· NextMigrate Team
Best Western Union Alternatives for Sending Money
Asking about other ways to send money usually means you have stood in a queue at an agent, or looked hard at a receipt, and wondered whether there is a better way. This page is for people who want to keep the money arriving safely while paying less for it.
Imagine you are a driver in Riyadh. On Friday afternoon you walk to the money transfer counter near the market, as you have for six years. Your wife collects the cash in Peshawar the same evening. It works. It has always worked. But this month a colleague shows you his phone. He sent the same amount from an app, straight to his brother's account, and his brother got more.
Was he lucky? Or have you been paying for a habit?
The short answer: If your family can receive money into a bank account or mobile wallet, app-based services such as Remitly, Wise, WorldRemit or Taptap Send may deliver more for the same amount. If they need cash from an agent, MoneyGram and Ria run large cash networks too. Western Union may still win on your route. The only way to know is to compare the amount received on the same day.
This is a comparison of published features and prices, not a hands-on test. Prices below are as of November 2026, taken from each company's own pages. Fees and rates change every day and depend on the route, the amount, how you pay and how the money is received.
Why people look beyond Western Union
Western Union says it serves more than 200 countries and territories, with about 600,000 agent locations. For a family far from a bank, that reach matters. People still compare it with others for a few reasons:
- The cost has two parts. Western Union's fee depends on where you send, how you pay, how it is received and the amount. Its US terms also say that, in addition to the transfer fee, it makes money when it changes your currency. So the fee is only part of the price.
- The family now has a bank account or mobile wallet. Many people who once needed cash now use mobile money. A service built for that payout may cost less.
- The first online transfer is cheap, but later ones are not the same. Western Union lists a $0 transfer fee on the first online transfer, with some exclusions.
A note if you were ever scammed through a money transfer
In 2017, Western Union agreed to forfeit $586 million and admitted to anti-money laundering and consumer fraud violations, in a settlement with the US Department of Justice and the FTC. On 7 October 2026 the US Department of Justice opened the third and final phase of its compensation process. Victims of fraud who sent money through Western Union between 1 January 2004 and 9 March 2020 can file a petition. The DOJ gives a deadline of 31 December 2026. Use only the official site named in the DOJ release, and never pay anyone to "recover" money for you.
Two checks before you send with anyone
Check the live price in the calculator. Put in your real amount, route and payment method. Note the fee, the rate and the amount received. Cash payments, card payments and bank payments are often priced differently.
Check the licence where you live. Search the company's name on your regulator's register: the FCA register in the UK, NMLS Consumer Access in the US, the FINTRAC registry in Canada and the AUSTRAC register in Australia. In the Gulf and elsewhere, check the central bank's list of licensed exchange houses and payment firms. Never hand cash to an unlicensed "agent" who offers a better rate.
All seven at a glance
| Name | Type | Published pricing (as of November 2026) |
|---|---|---|
| Western Union | Money transfer | Fees depend on where you send, how you pay, how it is received and the amount (source) |
| MoneyGram | Money transfer | Fees and rates vary by amount, payment type, delivery method and pickup location (source) |
| Ria Money Transfer | Money transfer | Cost depends on the destination, amount, payment method and delivery option (source) |
| Remitly | Money transfer | US to India: $3.99 fee below $1,000; $0 fee at $1,000 or more (source) |
| WorldRemit | Money transfer | Fee and exchange rate shown before you pay (source) |
| Wise | Money transfer | Sending and converting money: from 0.24%, at the mid-market exchange rate (source) |
| Taptap Send | Money transfer | Some routes have a transfer fee; on others there is no fee, but a small margin on the exchange rate (source) |
| Ways to receive (per its own site) | Send in person at an agent | Best for | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Western Union | Cash, bank, mobile wallet, debit card | Yes | Cash in many countries |
| MoneyGram | Cash, bank, debit card, digital wallet | Yes | Cash pickup, wallets such as GCash |
| Ria | Cash, bank, mobile wallet, home delivery, ATM pickup, card | Yes | Cash and home delivery |
| Remitly | Bank, cash pickup, mobile wallet | No, app and web | Regular family remittances |
| WorldRemit | Bank, cash pickup, mobile money, airtime | No, app and web | Mobile money and airtime |
| Wise | Mainly bank accounts | No, app and web | Bank-to-bank at the mid-market rate |
| Taptap Send | Bank, mobile money, cash pickup | No, app | Routes where it charges no fee |
1. MoneyGram
MoneyGram is the closest like-for-like alternative. It says it serves more than 200 countries and territories, with nearly 500,000 locations. Money can be collected as cash, or paid into a bank, a debit card or a digital wallet such as GCash.
Who it suits: people who want to keep sending cash from an agent, but compare a second network on price.
Who it does not suit: people who only look at the fee. MoneyGram's own page says a $0 fee still means the exchange rate includes a margin.
Key features:
- Agent locations for sending and collecting cash
- Bank, card and wallet payouts
- $0 fee on the first online transfer for new customers
MoneyGram: published pricing
- Fees and rates vary by amount, payment type, delivery method and pickup location
- $0 transfer fee on your first online transfer, for new customers
- MoneyGram says a $0 fee still means the exchange rate includes a margin
Prices as of November 2026, from the official MoneyGram page. They change, so check the live figure before you pay.
See MoneyGram’s live prices →2. Ria Money Transfer
Ria is another large agent network. It says it reaches more than 200 countries with about 600,000 locations. Its payout list is long: bank deposit, cash pickup, mobile wallet, home delivery, ATM pickup and a Visa debit card.
Who it suits: families who need cash, or home delivery where Ria offers it, and senders who prefer to pay at a counter.
Who it does not suit: people who want to see a simple fee table before they start. Ria says the cost depends on the destination, amount, payment method and delivery option, so you need its calculator for each route.
Key features:
- Cash pickup, home delivery and ATM pickup in some countries
- Send in person or online
- First-transfer offers for new customers
Ria Money Transfer: published pricing
- Cost depends on the destination, amount, payment method and delivery option
- First-transfer offers for new customers, such as a £0 fee code on the first UK order
Prices as of November 2026, from the official Ria Money Transfer page. They change, so check the live figure before you pay.
See Ria Money Transfer’s live prices →3. Remitly
Remitly is an app and website for sending money to family. It offers bank deposit, cash pickup and mobile wallet payouts, depending on the country, and UPI for India.
Who it suits: people who are happy to send from a phone, and whose family can take money into a bank or wallet, or collect cash at a partner.
Who it does not suit: people who want to pay cash at a counter. Also note that Remitly's user agreement says it may earn money on the exchange rate it gives you, as well as any fee. See our guide to Remitly alternatives for more options like it.
Key features:
- Bank, cash pickup and mobile wallet payouts
- A $0 fee band on some routes, such as US to India at $1,000 or more
- A first-transfer offer for new customers
Remitly: published pricing
- US to India: $3.99 fee below $1,000; $0 fee at $1,000 or more
- No fee on your first transfer, plus a promotional rate on it (new customers only)
- Its user agreement says it may earn money on the gap between the rate it buys currency at and the rate it gives you
Prices as of November 2026, from the official Remitly page. They change, so check the live figure before you pay.
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4. WorldRemit
WorldRemit is app-based and offers up to four ways to receive: bank transfer, cash pickup, mobile money and airtime top-up.
Who it suits: families who use mobile money, which in many places has replaced the trip to the agent.
Who it does not suit: senders who want to pay in cash at a counter.
Key features:
- Mobile money and airtime as well as bank and cash
- Fee and rate shown before you pay
- The fee depends on how the money is received
WorldRemit: published pricing
- Fee and exchange rate shown before you pay
- The fee depends on how the money is received: bank, cash pickup, mobile money or airtime
- A better rate on the first transfer on some routes, for new customers (fees still apply)
Prices as of November 2026, from the official WorldRemit page. They change, so check the live figure before you pay.
See WorldRemit’s live prices →5. Wise
Wise uses the mid-market exchange rate and shows its fee before you pay. Its pricing page says fees start from 0.24% and vary by currency.
Who it suits: people whose family has a bank account, especially for larger transfers, where a margin in the rate would cost the most.
Who it does not suit: families who need cash in hand. Wise is built mainly around bank accounts. If you already use Wise and it does not fit, see our guide to Wise alternatives.
Key features:
- Mid-market rate, fee shown separately
- Volume discounts on large monthly transfers
- A multi-currency account and card
Wise: published pricing
- Sending and converting money: from 0.24%, at the mid-market exchange rate
- Account: free to open, no monthly fee; holding money is free
- Physical card: £7; spending a currency you already hold is free
- Cash: £250 a month free per account, then 2.69% on the amount above that
Prices as of November 2026, from the official Wise page. They change, so check the live figure before you pay.
See Wise’s live prices →6. Taptap Send
Taptap Send is an app for family transfers. You can send from the UK, the EU, the US, Canada, Australia and the UAE. It pays out to bank accounts, mobile money and cash pickup.
Who it suits: people sending on routes where it charges no transfer fee. For example, its Nigeria page says it does not charge fees on transfers to Nigeria. On no-fee routes it says it earns a small margin on the rate instead.
Who it does not suit: people who want to pay with cash or, in the US, by bank transfer. Its US help page says US senders pay by debit card or Taptap Wallet.
Key features:
- No transfer fee on some routes
- Mobile money, bank and cash pickup payouts
- Limits per transfer and per 14 days
Taptap Send: published pricing
- Some routes have a transfer fee; on others there is no fee, but a small margin on the exchange rate
- From the US (most states): up to $10,000 per transfer and $24,000 per 14 days
- US senders pay by debit card or Taptap Wallet
Prices as of November 2026, from the official Taptap Send page. They change, so check the live figure before you pay.
See Taptap Send’s live prices →How to choose
- Start with how your family receives money. Cash only: compare Western Union, MoneyGram and Ria on the same day. Bank or mobile wallet: add Remitly, WorldRemit, Wise and Taptap Send to the comparison.
- Check how you want to pay. If you prefer to pay cash at a counter, you need an agent network. If you can pay from a bank account or debit card, the app services open up.
- Compare the amount received for your normal transfer, not the fee and not the first-transfer offer.
- Check delivery time. For an emergency, a fast cash pickup may be worth paying for.
- Check the licence on your country's register before your first transfer.
For a plain guide to how exchange-rate margins work, read transferring money abroad: remittances, forex and fees. If you are still planning your move, our visa cost calculator adds up the money you will need before you go.
Frequently asked questions
What is cheaper than Western Union?
It depends on the route, the amount and how the money is paid and received. App-based services can cost less on some routes, especially for bank or mobile wallet payouts. Compare the amount received on the same day.
Which alternative is closest to Western Union?
MoneyGram and Ria both run large agent networks where you can send and collect cash in person.
Can my family still collect cash if I use an app?
Yes, with several apps. Remitly, WorldRemit, Taptap Send, MoneyGram and Ria all list cash pickup in some countries. Check your family's town before you send.
Why does the amount received change when the fee is zero?
Because the exchange rate can include a margin. Western Union, MoneyGram and others say on their own pages that they make money from currency exchange.
I was scammed and sent money through Western Union years ago. Can I get it back?
You may be able to claim. The US Department of Justice opened a third phase of its Western Union compensation process on 7 October 2026 for fraud victims who sent money between 1 January 2004 and 9 March 2020. Read the official DOJ announcement and use only the site it names.
The trip to the counter has been part of your month for years. It does not have to change. But a ten-minute comparison, once in a while, makes sure the habit is still serving your family and not the other way round.
