Wise vs Xe
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, Wise delivers ₹94,569 and Xe ₹94,221, so your recipient gets ₹348 more with Wise. Wise charges a $6.85 fee and converts at the mid-market rate, paid by ACH bank debit; Xe charges no fee with a margin of about 1.05% in its rate, paid by ACH bank debit.
Quick verdict
Choose Wise if you want…
- Fee transparency & mid-market exchange rates
- Mid-market exchange rate without hidden currency markup
- Upfront fee breakdown showing exact percentage and fixed costs
- Does not support physical cash pickup counters in India
Choose Xe if you want…
- Bank-to-bank transfers & exchange rate tracking tools
- Zero upfront wire fees on transfers above $500
- Deep integration with reputable currency analysis and rate tracking charts
- Exchange rate margin is built into the retail rate (typically 0.8% to 1.5%)
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 | W Wise | XE Xe |
|---|---|---|
| Exchange rate model | Mid-market rate, no margin | Retail rate, +1.05% margin |
| Transfer fees | Wise charges a transparent upfront fee: a small fixed charge plus a percentage that depends on how you pay (about $0.98 + 0.59% for US ACH payments, and roughly 0.33% to 0.9% plus a small fixed charge from the UK, Canada, Australia, Singapore and the UAE). Unlike most retail providers, Wise does not add an exchange rate markup. | Xe charges $0 transfer fees on most bank-funded corridors. Transfer costs are covered through a spread of 0.8% to 1.5% between wholesale rates and customer rates. |
| Typical delivery | Bank-funded transfers (ACH/local wire) typically deliver in 1 to 2 business days. Transfers using UPI receiving options or debit card payments typically credit the Indian account within 1 to 2 hours. | UPI transfers settle within 1 to 2 hours. Standard bank wire clearing delivers in 1 to 2 business days. |
| Receiving methods | Bank accountUPICash pickup (not supported) | Bank accountUPICash pickup (not supported) |
| Routes to India | 6 corridors | 6 corridors |
| Headquarters | London, United KingdomFounded 2011 | Newmarket, ON, CanadaFounded 1993 |
| Full review | Read Wise review | Read Xe review |
Summary advice
On our $1,000 USD → INR benchmark, Wise earns the higher TransferGauge Score (96 vs 88). 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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