How long does a Remitly transfer take?

Evidence tier: A1 Evidence type: Auto-discovered official publication Source: Wise Blog Official publication date: 2026-07-16 Captured: 2026-07-18T16:33:14.904Z

Remitly® is a popular choice for transfers to family overseas. However, you’ll need to look into Remitly’s transfer times before initiating your first payment.

So, exactly how much time does Remitly take to transfer money abroad? We take a closer look at everything you need to know, including Economy vs Express transfer times and how Remitly compares to providers like Wise.

Sending money abroad? You can use a Wise account to help out friends or pay back family. Let’s take a look at how all the providers compare.

Learn more about Wise

How much time does Remitly take to transfer money?

Remitly Express transfers should reach your recipient within minutes, whereas Economy transfers may take 1-3 business days.¹

The provider uses a 2-tier delivery system to facilitate easy international money transfers. The right transfer speed for you will depend on how your payment is funded, delivered, and received.

Remitly Express vs Economy: What’s the difference?

Let’s take a closer look at how long it takes to transfer money via Remitly, including Remitly’s Express and Economy transfer times.

Remitly Express transfer time

Express transfers arrive within minutes, so they’re best for fast, urgent payments abroad. However, they’re usually more expensive than Economy transfers. You’ll likely pay increased currency conversion charges and transfer fees.

You’ll need to fund your Express transfer by debit or credit card, which means you may pay some additional costs for your transfer.¹ Remitly charges a 3% fee for credit card payments.²

Remitly Economy transfer time

Remitly Economy transfers typically take 1-3 business days to reach your recipient, so they’re best for non-urgent payments that can wait a few days. You can fund your Economy transfer by bank transfer.³

Economy transfers are more affordable than Express transfers. You can access better exchange rates and lower transfer fees, but your recipient will likely wait longer to receive their money.

Comparison: Remitly speed vs competitors

So, how do Remitly’s transfer times compare to other international money transfer platforms? We take a closer look at Remitly vs Wise, Remitly vs Xoom®, Remitly vs Western Union®, and Remitly vs Paysend®.

<table><tbody><tr><td><strong>Provider</strong></td><td><strong>Transfer speed</strong></td><td><strong>Funding options</strong></td></tr><tr><td>Remitly</td><td>Express: Typically within minutes<p>Economy: 1-3 business days</p></td><td>Express transfers are funded by credit or debit card<p>Economy transfers are funded by bank transfer</p></td></tr><tr><td>Xoom</td><td>You should receive your Xoom transfer within minutes, but some transfers may take longer due to currency availability, time zones, and local holidays, for example⁴</td><td>Xoom offers a range of available payment methods, including bank account, debit or credit card, or other payment methods via your PayPal® account⁵</td></tr><tr><td>Wise</td><td>Wise transfers should arrive with your recipient within seconds, but currency conversion can take up to 2 days*</td><td>Wise offers a huge range of available payment methods, including credit card, debit card, bank account, and mobile wallet payments<p>No extra fee for fast delivery</p></td></tr><tr><td>Western Union</td><td>Cash pickup is available within minutes, but this may depend on the amount you send, where you send it, and other key factors⁶</td><td>You can fund transfers via your bank account, credit, or debit card⁷</td></tr><tr><td>Paysend</td><td>Card and wallet transfers should arrive within up to 30 minutes<p>Bank transfers should reach your recipient within 1 working day</p></td><td>You can fund fast transfers using your debit card, credit card, or a direct wallet payment<p>You can use a bank transfer to fund less urgent payments⁸</p></td></tr></tbody></table>

Transaction speed claimed depends on funds availability, approval by Wise’s proprietary verification system and systems availability of our partners’ banking system, and may not be available for all transactions

Which speed tier should you choose?

So, which Remitly transfer speed is best for you? Whether you choose Express or Economy will depend on the purpose of your payment.

If your family needs urgent funds or you’re making a time-sensitive payment, Remitly’s Express transfer time may be the best choice. If you’re not in a rush, Economy transfers can help you save on additional fees.

Wise provides an alternative for international transfers, delivering many payments to friends, family, and businesses abroad in seconds.

Wise uses the mid-market exchange rate for all global transfers. This is the standard rate for currency conversion, with no added markups or hidden fees.

All customers pay the same fair rate – no tiered transfer times or additional fees for different payment methods. Simply set up your payment and let Wise do the rest!

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Remitly’s transfer times will depend on your chosen payment method and available funds. You’ll pay additional fees for fast debit or credit card payments.

These costs can add up, especially when combined with Remitly’s regular exchange rate fees and transfer charges.

Unlike many international money transfer providers, Wise doesn’t charge extra fees for fast or urgent transfers. You can send and spend your money in 160 countries – all at the ‘fair’ mid-market exchange rate.

Whether you’re sending money to friends by credit card or paying family by bank transfer, Wise supports both funding methods at the same rate structure.

To explore your international transfer options, you can learn more about Wise.

Get a Wise Account in minutes 💰

Sources

1. Remitly - Remittance vs bank transfer

2. Remitly - How do I pay with a card?

3. Instarem - Remitly vs Wise

4. Xoom - Money transfer

5. Xoom - What payment methods can I use with Xoom?

6. Western Union - US home

7. Western Union - Send money internationally

8. Paysend - How long does a Paysend transfer take?

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*Please see terms of use and product availability for your region or visit Wise fees and pricing for the most up to date pricing and fee information.

This publication is provided for general information purposes and does not constitute legal, tax or other professional advice from Wise Payments Limited or its subsidiaries and its affiliates, and it is not intended as a substitute for obtaining advice from a financial advisor or any other professional.

We make no representations, warranties or guarantees, whether expressed or implied, that the content in the publication is accurate, complete or up to date.