The Cheapest Way to Send Money from Europe to Africa, America and Asia

The hidden cost most people miss

Every transfer has two costs:

1. The visible fee, which is what the service charges you.
2. The exchange-rate margin, which is the gap between the real (mid-market) rate you see on Google and the rate you actually get.

Many services advertise "no fees" but earn their money in the exchange rate. So don't compare fees, compare how much your recipient actually receives.

Your main options

Western Union and MoneyGram. They are the best-known names, with huge agent networks and cash pickup in many countries, which is useful if your recipient has no bank account or lives far from a city. The trade-off is that costs can be higher, particularly for cash pickup and for card payments. Check the final amount before you confirm.

Wise. It uses the mid-market rate with a transparent fee and is often a strong choice for bank-to-bank transfers, especially to countries where the recipient has a bank account. It's less focused on mobile wallets and cash pickup in some African and Asian markets.

Remitly, WorldRemit and similar apps. They offer bank deposits, mobile money and cash pickup, often with promotional rates for first transfers. Rates and fees vary by country and payment method.

Taptap Send. A licensed money transfer app built around migrant remittances to Africa, Asia and Latin America. For most destinations it charges no transfer fee and takes a small margin in the exchange rate, with a small fixed fee on a few routes. Your recipient can get the money in a bank account, mobile wallet or, in some countries, cash pickup.

Why Taptap Send is our pick

No app is cheapest for every route, but Taptap Send is the one we suggest to most people sending from Europe to Africa and Asia because:

• You can do everything from home. Sign up on your phone and send in minutes, with no agent visit, queues or paperwork at a counter.
• You can pay by bank account or card. Depending on your country, you can pay by debit or Visa/Mastercard, or by instant bank transfer in most EU countries.
• Your recipient has choices. Bank deposit, mobile money (including MTN and Airtel in many African countries) or, in some countries, cash pickup.
• You see what your recipient gets before you pay. Enter the amount and destination, and the app shows the total.
• It covers many of the corridors people ask about, including Nigeria, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and the Philippines, as well as other destinations such as Ukraine, Argentina and Venezuela. Availability and payout methods differ by country, so check your route in the app.

You'll need to be a resident of a supported sending country and have a local mobile number. Identity verification (photo ID and a selfie) raises your sending limits.

Get €10 on top of your first transfer

Enter one of these codes when you sign up:

• MARIADEL1547: send €25 up to €300 and get €10 on top
• FRANCO3408: send €300 or more and get €10 on top

Promotions can change, and the conditions are set by Taptap Send, so check the terms in the app before you send.

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Disclosure: we receive a small referral reward if you sign up with these codes, at no extra cost to you. We recommend Taptap Send because we think it suits many of our readers, but compare it yourself.

How to compare in 3 minutes

1. Check the mid-market rate for your currency pair.
2. Enter the same amount in two or three services (for example Taptap Send, Wise and Western Union).
3. Compare what the recipient receives, not the advertised fee.
4. Check the payout method, speed and limits, especially for mobile wallets.

The one that delivers the most is the cheapest for that transfer. For some routes or large amounts, that may not be Taptap Send, and that's fine.

Tips to avoid problems

• Double-check the recipient's name and account or wallet number.
• Verify your identity early to raise your limits.
• Keep proof of the source of funds for larger transfers.
• Never send money to someone you haven't verified. Scams often impersonate relatives or officials.
• Compare again each time, because rates move daily.

Moving abroad and need more than a money transfer?

Sending money is one step of a bigger move. Antonov & Partners helps with residency, university admissions, housing and bank accounts, directly and without middlemen. Book your call and we'll help you plan the whole process.