Wise vs Remitly vs Aspora — Best Ways to Send Money Home from the UK

If you send money home regularly — to family, to pay loan installments, or to save — the transfer service you use makes a significant difference. UK banks typically take 3–5% of your money in hidden fees and bad exchange rates. The apps below charge 0.4–1.5% total.

Quick comparison

Wise — best all-rounder

Wise (formerly TransferWise) uses the mid-market exchange rate — the same rate you see on Google. Their fee is transparent, typically 0.5–1.5% of the amount. For a £500 transfer to India, expect to pay around £4–7 total.

Best for: Any country. Especially good if you transfer to multiple countries or currencies.

Remitly — best for speed

Remitly offers "Express" delivery (within minutes) or "Economy" (1–3 days, slightly better rate). First-time users get £10 off with our link. Very popular for India, Nigeria, Pakistan and Kenya.

Best for: Fast transfers to India, Nigeria, Pakistan, Kenya, Philippines.

Aspora — best for India, zero markup

Aspora is a newer service specifically for UK-to-India transfers. They offer the live Google mid-market rate with absolutely zero markup on the exchange rate. Their fee is a flat small charge. For transferring to India, Aspora often wins on total amount received.

Use code DD9E7AEB for your first free transfer.

Best for: India-only transfers. If your family is in India, this is likely the best option.

Our recommendation

If you send to India: use Aspora for the best rate, Remitly when you need speed. For all other countries: use Wise. Open all three accounts (free) and compare the exact rate each time before sending.