The cheapest way to pay internationally is generally through dedicated online money transfer services like Wise, Revolut, or OFX, which offer superior exchange rates and lower fees compared to traditional banks. Using a bank transfer to fund these services is typically the lowest-cost option.
Bank Transfer
Bank transfers are usually the cheapest option when it comes to funding your international money transfer with Wise. Bank transfers can be slower than debit or credit cards, but they usually give you the best value for your money. Read more how to use bank transfers as a payment option.
Zelle is only available for customers with a US bank account and US registered mobile number. That means it's not an option for sending international payments to friends and family overseas.
Negotiate with banks: Many banks offer fee waivers for businesses with high transaction volumes. Use multi-currency accounts: Avoid double conversion fees by holding balances in multiple currencies. Batch payments: Combining multiple transactions into one reduces per-transfer fees.
The Zelle App is Gone. What Does That Mean? As of April 1, 2025, Zelle has officially shut down its standalone app. This decision was driven by the fact that most users already accessed Zelle through their bank or credit union's mobile app.
Venmo cannot be used to send money overseas. It is only available for domestic money transfers or payments in US dollars within the United States. There are, however, plenty of alternatives if you need to send or receive money internationally.
International payments
Global Transfers are currency transfers made between your globally linked HSBC accounts. Global Money is an account with a debit card that enables you to make international payments in the required currency without fees.
Is PayPal safer than a bank transfer? Both PayPal and traditional banking providers take important security measures to protect your money from fraud. However, PayPal may be considered more secure for online transactions, as you can pay for goods and services using just your email address.
Electronic transfers
The cheapest and simplest way of sending money abroad is through an electronic transfer. You can use the free, fast International Moneymover Service which allows you to make overseas money transfers in all major currencies. However, correspondent and recipient bank charges may apply.
However, the app charges for future transfers. If you want to send large transfers or multiple transfers abroad, Remitly will likely cost you more than expected. If you're looking for an alternative to Remitly which offers low cost, fast and easy international payments, the Wise account may be right for you.
Using a non-bank money transfer service could mean minimal or no fees. At OFX, you receive fee-free transfers* for sending USD internationally. We use our global network of 115 local bank accounts to make our transfers within the same country, so you won't be hit by any international transaction fees.
No, Zelle does not work internationally; it's strictly for domestic transfers within the United States, requiring both the sender and recipient to have bank accounts in the U.S. to send or receive money, although an enrolled user abroad can receive funds into their U.S. account if someone sends it to them domestically.
If you withdraw money from Cash App to a linked account, there are no fees for standard transfers, which typically take up to 3 business days.
Venmo. Venmo is a popular alternative to Zelle. It acts as a digital wallet, allowing you to send money, store funds, and pay some small businesses.
Your payment may fail and/or your scheduled payments may be canceled for these reasons: The payment account is closed, doesn't have available funds or is ineligible to use Zelle. The recipient is deleted or has an invalid account number, email address or mobile number
The 2/3/4 rule is a guideline, primarily used by Bank of America, that limits how many new credit cards you can get: no more than 2 in 30 days, 3 in 12 months, and 4 in 24 months, helping to prevent over-application and manage hard inquiries on your credit report. While not universal, it's a useful benchmark for responsible card application, though other banks have different rules (like Chase's 5/24 rule).
Ask the Bank to Waive the Fee