Western Union review

Western Union is the service to use when your recipient needs cash in hand. It sends online to more than 200 countries and territories and lists 600,000 agent locations, more than any other option here, and you can also send to bank accounts and mobile wallets. You pay with a bank account, debit card or credit card online, or in person at an agent, and every transfer gets an MTCN to track it. New online customers get a 0 USD transfer fee on their first transfer, but the offer excludes Quick Collect, transfers within the United States, credit cards and Google Play. Western Union says plainly that it makes money from FX, so look at the amount received, not just the fee. It also notes that bank to bank transfers take one to five days depending on the destination, and you must be verified before paying by bank transfer. For bank deposits on common routes, Wise and Remitly usually make the cost easier to read.

Who it is for

Senders whose recipients need cash pickup in places other services do not reach.

Price

0 USD transfer fee on your first online transfer, with exclusions; Western Union also earns on FX.

Get a 0 USD transfer fee* on your first online transfer!
Quoted from the vendor pricing page on November 10, 2026.

Key features

• Online sending to 200+ countries and territories
• 600,000 agent locations worldwide
• Send to a bank account, mobile wallet or for cash pickup
• Pay with a bank account, credit card or debit card
• MTCN tracking number and Western Union Rewards

Strengths and weaknesses

• Strength: Largest cash pickup network on this list
• Strength: No fee to bank accounts in certain countries when sending from your own account
• Strength: Send online, in the app or in person
• Weakness: Western Union makes money from FX, so fees are only part of the cost
• Weakness: Bank to bank transfers take one to five days depending on destination
• Weakness: Bank transfer payment requires identity verification first

Key facts

• Countries: 200+ countries and territories
• Agent locations: 600,000
• Bank delivery: One to five days, by destination
• Tracking: MTCN
• Operating since: 1851

Where it ranks

Western Union is No. 6 in our Best Money Transfer Services verdict.