Wise vs XE Money Transfer: A Full Guide – 2024
Wise and XE Money Transfer both offer international payments you can set up online or in app, to be sent to bank accounts and mobile money accounts internationally. However, the way they structure fees, and the exchange rates available differ between the two providers – so which is better between Wise vs XE Money Transfer?
This guide will help you decide. We’ll look at how they both work and how they compare on international transfers, plus the additional features you might be interested in like multi-currency accounts, card services and business products.
Summary: Wise offers international transfers to 160+ countries, and multi-currency accounts for convenient card spending, currency exchange and ways to receive payments for yourself and your business. XE Money Transfer offers international transfers to 130+ countries from Australia. In our comparisons, Wise worked out cheaper than XE for overseas payments – but you’ll want to compare both to decide which suits you best.
Wise vs XE Money Transfer: side by side
Let’s start with the features you can get from each provider. Wise and XE Money Transfer both let you send payments overseas for deposit to bank and mobile money accounts, plus Wise has multi-currency accounts and cards, which aren’t available from XE Money Transfer.
To give a flavour, here’s an overview of Wise vs XE Money Transfer side by side, looking at available features.
| Feature | Wise | XE Money Transfer |
|---|---|---|
| Service availability | Online and in app | Online, in app and by phone |
| Multi-currency account | Hold and convert more than 40 currencies – for personal and business customers
Debit card available, plus local receiving accounts for 10 currencies |
N |
| Send money to | More than 160 countries | More than 130 countries |
| Pay in options | Bank transfer, card or wallets like Apple Pay | Bank transfer or card |
| Payout options | Deposit to bank account, mobile money account deposits available in some countries | Deposit to bank account, mobile money account deposits available in some countries |
| Transfer fee | From 0.43% | Variable fees based on payment details |
| Transfer speed | 50% of payments are instant, 90% arrive in 24 hours | Bank deposits take up to 4 days depending on how you pay and destination country |
| Exchange rates | Mid-market rate | Exchange rates include a markup |
| Regulated | Y | Y |
| Open a business account | Y | Y |
So, to summarise:
- Wise is available in app and online – XE Money Transfer is offered in app, online and by phone
- Wise offers international accounts and cards for personal and business customers – XE Money Transfer does not
- Wise currency exchange uses the mid-market rate with fees from 0.43% – XE Money Transfer uses an exchange rate which includes a variable markup
- XE Money Transfer and Wise both support bank transfer and card payments for deposits to bank and mobile money accounts
- Wise transfer fees start from 0.43% – XE Money Transfer has varying transfer fees depending on the specific payment you need to make
- Wise payments to banks can be instant – XE Money Transfer bank deposits may take a few days
- Both providers are fully regulated, in Australia and elsewhere in the world, and both offer business services
The important bits
Here’s a comparison of Wise vs XE Money Transfer on key features including fees, safety and speed, which may help you decide which is right for you:
| Wise | XE Money Transfer | |
|---|---|---|
| Rates | Mid-market exchange rate | Exchange rates include a variable markup |
| Fees | Free to spend currencies you hold with your Wise card
No monthly charges
Transaction fees apply – from 0.43% for currency exchange and international transfers |
Variable fees depending on the way you pay in, the way you want the transfer to be received and the destination country |
| Speed | 50% instant, 90% same day | Bank deposits may take 4 days depending on destination |
| Service | Desktop browser and mobile app | Desktop browser, mobile app, and phone |
| Safety | Fully regulated and licensed | Fully regulated and licensed |
| Reviews (TrustPilot) | 4.2, Great, 204,000+ reviews | 4.3, Excellent, 65,000+ reviews |
To summarise:
- Rates: Wise uses the mid-market rate, whereas XE Money Transfer applies a variable markup to the rates used
- Fees: Wise accounts have no monthly fees, with currency exchange and transfer from 0.43%; XE Money Transfer fees vary depending on the type of transfer you make
- Speed: Wise transfers may arrive instantly, and 90% arrive in 24 hours, XE Money Transfer transfers to banks take 4 days depending on the destination
- Service: Both providers have online and in-app service, XE Money Transfer also offers phone services
- Safetly: Both providers are fully regulated and licensed
- Reviews: Wise has a Great rating on Trustpilot from 204,000+ reviews, XE Money Transfer has an Excellent rating on Trustpilot from 65,000+ reviews
Pros and cons
| Wise | XE Money Transfer |
|---|---|
| ✅Multi-currency accounts to hold 40+ currencies ✅ Payments to 160+ countries ✅ Local receiving account details for 10 currencies ✅ Payment cards for use in 150+ countries ✅ Mid-market exchange rates |
✅ Send payments to 130 countries from Australia
✅Easy to use online and in app service |
| ❌ Some service fees apply ❌ No physical location for face to face services |
❌Exchange rates include a markup
❌Variable fees apply depending on how you set up your payment |
Wise vs XE Money Transfer: The verdict
XE Money Transfer and Wise both allow you to send money digitally to bank accounts and mobile wallets. Wise also has extra features to allow customers to hold and exchange money and spend with a linked debit card.
XE Money Transfer uses variable transfer fees and a marked up exchange rate. Wise uses the mid-market rate and splits out all the costs of sending a payment overseas – this can be simpler to compare, and makes it easier to spot exactly what you’re paying for currency conversion.
Wise also has a multi-currency account with a linked international debit card, and ways to get paid by others conveniently in a selection of currencies. XE Money Transfer does not provide multi-currency accounts or cards.
In our comparisons, Wise was cheaper on the currency routes we tested. However, if both Wise vs XE Money Transfer offer the type of transfer you need to make it’s worth comparing them carefully to see which is best for you.
About Wise and XE Money Transfer
Wise: Wise was founded in the UK in 2011, and offers low cost cross border transfers, multi-currency account services, debit cards and business products. Today, Wise has over 16 million customers globally, and has maintained its focus on offering mid-market rate currency conversion and speedy payments. All Wise services are delivered online and in app, with transparent fees and low overall costs.
XE Money Transfer was founded in 1993, and is part of Euronet, one of the largest money transfer companies on the planet. You can send payments from Australia to around 130 other countries with XE. You can also access business accounts that offer some extra services as well as international transfers, including currency risk management solutions and mass payments.
How do they work?
Register with Wise and get verified by uploading an image of your ID documents, either online or in the Wise app. You can pay for your international transfer using a local payment from your bank, or with a card – Wise will then dispatch the funds to your recipient through its global network of local bank accounts. You can also use Wise to open a multi-currency account for 40+ currencies, which comes with an optional debit card – everything can be set up and managed with just your phone for convenience.
With XE Money Transfer you’ll be able to set up a payment online or in app by selecting the country you want to send money to, and the value of the payment. Fees and rates vary depending on factors including how you pay, the value of the transfer, and what currency is needed.
Wise vs XE Money Transfer fees
Wise and XE Money Transfer have different products – and therefore, different fee types. We’ll walk through some payment examples to give an idea of this in just a moment. Here’s a rundown of the typical costs you’ll need to know about:
| Service | Wise fee | XE Money Transfer fee |
|---|---|---|
| Ongoing fees | No fee to open a Wise personal account, no ongoing fees | No fee to register |
| Card fee | 10 AUD | Not applicable |
| Spend currencies you hold | No fee | Not applicable |
| Spend currencies you don’t hold | From 0.43% | Not applicable |
| ATM fee | 2 withdrawals to the value of 350 AUD/month free, then 1.5 AUD + 1.75% | Not applicable |
| Overseas transfers | From 0.43% | Variable fees based on payment type, value and destination |
Fees correct at time of writing – 15th January 2024
Read more about Wise fees here
Wise vs XE Money Transfer: which is cheaper?
Where the services from Wise and XE Money Transfer overlap is in international transfers to bank accounts. Using a specialist like Wise or XE Money Transfer is often cheaper than using a bank to send a cross border payment – but different providers do have their own fees and exchange rates, so shopping around is still important.
Here’s a head to head between XE Money Transfer and Wise on costs for a couple of different value and currency payments, to illustrate. You can also check the Wise costs and get a comparison against other providers, on the Wise website.
| Amount & Currency | Recipient gets with Wise | Recipient gets with XE Money Transfer | Which is cheaper? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sending 1,000 AUD to GBP | 520.73 GBP | 517.82 GBP | Wise |
| Sending 5,000 AUD to GBP | 2,605.39 GBP | 2,597.93 GBP | Wise |
| Sending 1,000 AUD to USD | 663.75 USD | 660.23 USD | Wise |
| Sending 5,000 AUD to USD | 3,319.90 USD | 3,310.67 USD | Wise |
Fees correct at time of writing – 15th January 2024
Wise vs XE Money Transfer exchange rates
Wise uses the mid-market rate for currency exchange – the same one you’ll find on Google or using a currency conversion tool. All the costs you need to pay are shown separately so you can easily compare and check the total amount.
XE Money Transfer uses a variable markup on the exchange rate offered for currency conversion. To see what you’re being charged for exchange, compare the XE Money Transfer rate against the mid-market rate you can find on Google.
Wise vs XE Money Transfer: which is faster?
50% of Wise payments to bank accounts internationally are instant, 90% arrive on the same day – although the exact delivery time can depend on factors including the destination country, and the recipient’s bank processing times.
XE Money Transfer payments have varying delivery times, based on how you choose to pay and other factors including the destination country. Once your funds have been received by XE, your money should be deposited in 1 – 4 days.
Wise vs XE Money Transfer international transfer limits
Wise has limits for both personal and business customers which can vary based on destination country – usually around 1 million GBP or the equivalent.
XE Money Transfer lets customers send over 2 million AUD as personal customers, with no limit on the value of business transfers.
Wise vs XE Money Transfer: business
Both Wise and XE Money Transfer have business services – but the options do vary a little. Here’s a comparison to help you decide if either might suit your business needs:
| Wise Business | XE Money Transfer Business |
|---|---|
|
|
Ease of use
- Creating an account: Create your account online or in-app with both XE Money Transfer and Wise; XE Money Transfer also allows customers to register by phone
- Making a transfer: Wise and XE Money Transfer both let you pay for a transfer by bank transfer, card or wallet such as Apple Pay
- Ways to send money: Send payments to your recipient’s bank account or to mobile money wallet with both XE Money Transfer and Wise
- Languages: Wise offers 15 languages, plus multi-lingual support services, XE Money Transfer offers services through local teams in different geographies online, as well as by phone
- Minimum & maximum amounts: Wise sending limits can vary by destination country, and based on your account type. XE Money Transfer lets you send 2 million AUD+ in a single transfer
Supported currencies
XE Money Transfer supports a broad selection of currencies for payments to 130 countries and territories globally. Wise supports 40+ currencies, and lets you send payments to over 160 countries.
Safety
Both XE Money Transfer and Wise are safe to use, and fully regulated for the services they offer. As global businesses, they’re both overseen by a selection of bodies, including ASIC and AUSTRAC in Australia, and other bodies such as the FCA in the UK.
Wise vs XE Money Transfer customer service
Wise customer service is primarily delivered through in-app chat, which is available in a selection of languages, 24/7. You can also email the team if you’d prefer – log into your Wise account to check which is the best way to connect with customer services based on your specific issue.
XE Money Transfer has an in app customer service option, plus phone support if you want to talk to someone in person.
Conclusion: Comparing Wise and XE Money Transfer
XE Money Transfer and Wise both offer convenient ways to make online and in-app international payments direct to bank accounts and mobile money wallets. Which is best for you may just depend on the service you need.
XE Money Transfer lets you send payments online, in app and by phone, to 130 countries. Wise lets you send money to 160+ countries online and in app. You can also open a Wise international account to hold 40+ currencies, and get a linked debit card for spending and withdrawals globally.
In our international transfer comparison, Wise was cheaper for the payment routes we tested. If cost is your main concern you’ll want to compare both – which is easy to do online, over on the Wise website.
FAQ – Wise vs XE
What is the difference between Wise and XE Money Transfer?
Wise and XE Money Transfer are global currency specialists which let you send payments digitally to banks around the world. On top of this, Wise has multi-currency accounts for convenient spending in foreign currencies. Learn more about each provider in this handy guide.
Which is better: Wise or XE Money Transfer?
XE Money Transfer and Wise have their own features and fees, so you’ll need to compare both using this guide to see which is best for you. If you’re sending a digital payment to a bank account, either may be able to help – if you want a multi-currency account, Wise may be your best bet.
Is Wise or XE Money Transfer cheaper?
We compared Wise vs XE Money Transfer on a couple of different payment routes – Wise was cheapest on the transfers we tested. However, as fees and rates change frequently, it’s important to shop around before you confirm your transaction to make sure you get the best deal.
Is Wise or XE Money Transfer faster?
50% of Wise payments are instant, 90% arrive on the same day. XE Money Transfer bank deposits which may arrive quickly, or could take up to 4 days.
How many currencies do Wise and XE Money Transfer support?
XE Money Transfer supports payment routes to 130+ countries and territories. Wise supports 40+ currencies, and lets you send payments to over 160 countries.
