Head-to-head
Wise vs Western Union
Which is cheaper for sending money from the UK? (2026)
£1,000 sent · ranked by what your recipient actually gets
Today's verdict
We don't yet have live data for both Wise and Western Union on the same corridor. Pick a corridor below to see where each is available.
Wise vs Western Union by destination
UK → IndiaSee comparison →UK → NigeriaSee comparison →UK → PhilippinesSee comparison →UK → PakistanSee comparison →UK → KenyaSee comparison →UK → BangladeshSee comparison →UK → GhanaSee comparison →UK → Sri LankaSee comparison →UK → JamaicaSee comparison →UK → NepalSee comparison →
Tap a corridor for the full head-to-head — fees, rate margin and history.
Wise vs Western Union — common questions
- Is Wise or Western Union cheaper for sending money abroad from the UK?
- It depends on the destination and changes daily. Plyna ranks by the recipient amount — the true total cost of the fee and the exchange-rate margin combined — and updates every morning. Pick your corridor below for the live head-to-head.
- What's the difference between Wise and Western Union?
- Both move money from the UK to dozens of countries, but they price differently — one may charge a flat fee with a tight rate, the other a low fee with a wider exchange-rate margin. The only fair comparison is what actually lands in your recipient's account, which is what Plyna measures on a standard £1,000 transfer.
- Which is faster, Wise or Western Union?
- Both typically deliver within minutes to a few hours to most corridors, depending on the destination bank, payment method and time of day. Check each provider's live delivery estimate when you set up your transfer.
Compare every provider, not just two
See Wise, Remitly, WorldRemit, Ria and more side-by-side for your corridor.
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