Wise vs Remitly: Which Pays More from the UK?

Wise and Remitly are two of the most popular ways to send money from the UK, and they charge in different ways. Wise usually converts at the mid-market rate and shows its fee separately. Remitly usually charges a small fee or none, and builds its margin into the exchange rate.

Neither approach is automatically cheaper. What matters is how much your recipient receives, and that depends heavily on where you're sending. Plyna collects real quotes from both every day, so here is what the numbers actually show.

Which pays more, Wise or Remitly?

It depends on the country, and the pattern is surprisingly consistent:

If you send to the same country regularly, the row for that country tells you more than any review. The "typical difference" column shows what's at stake each time you send £1,000.

Why does Remitly often pay more, despite Wise using the mid-market rate?

Because Wise's fee is a real cost too. On a £1,000 transfer, Wise's fee is typically several pounds, and on some routes more than £10. Remitly's margin can be smaller than that fee, so even though its rate sits below the mid-market rate, more money arrives.

There's an important caveat. Remitly often offers new customers a better rate on their first transfer, and the quotes we collect can include it. Your second and later transfers may get a lower rate. Wise doesn't usually work that way, so its pricing is more predictable from one transfer to the next.

When is Wise the better choice?

• When the numbers say so. On some routes Wise pays more on most days.
• When you want predictable pricing. You see the mid-market rate and the fee, and it's the same whether it's your first transfer or your fiftieth.
• For larger amounts. Wise's fee is partly a percentage, but at the mid-market rate it often compares well as amounts grow.
• When you want to hold money. Wise offers a multi-currency account, which suits people who receive or spend in other currencies.

When is Remitly the better choice?

• On routes where it leads in the table above, which includes several of the most popular UK routes.
• When your recipient needs cash pickup or a mobile wallet, which Remitly offers in many countries.
• When speed matters. Remitly lets you choose faster delivery, sometimes at a higher price, so compare the option you'll actually use.

How do you compare Wise and Remitly fairly?

1. Use the same amount in both apps, for example £1,000.
2. Use the same delivery method (bank deposit, wallet or cash) and the same way of paying.
3. Check whether Remitly's rate is a first-transfer offer, and what the standard rate would be.
4. Compare the recipient amount, not the rate or the fee on its own.
5. Do it on the day you send, because rates move.

The quick version

Neither wins everywhere, and the winner depends mostly on where you're sending. Find your country in the 30-day table above, then compare today's quotes before you send.