Bank account
Bank-funded transfers are available on supported corridors and can be cheaper than card-funded Express transfers.
Independent review · Updated 18 Jul 2026
Remitly review
Remitly is a heavily regulated, publicly listed service that wins most often on promotional first-transfer rates and broad payout coverage.
#2 in our 2026 provider ranking
- First-time senders chasing a welcome rate
- People who value regulation and scale
- Broad global payout coverage
Founded2011Company history
HeadquartersSeattleSeattle, United States
StatusRegulatedNASDAQ: RELY
Typical fee€0–€3.99Varies by route
Scoring Remitly
Remitly review: how it scores category by category
Each category is scored from our route checks — the same routes and amounts we use for every provider, so scores compare like for like.
Overall9.1 / 10
Remitly is a heavily regulated, publicly listed service that wins most often on promotional first-transfer rates and broad payout coverage.
Exchange rates8.4
A markup on the mid-market rate; the welcome rate is far sharper.
Fees8.6
€0–€3.99 by route and speed, often waived on a first transfer.
Speed9.0
Express lands in minutes; Economy takes days but costs less.
Coverage9.6
170+ countries with bank, wallet, cash pickup and home delivery.
Safety9.7
Licensed in 50+ jurisdictions and listed on NASDAQ.
The quick verdict
Remitly pros and cons
Pros
- Regulated in 50+ jurisdictions; NASDAQ-listed (RELY)
- Strong first-transfer promotional rates
- Wide payout coverage and multiple delivery methods
- Clear total cost shown before you send
Cons
- Standard repeat rates are less competitive than the promo
- Exchange-rate markup added on top of mid-market
- Some reports of delays and extra document requests
- Customer-service quality is inconsistent in reviews
Using Remitly
How to send money with Remitly: step by step
This is the normal consumer-transfer flow. A country, payment method or compliance check can add an extra step.
- 01
Create a Remitly profile
Join in the app or on Remitly’s website using an email address and password.
- 02
Choose the destination and amount
Enter how much you want to send and review the amount Remitly says the recipient will get.
- 03
Select a delivery method
Choose bank deposit, mobile wallet, cash pickup or another available option for the corridor.
- 04
Enter the recipient’s details
The information required changes with the payout method; names should match the recipient’s ID.
- 05
Complete your profile and payment
Add your legal details and choose an available bank, card or local payment method.
- 06
Review and send
Check the rate, fee, speed and recipient details, confirm the transfer and remain on the processing screen until confirmation.
Account and verification
What documents do you need for Remitly?
Remitly works through both its app and website. Creating a profile starts with an email and password; sending requires legal identity, contact and payment information, and Remitly can request further documents.
Requirements vary.
Verification requirements and transfer limits increase or change by sending country, amount and account history. Remitly shows any additional request during the transfer.
Have these ready
- Your full legal name, phone number, residential address and date of birth
- A valid government-issued passport, driving licence or supported identity card when requested
- A selfie or video check if needed to match you to your document
- Proof of address or source of funds for additional verification
- Recipient name and contact details plus bank, wallet or pickup information
Funding and payout
Remitly payment methods and delivery options
How you pay can change the fee or speed. How the recipient gets paid changes the details you need to supply.
How you can paySender side
Debit or credit card
Card availability and any issuer charge depend on the sending country; the card name must match your Remitly profile.
Local payment options
Other methods can appear by market. Only the payment choices shown in your live quote are available for that transfer.
Changing the payment method can change the fee and speed, so compare the final recipient amount again before confirming.
How they can receiveRecipient side
Bank deposit
Funds are paid into the recipient’s bank account using the account details supplied.
Mobile wallet or mobile money
Money goes directly to an eligible wallet, depending on the destination.
Cash pickup
The recipient collects from a partner location with the reference number and accepted government ID.
Home or card delivery
Home delivery and debit-card deposit are available only in selected countries.
The recipient does not need a Remitly account. Bank and wallet deposits arrive directly; cash pickup requires a reference number and an accepted ID with a matching name.
Availability
What countries and currencies does Remitly support?
Remitly operates in a broad set of sending markets and advertises delivery to more than 170 countries. The exact corridor, payout method and limits depend on where the sender lives.
Bank and wallet corridors
Broad coverage across Africa, Asia, Latin America, Europe and other regions, with the partner shown before you send.
Cash-pickup corridors
Thousands of partner locations are available in selected countries; the app identifies the actual pickup network.
Route-specific delivery
Mobile money, home delivery and debit-card deposit are not universal and must be checked for the recipient’s location.
Check the live route, not just the country list.
“170+ countries” describes Remitly’s network, not universal access to every payout method. Search your exact sending and receiving countries for the useful answer.
Browse the routes we compare →After you send
How to track or cancel a Remitly transfer
Transfers can move quickly. If recipient details are wrong, act immediately rather than waiting for the estimated delivery time.
Where is the transfer?
Remitly sends a confirmation receipt and status updates. You can open the transfer in the app or website to follow its progress, and the recipient can receive SMS updates.
Can you stop it?
A transfer can normally be cancelled before it is completed from transfer history or by contacting support. Once the money has been delivered or collected, cancellation and refund are generally no longer available.
What do they need?
The recipient does not need a Remitly account. Bank and wallet deposits arrive directly; cash pickup requires a reference number and an accepted ID with a matching name.
FeesRemitly fees: what does it really charge?
Remitly charges a visible per-transfer fee that ranged from €0 to €3.99 in our checks — about €0.92 on average, and roughly €1.80 on a €1,000 send. Economy bank-funded transfers are often free, Express card-funded transfers usually cost the most, and the fee is frequently waived on a first transfer. On top of the fee, Remitly adds an exchange-rate markup that averaged about 1.6% on regular transfers.
The bottom line€0–€3.99 by route and speed, often waived on a first transfer.
Remitly- Priced per route and speed
- Express usually costs more than Economy
- Often waived on a first transfer
RatesRemitly exchange rates today, route by route
Remitly takes the mid-market rate and adds a markup. Its first-transfer promotional rate is often excellent, but the standard rate afterwards is usually less competitive—use Standard mode in our comparison to see the repeat-customer picture. The table below shows Remitly’s standard rate on the routes we check most, what actually arrives per 100 sent, and how that compares with the best standard rate we found — it held the top standard rate on 0 of 6 routes at the last check.
The bottom lineA markup on the mid-market rate; the welcome rate is far sharper.
Remitly’s standard ratesRateArrives per 100 sentvs best we track
Ireland → Nigeria€1 = ₦1,813.16₦177,708arrives per €100-2.4% vs best
United Kingdom → Nigeria£1 = ₦2,139.94₦209,736arrives per £100-2.4% vs best
United States → Nigeria$1 = ₦1,667.64₦163,446arrives per $100-2.4% vs best
United States → India$1 = ₹88.79₹8,702arrives per $100-2.4% vs best
United Kingdom → Ghana£1 = ₵15.29₵1,499arrives per £100-2.4% vs best
United Kingdom → Kenya£1 = KSh173.2KSh16,975arrives per £100-2.4% vs bestStandard rates, excluding welcome offers — the price you keep getting after the first transfer. Tap a route for the full live comparison.
SpeedHow fast is a Remitly transfer?
Express transfers can arrive in minutes; Economy transfers are cheaper but slower, often 3–5 days. Limits vary by country, verification and payment method, and can be raised after verification.
The bottom lineExpress lands in minutes; Economy takes days but costs less.
Remitly- Express: typically minutes
- Economy: cheaper, but 3–5 days
SafetyIs Remitly safe and legit?
Remitly is one of the most heavily regulated services we cover: licensed as a money transmitter in all 50 US states, FCA-authorised in the UK, and publicly traded on NASDAQ under RELY since 2011 with no major security incident. It encrypts sensitive data and monitors accounts for unusual activity.
The bottom lineLicensed in 50+ jurisdictions and listed on NASDAQ.
Remitly- Licensed in all 50 US states
- FCA-authorised in the UK
- Public company (RELY) with audited accounts
Customer reviews
Remitly customer reviews and ratings
We checked Remitly ratings on Trustpilot and compared the most repeated positive and negative themes.
Sources checkedRatings and review counts can change.
Rating snapshot
These are public platform ratings—not scores awarded by BestSendRate.
Our read of the reviews
What stands out: Remitly customers most often mention express transfers arrive in minutes. The recurring issue worth checking before you send is some transfers delayed by extra document requests.
What customers like about Remitly
- Express transfers arrive in minutes
- Total cost shown clearly before you pay
- Strong first-transfer promotional rates
Common Remitly complaints
- Some transfers delayed by extra document requests
- A minority report transfers not arriving on time
- Customer-service quality is inconsistent
How to read this: Customer ratings describe people’s experiences. Our 9.1/10 editorial score comes from route, rate, fee, speed, coverage and safety checks—and is independent of these platforms.
See how we review providers →Evidence and limitations
How we researched this Remitly review
Editorial fact-checkRecheck provider quotes before sending.
Rate and fee quotes
We compare 6 common routes using the same amounts and separate standard pricing from first-transfer offers.
Provider documentation
Account, payment, delivery and cancellation claims were cross-checked against Remitly’s official help material.
Customer experience
We reviewed repeated positive and negative themes and keep Trustpilot ratings separate from our score.
Identifiable transfer receipt
We have not presented a personal transfer receipt or screen recording as evidence. Quote checks are not the same as completing a paid transfer.
Primary sources used
Provider help pages change. These links let you check the current rule directly.
BestSendRate may earn a commission when you use a provider link. That does not change our score, ranking or the amount shown. Read our affiliate disclosure.
Not convinced?
The best Remitly alternatives in 2026
Scored from the same live route checks as Remitly itself — so the numbers compare like for like.
LemFiBest for African routes
9.3/10Choose it over Remitly whenYou send regularly — LemFi’s standard rate beat Remitly in 57% of our regular-rate checks, with a €0 fee on every one.
Won our checks31%Typical feeOften €0Coverage18 routes
Taptap SendBest for mobile bonuses
8.8/10Choose it over Remitly whenYou want simple fee-free app transfers after Remitly’s welcome rate is gone, and your route is one Taptap Send serves well.
Won our checks18%Typical feeOften €0Coverage16 routes
VSLemFi vs Remitly: the full head-to-headCompare account access, fees, payment and payout methods, limits, support and current evidence status.Read the comparison ↗
Common questions
Remitly review FAQ
Is Remitly safe and legit?
Remitly is one of the most heavily regulated services we cover: licensed as a money transmitter in all 50 US states, FCA-authorised in the UK, and publicly traded on NASDAQ under RELY since 2011 with no major security incident. It encrypts sensitive data and monitors accounts for unusual activity.
How much does Remitly charge?
Remitly charges a visible per-transfer fee that ranged from €0 to €3.99 in our checks — about €0.92 on average, and roughly €1.80 on a €1,000 send. Economy bank-funded transfers are often free, Express card-funded transfers usually cost the most, and the fee is frequently waived on a first transfer. On top of the fee, Remitly adds an exchange-rate markup that averaged about 1.6% on regular transfers.
How long does a Remitly transfer take?
Express transfers can arrive in minutes; Economy transfers are cheaper but slower, often 3–5 days.
What documents do I need for Remitly?
Remitly works through both its app and website. Creating a profile starts with an email and password; sending requires legal identity, contact and payment information, and Remitly can request further documents. You will normally need your full legal name, phone number, residential address and date of birth, a valid government-issued passport, driving licence or supported identity card when requested, a selfie or video check if needed to match you to your document, proof of address or source of funds for additional verification.
How can a recipient receive money from Remitly?
Bank deposit, Mobile wallet or mobile money, Cash pickup, Home or card delivery may be available, depending on the receiving country. The recipient does not need a Remitly account. Bank and wallet deposits arrive directly; cash pickup requires a reference number and an accepted ID with a matching name.
Can I cancel a Remitly transfer?
A transfer can normally be cancelled before it is completed from transfer history or by contacting support. Once the money has been delivered or collected, cancellation and refund are generally no longer available.
What are the best Remitly alternatives?
LemFi and Taptap Send are the closest alternatives we review, and the winner changes by route and amount. Compare the live amount arriving for your exact transfer before choosing.
Is Remitly the best option for my transfer?
Not always—the best service changes with your route and amount. Compare Remitly against every other provider for your exact transfer in our live comparison.
Numbers beat adverts
See if Remitly wins your transfer.
A great provider on one route can lose on another. Compare your exact amount before you send.
Compare rates ↗