Wise vs Remitly for India: Which is Better for International Transfer [2025]

Wise and Remitly both support international payments into India, and Wise also allows outgoing transfers from India to a selection of about 50 countries. But which is best? Whether Wise or Remitly is right for you might depend on your specific needs, and where in the world you are. Let’s explore.

Wise Transfer to India

Wise operates in India and many other countries and regions globally. The services you can access - and the fees you pay - can vary depending on where in the world you live. However, Wise stands out for using the mid-market rate for currency conversion, which can mean you pay less overall compared to some providers. And because there are no fees hidden in the exchange rate, it’s super easy to see what your transfers are really costing you.

Sending money from abroad to friends or family in India? Use Wise to send money to India from many countries and regions globally.

If you’re a foreigner or NRI living overseas and sending payments to businesses, friends or family in India, the chances are that you can use Wise. Wise operates in many countries and regions, and lets you send payments to a bank account in India, including NRE and NRO accounts, or to a UPI ID.

Using Wise is simple and secure - and because you can pay in your preferred currency, and have your funds converted to INR for deposit with the mid-market rate, it can be cheap too. There’s no markup added to the rate you see with Wise, just a low, transparent fee which is split out so you can easily spot it, and which depends on the currency being converted.

Transfers to India from abroad typically take 1 - 3 working days to arrive, and you’ll see a delivery estimate before you confirm your payment so you know what to expect. If you’re a private individual sending to another private individual, you can send up to 100 million INR per transfer, depending on how you choose to process the payment. If you’re sending to or from a business you can send up to 1.5 million INR per working day

In India and looking to send money abroad for education, travel, or medical expenses? Use Wise to send money to bank accounts overseas from India.

We’ll cover more on sending money from India to other countries with Wise, later.

Remitly Transfers to India

Remitly is a specialist in digital payments, which are set up online and using smart devices, for delivery to bank accounts, mobile wallets and for cash collection or delivery. Payments can be made from 30+ countries, including the UK, US and many countries in Europe. Generally, supported countries are on popular remittance routes, as Remitly has a focus on helping people send money home to their loved ones while working abroad. Business and commercial payments aren’t usually allowed.

Working overseas and sending money home? You can use Remitly to send money to India from many countries around the world for personal reasons.

Remitly stands out in offering a great range of ways for your recipient to receive their money in India. Depending on your preferences, you can send money for cash pickup at a local agent in India, for bank deposit, and to UPI recipients in India. This gives great flexibility and allows you to get money quickly to someone even if they don’t have easy access to a bank or ATM.

You can set up your payment as the sender with just your phone or laptop, and choose the pay out and delivery method. Delivery times do vary, but you may get an option for an express service which can mean the money is available in minutes. Generally, the exchange rate used by Remitly will include a markup - a fee. Promotional rates are often available for new customers which can represent really good value, and the transfer fees can often vary depending on how you pay. That can mean you’re able to pick a cheaper but slower option, or a faster payment for a slightly higher fee.

Ultimately, the services available to you with Remitly, and the associated prices, do vary depending on where in the world you are. Look at the local Remitly landing site in your country to learn more.

Remitly does not support international transfers from India, so if you need to send a payment overseas from India you need a different solution - like Wise.

Wise vs Remitly: Comparison for Transfer to India

You can send payments to India with either Wise or Remitly. Both allow digital payments so they’re convenient for the sender to set up, but the way payments are received can vary. Plus, the charging structure for Wise vs Remitly looks a bit different - here’s a summary.

*Data correct at time of research - 27th March 2025

Wise vs Remitly: Fees and Pricing for India

For both Wise and Remitly there’s a variable transfer fee which can depend on the amount you send, how you pay, the currency you pay from, and other factors.

Both Wise and Remitly will show you the transfer fees you pay before you confirm your payment. You’ll be able to change your options to pay in and pay out, to get the combination that works best for you. With Remitly you may also be able to choose either an Express or an Economy payment, which can come with varied fees.

Ultimately the fees you pay with Wise vs Remitly vary a lot, but you can easily compare quotes for both providers with no commitment. Just enter the details of your transfer into the provider’s website or app, to get a feel for the transfer fees, and how much your recipient would get in the end.

Wise vs Remitly: Exchange Rates

On exchange rates Wise vs Remitly can work a little differently.

Wise uses the mid-market exchange rate - which is like the one you get with a Google search - with no extra fees added.

Remitly might add fees into the rate you’re quoted, although this can depend on the currencies involved. Remitly also often uses a promotional rate for new customers, which can mean you get an excellent deal for your first one or two payments.

Wise vs Remitly: Sending Money Abroad From India

Remitly does not support international transfers from India. If you need to send a payment abroad, why not use Wise to send money to bank accounts overseas from India, instead.

If you need ways to send money from India to bank accounts in other parts of the world, Wise can help with payments for education, travel, or medical expenses.

Set up your Wise account and pay for your international transfer from your bank in INR, using your phone or laptop. You can send up to 9,900 USD per transfer for education, or 375,000 INR per transfer for other allowable reasons, to the annual limit of 250,000 USD set by the Reserve Bank of India.

Send your payments to a range of around 50 countries, in 20+ major global currencies, with funds deposited in 2 to 4 working days in most cases. Currency conversion uses the mid-market rate, with low variable fees from 1.16%, depending on the country and currency you’re sending to.

Summary: Should you choose Remitly or Wise for India?

Remitly and Wise both offer great services, including secure ways to process digital international payments. Exactly what you can do with both Wise vs Remitly does depend on where you are in the world - and which is best for you may vary based on your location and the specific service you need.

Wise can facilitate payments both to and from India. You can send money to India from most countries around the world, with payments arranged digitally and deposited in Indian bank accounts. Or if you’re in India and need to send a payment abroad, you can send money for education, travel, or medical expenses with Wise, to banks in around 50 countries.

Wise uses the mid-market rate and low, transparent fees for currency conversion, whether you’re sending to or from India.

With Remitly you can not send payments from India to other countries, but you can send money from 30 countries globally, to India, for personal payments. Funds can be transferred digitally and deposited in bank accounts or collected in cash if you prefer. This gives a great way to remit money home, even to someone who can’t get to a bank easily.

Use this Wise vs Remitly review to decide which option is best for your next transfer to or from India.