Best ways to send money to Bulgaria
We've compared the cheapest, fastest and safest ways to send money to Bulgaria from the United Kingdom. Take a look at our comparison table and our detailed review below.
Comparing 6 providers for your transfer of £5000 GBP to BGN
Wise cost breakdown
Wise's transfer fee is £21.88 and their exchange rate is 2.2462. Wise uses the mid-market rate, so that means no additional fees.
The total cost of this transaction is: the transfer fee of £21.88 + exchange rate fee £0.00 (Wise uses the mid-market rate) = £21.88.
This makes Wise the cheapest provider in the table to send £5,000.00 to BGN.
Read Wise review- Amount you send (fees included)£5,000.00
- Transfer fee£21.88
- Wise exchange rate2.2462
- Equal to the mid-market rate 2.2462
- Fee within the exchange rate£0.00
- Total cost£21.88
- Amount receivedлв11,182.00
XE cost breakdown
XE's transfer fee is £0.00 and their exchange rate is 2.2326. That rate is lower than the mid-market rate of 2.2462, which will cost you £30.56.
The total cost of this transaction is: the transfer fee of £0.00 + the exchange rate fee £30.56 = £30.56
This makes XE the second cheapest provider in the table to send £5,000.00 to BGN.
- Amount you send (fees included)£5,000.00
- Transfer fee£0.00
- XE exchange rate2.2326
- 0.61% lower than the mid-market rate 2.2462
- Fee within the exchange rate£30.56
- Total cost£30.56
- Amount receivedлв11,162.92
TorFX cost breakdown
TorFX's transfer fee is £0.00 and their exchange rate is 2.2236. That rate is lower than the mid-market rate of 2.2462, which will cost you £50.89.
The total cost of this transaction is: the transfer fee of £0.00 + the exchange rate fee £50.89 = £50.89
This makes TorFX the third cheapest provider in the table to send £5,000.00 to BGN.
Read TorFX review- Amount you send (fees included)£5,000.00
- Transfer fee£0.00
- TorFX exchange rate2.2236
- 1.01% lower than the mid-market rate 2.2462
- Fee within the exchange rate£50.89
- Total cost£50.89
- Amount receivedлв11,118.00
Monese cost breakdown
Monese's transfer fee is £100 and their exchange rate is 2.2511.
The total cost of this transaction is: the transfer fee of £100 + the exchange rate fee £-10.75 = £89.25
This makes Monese the fourth cheapest provider in the table to send £5,000.00 to BGN.
- Amount you send (fees included)£5,000.00
- Transfer fee£100
- Monese exchange rate2.2511
- Better than the mid-market rate 2.2462
- Fee within the exchange rate£-10.75
- Total cost£89.25
- Amount receivedлв11,030.24
Remitly cost breakdown
Remitly's transfer fee is £0.00 and their exchange rate is 2.192. That rate is lower than the mid-market rate of 2.2462, which will cost you £123.70.
The total cost of this transaction is: the transfer fee of £0.00 + the exchange rate fee £123.70 = £123.70
This makes Remitly the fifth cheapest provider in the table to send £5,000.00 to BGN.
Read Remitly review- Amount you send (fees included)£5,000.00
- Transfer fee£0.00
- Remitly exchange rate2.192
- 2.41% lower than the mid-market rate 2.2462
- Fee within the exchange rate£123.70
- Total cost£123.70
- Amount receivedлв10,960.00
OFX cost breakdown
OFX's transfer fee is £0.00 and their exchange rate is 2.1728. That rate is lower than the mid-market rate of 2.2462, which will cost you £168.94.
The total cost of this transaction is: the transfer fee of £0.00 + the exchange rate fee £168.94 = £168.94
This makes OFX the sixth cheapest provider in the table to send £5,000.00 to BGN.
Read OFX review- Amount you send (fees included)£5,000.00
- Transfer fee£0.00
- OFX exchange rate2.1728
- 3.27% lower than the mid-market rate 2.2462
- Fee within the exchange rate£168.94
- Total cost£168.94
- Amount receivedлв10,864.07
How we found the best ways to send money
Our database includes 27 secure providers. For your specific transfer of £5000 from GBP to BGN, we found 6 providers that support this route and for the amount you want to send. We sort these by the cheapest total cost, displaying the freshest data available, whether via direct feed or manual collection. This process is never influenced by referral fees, ensuring you get a fair and transparent comparison every time. Learn more
Quick Verdict: The best ways to send money to Bulgaria
| Category | Winner | Key Stats |
|---|---|---|
| 💰Cheapest Cost | Wise | Total Fees: £21.88 |
| 📈Best Exchange Rate | Monese | Rate: 2.2511 |
| ⚡Fastest Transfer | Wise | Time: Instant-2 Days |
| ⭐Customer Favourite | TorFX | TrustScore: 4.9/5 |
You can send money to Bulgaria with a bank, or you can choose a specialist transfer provider. Often, these providers offer a faster, more efficient, and cheaper way to send money from the United Kingdom to Bulgaria.
How to Send Money to Bulgaria: Step-by-Step
The good news is that sending money to Bulgaria is easier than ever. Plus you can usually do everything with your phone or laptop - with no need to stand in line at a bank or money changer’s office. Here’s how to send money to Bulgaria in 5 simple steps:
- Choose a Money Transfer Service
- Enter the amount of money you want to transfer into our comparison tool
- Compare rates, fees, and delivery speed. You’ll see a range of options from reliable providers, so you can compare and pick the best for your specific transfer
- Consider user reviews and security features
- Register with your chosen provider
- Enter Recipient Details
- Add the recipient’s full name and bank details or email, depending on the method
- Add the recipient’s full name and bank details or email, depending on the method
- Select Amount and Currency
- Choose how much to send and the currency (e.g. GBP to BGN)
- Review exchange rates and fees upfront
- Pay for Your Transfer
- Choose from options like bank debit, credit card, apple/google pay or bank transfer (depending on what's available from the provider)
- Get confirmation and a tracking link if available
- Notify your recipient if needed
You can send money from the United Kingdom to Bulgaria using your bank, a specialist money transfer service, an e-wallet, or by visiting a physical money remittance store. Each option has different pros and cons, so the best for you will depend on your specific transfer and personal requirements.
The cheapest way to send money to Bulgaria
Of the 6 providers we found for sending money to Bulgaria, here is how the top 5 stack up based on cost.
| Provider | Total Cost | Exchange Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Wise (Cheapest Option) | £21.88 | 2.2462 GBP to BGN |
| XE (Runner Up) | £30.56 | 2.2326 GBP to BGN |
| TorFX (Alternative) | £50.89 | 2.2236 GBP to BGN |
| Monese (Alternative) | £89.25 | 2.2511 GBP to BGN |
| Remitly (Alternative) | £123.7 | 2.1920 GBP to BGN |
Why this matters
- The Savings: Choosing Wise saves you 147.06 GBP compared to OFX, which is the most expensive of the providers we reviewed.
- The "Hidden" Cost: Always check the Exchange Rate + Upfront Fee. Some providers claim "zero fees" but hide costs in the rate.
- The Interbank Rate: The current true market rate is 2.24623.
If the real rate is 2.24623, a bank might offer you a rate of roughly 2.31362, keeping the difference for themselves.
Finding alternative ways to transfer money to Bulgaria shouldn't be hard. Review our full list of cheap ways to send money to Bulgaria to help you with your search.
The fastest way to send money Bulgaria
Of the 6 providers we found for sending money to Bulgaria from the United Kingdom, here is how the top 5 stack up based on speed.
| Provider | Estimated Time |
|---|---|
| Wise (Fastest Option) | Instant-2 Days |
| Remitly (Runner Up) | 0-2 Days |
| OFX (Alternative) | 1-3 Days |
| XE (Alternative) | 2-3 Days |
| TorFX (Alternative) | 2-3 Days |
Speed comparison: banks vs digital providers
The fastest provider for transferring money to Bulgaria is currently Wise, taking roughly Instant-2 Days.
- Banks (usually slower): Most banks use the SWIFT network. This system passes your money through several intermediaries—like taking a flight with 3 layovers. It typically takes 3-5 working days.
- Transfer Specialists (usually faster): Companies like Wise often have their own local bank accounts in both countries. They don't "send" the money across borders; they pay out from their local reserves instantly.
If speed is your priority, avoiding traditional banks is usually the best strategy.
The best rated provider to transfer money to Bulgaria
Of the 6 providers we found for transferring money to Bulgaria, here is how the top 5 stack up based on user reviews from Trustpilot.
| Provider | TrustScore | Volume |
|---|---|---|
| TorFX (Best Rated) | 4.9 / 5 (Excellent) | 3498 reviews |
| Remitly (Runner Up) | 4.6 / 5 (Excellent) | 98854 reviews |
| XE (Alternative) | 4.4 / 5 (Excellent) | 82169 reviews |
| Wise (Alternative) | 4.3 / 5 (Excellent) | 278649 reviews |
| Monese (Alternative) | 4.3 / 5 (Excellent) | 50414 reviews |
How to read these reviews
When choosing a provider, don't just look at the score out of 5. You should also consider the Review Volume.
A provider like TorFX with a score of 4.9 and 3498 reviews is generally safer than a newer company with a perfect 5.0 rating but only 10 reviews.
Exchange rate trend between GBP/BGN
As with many currencies, the GBP/BGN exchange rate moves over time, due to changes in supply and demand. Exchange rate fluctuations can be caused by underlying shifts in how well the economy in the United Kingdom or Bulgaria is doing, changes in political stability, or even simple speculation, where traders buy or sell currencies based on how they think trends are going to change.
Right now, £1 buys лв2.24623
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Conclusion
When it comes to choosing the best provider for sending money to Bulgaria from the United Kingdom, it really depends on what your needs are.
The cheapest provider shown in our comparison table is Wise. If the transfer time is what you're interested in, then Wise is also the fastest way to transfer money to Bulgaria. Wise can get your money to your recipient to Bulgaria in Instant-2 Days.
If safety is what interests you the most when it comes to picking the best international money transfer provider to Bulgaria, then all the providers we listed above are regulated by different financial institutions and should be safe to send money to Bulgaria with.
FAQs: sending money to Bulgaria
The details you'll need to send money internationally from the United Kingdom to Bulgaria may vary by provider, and based on the value of the transfer. At a minimum, whenever you make an international bank transfer you will typically be asked for:
- IBAN
- BIC
You can't send money to Bulgaria from the United Kingdom for free. Providers incur costs to arrange international transfers, making fees necessary to sustain their business and generate profit. Real costs are involved in moving money abroad, so providers invariably charge a fee to ensure profitability.
There is no official best time to send money from the United Kingdom to Bulgaria and that depends on a variety of factors such as when you need to send money or when you want the funds to be received. It’s also going to depend on a variety of other factors such as, the time when you send money or the fees you are offered by providers or banks.
When you’re sending a high value payment it’s especially important to do your research and find a provider which is safe and which offers low fees and great exchange rates. It’s also well worth comparing some providers based on transfer times, as the delivery time can also vary pretty widely.
Some international money transfer services offer discounts for high value transfers, either through lower fees or a better exchange rate. Use the Exiap cost comparison calculator to make sure you’re getting the very best deal available for your specific transfer.
While sending a high value payment works very similarly to sending any other transfer overseas, the provider may require additional information to verify the payment. You might be asked to prove the source of the funds, for example, to comply with local and international financial services legislation. If you’re sending a large amount of money you’ll also need to make sure the provider you’ve picked can support the amount, as maximum payment limits may apply.
To send money to Bulgaria using one of the international money transfer providers in our tables, the fees range from 21.88 GBP with Wise to 168.94 GBP with OFX (but the fee could be even higher with a bank). The exact cost depends a lot on where you’re sending money, how much you’re sending, how you want to pay, and how you want the payment to be received.
Typically sending money directly to a recipient’s bank account using a specialist service can be done with fairly low costs, while traditional bank transfer fees can be higher. Paying for your transfer with either a credit card or cash can often mean the fees crank up, too.
When you’re sending money internationally, don’t forget that the overall fee you pay can include the transfer fee, an extra charge wrapped up in the exchange rate used, and third party charges like a cash advance fee from your credit card issuer.
There is no legal limit on how much money can be sent to or from the United Kingdom, although banks and other payment providers may impose their own limits.
Money transfer limits can vary quite widely between providers, and may also change depending on how you want to fund your transfer. You could find different limits in place when you pay by card compared to paying using a bank transfer, for example.




