Top 5 best Azimo alternatives for sending money abroad 2024

Top 5 best Azimo alternatives for sending money abroad

Specialist apps and sites offer ways to make international payments which can often be cheaper, faster and more convenient than your bank. If you’re looking for a smart way to send money overseas from the UK you may have heard of Azimo. Unfortunately, Azimo stopped offering person to person payments from 31 August 2022.

Don’t worry though - there are plenty of other sites like Azimo out there - this guide to Azimo alternatives looks at how a few compare to help you pick the right one for you.

Here are the Azimo alternatives we’ll look at - and a word about why:

• Wise - Great exchange rates, transparent fees and  quick delivery

• OFX - 24/7 phone support and no transfer fee

• TorFX - Personal account management options

• Remitly - Payments on popular remittance routes

• Western Union - Huge agent network for convenient cash transfers

What happened to Azimo?

Let’s open with the elephant in the room - where is Azimo now?

Azimo launched in 2012, and had been an active payment provider for personal and business payments. Between 2012 and 2022, it served over 2 million customers. However, Azimo was recently acquired by Papaya Global, and has pivoted to focus on providing salary payments to business customers under Papaya Global. It is no longer working under the Azimo brand for personal or business transfers.

If you previously relied on Azimo you’ll be looking for alternatives. We have some great picks coming right up.

Alternatives to Azimo comparison 

To help you find the right Azimo alternative for your payment we’ll take a look at 5 international money transfer providers that compare to Azimo. We've taken into account their speed, transparency, ease of use and price when transferring money abroad - with more details coming up right after this overview.

Which Azimo alternative is best for you will depend on the type of payment you want to make, and the destination country.

• Wise may be a great option for fast payments with the mid-market exchange rate – learn more.

• OFX can help if you’d rather talk through your transfer by phone 24/7

• TorFX has a personal service with a range of payment types on offer

• Remitly has payments to banks and for cash collection, on popular remittance routes

• Western Union can help if you want to get your money in cash to someone - fast

1. Wise 

Wise was launched as TransferWise in 2011, and now has over 13 million users around the world. You can make cheap, fast international payments or open a Wise multi-currency account to hold and exchange 50+ currencies in one place.

Best Wise features 

Wise payments use the mid-market exchange rate with low, transparent fees. Transfers are super fast - over half arrive instantly, and nearly all are there within a day. You can send money with Wise to 80+ countries, and if you’re looking for a way to receive, exchange or easily spend in foreign currencies, you can also get a Wise account.

Wise accounts can hold 50+ currencies, receive payments like a local in up to 10 currencies, and personal customers can also spend in 170+ countries with a linked Wise international debit card.

Pros 

• Usually the best available exchange rate

• Transparent fees you can see and compare before you make a payment

• Send to 80+ countries, direct to bank accounts

• Open a multi-currency account to get paid in foreign currencies for free

Cons  

• Fees vary based on payment method and destination

• Accounts are not interest bearing

2. OFX

OFX is a currency specialist which offers international transfers as well as currency risk management services and products for businesses and individuals. Online sellers and business customers can also get a multi-currency account.

Best OFX features 

OFX stands out for its personal service. You can call an OFX broker at any time to talk through your options - reassuring if you’re sending a large payment or if you need a currency risk management solution. There are no transfer fees when you send an OFX payment - instead, there’s a small markup added to the exchange rate used to convert your payment, which can represent far better value than using your bank.

Pros 

• Send in 50+ currencies, to over 190 countries

• No transfer fee

• Most payments arrive in 24 hours

• Personal service by phone

Cons  

• Exchange rates include a markup

• No cash, checks, bank drafts or credit cards

3. TorFX

UK based TorFX has 300,000+ customers, several global offices, and offers a high level of service for international payments and currency risk management solutions. It’s a frequent recipient of customer service awards, and holds the highest possible credit rating.

Best TorFX features 

Use TorFX by phone, online or in app, to send one off or recurring payments, and to access currency services including forward contracts and market orders. Services are available for personal and business customers, with TorFX often being highlighted as a top customer support provider in the payments industry.

There are no transfer fees when you send a payment with TorFX. Instead, a charge will be added to the exchange rate used to convert your funds.

Pros 

• Award winning personal service

• Currency risk management options for individuals and businesses

• Payments can arrive on the same day - or up to 2 days for more exotic currencies

• Make online payments from the equivalent of 100 GBP, with no maximum transfer value

Cons  

• Exchange rates include a markup

• You’ll need to register an account to see the rates offered and compare the cost of your transfer

4. Remitly

Remitly was set up to help people sending money home to loved ones on popular remittance routes. You can make a Remitly payment from any of 28 supported sending countries, to around 100 different countries around the world.

Best Remitly features 

Send Remitly payments to bank accounts, mobile money accounts and for cash collection, with services and currencies offered varying by destination country. In some cases you’ll be able to opt to pay with a bank transfer, for an economy payment - or with a card for an Express transfer. Express payments may arrive in minutes, while the cheaper Economy option can take 3 to 5 business days to arrive.

Pros 

• Good range of payout options

• Send to around 100 countries

• Choose cheaper fees or a faster transfer depending on your needs

• Online and in-app service for convenience

Cons  

• You can’t transfer between ‘sending’ countries

• Exchange rates may include a markup, and there’s usually a transfer fee to pay

5. Western Union

Western Union is one of the best known money transfer brands on the planet, with a huge agent network which covers almost every country in the world. Send money online, in-app or in person, with a range of different ways to pay - and different payout options depending on what suits your recipient.

Best Western Union features 

Western Union really stands out because of its global range. You can send money to almost every country in the world, and have it collected in cash in just a few minutes. That makes Western Union a good Azimo alternative if you need to get cash to someone who doesn’t have access to a bank account easily.

Pros 

• Cash collection payments can be instant

• Range of ways to pay, and for the money to be received

• Send to almost every country on the planet

• Easy to use app - or an in person service at an agent if you prefer

Cons  

• Exchange rate markups apply

• Fees vary and can be on the high side

Why you should use Wise as an Azimo alternative

Wise can be a strong Azimo alternative, with currency conversion that always uses the mid-market exchange rate and low, transparent fees. Wise personal accounts are always free, with no monthly charges to worry about. Wise also offers the option to hold and exchange 50+ currencies in their Wise Account - worth considering if you travel often or love to shop with a range of international ecommerce stores.

Why you should use OFX as an Azimo alternative

OFX might have the edge as an Azimo 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.

Why you should use TorFX as an Azimo alternative

Like OFX, TorFX may be the best Azimo alternative for you if you need to manage currency risk, or make high value transfers around the world. TorFX also has decent phone support options - and it’s celebrated for its service, which is delivered with a personal touch. If you’re unsure of the payment type you need, or looking for in person advice, this may be a good bet for you.

Why you should use Remitly as an Azimo alternative

Remitly may be a good Azimo alternative if you want to remit money home quickly for cash collection. Remitly payments have a range of fee options and delivery times to suit your personal preferences, and can often be collected in cash locally, or even sent out for home delivery in some destinations.

Why you should use Western Union as an Azimo alternative

Western Union is another strong Azimo alternative if you want to pay in cash for your transfer - or if you need the recipient to get their money in cash in the destination country. Western Union has a good customer support operation and you can always walk into an agent office to get face to face help - another bonus if you’re a fan of in person customer service.

Still looking for providers? Compare all international money transfer services

Are the alternatives safe?

Yes. All the Azimo alternatives we’ve picked out for you are safe and reputable businesses which are trusted by their customers, and properly licenced and regulated in the countries in which they operate.

Azimo alternatives conclusion

Azimo was a popular payment provider, serving over 2 million customers over its 10 years in business. However, since it was acquired by Papaya Global, it’s no longer possible to send payments with Azimo. Instead, check out these Azimo alternatives, to see if one suits you better. Our range of alternatives cover great options - whether you want to send money with the real exchange rate, get currency risk management advice, or have your payment collected in cash at the other end.