Top 5 best Venmo alternatives for sending money abroad
Venmo is a popular option for sending USD payments within the US, from one bank account or card to another. However, it’s not a service which offers international payments, and can’t be used by people who aren’t US residents. That means that if you need to send a payment in New Zealand, you’ll need to choose Venmo alternatives.
In this article, we will show you 5 of the best Venmo alternatives for New Zealand, how they compare and why they might be better than Venmo.
In our comparison we discovered that:
- Wise – Great for sending money with the mid-market rate, to 140+ countries globally
- OFX – Low or no transfer fees with 170+ countries covered and 24/7 phone services
- TorFX – Good of customers looking for transfers in 40+ currencies with personal account management
- Remitly – Great range of pay out options including fast ways to get money to people without access to a bank account
- Xe Money Transfer – Global scope with a variety of fast digital payment options
Why you should consider a Venmo alternative
Venmo offers fast social payments for account holders in the US, but it’s not available for customers based in New Zealand. If you’re a US resident traveling abroad, you’ll also be unable to use your Venmo account for payments until you get back home.
| Pros of Venmo | Cons of Venmo |
|---|---|
| ✅ Great range of services for US customers including transfers and cards
✅ No fee for eligible customers to send USD payments from their bank ✅ No monthly fees |
❌ Not available in New Zealand
❌ Doesn’t support international transfers ❌ Not available for US customers who are traveling overseas |
Alternatives to Venmo comparison
Venmo isn’t available outside of the US. Even if you’re a US resident and travel abroad, your access to the service will end until you return.
Instead, check out these 5 international money transfer providers that compare to Venmo. To compare, we’ve taken into account their speed, transparency, ease of use and price when transferring money abroad.
| Provider | Exchange rate | Speed | Convenience |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wise | Mid-market rate | 60%+ of transfers are instant, 80%+ are delivered in less than 1h* |
|
| OFX | Rate may contain a variable markup | 1 – 2 days |
|
| TorFX | Rate may contain a variable markup | Same day – 48 hours |
|
| Remitly | Rate may contain a variable markup | Variable delivery times based on payment type |
|
| Xe Money Transfer | Rate may contain a variable markup | 90% arrive in minutes |
|
*Details correct at time of research – 14th May 2025
*The speed of transaction claims depends on individual circumstances and may not be available for all transactions
To sum up:
Wise is a good alternative to Venmo because you’ll get mid-market exchange rates and super fast delivery times
OFX is a good alternative to Venmo because you can talk over your transfer 24/7 with an agent
TorFX is a good alternative to Venmo because there are account management options and a personal service
Remitly is a good alternative to Venmo because you can send money to bank and mobile money accounts and for cash collection
Xe Money Transfer is a good alternative to Venmo because there are ways to make a digital payment to hundreds of countries with low, variable fees
1. Wise
If you want your payment to be deposited to a bank account, and you’re sending it to someone overseas, Wise is a Venmo alternative you should consider.
Wise offers cheap, fast international payments and multi-currency accounts for business and personal customers, to hold and exchange 40+ currencies in one place. Wise transfers are fast, and can be deposited into bank accounts in 140+ countries.
Currency exchange uses the mid-market rate with no hidden fees. Set up a transfer online or in the Wise app, in just a few minutes.
Best Wise features
- Open a Wise multi-currency account to hold and exchange 40+ currencies in the app, and order a debit card for spending and withdrawals
- Get the mid-market exchange rate when you convert, send and spend foreign currencies
- International payments arrive quickly in bank accounts – and can even be instant
| Wise pros | Wise cons |
|---|---|
| ✅ Available for customers in New Zealand and many other countries and regions
✅ Mid-market exchange rate used for currency conversion ✅Send money to 140+ countries, direct to bank accounts ✅ Transparent fees you can see and compare before you make a payment |
❌ Fees vary based on payment method and destination
❌ No cash collection options |
Why you should use Wise over Venmo
Wise is a good Venmo alternative if you want to send a payment abroad from your phone or laptop. Wise offers currency exchange which uses the mid-market exchange rate and low, transparent fees, with transfers to 140+ countries. Plus Wise also offers the option to hold and exchange 40+ currencies in their Wise Account – worth considering if you travel often or love to shop with a range of international ecommerce stores.
2. OFX
If you need to send a high value transfer to a bank account abroad, it’s worth looking at OFX as a Venmo alternative.
OFX offers international transfers to personal and business customers in New Zealand and many other countries. It’s particularly handy for higher value transfers as there’s no transfer fee over 10,000 NZD, and you’ll have the reassurance of being able to talk through your transaction with a broker on the phone if you want to.
Best OFX features
- 24/7 phone service
- Other currency services including risk management products
- Personal and business products available
| OFX pros | OFX cons |
|---|---|
| ✅ Send to over 170 countries
✅ No transfer fee when sending higher value payments ✅ Most payments arrive in 24 hours ✅ 24/7 broker service by phone |
❌ Exchange rates include a markup
❌12 NZD fee if you send a payment worth under 10,000 NZD
|
Why you should use OFX over Venmo
OFX could be a good Venmo alternative if you need very high value payments or more complex currency risk management tools. Because OFX has a 24/7 phone service you’ll also be able to talk through your needs with a support agent, which can be reassuring.
3. TorFX
If you’re looking for a site like Venmo which lets you send money, but which has phone service options and offers high value transfers, TorFX might be a good bet for you.
TorFX holds the highest possible credit rating and is a big hit with customers. It’s a frequent recipient of customer service awards and offers a personal broker service which lets you talk through your transaction needs by phone when you need to. As well as international transfers, TorFX has other currency risk management products for personal and business clients.
Best TorFX features
- Send money by phone, online or in app
- Access currency services including forward contracts and market orders.
- There are no transfer fees when you send a payment
| TorFX pros | TorFX cons |
|---|---|
| ✅ Send in 40 currencies
✅ No transfer fee ✅ Personal broker service to discuss your needs ✅ Fast payments |
❌ Exchange rates include a markup
❌ You’ll need to register an account to see the rates offered and compare the cost of your transfer |
Why you should use TorFX over Venmo
TorFX may be the best Venmo alternative for you if you’re making high value transfers and don’t want to pay a separate transfer fee for the payment. TorFX is also celebrated for its personal service – ideal if you’re looking for in person advice.
4. Remitly
Remitly offers international payments globally which are arranged online or in the Remitly app. You can make a Remitly payment from New Zealand to 170+ countries. You can also choose the best delivery method for you, including deposit to a bank account, or mobile wallet, or cash pickup, depending on your recipient’s location.
Best Remitly features
- Excellent range of payout options
- Many payments arrive very quickly, especially when you pay with a card
- Variable services depending on the country you send to
| Remitly pros | Remitly cons |
|---|---|
| ✅ Send to170+ countries
✅ Good range of payout options ✅ Trusted and popular service with good customer support ✅ Online and in-app service for convenience |
❌ Exchange rates may include a markup, and there’s usually a transfer fee to pay
❌ Relatively low transfer limits |
Why you should use Remitly over Venmo
Remitly may be a good Venmo alternative if you’re sending a personal payment and want the money to be collected in cash locally, or even sent out for home delivery in some destinations. Remitly can also deposit to bank and mobile money accounts in many currencies.
5. Xe Money Transfer
Xe Money Transfer could be a good Venmo alternative if you want to get a broad range of currency services from one provider, which is also backed by being part of one of the largest money transfer groups globally.
Xe Money Transfer offers payments to 200+ countries from New Zealand, and has services covering spot transfers, regular payments, market orders, and forward contracts. This provides a comprehensive suite of options, whether you’re looking to send a one time payment or manage currency risk more carefully for yourself or your business.
Best Xe Money Transfer features
- Send to a huge range of countries and currencies
- Payments are usually extremely fast to arrive in the recipient account
- Currency risk management services are also available
| Xe Money Transfer pros | Xe Money Transfer cons |
|---|---|
| ✅ Send to 200 countries around the world
✅ Large and reliable provider ✅ Get risk management products to manage currencies ✅ Easy to use service you can manage entirely online or in app |
❌ Exchange rates include a markup
❌ No cash pay in option |
Why you should use Xe Money Transfer over Venmo
Xe Money Transfer is another strong Venmo alternative for people sending international digital payments, with a huge range of recipient countries available.
Are the alternatives safe?
Yes. All of these providers are safe to use with normal common sense precautions. Keep your account information secret, only pay people you know and trust, and double check all payment details before you confirm to ensure everything goes smoothly.
Venmo alternatives conclusion
Venmo is not available in New Zealand – or for US users traveling overseas. However, different sites similar to Venmo can help. Which is right for you may depend on the specific service you need.
We’ve looked at options like Wise which can be a great fit if you want to send money to a bank account overseas, with the mid-market exchange rate – or if you want to hold and exchange a foreign currency balance. Or if you’re looking for alternatives to Venmo because you prefer to transact by phone, you may like OFX or TorFX. If you’re thinking of sending a payment to someone in cash, it’s also worth comparing the costs of your transfer with Remitly to see if one of these is the right alternative for you. And finally, Xe Money Transfer may suit you for payments made online and in app to 200+ countries.
Use this guide to pick out the right Venmo alternative for you, based on the specific transaction type you need to make.
Alternatives to Venmo FAQs
Is there a better alternative to Venmo?
There’s no single best company to transfer money with. Comparing a few is the best way to get a good deal. Use our top picks as a starting point to find the best one for you.
Is there a faster alternative to Venmo?
All providers have their own delivery times, which can be instant, or may take a few days. The factors which influence delivery times include the destination, currency and value of your payment. You’ll usually see an estimate when you transfer, to know what to expect.
Is there a cheaper alternative to Venmo?
Sending money internationally with a specialist online or digital service is often cheaper than using a bank. However, different services have their own rates and fees – so to find the cheapest way to send money internationally in your specific case, you’ll want to compare a few options based on both the transfer fees and the exchange rate markups applied.
Is there a safer alternative to Venmo?
All of the providers we’ve mentioned above – including Venmo – have various measures to ensure safety of customer funds. Here are a few of the ways they keep your money safe.
Wise – check transactions in the app, get instant chat help if you ever need it, and freeze your card in a few taps if required
OFX – 24/7 phone service if you ever have a question, with thorough verification steps before opening an account
TorFX – 24/7 phone service if you ever have a question, secure log in and anti-fraud measures
Remitly – get help in a broad range of languages if you need it, 2 factor authentication on log in and instant notifications of transfer progress in the app
Xe Money Transfer – instant customer support, automatic and manual anti fraud measures and strong security features
