Remitly vs. Wise: Why Choosing Only One Costs You Money
When comparing Remitly vs. Wise, most reviews miss the most important detail: your pricing changes after your first transfer.
1. On Transfer #1 (Winner: Remitly): Remitly heavily subsidizes your first transfer (up to $1,000) with a promotional exchange rate that often beats the interbank mid-market rate, plus a $0 fee.
2. On Transfer #2 and Beyond (Winner: Wise): Once your Remitly intro rate is used, Remitly applies a 1.2% to 2.0% FX spread. Wise always gives you the true mid-market exchange rate—and gives new users a fee-free first transfer up to $600 USD. Toggle the ✓ Remitly button in the calculator above to see the exact difference live!
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Remitly cheaper than Wise?
Remitly is almost always cheaper than Wise on your very first transfer due to its new-customer promotional rate boost. On repeat transfers, Wise is usually cheaper because it charges zero exchange rate markup.
Can I have both a Remitly and a Wise account?
Yes! Smart expats and remitters use Remitly for their first transfer promo, then use Wise fee-free transfer coupon on their second transfer.