The Latest TransferWise Review Including Borderless and How it Works
Our biggest, most comprehensive look at one of the most popular money transfer companies in the world.
TransferWise is great for people who like doing things entirely online, and are an especially good option for international transfers under $50,000
Let's find out if they're the right company for you.
TransferWise was founded in 2010 by two friends. They were both working away from home and wanted an efficient and affordable way to transfer money where they needed it. Now, TransferWise transfer more than $1 billion dollars every month for their customers and have more than 600 employees worldwide. The fact that they charge a percentage based fee means that they are great for smaller options, but may not be if you're making transfers greater than $40,000.
Read about their pros and cons here, and select read more to hear a more in depth overview of the company.
Pros
|
Cons
|
| Transfer Fee | A percentage of your transfer + small flat fee, based on the currency you're transferring. |
| Rates | TransferWise give you the best possible rate. They do not use a margin. |
| Minimum transfer amount | Not applicable. |
On TrustPilot, TransferWise have five stars and are considered an "excellent company" to use.
With a TrustScore of 9/10 here are some of the general comments.
| The Good Many customers mentioned the quick transfers and efficient service. Ease of use. Excellent exchange rates. |
The Bad Limited customer service that is occasionally poor.Some reports of accounts being suspended. |
There are three main steps to making a transfer with TransferWise.
- Go to their website to set up an account. For this step, you will need some photo ID and proof of address with you.
- Next, you'll get a quote for your transfer and tell TransferWise who you're paying.
- Once everything is confirmed, you will pay for your transfer. TransferWise accept payment by bank transfer or POLi Pay for all customers, and credit card for smaller transfers.
GBP, EUR, USD, AUD, BRL, BGN, CAD, HRK, CZK, DKK, HKD, HUF, JPY, NZD, NOK, PLN, RON, SGD, SEK, CHF, BDT, CLP, CNY, COP, GEL, IDR, INR, ILS, MYR, MXN, MAD, PKR, PEN, PHP, RUB, ZAR, KRW, LKR, THB, TRY, AED, UAH, VND.
TransferWise is completely regulated in Australia. The have an Australian Financial Services Licence, and are regulated by the Australian Securities and Investment Commission (ASIC).
This makes them a safe, and trustworthy option for your international money transfers.
Overview
TransferWise is a likeable company. They are one of few companies that transparently offer you the interbank, or 'real' exchange rate. Which makes it easy to understand the way they are charging you. You do need to be comfortable doing everything online, as they have limited customer support.
Because of their fee structure, there is definitely money to be saved if you use TransferWise instead of your bank. Their Borderless Account also offers a new way to hold multiple currencies in one account and gives you the option to have international bank details. You can read more about it here.
Pros and cons of using TransferWise
- Their website is very intuitive, and it's a very quick process to set up an account and begin sending money.
- Their rates are literally unbeatable as they give you the interbank rate. This also means there is less exchange rate risk.
- They have various payment methods including credit card.
- Additional products like their Borderless Account and Debit Card are very unique in foreign exchange.
- They can support both business and individual customers
- They do not have a minimum transfer size.
- Cannot pay for your international money transfer via cash or cheque.
- Limited customer support options.
- They do not accept credit card as payment for larger transfer sizes, depending on the currency you're transferring.
- The percentage fees means that they aren't always the best option for larger transfers.
- It is difficult to sign up for an account without making a transfer as part of the process.
- Because the company is still relatively new, there are a number of currencies they don't yet support.
How Much TransferWise Costs
It is quite simple to work out how much a transfer with TrasnferWise is going to cost. Because they don't put a margin on their exchange rates, you just have to look at the fee that they charge in regards to the currencies you're transferring between.
It's also really easy to get a quote for a transfer with TransferWise, without even signing up for an account. You can just head to their homepage, and get an obligation free quote which will include an estimation of the fee you'd be charged.
Alternatively, you can click here and use our exchange rate comparison engine. You can see TransferWise's exchange rates and compare them to the Big 4 banks and other money transfer companies to see if they are the best option for you.
| Transfer Fee | Rates | Minimum transfer amount |
|---|---|---|
| A percentage of your transfer + a small fixed fee, based on the currency you're transferring. | TransferWise give you the best possible rate. They do not use a margin. | Not applicable. |
TransferWise Customer Reviews
TrustScore: 9/10
Generally, customers speak favourably about their experiences with TransferWise. A lot boasted about how easy it is to make the transfer, and how efficient the process is. The usability of the website works in the company's favour, and the set up and transfers are usually very efficient.
The most common complaint about TransferWise that we could find was that sometimes ID took a long time to be verified, which held up transfer times.
How to use TransferWise
There are three main steps to setting up an account with TransferWise, which we have outlined below. You can also watch our video tutorial for a complete step by step guide. Before you start your transfer there are a few things you will need as well.
- ID to set up your account.
- Name and details of your recipient.
- Details of your payment method.
Step 1: Register
Register your details through the TransferWise website. This will include the type of account you need, your details and the currencies you'll transfer. Once you provide some ID, TransferWise will let you know when your account is ready.
Step 2: Transfer
Once you have a quote for your transfer, you will go ahead and fill in the details of the person you're sending the money to. If you're sending it to your own international account, fill in your own details.
Step 3: Pay
TransferWise only accept payment by POLi pay, bank transfer and debit card. TransferWise also accept credit card for smaller transfers.
If you would like a more in-depth guide on how it works,
click on these guides:
Supported Currencies
There are a number of currencies that TransferWise support. They also have provisions for you to suggest additional currencies on their website. The currencies that they currently support are:
GBP, EUR, USD, AUD, BRL, BGN, CAD, HRK, CZK, DKK, HKD, HUF, JPY, NZD, NOK, PLN, RON, SGD, SEK, CHF, BDT, CLP, CNY, COP, GEL, IDR, INR, ILS, MYR, MXN, MAD, PKR, PEN, PHP, RUB, ZAR, KRW, LKR, THB, TRY, AED, UAH, VND.
The TransferWise Borderless Account
The TransferWise Borderless Account is a multi-currency account with a twist. As well as being able to hold many different currencies, it also lets you have local bank details in the US, UK, Eurozone and Australia. So you can make and receive payments in those countries as if you had a bank account there.
To read our full review of the Borderless Account, click here.
On top of this, there is also a Debit Card that is slowly being introduced. It has officially been released for UK and European customers so we hope to see it in Australia soon. To read more about the debit card, click here.
The TransferWise Debit Card:
In 2018 the TransferWise Debit Card launched for UK and European customers. This card allows you to spend your Borderless Account balance in the relevant countries while reducing the fees associated with spending money internationally. This makes it perfect for frequent travellers or for international businesses, this is a very unique product. Read more about the TransferWise Debit Card here.
Does TransferWise have an App?
When you have an account with TransferWise, you can make transfers through their website, or through their iOS and Android apps.
Like their website, TransferWise's app is very easy to use. There are updates constantly made to ensure it's working at its best. Having the app makes transferring money on the go much easier.
The TransferWise app is available to both Apple and Android users.
Is TransferWise Safe?
It's very important to consider safety when it comes to making international money transfers. You want to know that your data is protected and that your money will be safe throughout the entire process. TransferWise have an Australian Financial Services License and are regulated by the Australian Securities and Investment Commission. These are very stringent guidelines that TransferWise must follow in order to send your money.
They also take measures to protect the sensitive data you provide them like your personal details and identification. The company encrypt any information you give them and have a strict customer agreement. You can email TransferWise to find out more.
TransferWise Exchange Rates
Earlier we stated that TransferWise cannot be beaten on the exchange rate they offer. And this is true! TransferWise offer the interbank, or 'real' exchange rate. This means the rate that you see on google or XE is the rate you receive for the transfer.
TransferWise do have an exchange rate calculator on their site, which accurately estimates the cost of your transfer.
To compare the cost of TransferWise with other banks and money transfer providers, you can use our comparison table here.
TransferWise Business Products
TransferWise can provide business support for your international transfers.
When you initially set up your account, you will be asked if you need it for business or personal reasons. This gives you the flexibility to set up your account in the way that best suits you.
Some business customers, use TransferWise's Borderless Account. This allows you to receive and make payments in the UK, Europe, Australia and USA like you have local bank details there.