's no need to pay a dollar to compare money transfer services with Savvy, as you can do so for free at any time.

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Compare offers in minutes

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More of your questions about instant international money transfers

What factors impact the speed of an international money transfer?

Some of the factors influencing the speed of an international transfer include:

  • the transfer destination – whether the destination country has strong ties to Australia, and a large volume of money exchange traffic taking place, or whether it’s a more remote location with fewer ties. For example, transfers from Australia to New Zealand, the UK and India will often take less time than to less common countries
  • how much you want to send overseas – any amount over $10,000 has to be reported to AUSTRAC, the Australian Government’s anti-money-laundering agency. Larger cash transfers may be delayed by the need to comply with reporting requirements
  • the time of day transfer is initiated – obviously, the banking system only operates during business hours in whichever country you wish to send money to, so the international time difference (and weekends and public holidays) can influence how quickly your funds arrive at their destination
Is it possible to instantly send money to countries with a phone top-up?

Yes – pre-paid phone SIM cards can receive money instantly through Telco providers.  This can be a useful way to send funds overseas if the recipient doesn’t have a bank account or can’t access their account for whatever reason.  In some countries, phone SIM cards which have pre-paid money on them can be exchanged like currency.  This method of transferring funds is quite common in many African nations, so if you want to send money to a country like Nigeria, a phone top-up could be your answer for an instant international money transfer.

Is there any way of cancelling an instant international money transfer?

No – once your instant transfer has been initiated and delivered, there isn’t a way to cancel it.  For this reason, it’s a good idea to only send money overseas to family or friends you know.  However, if your transfer is yet to be delivered or hasn't reached its destination, there may be a chance that you're able to cancel it.  Check with your provider before completing your transfer if you're unsure. 

Will I get a good exchange rate with an instant international money transfer?

You can – many providers offer instant transfers at a good exchange rate. If you’re looking for the cheapest way to transfer money, compare your options with Savvy and look for a provider that has a combination of low fees and the best exchange rates to get the best fast deal possible, especially if you’re transferring a large sum of money.

Send money to over 130 countries from Australia

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Quantum Savvy Pty Ltd (ABN 78 660 493 194) trades as Savvy and operates as an Authorised Credit Representative 541339 of Australian Credit Licence 414426 (AFAS Group Pty Ltd, ABN 12 134 138 686). We are one of Australia’s leading financial comparison sites and have been helping Australians make savvy decisions when it comes to their money for over a decade.

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For more information about us and how we conduct our business, you can read our privacy policy and terms of use.

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© Copyright 2024 Quantum Savvy Pty Ltd T/as Savvy. All Rights Reserved.

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Disclaimer and important things you should know

Quantum Savvy Pty Ltd (ABN 78 660 493 194) trades as Savvy and operates as an Authorised Credit Representative 541339 of Australian Credit Licence 414426 (AFAS Group Pty Ltd, ABN 12 134 138 686). We are one of Australia’s leading financial comparison sites and have been helping Australians make savvy decisions when it comes to their money for over a decade.

We’re partnered with lenders, insurers and other financial institutions who compensate us for business initiated through our website. We earn a commission each time a customer chooses or buys a product advertised on our site, which you can find out more about here, as well as in our credit guide for asset finance. It’s also crucial to read the terms and conditions, Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) or credit guide of our partners before signing up for your chosen product. However, the compensation we receive doesn’t impact the content written and published on our website, as our writing team exercises full editorial independence.

For more information about us and how we conduct our business, you can read our privacy policy and terms of use.

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