Remitly

Remitly is an online money transfer service that enables individuals to send money internationally from the US, Canada, Europe, Australia, and the UK to over 180 countries worldwide. The company's primary focus is on facilitating remittances, allowing immigrants and expatriates to securely and conveniently send money back home to their families and loved ones. Established in 2011 and headquartered in Seattle, Washington, Remitly has grown to serve over 3 million customers annually, with a total transaction volume exceeding USD 20 billion as of 2021.

Remitly offers two distinct transfer options: Express and Economy. The Express service facilitates near-instant transfers, with funds typically arriving within minutes for cash pickups or a few hours for bank deposits. This option is ideal for urgent fund transfers but comes at a higher cost. Alternatively, the Economy service provides a more affordable solution, albeit with a longer delivery time of three to five business days.

One of Remitly's standout features is its extensive network of payout options. Recipients can choose to receive funds through bank account deposits, cash pickups at over 400,000 locations worldwide, mobile wallet transfers, or even home deliveries in select countries like the Philippines, Vietnam, and the Dominican Republic. This flexibility caters to the diverse needs of Remitly's global customer base.

Remitly's fees and exchange rates are generally competitive within the industry. Fixed transfer fees typically range from USD 1.99 to USD 3.99, while exchange rate markups are typically between 0.5% and 2.5% above the mid-market rate. Larger transfers often incur lower fees, with Remitly waiving fixed fees for bank-to-bank transfers exceeding USD 1,000.