What are popular money transfer services to send money from the United States to India?

When sending money from the United States to India, you have a really solid range of popular and reliable money transfer services to choose from, each with its own strengths depending on what you prioritize, whether that's cost, speed, or convenience for the recipient.

One of the most frequently used services for this corridor is **Wise (formerly TransferWise)**. They're known for their transparent fee structure and for offering very close to the mid-market exchange rate, which means less markup on the currency conversion. Wise is excellent for bank deposits, often arriving within a day, sometimes even on the same day. They've built their reputation on being a cost-effective option for direct bank-to-bank transfers.

Then there's **Remitly**, which is a huge player in the remittance space, particularly strong for transfers to India. Remitly offers various delivery options, including bank deposits, UPI payments (which are incredibly popular in India for instant transfers), and even cash pickup at numerous agent locations. They often have tiered pricing and exchange rates based on how quickly you need the money to arrive, with "Economy" options being cheaper but slower, and "Express" options being faster but potentially with a slightly higher fee or a less favorable rate. Current information suggests they are very competitive on rates to India.

**Xoom, a PayPal service**, is another very popular choice. The big advantage here is the integration with PayPal, making it easy for existing PayPal users. Xoom offers bank deposits, UPI transfers, and cash pickup at a wide network of locations across India. They are generally reliable and fast, though their exchange rates might not always be as competitive as Wise or Remitly, and their fees can sometimes be a bit higher.

For those who prefer traditional, well-established networks, **Western Union and MoneyGram** are still widely used. Their primary strength lies in their extensive global agent networks, which means cash pickup is almost always an option, even in very rural areas of India. For bank deposits, they're generally reliable too. The downside is that their exchange rates often include a significant markup, and their fees can be higher, especially for smaller transfers or cash pickup options. They do offer speed, with cash often available for pickup in minutes.

**WorldRemit** is another strong contender, especially known for its diverse payout options. Like Remitly and Xoom, they support bank deposits, UPI, and cash pickup. They also excel with mobile money options in some regions, though for India, bank deposit and UPI are usually the most common. Their pricing is generally competitive, often falling between the very low-cost providers and the more traditional networks.

Finally, for larger transfers or if you're a business, services like **OFX** or **Xe** might be worth considering. They often offer more personalized service and better rates for substantial amounts, though they typically focus solely on bank-to-bank transfers and might have higher minimum transfer amounts.

When choosing, always compare the total cost, which includes the upfront fee and the exchange rate markup. Even a small difference in the exchange rate can mean a significant amount of rupees for your recipient. And remember to check the delivery times – some services offer instant transfers to UPI, while others might take a day or two for bank deposits. Also, be mindful of any promotional rates or fee waivers that new customers might receive, as these can significantly impact the initial cost.