More than 2.1 Billion people are now using money transfer apps to send and receive money or make payments throughout the world. Whether you support family overseas, manage international business transactions, or handle personal finances away from home, sending money abroad is part of the journey. Over 9 million Pakistanis live overseas, most of whom send money to Pakistan to improve the country’s economic growth and support households. Previously, transferring money from abroad meant physically visiting a credit union, bank, or financial institution. But now, there’s a simpler solution for everyone: money transfer apps. To find the right tool, you must consider the currencies involved, fees, speed, and other features that align with your precise needs. In this research article, our Tashheer research team compiled a list of several ways to send money to Pakistan. If you want to send money outside Pakistan, consider the convenience of modern money transfer apps. Explore our 5 Easy Ways to Send Money Outside Pakistan guide for detailed options and insights.
List of Best International Money Transfer Apps to Pakistan
Here is the list of the top best payment transfer apps globally to send money in Pakistan, listed as:
Remitly
Remitly, based in Seattle, USA, offers online remittance services to over 150 countries, helping millions of immigrants separated from their families. It is one of the best money-sending apps, created in 2011 by Josh Hug, Matthew Oppenheimer, and Shivaas Gulati and became publicly traded in September 2021 on the Nasdaq exchange. This app allowed people in 18 countries to transfer money in nearly 75 currencies to Pakistan. Remitly is transparent about its fees, which are usually lower than those of many other money transfer services in Pakistan. Read more about Can Banking Apps Strike the Right Balance Between Security and Convenience?
Remitly’s Top Features
| Receiving Methods | Bank transfer, cash pickup, mobile wallet, home delivery |
| Speed | Express: Approximately 4 hours Economical: 3 to 5 days |
| Transaction Limits | Daily: Up to USD 2,999 Monthly Cap: USD 10,000; Max over six months: USD 18,000 Daily: sending limit up to USD 10,000 (with the option to increase) |
| Coverage | Send money to 150+ countries in 75 currencies |
PayPal
PayPal is an American based, widely used online money transfer app that allows users to send money to Pakistan. Xoom is a special feature from PayPal, which is a big multinational financial technology company for online payments. It helps you send money to people in other countries from the US, Canada, the UK, or some parts of Europe. Paypal is not currently working in Pakistan, so you can choose Xoom app. Using Xoom, you can send money from Pakistan to almost 70+ countries promptly and can also receive money in Pakistan from the rest of the world in more than 2 dozen Pakistani banks through cash-pickup locations and bank deposits. There are reasons why PayPal is not operational in Pakistan. For more details, read our article on Why PayPal is not Coming to the Pakistani Market. However, there are methods to create and use a PayPal account in Pakistan. For insights, read our article on How to Make a PayPal Account in Pakistan. If you are looking for alternatives to PayPal, read our article A Complete Guide to PayPal and Its Alternatives in Pakistan.
Key Features
| Receiving Methods | Bank account, debit card, cash pickup, home delivery |
| Speed | Cash pickup: Minutes Debit card deposits: Minutes Bank deposits: 2 to 3 days |
| Transaction Limits | Limits vary by location and country. Example: USD 2,999 per 24 hours, with option to increase to USD 10,000 by providing additional information |
| Pay Bills Internationally | Yes |
| Top-Up Mobile Phones | Yes |
Wise (TransferWise)
Wise, formerly known as TransferWise, is a UK-based foreign exchange financial technology company. This company was started by Taavet Hinrikus and Kristo Käärmann in January 2011, and launched its app. Wise is one of the best money transfer services that enables both business and personal users to send and receive money in Pakistan or internationally, manage bills, and check exchange rates from any location. Wise has permission from the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) to handle electronic money. They work with over 70 partners worldwide including big banks and fintech companies such as Monzo and Google Pay.
Key Features
| Receiving Methods | Wise account, bank account |
| Speed | Few seconds to 2 business days |
| Transaction Limits | Limits vary based on currencies or countries. Example: USD 50,000 per day using debit, USD 2,000 per day using cards |
| Access to Currencies | 40 currencies locally, 160+ countries via SWIFT network |
| Bank Account Details | Available in 9 currencies |
| Currency Exchange | Real-time notifications on currency exchange rates |
MoneyGram
MoneyGram is a US based international company currently working in Pakistan that helps people send payments in Pakistan and around the world. They have a main office in Dallas, another center in St. Louis Park, Minnesota, and offices in different places globally. MoneyGram works in over 200 countries and has around 347,000 agent offices worldwide. It is a fast and reliable service; you can send money anywhere in the world with Money Gram. Pakistani residents can use MoneyGram to send and receive money internationally through online and in-person transfer options. It is now available in 32+ countries and offers online money transfers to Pakistan. For in-person agent transfers, MoneyGram is present in over 50 countries globally.
Key Features
| Receiving Methods | Cash pickup, Bank deposit, Mobile wallet, Home delivery (select regions) |
| Speed | Minutes to a few business days, varies by destination and service |
| Transaction Limits | Up to $10,000.00 per online transfer, and up to $10,000.00 every 30 calendar days; limits vary based on currencies, countries, and account type |
| Currency Exchange | Real-time exchange rates, ability to monitor fluctuations |
| Access to Currencies | Access to 32+ currencies, send money to Pakistan from nearly 50 countries |
TransferGo
Created in 2012, TransferGo serves over 7.2 million customers in more than 161 countries worldwide. They aim to provide more manageable financial services to immigrants, making international money transfers simpler, cheaper, and faster. TransferGo Ltd was founded by Justinas Lasevicius, Daumantas Dvilinskas, and Edvinas Cernevicius in the UK. Arnas Lukosevicius later joined the team, contributing to the development of the website and online system. TransferGo provides fast and affordable money transfers to Pakistan, offers competitive exchange rates, and has low fees, which makes it an attractive option for sending remittances.
Learn more about: 8 Best Banks for Freelancers in Pakistan
Key Features
| Receiving Methods | Bank account |
| Speed | Transfers can reach recipients in as little as 30 minutes |
| Transaction Limits | £10,000 GBP for standard delivery with debit/credit card; $2,500 USD for transfers to debit/credit card |
| Access to Currencies | Access to 40 currencies locally, service available in 162+ countries |
Transfast
Transfast is a cross-border payment and international money transfer company based in New York, and it is owned by Mastercard. Transfast offers convenient ways to send money to Pakistan, including bank deposits and cash pickups. The company handles remittances through its own bank network and has 280,000 cash pickup spots in 120 countries. The company’s platform uses strong technology apps to quickly transfer money worldwide and has big customers like Google and Upwork. Transfast’s network covers 124 countries across Asia, the Americas, Africa, and Europe, and the company holds licenses in more than 71 jurisdictions globally.
Key Features
| Convenience | Transfast allows users to send money through their app, eliminating the need to visit a physical location. |
| Global Reach | Transfast offers money transfer services to over 125 countries across Asia, Europe, Africa, the Americas, and Australia. |
| Transaction Limit | Standard Limit: New users can send up to $2,950 per transaction and up to $10,000 USD within a 30-day period. |
| Speed | Transfast offers fast transfers, with some options delivering instantly to mobile wallets and bank accounts. |
| Payment Options | PayPal balance, debit card, bank account, mobile wallet. |
Lining up Best Ways to Send Money to Pakistan
The popular ways are explained below. Get into their details and decide which option best suits your needs and preferences.
| Remitly | 2011 | Josh Hug, Matthew Oppenheimer, Shivaas Gulati | $653 million |
| PayPal | 1998 | Ken Howery, Max Levchin, Luke Nosek | $29.77 billion (2023) |
| Wise | 2011 | Taavet Hinrikus, Kristo Käärmann | £846 million |
| MoneyGram | 1988 | Mastercard | $412 million |
| TransferGo | 2012 | Justinas Lasevicius, Daumantas Dvilinskas, Edvinas Cernevicius, Arnas Lukosevicius | $44.7 million |
| Transfast | 1988 | Mastercard | $412 million |
Final Note
In a world where over 2 billion people rely on mobile money transfer apps, sending money abroad has become simpler and more accessible than ever before. In this research article, our Tashheer research team compiled a list of 6 best ways to send money to Pakistan from all around the world. With the top international money transfer apps listed above, individuals managing personal finances or conducting business globally have a range of options to cater to their specific needs. Remember to always verify the exchange rates and fees associated with each transfer method to ensure you are getting the best deal. Additionally, consider the security measures in place to protect your funds during the transfer process.
About the Author: Alishba
