WorldRemit vs Western Union
Our recommendation: WorldRemit has higher score, but Western Union Online may offer better fees & exchange rates
WorldRemit vs Western Union. Which one is the best for you and your needs? Which is the most affordable option if you need to send or receive money internationally? Check out our analysis of the pros and cons of each money transfer company.
WorldRemit and Western Union have both pros and cons. The cheapest way to send money will depend on the country of origin and destination of your transfer, as well as the amount you need to send internationally. Make sure to compare the fees & exchange rates before your next transfer.
WorldRemit vs Western Union
Compare WorldRemit, Western Union and 100+ international money transfer services
Trust & Credibility
Background check
WorldRemit is authorized and strictly regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) as well as by the corresponding authorities in the countries in which it operates.
Western Union is a publicly-traded company, licensed and authorized by the New York State Department of Financial Services in the US and in every region in which it operates globally.
Security & reliability
WorldRemit is a secure service that provides segregated user accounts and runs securely through HTTPS.
Western Union's platforms are fully secured and use top-notch security protocols, including segregated user accounts and HTTPS.
Company size
WorldRemit is a large and well-established company in the international money transfer world: it has served over 4 million customers over its 10 years, transferred $10 billion in the past year alone, and now employs more than a thousand people.
Founded back in 1851, Western Union is arguably the biggest name in the international money transfer world. In 2020, the company boasted over 11 thousand employees, 150 million customers, and over US$96 billion transferred in principal.
Transparent pricing
WorldRemit leaves a lot to be desired when it comes to transparently displaying its pricing as some 80% of the platform's fees come from a hidden exchange rate margin.
Western Union is not transparent about its pricing, with some 90% of total fees being buried away in hidden exchange rate margins.
Service & Quality
Opening an account
Opening an account with WorldRemit is a straightforward process and easy to do.
Opening an account with Western Union Online is reasonably easy thanks to a simple, well-designed website and mobile app.
Making a transfer
Making a transfer with WorldRemit is both easy and quick to do, whether you’re using WorldRemit for the first time or a seasoned user, and the money is often quick to arrive.
Transferring money with Western Union Online is a speedy and straightforward process for first-time and returning users alike.
Contacting support
WorldRemit offers users multiple ways of finding customer support – whether through their responsive live chat, phone support, or by finding answers through their extensive FAQ section – and is both quick and easy to navigate.
Western Union Online provides a FAQ that's detailed (albeit tricky to navigate) and offers phone support features accessible via the mobile app.
Fees & Exchange Rates
Transfers to a bank account
WorldRemit was the best option for transferring money to a bank account in 10.2% of searches over the past three months on Monito and was presented as a competitive option in 47.3% of cases.
Western Union Online was the best deal on less than 4% of available Monito searches for bank transfers over the first three months of 2021.
Transfers to cash pick-up
WorldRemit was the cheapest cash pickup option in 18.27% of searches over the past three months on Monito and was a competitive option in 53.44% of cases.
Western Union Online was the best deal on nearly a quarter (23%) of available Monito searches for cash pickup transfers over the first three months of 2021.
Customer Satisfaction
Customer review score
WorldRemit is highly reviewed and ranked by its customers, scoring an average of 4.1 out of 5 stars on over 45 thousand Trustpilot reviews.
Western Union Online has garnered very mediocre feedback in general, receiving only 2.6 out of 5 stars from over 18 thousand reviews on Trustpilot.
Number of positive reviews
Out of its 45 thousand reviews on Trustpilot, over 40 thousand are 4 or 5 star reviews, signaling that WorldRemit is very well-viewed amongst its users.
With more than 14 thousand reviewers on Trustpilot awarding four- or five-star to Western Union Online, the service is undoubtedly reliable in the eyes of many customers.
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Why Trust Monito?
You’re probably all too familiar with the often outrageous cost of sending money abroad. After facing this frustration themselves back in 2013, co-founders François, Laurent, and Pascal launched a real-time comparison engine to compare the best money transfer services across the globe. Today, Monito’s award-winning comparisons, reviews, and guides are trusted by around 8 million people each year and our recommendations are backed by millions of pricing data points and dozens of expert tests — all allowing you to make the savviest decisions with confidence.
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