Paysend vs Ria Money Transfer
Which provider is better for sending money from the USA to India? Compare fees, exchange rate margins, delivery speed and what your recipient actually receives.
The bottom line: sending $1,000 from the USA, Ria Money Transfer delivers ₹94,852 and Paysend ₹94,480, so your recipient gets ₹372 more with Ria Money Transfer. Paysend charges a $4.72 fee with a margin of about 0.27% in its rate, paid by debit card; Ria Money Transfer charges a $0.99 fee with a margin of about 0.35% in its rate, paid by ACH bank debit.
Quick verdict
Choose Paysend if you want…
- Low all-in cost on direct card and UPI transfers
- Fee of about 0.47% from the US, shown upfront and deducted from the send amount
- Direct transfer to Indian RuPay/Visa/Mastercard debit cards
- Exchange rates include a small currency margin (about 0.27% from the US)
Choose Ria Money Transfer if you want…
- Cash collection & promotional intro exchange rates
- Thousands of cash pickup locations across India through post offices and agents
- Direct deposit to Indian bank accounts via IMPS and UPI
- Standard rates include an exchange rate margin (about 0.35% online from the US), with higher costs at agent locations
What your recipient gets at each amount
Indicative net rupee payouts for USD → INR transfers, based on published fee schedules and benchmark snapshots.
Score breakdown, side by side
Each provider's TransferGauge Score across the seven weighted dimensions. How we score
Side-by-side details
| Metric | PS Paysend | RIA Ria Money Transfer |
|---|---|---|
| Exchange rate model | Retail rate, +0.27% margin | Retail rate, +0.35% margin |
| Transfer fees | Paysend charges a fee of about 0.47% of the amount sent from the US ($4.72 on $1,000), deducted before conversion, plus a small exchange rate margin (about 0.27%). | Online transfers from the US cost $0.99 paid from a bank account or $7.99 by debit card, and first transfers are often free. Exchange rates include a margin that varies by payment speed and delivery channel. |
| Typical delivery | UPI and card-to-card transfers typically arrive in under 15 minutes. Bank deposits deliver in 1 business day. | Cash pickup and debit card transfers arrive within 15 minutes. Bank transfers clear in 2 to 3 business days. |
| Receiving methods | Bank accountUPICash pickup (not supported) | Bank accountUPICash pickup |
| Routes to India | 1 corridor | 1 corridor |
| Headquarters | London, United KingdomFounded 2017 | Buena Park, CA, USAFounded 1987 |
| Full review | Read Paysend review | Read Ria Money Transfer review |
Summary advice
Both providers earn the same TransferGauge Score (94) on our standard benchmark. The better choice still depends on your amount, how your recipient wants to be paid, and how quickly the money needs to arrive.
All figures are indicative benchmarks. Always verify live rates, fees and delivery options on the provider's website before sending money.
Compare every provider for your amount
See Paysend, Ria Money Transfer and the rest ranked side by side.