These two are the closest of rivals. Both are digital providers built for sending money to family abroad, both charge a flat fee of about $3.99, and both pay out in cash, to a bank account, or to a mobile wallet. The difference between them is small.
On a $1,000 dollar-to-euro transfer, WorldRemit costs about $18.93 with a markup of roughly 1.5%, while Remitly costs about $22.91 with a markup of about 1.9%. On this route, WorldRemit edges it. But both move their pricing by route, so the winner on your route may differ. The figures below use the current mid-market reference; Wise may use an account-holder API estimate, while other providers use stored published fee and markup models rather than live quotes.
- A very close call. Both charge a fee of about $3.99 and add a markup; on this route WorldRemit's 1.5% beats Remitly's 1.9%.
- The winner depends on the route. Both price each route on its own, so the cheaper one for dollars-to-euros is not always the cheaper one for your send.
- Remitly's Express option arrives in minutes; both offer faster and slower tiers at different prices.
- Both beat a bank by a wide margin, and both run promotional rates for new customers.
How Remitly charges
Remitly prices each route on its own. On top of a flat fee of about $3.99, it bakes a markup of roughly 1.9% into the exchange rate on a route like this one. You also choose a speed: Express (card-funded, minutes) costs more; Economy (bank-funded, one to three days) costs less.
Remitly pays out in cash at local agents, into bank accounts, and to mobile wallets, depending on the route. It often runs a promotional rate for new customers, which can make a first transfer cheaper than the modelled figure suggests.
How WorldRemit charges
WorldRemit is built the same way: a flat fee of about $3.99 plus a markup in the exchange rate, roughly 1.5% on a route like this one. That is a touch lower than Remitly's, which is why WorldRemit edges ahead here.
WorldRemit also pays out in cash, to bank accounts, and to mobile wallets, and its fee and markup vary by route and delivery method, just like Remitly's. The two are near-mirror images, separated by small differences in markup and coverage.
Head to head, by amount
On this route the order holds as the amount grows, because the gap is in the percentage markup. Here is the same dollar-to-euro transfer at three sizes.
$1,000
WorldRemit's 1.5% markup puts it just ahead of Remitly's 1.9%, with both adding the same flat fee. The gap is small but real.
$5,000
At $5,000 the flat fee barely matters; the markup decides it. WorldRemit's lower percentage keeps it ahead, and the dollar gap is now worth noticing.
$10,000
On a large send the percentage is the whole story. WorldRemit's 1.5% versus Remitly's 1.9% is a difference of a few tens of dollars at this size.
The pattern at a glance
The bars at $10,000 show two providers sitting close together, both far below a bank. The next chart splits that transfer into the visible fee (gold) and the hidden rate cost (red); for both, the bar is mostly red.
The savings in context
Across the displayed estimates, choosing Interactive Brokers over MoneyGram leaves an extra €326.11 (3.93%) in the recipient's account.
Same 10,000 USD and the same market rate before fees. Provider availability, how you pay and the final price can change the result.
Who should pick what
Pick WorldRemit if the modelled table shows it cheaper on your route, which its slightly lower markup often does on routes like this one. It pays out in cash, to bank accounts, and to mobile wallets, and it is a strong default for family remittances.
Pick Remitly if it is cheaper on your route, you want the Express option for an urgent send, or a new-customer promotional rate makes your first transfer the better deal. Its speed tiers and coverage make it a close match for WorldRemit on most routes.
Pick a deposit specialist if the money is going into a bank account and cost is all that matters. A provider like Wise is usually cheaper than either for a plain deposit, because it charges a small visible fee at the mid-market rate rather than a markup. See Wise vs Remitly.
The bottom line
Remitly and WorldRemit are near-mirror images: the same flat fee, a markup hidden in the rate, and cash, bank, and wallet payouts on the routes families use. On this route WorldRemit's lower markup of about 1.5% beats Remitly's 1.9%, but the gap is small, and your route and any promotional rate can flip it.
So treat this as a two-horse race and let the current estimates pick the winner. Run the table at your exact currencies and amount, and choose whichever gets more to your family. Either one beats a bank, which would take 3% or more on the same transfer. Our markup versus fee guide shows how to see the cost that hides in the rate.
Frequently asked questions
Is Remitly or WorldRemit cheaper?
It depends on the route. Both charge a flat fee of about $3.99 and add a markup that varies by route. On dollars-to-euros, WorldRemit's markup of about 1.5% is a touch lower than Remitly's 1.9%, but on your route the cheaper one may be different. Check a modelled comparison at your exact send.
What is the difference between Remitly and WorldRemit?
Very little. Both are digital providers focused on sending money to family abroad, both charge a similar flat fee plus a markup, and both pay out in cash, to bank accounts, and to mobile wallets. The differences come down to small variations in markup, coverage by route, and speed options.
Do both offer cash pickup?
Yes. Remitly and WorldRemit both let your recipient collect cash at local agents on many routes, as well as receiving a bank deposit or a mobile-wallet top-up. Availability depends on the country you are sending to.
Are these numbers exact?
The table uses the current mid-market reference and, where available, a Wise account-holder API estimate. Other providers use stored published fee and markup models, not live quotes, so the results are modelled estimates for typical routes. Both providers' fees and markups vary by route and delivery method, and new-customer promos are not reflected. Always confirm the final figure on the provider's own site before you send.
Cost figures are worked out from each provider's published fee structure applied to the current mid-market reference rate, modelled estimates for typical major-currency routes. Remitly's and WorldRemit's pricing vary by route and delivery method; the figures shown are representative. Always confirm the final quote on the provider's own site before you transfer. We may earn a commission from affiliate links at no extra cost to you; this never affects rankings. Nothing here is financial advice.
Sources: Remitly pricing (opens in a new tab), WorldRemit pricing (opens in a new tab), Wise pricing (opens in a new tab). Accessed August 2026.