Remitly vs MoneyGram
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, Remitly delivers ₹94,936 and MoneyGram ₹93,792, so your recipient gets ₹1,144 more with Remitly. Remitly charges no fee with a margin of about 0.35% in its rate, paid by ACH bank debit; MoneyGram charges no fee with a margin of about 1.55% in its rate, paid by ACH bank debit.
Quick verdict
Choose Remitly if you want…
- Express speed & introductory promotions
- Express mode delivers to Indian bank accounts via UPI in minutes
- Introductory promotional exchange rate on the first qualifying transfer
- Standard exchange rates after introductory promotions include a currency margin of roughly 0.3% to 1.3%, depending on the sending country
Choose MoneyGram if you want…
- Cash collection & widespread local agent counters
- Extensive physical agent distribution across post offices and banks in India
- UPI transfers online, typically settling within 15 to 30 minutes
- Retail cash exchange rate margins are often between 1.5% and 2.5%
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 | R Remitly | MG MoneyGram |
|---|---|---|
| Exchange rate model | Retail rate, +0.35% margin | Retail rate, +1.55% margin |
| Transfer fees | Transfers paid from a bank account carry $0 fees for amounts of $1,000 or more from the US, UK, Canada and Australia. Debit card transfers can carry a fee (SGD 3.99 from Singapore). Revenue comes mainly from an exchange rate margin of roughly 0.3% to 1.3%. | Digital transfers to Indian bank accounts or UPI carry low upfront fees ($0 to $1.99 on bank debit), with revenue primarily generated through an exchange rate margin of 1.2% to 2.2%. |
| Typical delivery | Express delivery with debit card credits Indian bank accounts or UPI IDs within minutes. Economy transfers take 3 to 5 business days. | UPI and debit card transfers typically arrive in 10 to 15 minutes. Bank account ACH transfers take 2 to 4 business days. |
| Receiving methods | Bank accountUPICash pickup | Bank accountUPICash pickup |
| Routes to India | 5 corridors | 2 corridors |
| Headquarters | Seattle, WA, USAFounded 2011 | Dallas, TX, USAFounded 1980 |
| Full review | Read Remitly review | Read MoneyGram review |
Summary advice
On our $1,000 USD → INR benchmark, Remitly earns the higher TransferGauge Score (96 vs 85). 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.
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