HSBC Zing closure: 5 Alternatives to Zing in 2025
Zing was launched by HSBC early in 2024, as an international payments platform and multi-currency card you could manage from an app. You could use Zing to hold 10 currencies, send money in 30 currencies, and to spend with your card pretty much globally. However, in January 2025, HSBC announced that Zing was closing.
If you’re a Zing customer looking to move on - or if you’re looking for smart apps like Zing to manage your money internationally, this guide is for you. We’ll touch on a few different providers like Zing you may want to switch to, depending on the services that matter to you.
In our comparison we discovered that:
Wise - Great Zing alternative for overseas payments, with quick delivery and excellent rates. Like Zing, Wise also offers multi-currency account and card services.
Remitly - Good choice as an alternative to Zing, particularly for overseas payments which you want to be collected in cash or sent to a mobile wallet.
Revolut - Alternative to Zing for people looking to send money overseas and manage funds in a multi-currency account. Choose different account types based on your needs.
Western Union - Strong Zing alternative for cash transfers or if you want to arrange your payment in person at a physical branch location.
Why you should consider a Zing alternative
HSBC announced in January 2025 that Zing will close, with account services no longer available for new customers.
The app will continue operating as usual for existing customers until 2 April 2025. After this date, you can no longer use your Zing account to receive payments, and the app will cease operations entirely on 22 May 2025.
If you’re in the UK and used Zing for managing your international payments and spending, you’ll need a Zing alternative. The good news is that there are several really good options available, depending on what exactly you’re looking for. This guide looks at Zing alternatives for people who send money to bank accounts, for customers who prefer to send cash transfers, and for anyone who needs a multi-currency account and card as an additional feature.
Alternatives to Zing comparison
For many customers, Zing was a convenient and secure way to send international transfers to bank accounts around the world. Here we’ve picked out 4 Zing alternatives you may want to look at, for international payments of differing types. As a bonus, a couple of these providers - Wise and Revolut - also offer options to hold and exchange currencies in a digital account, and to get a linked debit card for spending and withdrawals.
More on that later. First let’s look at a comparison of these services based on international transfer features.
| Provider | Exchange rate | Speed | Convenience |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wise | Mid-market exchange rate | 63% of payments are instant* |
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| Remitly | Exchange rate includes a markup | Varies by destination and payment type |
|
| Revolut | Revolut rate with no additional fee to plan limit Fair usage fees of 0.5% - 1% and out of hours fees may apply | 1 - 5 business days |
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| Western Union | Exchange rate includes a markup | Cash collection payments can be instant, bank deposits may take a day or two |
|
Details correct at the time of research -3rd February 2025
*The speed of transaction claims depends on individual circumstances and may not be available for all transactions
We’ll look at the providers we’ve selected in more detail next - here’s a quick summary of why we think they’re a good Zing alternative to consider, depending on your specific needs:
Wise provides fast payments with the mid-market exchange rate, deposited to bank accounts in 160+ countries - plus you can get a multi-currency digital account and card for spending and withdrawals.
Remitly offers payments to banks or mobile money accounts, and for cash collection, on popular remittance routes. For personal payments only.
Revolut has several different account plans for UK customers, which all offer linked cards and payment services. Different plans have their own allocations of no fee transactions.
Western Union can help if you want to pay for your transfer in person using cash, and if you want the recipient to get their money in cash at the other end.
1. Wise
With cheap, fast international payments and multi-currency accounts and cards, Wise offers all the same services that Zing did - with a few extras, as well.
Wise transfers are fast, and can be deposited into bank accounts in 160+ countries. You can send money with your phone or laptop, in 40+ currencies, and pay from your bank, your account balance, or with a card.
If you used Zing to manage your money across currencies, Wise can also help, with accounts which can be opened by business and personal customers, to hold and exchange 40+ currencies in one place. Currency exchange uses the mid-market rate with no hidden fees, and you can order your Wise card for spending and withdrawals at home and abroad.
Best Wise features
Wise offers the mid-market exchange rate with transparent fees for all payments and when you spend with your Wise card.
Wise currency conversion fees are clearly split out so you can see them, and can be as low as 0.33%. Plus, Wise accounts can hold 40+ currencies, receive payments with local and SWIFT account details in a selection of 8+ global currencies, and you can use your Wise international debit card to spend seamlessly in 150+ countries.
| Wise pros | Wise cons |
|---|---|
✅ Mid-market exchange rate used for currency conversion ✅ Send to 160+ countries, direct to bank accounts ✅ Open a multi-currency account to get paid in foreign currencies conveniently ✅ Transparent fees you can see and compare before you make a payment | ❌ Fees vary based on payment method and destination ❌ No cash collection options |
2. Remitly
Remitly offers international payments when you want to send money to friends, family, and people you know and have met in person. You can make a Remitly payment from the UK in 100+ currencies, and to 170+ different countries.
Depending on where you’re sending money to, you may be able to choose between having your money deposited in a bank or mobile money account, or sent for cash collection, which makes this a good choice if you need to get money to someone in a hurry. Remitly’s services aren’t intended for business payments, and the per payment maximum cap is 25,000 GBP. Fees apply, which vary depending on the service you need, and exchange rates can include a markup.
Best Remitly features
Where Remitly stands out is in the range of payout options - you can make payments to bank accounts, mobile money accounts, and for cash collection. Service availability does depend a bit on where you’re transferring to, but this can make remitly a good Zing alternative if you’re sending personal payments on popular remittance routes.
| Remitly pros | Remitly cons |
|---|---|
✅Good range of payout options including cash collection at an agent ✅ Send to 170+ countries from the UK ✅ New customer discounts are often available ✅Online and in-app service for convenience | ❌ Personal payments only - no business transfers ❌ Exchange rates may include a markup, and there’s usually a transfer fee to pay |
3. Revolut
Revolut lets UK customers pick from 5 different account plans to match your spending and transacting patterns. You can get an account with no ongoing fees, or pay a monthly charge to unlock extra features and higher no-fee transaction limits.
Use your Revolut account to send local and international transfers to bank accounts, and to receive payments in select foreign currencies.
All accounts come with options to hold and exchange 25+ currencies, linked cards, and some no fee ATM withdrawals. Plans include some no fee services such as weekday currency conversion - once you’ve exhausted your plan limit you’ll pay a fair usage fee. Limits depend on the plan you pick, giving good flexibility to choose the option which suits your transaction needs.
Best Revolut features
Revolut stands out from Zing with a broader range of currencies - you can hold and exchange 25+ currencies, and like Zing, all accounts have linked cards you can use globally. International payments are supported, with low fees - higher tier accounts can even get a discount of up to 40% on Revolut’s standard international transfer fees.
To get the most features from Revolut you’ll need to pay a monthly fee of up to 45 GBP.
| Revolut pros | Revolut cons |
|---|---|
✅Choose from several different account plans according to your needs ✅Send money to bank accounts globally ✅All accounts have some no fee ATM withdrawals ✅Get some no fee weekday currency conversion, to plan limits ✅Use your linked debit card for payments and withdrawals | ❌ Monthly fees apply to unlock some account features ❌ Out of hours currency conversion fees, and fair usage fees apply |
4. Western Union
Western Union is one of the oldest and best known money transfer companies in the world, which may make it an obvious Zing alternative if you’re looking for a way to manage your international payments.
Western Union is known for having an impressive 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 including cash collection and deposit to bank and mobile money accounts, depending on what suits your recipient.
Western Union UK does not offer holding accounts or cards, and transfers will incur fees and exchange rate markups in most cases.
Best Western Union features
Western Union is a very strong Zing alternative if you want to send a payment to someone who needs to get cash quickly. Because Western Union is unrivalled in its agent network, your recipient is likely to be able to find a convenient location locally to get their money - often in minutes.
| Western Union pros | Western Union cons |
|---|---|
✅ 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 | ❌ Exchange rate markups apply ❌ Fees vary and can be on the high side |
Are the alternatives safe?
Yes. All of the providers we have featured here have a focus on customer safety.
Each provider has security measures built into their processes - like secure authentication and verification steps, and ways to get fast help from the support team if something goes wrong. If you’re ever concerned about how your preferred provider keeps your money and your data safe, reach out to their customer support team who will be happy to set your mind at rest.
Zing alternatives conclusion
HSBC announced that Zing will close entirely in May 2025, with no new customers being onboarded from January 2025. This means that Zing customers need to look elsewhere for ways to manage their money internationally.
This guide walks through some great Zing alternatives, including Wise and Revolut if you want a provider which has international transfer services as well as a card and digital account, and Western Union and Remitly if sending money in cash is your preference. Take a look at a range of Zing alternatives before you get started, to make sure you get the right deal for the type of transactions you need to make.
Alternatives to Zing FAQs
Is there a better alternative to Zing?
Zing in the UK will close entirely in May 2025. As an alternative with similar services, low fees and great rates, take a look at providers like Wise and Revolut. Both have app based digital account and payment features which can securely move your money to bank accounts globally.
Is there a faster alternative to Zing?
If you need to send a payment to a bank account quickly you might want to check out a provider like Wise, which deposits 90% of transfers in 24 hours or less. Or, if you’re sending for cash collection, take a look at Western Union which can often get your money to its destination in minutes.
Is there a cheaper alternative to Zing?
Which Zing alternative is cheapest for you will depend on the services you need. Look at Wise and Revolut for providers with broad services which have account plans with no ongoing fees, or compare Western Union and Remitly if you need to transact in cash.
Is there a safer alternative to Zing?
In this guide we have only selected providers which are safe to use with normal precautions.