Remitly processed over $40 billion in transfers in 2024 and operates in more than 170 countries. It's fast, well-designed, and widely trusted. But 'trusted' doesn't always mean 'cheapest.' Remitly's fees range from $0 on select promotional corridors to $3.99 standard, and its FX markups — the hidden cost built into the exchange rate — range from near-zero to over 2% depending on the destination.
The result: two people using Remitly on the same day can pay very different effective costs depending on where they're sending money, how they're paying, and which speed tier they choose. A $500 USD-to-PHP transfer might cost $2.99 in fees but include a 1.4% FX markup — adding another $7 to the real cost. Meanwhile, the same $500 sent USD-to-NGN carries a significantly worse rate.
This guide calculates Remitly's full all-in cost (explicit fee + FX markup combined) for more than 20 corridors, compares Economy and Express pricing tiers, and benchmarks Remitly against Wise and crypto rails so you can decide whether it's the right tool for your corridor.
Remitly charges in two ways. First, there's a transfer fee — a flat amount shown upfront when you create a transfer. In 2026, this is typically $0–$3.99 for debit card or bank account funded transfers, and up to $3.99–$4.99 for credit card funded transfers (credit cards also trigger a cash advance fee from your card issuer, which Remitly doesn't control).
Second, and more importantly, there's the FX markup. Remitly applies an exchange rate that is slightly worse than the mid-market rate (the 'real' rate you see on Google or XE.com). The difference is Remitly's margin. This markup is not shown as a line item — it's baked into the rate itself.
For example, if the mid-market USD/INR rate is ₹84.00, Remitly might offer ₹83.20. On a $500 transfer, that 0.95% difference costs you $4.75 in hidden fees — more than the explicit $2.99 transfer fee. Always check the rate you're getting, not just the fee.
The World Bank recommends consumers calculate the 'total cost' — explicit fees plus implicit FX markup — as a percentage of the send amount. RemitRoutes does this automatically for every provider comparison.
Remitly offers two speed tiers on most corridors: Economy and Express. The distinction matters both for price and delivery time.
Economy transfers typically arrive in 3–5 business days and are funded via bank account (ACH in the US). They usually carry a lower or zero explicit fee but may have a marginally worse exchange rate. Express transfers arrive within minutes to hours, funded by debit or credit card. They carry a higher explicit fee ($3.99 for many corridors) but sometimes a slightly better exchange rate to compensate.
In practice, the all-in cost difference between Economy and Express is often small — sometimes under $1 on a $500 transfer. The real question is speed: if your recipient needs money today, Express is worth it. If timing is flexible, Economy saves a few dollars and still settles within the week.
Note that not all corridors offer both tiers. Some high-volume routes (USD→INR, USD→MXN) have both tiers with clear pricing; smaller corridors may only offer one.
| Tier | Typical Fee | FX Markup (est.) | All-In Cost | Delivery Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | $0–$2.99 | 0.8–1.5% | $4–$10.49 | 3–5 business days |
| Express | $3.99 | 0.5–1.2% | $6.49–$9.99 | Minutes to hours |
$40B+ — Remitly annual transfer volume (2024) (Remitly Annual Report, 2024)
The tables below show Remitly's all-in costs for a $500 USD send on each major corridor, based on rates observed in early 2026. FX markup is calculated against the mid-market rate at the time of data collection. Rates change daily — use RemitRoutes to check live figures.
Corridors are rated by effective total cost as a percentage of the send amount. Under 1% is excellent; 1–2% is average; above 2% is expensive by fintech standards.
| Corridor | Explicit Fee | Est. FX Markup | All-In Cost | All-In % | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| USD → INR (India) | $2.99 | ~0.9% | ~$7.49 | 1.5% | Good |
| USD → MXN (Mexico) | $2.99 | ~1.1% | ~$8.49 | 1.7% | Good |
| USD → PHP (Philippines) | $2.99 | ~1.4% | ~$9.99 | 2.0% | Average |
| USD → NGN (Nigeria) | $3.99 | ~2.1% | ~$14.49 | 2.9% | Expensive |
| USD → KES (Kenya) | $3.99 | ~1.8% | ~$12.99 | 2.6% | Expensive |
| USD → GHS (Ghana) | $3.99 | ~2.0% | ~$13.99 | 2.8% | Expensive |
| USD → PKR (Pakistan) | $2.99 | ~1.0% | ~$7.99 | 1.6% | Good |
| USD → BDT (Bangladesh) | $3.99 | ~1.2% | ~$9.99 | 2.0% | Average |
| USD → LKR (Sri Lanka) | $3.99 | ~1.5% | ~$11.49 | 2.3% | Average |
| USD → VND (Vietnam) | $3.99 | ~1.3% | ~$10.49 | 2.1% | Average |
| USD → BRL (Brazil) | $3.99 | ~1.6% | ~$11.99 | 2.4% | Average |
| USD → COP (Colombia) | $3.99 | ~1.7% | ~$12.49 | 2.5% | Expensive |
| USD → ZAR (South Africa) | $3.99 | ~1.9% | ~$13.49 | 2.7% | Expensive |
| Corridor | Explicit Fee | Est. FX Markup | All-In Cost | All-In % | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GBP → INR (India) | £0.99 | ~0.7% | ~£4.49 | 1.1% | Excellent |
| GBP → PHP (Philippines) | £1.99 | ~1.1% | ~£7.49 | 1.7% | Good |
| GBP → NGN (Nigeria) | £2.99 | ~2.0% | ~£12.99 | 2.7% | Expensive |
| EUR → INR (India) | €0.99 | ~0.8% | ~€4.99 | 1.1% | Excellent |
| EUR → PHP (Philippines) | €1.99 | ~1.2% | ~€7.99 | 1.7% | Good |
| EUR → MXN (Mexico) | €2.99 | ~1.3% | ~€9.49 | 2.0% | Average |
Remitly's GBP-to-INR corridor is one of its most competitive globally, with all-in costs around 1.1% on a £500 send. If you're sending from the UK to India, Remitly rivals Wise on price while being faster on average. Always compare live rates before sending.
USD→NGN, USD→GHS, USD→KES, and USD→ZAR all carry FX markups above 1.8%, making Remitly's all-in cost 2.5–3% on these corridors. For African corridors, consider comparing crypto rails (USDC on Tron or Stellar via Luno, Quidax, or VALR) which frequently come in under 1% all-in.
Wise (formerly TransferWise) is Remitly's closest competitor and charges zero FX markup — it always uses the mid-market rate. Wise's revenue comes entirely from its explicit transfer fee, which varies by corridor and payment method. This makes Wise's cost structure more transparent, though not always cheaper.
For high-volume corridors like USD→INR and GBP→INR, Remitly and Wise are closely matched. Remitly sometimes wins on speed (Express delivers in minutes vs. Wise's 1-2 days) while Wise often wins on total cost for larger amounts (since its fee is a small percentage of the amount rather than a flat rate).
For African and Southeast Asian corridors, Wise tends to win on cost because its 0% FX markup offsets Remitly's lower explicit fee. On a $1,000 USD→NGN transfer, Wise saves roughly $15–20 versus Remitly.
| Corridor | Remitly All-In | Wise All-In | Winner | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| USD → INR | ~$7.49 | ~$6.50 | Wise (slight) | Wise 0% FX markup; Remitly faster (Express) |
| USD → MXN | ~$8.49 | ~$7.00 | Wise | Wise 0% FX; both fast |
| USD → PHP | ~$9.99 | ~$8.50 | Wise | Remitly Express faster for urgent sends |
| USD → NGN | ~$14.49 | ~$10.00 | Wise | Large gap; Wise mid-market rate saves ~$4 |
| USD → KES | ~$12.99 | ~$9.50 | Wise | Wise M-PESA delivery is fast |
| USD → PKR | ~$7.99 | ~$8.00 | Remitly (slight) | Very close; monitor live rates |
| GBP → INR | ~£4.49 | ~£4.75 | Remitly | Remitly rare corridor win |
| EUR → INR | ~€4.99 | ~€5.25 | Remitly (slight) | Close; check live rates |
Crypto rails — specifically USDC or USDT transferred via Stellar, Tron, or Solana and cashed out via local exchange partners — represent a fundamentally different cost structure. The blockchain transfer itself costs under $0.01 on Stellar or Tron. The cost comes from two conversion steps: buying USDC on-ramp (typically 0.3–0.8% via Coinbase or Kraken) and selling for local currency off-ramp (typically 0.3–1.5% depending on the exchange and corridor).
Total crypto rail cost on a $500 transfer is typically $3–$8 across most corridors, with no difference between Economy and Express — crypto settles in minutes by default. For corridors where Remitly charges 2.5–3% (Nigeria, Ghana, South Africa), crypto rails are often 40–60% cheaper.
The tradeoff: crypto rails require both sender and recipient to be comfortable with the process, or you need to use a service that abstracts it (like MoneyGram Ramps, which uses Stellar USDC under the hood). Pure crypto-to-cash routes do require the recipient to have or create an account on a local exchange.
| Corridor | Remitly All-In | Crypto Rail All-In | Saving | Crypto Exchange Used |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| USD → INR | ~$7.49 | ~$4.50 | ~$3 | CoinDCX (Stellar/Tron) |
| USD → MXN | ~$8.49 | ~$5.00 | ~$3.50 | Bitso (Stellar/Tron) |
| USD → PHP | ~$9.99 | ~$5.50 | ~$4.50 | PDAX / Coins.ph |
| USD → NGN | ~$14.49 | ~$7.00 | ~$7.50 | Quidax / Luno (Tron) |
| USD → KES | ~$12.99 | ~$6.50 | ~$6.50 | Luno (Stellar) |
| USD → ZAR | ~$13.49 | ~$5.50 | ~$8 | VALR (Stellar/Tron) |
| USD → BRL | ~$11.99 | ~$6.00 | ~$6 | Mercado Bitcoin |
2.9% — Remitly all-in cost for USD→NGN on $500 — vs. under 1.5% via crypto rails (RemitRoutes rate data, March 2026)
Remitly's explicit fees are mostly flat — $2.99 or $3.99 regardless of whether you send $100 or $2,000. This means the fee as a percentage of your transfer shrinks as you send more. On a $100 send, a $3.99 fee is 3.99% on its own. On a $1,000 send, it's 0.4%.
The FX markup, however, scales with the amount — a 1% markup on $100 is $1, but on $2,000 it's $20. So for large transfers, the FX markup dominates total cost. At $2,000+, Wise's 0% FX markup becomes a significant advantage over Remitly, even if Remitly's explicit fee is slightly lower.
Rule of thumb: for transfers under $200, Remitly's flat fee model is competitive. For transfers above $500, always check whether Wise or a crypto rail beats Remitly after accounting for FX markup.
| Send Amount | Remitly Fee | FX Markup (2.1%) | Total Cost | Total Cost % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $100 | $3.99 | $2.10 | $6.09 | 6.1% |
| $200 | $3.99 | $4.20 | $8.19 | 4.1% |
| $500 | $3.99 | $10.50 | $14.49 | 2.9% |
| $1,000 | $3.99 | $21.00 | $24.99 | 2.5% |
| $2,000 | $3.99 | $42.00 | $45.99 | 2.3% |
Remitly regularly offers first-transfer promotions: new users often get their first transfer fee waived, sometimes alongside a better exchange rate for the first send. These promotions appear in the app and via referral links, and occasionally extend to the first three transfers.
Existing users occasionally receive corridor-specific promotions — for example, a reduced markup on USD→PHP during Filipino holidays or lower fees during peak remittance seasons (Christmas, Eid). These are time-limited and corridor-specific.
Promotional rates can make Remitly extremely competitive for a single transfer but do not reflect ongoing costs. When budgeting for recurring monthly remittances, always model the standard (non-promotional) rate.
First-transfer promos on GBP→INR or USD→INR — already Remitly's most competitive corridors — can bring effective costs under 0.5%. If you're a new user sending to India from the UK or US, check current promo rates before defaulting to Wise.
How you fund your Remitly transfer affects cost. Bank account (ACH in the US, SEPA in Europe) is the cheapest: typically $0 additional cost on top of the standard transfer fee, and it qualifies for Economy pricing.
Debit card funding is slightly more expensive in some corridors ($0.50–$1 more) but qualifies for Express delivery — useful when speed matters.
Credit card funding adds a $3.99–$4.99 explicit fee from Remitly, plus your credit card issuer likely charges a 3–5% cash advance fee (since remittance is classified as a cash advance by most US card issuers). This makes credit card the most expensive option — avoid it unless you have a card that treats international transfers as purchases.
| Funding Method | Remitly Fee | Additional Card Fee | Total Explicit Fee | Speed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bank account (ACH) | $0–$2.99 | $0 | $0–$2.99 | 3–5 days (Economy) |
| Debit card | $3.99 | $0 | $3.99 | Minutes (Express) |
| Credit card | $3.99–$4.99 | 3–5% cash advance | $18–$29.99 | Minutes (Express) |
Most US credit card issuers classify Remitly as a cash advance, triggering a 3–5% fee plus interest from day one (no grace period). On a $500 transfer, that adds $15–$25 on top of Remitly's already-higher credit card fee. Use a debit card or bank account instead. Check your card's terms before proceeding.
Remitly is best for: high-speed transfers to India, Mexico, and the Philippines where Express delivery matters; senders who prefer a polished mobile app experience; recipients in countries where Remitly has strong cash pickup networks (Mexico, Central America, Southeast Asia); and small transfers under $200 where flat fees make Remitly competitive.
Wise is better for: large transfers above $500 to most corridors (0% FX markup advantage grows with amount); transparent cost structure when you need to predict costs precisely; business transfers and multi-currency accounts; corridors where Remitly's FX markup is above 1.5%.
Crypto rails are best for: African corridors (NGN, KES, GHS, ZAR) where traditional providers carry 2–3% markups; frequent senders who are comfortable with the workflow; high-value transfers where percentage-based savings justify setup time; and remitters whose recipients have or can create exchange accounts in the destination country.
Use RemitRoutes to compare all three options in real time. Enter your corridor and amount to see which provider wins today — rates shift daily, and the winner changes.
RemitRoutes pulls live rates from Remitly, Wise, and crypto rails simultaneously. Compare all-in costs in seconds — no signup required.
Remitly charges a flat transfer fee of $0–$3.99 depending on corridor and speed tier, plus an FX markup of 0.7–2.1% built into the exchange rate. All-in costs range from about 1.1% (GBP→INR) to 2.9% (USD→NGN) on a $500 transfer. Always check the live rate against the mid-market rate to calculate the true cost.
Economy is usually cheaper by $1–$3 in explicit fees, but Express sometimes offers a slightly better exchange rate. The total cost difference is often under $2 on a $500 transfer. Choose Economy if your recipient can wait 3–5 days; choose Express if they need money within hours.
Wise uses the mid-market exchange rate (0% FX markup) and charges a variable explicit fee. For most corridors above $300, Wise is cheaper than Remitly because Wise's 0% markup outweighs Remitly's lower flat fee. Exceptions include GBP→INR and USD→PKR, where Remitly is marginally cheaper. For African corridors, Wise typically saves $4–$8 on a $500 send.
Bank account (ACH) funded Economy transfers on many corridors carry a $0 explicit fee, though the FX markup still applies. Express transfers funded by bank account may still incur a $2.99–$3.99 fee depending on the corridor. Always check the fee shown in the app before confirming.
GBP→INR and EUR→INR are Remitly's most competitive corridors, with all-in costs around 1.1% on a $500 equivalent send. USD→INR and USD→PKR are also strong at 1.5–1.6%. The highest-cost corridors are USD→NGN (2.9%), USD→GHS (2.8%), and USD→ZAR (2.7%).
Yes, on most corridors. Crypto rails using USDC on Stellar or Tron cost 1–1.5% all-in on most corridors — including African corridors where Remitly charges 2.5–3%. The savings are largest on USD→NGN, USD→KES, and USD→ZAR. Crypto rails require the recipient to have or create an account on a local exchange (Quidax, Luno, VALR, etc.).
Yes. Remitly's fees vary by send country, receive country, amount, and payment method. Corridors to India, Mexico, and Pakistan tend to have lower fees and markups due to high transfer volume and competition. Corridors to sub-Saharan Africa and some Southeast Asian countries carry higher markups. Check the Remitly app or RemitRoutes for the current rate on your specific corridor.
Yes. Remitly is a licensed money transmitter regulated in 50 US states and in the UK, EU, Canada, and Australia. It is publicly traded on NASDAQ (RELY) and processes over $40 billion annually. Transfers are FDIC-insured while in transit in the US. Remitly also offers a satisfaction guarantee — if your transfer is late, they may refund the fee.
Compare live rates across 370+ corridors on RemitRoutes · methodology.