Remitly Review 2026: Great Promo Rate, but What Happens After?

Remitly targets consumer remittance corridors with multiple delivery options including cash pickup and mobile money. The first-transfer promotional rate is competitive, but regular rates are significantly higher.

Verdict: Best for cash pickup and mobile money

RemitRoutes Score: 70/100 — our computed editorial rating (cost 69, transparency 80, speed 90, coverage 87, crypto rails 0, each out of 100). How we score.

Fees

Remitly offers a promotional rate on your first transfer that is often near-zero. After that, the regular rate kicks in: a transfer fee of $0-$3.99 plus an FX markup of 0.5-1.5% built into the exchange rate. The all-in cost on subsequent transfers is typically 1.5-3.5% of the send amount.

FX markup

Remitly does not use the mid-market rate. They add a markup of 0.5-1.5% to the exchange rate depending on the corridor. This markup is not prominently shown at checkout — you see "our rate" rather than a comparison to the mid-market rate. The FX markup often exceeds the visible transfer fee.

Pros

• Multiple delivery options: bank, cash pickup, mobile money
• Fast delivery for many corridors (minutes for express)
• Delivery guarantee with refund if late
• Strong mobile app experience

Cons

• Promotional first-transfer rate masks higher regular rates
• FX markup not transparently disclosed at checkout
• Higher total cost than Wise or crypto for bank transfers
• Not designed for business payments

Best for

• Cash pickup recipients with no bank account
• Mobile money delivery in Africa and Asia
• First-time senders taking advantage of the promo rate

Not great for

• Regular senders who will pay full rates after the promo
• Cost-conscious senders who compare all-in costs
• Bank-to-bank transfers where Wise or crypto are cheaper

Frequently asked questions

What does Remitly actually cost after the first transfer?

After the promotional first transfer, Remitly charges a fee of $0-$3.99 plus an FX markup of 0.5-1.5%. The all-in cost is typically 1.5-3.5% of the send amount. For a $1,000 transfer, expect $15-35 in total fees and rate markup.

Does Remitly use the mid-market exchange rate?

No. Remitly adds a markup of 0.5-1.5% to the exchange rate depending on the corridor. This is not prominently shown — you need to compare their rate against the mid-market rate to see the markup. Wise and digital asset rails typically offer better exchange rates.

Is Remitly good for sending to India or the Philippines?

Remitly covers these corridors and offers fast delivery. However, the all-in cost (1.5-3.5%) is higher than Wise (0.33-2.5%) or digital asset rails (under 0.5%). If you need cash pickup or mobile money delivery, Remitly has an advantage. For bank deposits, cheaper options exist.

How fast is Remitly?

Remitly offers "Express" delivery (minutes to hours, higher fee) and "Economy" delivery (3-5 business days, lower fee). Express speed varies by corridor and delivery method. Cash pickup is often available within minutes.

Is Remitly cheaper than Western Union?

Usually yes. Remitly typically costs 1.5-3.5% all-in vs Western Union's 3-8%. However, both are more expensive than Wise (0.33-2.5%) and significantly more expensive than digital asset rails (under 0.5%). RemitRoutes compares all options live.

Measured costs today

Live all-in cost (transfer fee + FX markup) from RemitRoutes' measured data — as of 1h ago · refreshed every 6 hours. See all corridors →

Corridor	Country	All-in cost	Recipient gets (per $1,000)
USD → NGN	Nigeria	0.66%	1,370,960 NGN
USD → INR	India	0.52%	95,880 INR
USD → PHP	Philippines	3.13%	59,720 PHP
USD → MXN	Mexico	1.77%	17,211.05 MXN

Compare live rates across 370+ corridors on RemitRoutes · methodology.