Personal Finance · head to head
Wise vs Remitly
Wise
Personal Finance
International money transfers at the real exchange rate
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Only Wise has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
- Each has a real cost: Wise exchange rate fees start at 0.31% plus corridor-specific transfer fees; Remitly no fee schedule, exchange rate margin or transfer limit is published; the cost is disclosed only after starting a transfer for a specific corridor
- They diverge on capability: Wise covers International transfers, Remitly covers International remittances.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Wise and Remitly actually diverge.
Identical on both: platforms (Web, IOS, Android), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Personal Finance), founded (2011).
What each one covers
Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.
Only in Wise
- International transfers
- Real exchange rates
- Multi-currency accounts
- Bill payments
- Cryptocurrency
Only in Remitly
- International remittances
- Multiple delivery methods
- Send money to 200+ countries
- Currency conversion
Both cover
- Bank accounts
- Web support
- IOS support
- Android support
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Wise
- Budget Managementnot Remitly
- Expense Trackingnot Remitly
- Investment Trackingnot Remitly
Remitly
- Sending cross border remittances from a phone or browsernot Wise
- Delivering funds to bank accounts, cash pickup and mobile wallets abroadnot Wise
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
Wise
- Exchange rate fees start at 0.31% plus corridor-specific transfer fees
- Transfer speed dependent on destination country banking infrastructure
- No published documentation of maximum transfer limits
- Multi-currency account features may have regional restrictions
Remitly
- No fee schedule, exchange rate margin or transfer limit is published; the cost is disclosed only after starting a transfer for a specific corridor
- The Express and Economy delivery options have no published price difference
Pricing, plan by plan
Wise
FreeNo published plan breakdown. See the Wise review.
Remitly
On request- Express$undefined/month
- Fast transfers
- Multiple delivery methods
- Economy$undefined/month
- Lower cost option
- 3-4 day delivery
Which should you pick?
Choose Wise if
- You need international transfers.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Web, IOS, Android.
- You also want real exchange rates.
Choose Remitly if
- You need international remittances.
- You work on Web, IOS, Android.
- You also want multiple delivery methods.
Questions people ask
- Is Wise or Remitly better?
- Neither clearly leads. Wise starts at Free and Remitly at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Wise or Remitly?
- Wise has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Wise and On request for Remitly.
- Does Wise or Remitly run on more platforms?
- Both run on Web, IOS, Android, so platform support will not decide this one for you.
- Can I use Wise for free?
- Yes. Wise has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Remitly starts at On request.
- What is Wise best used for?
- Wise is most often used for budget management, expense tracking, investment tracking. Of those, budget management and expense tracking are not what Remitly is typically brought in for.
- What can Wise do that Remitly cannot?
- Wise covers International transfers, Real exchange rates, Multi-currency accounts, Bill payments. Remitly covers International remittances, Multiple delivery methods, Send money to 200+ countries, Currency conversion. Both handle Bank accounts, Web support, IOS support, Android support.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
Wise: What are Wise's transfer fees and exchange rates?
Wise uses mid-market exchange rates without hidden markups and charges a flat fee starting from 0.31% plus a currency transfer fee depending on the corridor. Volume discounts are available for larger transfers.
SourceWise: How long do international transfers take with Wise?
Transfers can arrive same-day within seconds according to Wise marketing materials, though actual timing depends on the destination country and banking infrastructure.
SourceWise: Is there a cost for a Wise account or monthly subscription?
Opening a Wise account is free with no monthly subscription. You only pay fees when you send money or convert currency.
SourceWise: Can I send money between Wise users for free?
Sending or receiving the same currency between Wise contacts is free. Converting to a different currency costs less than standard rates but is not free.
SourceWise: What security features does Wise offer?
Wise includes two-factor authentication for account protection, holds funds with established financial institutions, maintains 24/7 customer support, and has dedicated fraud and security teams.
SourceWise: How much money can I transfer with Wise?
Wise does not publicly specify transfer limits on the main site. Limits may vary by country, sender verification level, and corridor.
Source