How long does Wise take to transfer money?
Wise offers international payments to 160+ countries, which can arrive quickly or even instantly. Ultimately, the length of time your transfer takes depends on factors like the destination country, how you pay, and when you set up your transfer. However, you can see an estimate for delivery before you confirm.
Wise is on a mission to make international transfers faster and cheaper. In fact, Wise ultimately wants to be able to make instant transfers all over the world, with no fee for the customer. Right now, Wise isn’t free to use, and not all transfers are instant – but it can be a very good option for sending quick local and international transfers with low, transparent fees. This guide walks through how long Wise takes to transfer and receive money in the US.
Key points: Wise transfer speed
- Over 60% of Wise international transfers arrive instantly or within seconds
- Wise delivery times depend on where you’re sending to and how you pay, among other things
- Wise domestic payments in the US can arrive on the same day, or take up to 4 days, depending on how you pay
- In our comparison we found that Wise could be a quicker way to deposit money to an overseas bank account compared to sending a wire with your bank
How long does Wise take to transfer money internationally?
Wise offers fast or instant payments over 60% of the time. Over 90% of transfers arrive within 24 hours.
Ultimately, the amount of time it takes to send a Wise international payment can vary based on the destination, currency, and how you choose to pay. Other factors which may make a difference include when you set up your transfer, and if any security checks are needed.
To give a bit of an idea, here are the anticipated delivery times for sending payments from the US on some popular currency routes, based on how you choose yo pay:
| Currency | Pay by direct debit | Pay by bank transfer | Pay by card | Pay from your Wise account |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GBP | In seconds | In 11 hours | In seconds | In seconds |
| MXN | In seconds | In 11 hours | In 30 minutes | In seconds |
| INR | In seconds | In 11 hours | In 30 minutes | In seconds |
| EUR | In 8 hours | Next business day | In 8 hours | In 8 hours |
| CAD | Next business day | Next business day | Next business day | Next business day |
As you can see, for many popular payment routes, delivery can be in seconds – effectively, an instant transfer. Paying by direct debit, debit or credit card, or from your Wise account balance is usually quickest, while paying by bank transfer can be a slower method. You’ll get a delivery estimate when you set up your payment, and can track its progress in the Wise app, so you can see how your money is moving throughout.
How fast is Wise money transfer?
The length of time taken for your money to be transferred with Wise can vary – but is often pretty quick. Here’s an overview of the factors which may make a difference on delivery times:
Countries you’re sending money to and from: Each country and currency will have slightly different delivery times. The processes used by your recipient’s own bank can also affect delivery time – but you can track your payment in the Wise app to see where it is in the system once you’ve made your payment.
How you pay for the transfer: You’ll see your options for payment when you set up your transfer, as well as a delivery estimate for each. Generally paying by card or with your Wise account balance is the fastest option, while some other methods like SWIFT transfers, can take longer.
When you pay for the transfer: Wise can only process payments when banking markets are open – which may mean your transfer is a little slower if you set it up on a weekend or during a public holiday in the US or in the destination country.
Security checks and verification: You may also need to provide some additional paperwork to support your transfer – particularly if you’re sending a high value payment. This is for verification, and required by law of all money transfer services and banks. While verification shouldn’t slow your payment too much, it can mean your money takes a little longer to arrive compared to the initial estimate you’re given.
Is Wise faster for international transfers?
You can send a transfer overseas from the US with a specialist provider, or with a bank. Different providers offer their own service options, such as payments for cash collection or to mobile wallets. The difference in delivery time can be pretty big, depending on the provider you pick, the way you pay and how you want your money to be received in the end.
To give a flavor, here are the most common delivery times for popular payment options with a few specialist international money transfer services, and two of our largest banks.
| Wise | Remitly | Western Union | Bank of America | Chase | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Transfer speed | 60% of payments are instant Credit or debit card: Often instant Wise balance: Often instant Bank transfer: May take a day or so | Transfer speed options vary by country Express (card payment): Can arrive in minutes Economy (bank transfer): May take 3 – 5 days | Transfer speed options vary by country Money in minutes: Can arrive in minutes Next day: Next day arrival Bank deposit: Can take 2 – 5 days | Bank wires can be sent locally or internationally Wire transfer: 2 business days | Bank wires can be sent locally or internationally Wire transfer: 1 – 5 business days |
In our comparison we found that overall, specialist providers offer more varied transfer options, which can have faster delivery time. There’s also more choice in terms of pay in and pay out method, which lets you customize your transfer to suit the urgency and your budget. Because banks usually process international transfers through the SWIFT network, they can take a few days – and may cost more, too.
How long does it take to transfer money from Wise to a bank account?
Most Wise transfers are deposited directly into your recipient’s bank account, although in some countries, you can also use Wise to send to popular mobile wallets. The delivery time depends on several factors including the country you’re sending to, how you pay, and when you set up your payment. Over half of Wise payments are instant or arrive in seconds – you’re more likely to be able to make a very quick payment to a bank account if you arrange your transfer in banking hours and pay with a card or your Wise account balance.
Wise instant transfers
More than 60% of Wise transfers are instant – meaning that they are deposited into the recipient’s bank account in 20 seconds or less. You’ll see the estimated delivery time for your transfer with different payment methods before you confirm, so you can compare your options and pick the right one for you.
Generally, the quickest way to pay will be with a credit or debit card, Apple Pay or similar, or with your Wise account balance. In many cases the slowest ways to pay will be bank transfer or SWIFT.
How to make Wise transfer faster
Over 60% of Wise payments can arrive pretty much instantly. On the Wise app or website, when you set up your payment you’ll be able to toggle through all the available payment methods to see the delivery estimate for each, as well as the applicable fee. This makes it easy to find the very quickest Wise international money transfer based on your specific situation.
To get the best delivery time for your transfer, take the following steps:
- Open the Wise app or desktop site
- Enter the amount you’re sending, and the currency
- Compare the estimated delivery times based on payment method
- Pick the quickest available option
- Confirm your payment and your money is on the way
How to track your Wise money transfer
You can always track your Wise payment online or in the app if you want to see how it’s doing. Here’s what to do:
- Log in to your Wise account
- Go to Home to see your activity list
- Select the transfer you want to track
- You’ll be able to see live updates on the progress of your payment
How long does Wise take to transfer money domestically?
You can also use Wise to send money to other people in the US, to be deposited to their bank accounts in USD.
| Wise USD > USD transfers |
|---|
| ACH payments: Money arrives in 1 – 4 working days Wire payments: Money arrives on the same day, or next working day |
How long does it take to receive money into a Wise balance?
As well as receiving money to a bank account with Wise, you can also have someone send you a payment to your Wise account. Simply look up your Wise account details for the currency you’d like to receive and hand them to the sender to arrange your transfer.
Here, delivery times can vary depending on where the money is coming from, and which currency you’re being paid. Let’s take a look at some popular currencies in the US:
Receiving CAD: 1 – 2 days if sent from Canada, 1 – 4 days for direct debit transfers, 4 to 5 days if send using SWIFT from outside Canada
Receiving GBP: 1 day from within the UK, 4 to 5 days if send using SWIFT from outside the UK
Receiving EUR: 1 – 2 days if sent from within SEPA, 4 to 5 days if sent from outside of SEPA using SWIFT
Receiving AUD: Up to 2 working days from Australia, 4 to 5 days if send using SWIFT from outside Australia
Receiving USD: 1 day for wire transfers, 1 – 4 days for ACH, 4 to 5 days if send using SWIFT from outside the US
Conclusion: How fast can Wise transfer money?
In our comparison we found that Wise was pretty fast on many routes. In fact, over 60% of Wise transfers are instant – and there are some specific steps you can take to make sure your money is moving as quickly as possible.
Compared to the banks we looked at in our comparison, Wise could be much quicker – if you pay with a credit or debit card, Apple Pay or with your Wise balance, you have the best chance to get an instant transfer, but you’ll be able to see all your options including delivery times and fees, before you confirm your payment.
- Wise aims to make all international and domestic payments instant
- As of Q1 2024, 60%+ of Wise transfers are instant or arrive in seconds
- The fastest way to send money is often to pay by card or with your Wise balance
- Delivery times depend on factors like the currencies involved, how you pay, and any holidays in the US or your destination country
Wise international transfer speed FAQs
Does Wise have instant transfers?
As of Q1 2024, 60%+ of Wise transfers are instant or arrive in seconds. Ultimately the time it takes to send a Wise transfer can depend on several factors including how you pay, where you’re sending to, and whether you arrange your payment within normal banking hours.
Learn more: Wise review
Does Wise have SEPA Instant Payments?
Many of Wise’s transfers, including some SEPA payments, are instant. However, the delivery time for any payment can be dependent on many different factors like the way you pay, and changes in banking hours in the recipient country. You’ll see an estimate for your transfer before you confirm it.
