Best ways to send money to India
We've compared the cheapest, fastest and safest ways to send money to India from the United Kingdom. Take a look at our comparison table and our detailed review below.
Comparing 18 providers for your transfer of £5000 GBP to INR
ICICI Bank cost breakdown
ICICI Bank's transfer fee is £1.00 and their exchange rate is 123.8818. That rate is lower than the mid-market rate of 124.452, which will cost you £23.01.
The total cost of this transaction is: the transfer fee of £1.00 + the exchange rate fee £23.01 = £24.01
This makes ICICI Bank the cheapest provider in the table to send £5,000.00 to INR.
- Amount you send (fees included)£5,000.00
- Transfer fee£1.00
- ICICI Bank exchange rate123.8818
- 0.46% lower than the mid-market rate 124.452
- Fee within the exchange rate£23.01
- Total cost£24.01
- Amount received₹619,285.21
Wise cost breakdown
Wise's transfer fee is £25.33 and their exchange rate is 124.452. Wise uses the mid-market rate, so that means no additional fees.
The total cost of this transaction is: the transfer fee of £25.33 + exchange rate fee £0.00 (Wise uses the mid-market rate) = £25.33.
This makes Wise the second cheapest provider in the table to send £5,000.00 to INR.
Read Wise review- Amount you send (fees included)£5,000.00
- Transfer fee£25.33
- Wise exchange rate124.452
- Equal to the mid-market rate 124.452
- Fee within the exchange rate£0.00
- Total cost£25.33
- Amount received₹619,107.63
State Bank of India cost breakdown
State Bank of India's transfer fee is £0.00 and their exchange rate is 123.7229. That rate is lower than the mid-market rate of 124.452, which will cost you £29.47.
The total cost of this transaction is: the transfer fee of £0.00 + the exchange rate fee £29.47 = £29.47
This makes State Bank of India the third cheapest provider in the table to send £5,000.00 to INR.
- Amount you send (fees included)£5,000.00
- Transfer fee£0.00
- State Bank of India exchange rate123.7229
- 0.59% lower than the mid-market rate 124.452
- Fee within the exchange rate£29.47
- Total cost£29.47
- Amount received₹618,614.37
XE cost breakdown
XE's transfer fee is £0.00 and their exchange rate is 123.7053. That rate is lower than the mid-market rate of 124.452, which will cost you £30.18.
The total cost of this transaction is: the transfer fee of £0.00 + the exchange rate fee £30.18 = £30.18
This makes XE the fourth cheapest provider in the table to send £5,000.00 to INR.
- Amount you send (fees included)£5,000.00
- Transfer fee£0.00
- XE exchange rate123.7053
- 0.6% lower than the mid-market rate 124.452
- Fee within the exchange rate£30.18
- Total cost£30.18
- Amount received₹618,526.44
Remitly cost breakdown
Remitly's transfer fee is £0.00 and their exchange rate is 123.65. That rate is lower than the mid-market rate of 124.452, which will cost you £32.43.
The total cost of this transaction is: the transfer fee of £0.00 + the exchange rate fee £32.43 = £32.43
This makes Remitly the fifth cheapest provider in the table to send £5,000.00 to INR.
Read Remitly review- Amount you send (fees included)£5,000.00
- Transfer fee£0.00
- Remitly exchange rate123.65
- 0.64% lower than the mid-market rate 124.452
- Fee within the exchange rate£32.43
- Total cost£32.43
- Amount received₹618,250.00
Skrill cost breakdown
Skrill's transfer fee is £0.00 and their exchange rate is 123.5861. That rate is lower than the mid-market rate of 124.452, which will cost you £35.03.
The total cost of this transaction is: the transfer fee of £0.00 + the exchange rate fee £35.03 = £35.03
This makes Skrill the sixth cheapest provider in the table to send £5,000.00 to INR.
- Amount you send (fees included)£5,000.00
- Transfer fee£0.00
- Skrill exchange rate123.5861
- 0.7% lower than the mid-market rate 124.452
- Fee within the exchange rate£35.03
- Total cost£35.03
- Amount received₹617,930.50
CurrencyFair cost breakdown
CurrencyFair's transfer fee is £0.97 and their exchange rate is 123.5396. That rate is lower than the mid-market rate of 124.452, which will cost you £36.93.
The total cost of this transaction is: the transfer fee of £0.97 + the exchange rate fee £36.93 = £37.90
This makes CurrencyFair the seventh cheapest provider in the table to send £5,000.00 to INR.
- Amount you send (fees included)£5,000.00
- Transfer fee£0.97
- CurrencyFair exchange rate123.5396
- 0.73% lower than the mid-market rate 124.452
- Fee within the exchange rate£36.93
- Total cost£37.90
- Amount received₹617,578.00
HSBC cost breakdown
HSBC's transfer fee is £0.00 and their exchange rate is 123.4271. That rate is lower than the mid-market rate of 124.452, which will cost you £41.52.
The total cost of this transaction is: the transfer fee of £0.00 + the exchange rate fee £41.52 = £41.52
This makes HSBC the eighth cheapest provider in the table to send £5,000.00 to INR.
- Amount you send (fees included)£5,000.00
- Transfer fee£0.00
- HSBC exchange rate123.4271
- 0.82% lower than the mid-market rate 124.452
- Fee within the exchange rate£41.52
- Total cost£41.52
- Amount received₹617,135.59
OFX cost breakdown
OFX's transfer fee is £0.00 and their exchange rate is 123.2182. That rate is lower than the mid-market rate of 124.452, which will cost you £50.07.
The total cost of this transaction is: the transfer fee of £0.00 + the exchange rate fee £50.07 = £50.07
This makes OFX the ninth cheapest provider in the table to send £5,000.00 to INR.
Read OFX review- Amount you send (fees included)£5,000.00
- Transfer fee£0.00
- OFX exchange rate123.2182
- 0.99% lower than the mid-market rate 124.452
- Fee within the exchange rate£50.07
- Total cost£50.07
- Amount received₹616,091.00
Xoom cost breakdown
Xoom's transfer fee is £0.00 and their exchange rate is 123.1521. That rate is lower than the mid-market rate of 124.452, which will cost you £52.78.
The total cost of this transaction is: the transfer fee of £0.00 + the exchange rate fee £52.78 = £52.78
This makes Xoom the tenth cheapest provider in the table to send £5,000.00 to INR.
- Amount you send (fees included)£5,000.00
- Transfer fee£0.00
- Xoom exchange rate123.1521
- 1.04% lower than the mid-market rate 124.452
- Fee within the exchange rate£52.78
- Total cost£52.78
- Amount received₹615,760.51
WorldRemit cost breakdown
WorldRemit's transfer fee is £0.00 and their exchange rate is 122.7189. That rate is lower than the mid-market rate of 124.452, which will cost you £70.61.
The total cost of this transaction is: the transfer fee of £0.00 + the exchange rate fee £70.61 = £70.61
This makes WorldRemit the eleventh cheapest provider in the table to send £5,000.00 to INR.
- Amount you send (fees included)£5,000.00
- Transfer fee£0.00
- WorldRemit exchange rate122.7189
- 1.39% lower than the mid-market rate 124.452
- Fee within the exchange rate£70.61
- Total cost£70.61
- Amount received₹613,594.66
Barclays cost breakdown
Barclays's transfer fee is £0.00 and their exchange rate is 121.9186. That rate is lower than the mid-market rate of 124.452, which will cost you £103.90.
The total cost of this transaction is: the transfer fee of £0.00 + the exchange rate fee £103.90 = £103.90
This makes Barclays the twelfth cheapest provider in the table to send £5,000.00 to INR.
- Amount you send (fees included)£5,000.00
- Transfer fee£0.00
- Barclays exchange rate121.9186
- 2.04% lower than the mid-market rate 124.452
- Fee within the exchange rate£103.90
- Total cost£103.90
- Amount received₹609,592.82
Nationwide cost breakdown
Nationwide's transfer fee is £15.00 and their exchange rate is 122.1243. That rate is lower than the mid-market rate of 124.452, which will cost you £95.30.
The total cost of this transaction is: the transfer fee of £15.00 + the exchange rate fee £95.30 = £110.30
This makes Nationwide the thirteenth cheapest provider in the table to send £5,000.00 to INR.
- Amount you send (fees included)£5,000.00
- Transfer fee£15.00
- Nationwide exchange rate122.1243
- 1.87% lower than the mid-market rate 124.452
- Fee within the exchange rate£95.30
- Total cost£110.30
- Amount received₹608,789.75
Monese cost breakdown
Monese's transfer fee is £100 and their exchange rate is 124.0906. That rate is lower than the mid-market rate of 124.452, which will cost you £14.56.
The total cost of this transaction is: the transfer fee of £100 + the exchange rate fee £14.56 = £114.56
This makes Monese the fourteenth cheapest provider in the table to send £5,000.00 to INR.
- Amount you send (fees included)£5,000.00
- Transfer fee£100
- Monese exchange rate124.0906
- 0.29% lower than the mid-market rate 124.452
- Fee within the exchange rate£14.56
- Total cost£114.56
- Amount received₹608,043.91
NatWest cost breakdown
NatWest's transfer fee is £0.00 and their exchange rate is 121.4777. That rate is lower than the mid-market rate of 124.452, which will cost you £122.42.
The total cost of this transaction is: the transfer fee of £0.00 + the exchange rate fee £122.42 = £122.42
This makes NatWest the fifteenth cheapest provider in the table to send £5,000.00 to INR.
- Amount you send (fees included)£5,000.00
- Transfer fee£0.00
- NatWest exchange rate121.4777
- 2.39% lower than the mid-market rate 124.452
- Fee within the exchange rate£122.42
- Total cost£122.42
- Amount received₹607,388.46
RBS cost breakdown
RBS's transfer fee is £0.00 and their exchange rate is 121.4571. That rate is lower than the mid-market rate of 124.452, which will cost you £123.29.
The total cost of this transaction is: the transfer fee of £0.00 + the exchange rate fee £123.29 = £123.29
This makes RBS the feesTable.16nth cheapest provider in the table to send £5,000.00 to INR.
- Amount you send (fees included)£5,000.00
- Transfer fee£0.00
- RBS exchange rate121.4571
- 2.41% lower than the mid-market rate 124.452
- Fee within the exchange rate£123.29
- Total cost£123.29
- Amount received₹607,285.37
Lloyds cost breakdown
Lloyds's transfer fee is £9.50 and their exchange rate is 120.2741. That rate is lower than the mid-market rate of 124.452, which will cost you £173.68.
The total cost of this transaction is: the transfer fee of £9.50 + the exchange rate fee £173.68 = £183.18
This makes Lloyds the feesTable.17nth cheapest provider in the table to send £5,000.00 to INR.
- Amount you send (fees included)£5,000.00
- Transfer fee£9.50
- Lloyds exchange rate120.2741
- 3.36% lower than the mid-market rate 124.452
- Fee within the exchange rate£173.68
- Total cost£183.18
- Amount received₹600,228.10
Halifax cost breakdown
Halifax's transfer fee is £9.50 and their exchange rate is 119.9407. That rate is lower than the mid-market rate of 124.452, which will cost you £188.06.
The total cost of this transaction is: the transfer fee of £9.50 + the exchange rate fee £188.06 = £197.56
This makes Halifax the feesTable.18nth cheapest provider in the table to send £5,000.00 to INR.
- Amount you send (fees included)£5,000.00
- Transfer fee£9.50
- Halifax exchange rate119.9407
- 3.62% lower than the mid-market rate 124.452
- Fee within the exchange rate£188.06
- Total cost£197.56
- Amount received₹598,564.30
How we found the best ways to send money
Our database includes 27 secure providers. For your specific transfer of £5000 from GBP to INR, we found 18 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 India
| Category | Winner | Key Stats |
|---|---|---|
| 💰Cheapest Cost | ICICI Bank | Total Fees: £24.01 |
| 📈Best Exchange Rate | Wise | Rate: 124.4520 |
| ⚡Fastest Transfer | Wise | Time: Instant-2 Days |
| ⭐Customer Favourite | Xoom | TrustScore: 4.7/5 |
You can send money to India 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 India.
How to Send Money to India: Step-by-Step
The good news is that sending money to India 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 India 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
- Register with your chosen provider (e.g ICICI Bank, Wise, State Bank of India)
- Verify your ID if required
- 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 INR)
- 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 India 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 India
Of the 18 providers we found for sending money to India, here is how the top 5 stack up based on cost.
| Provider | Total Cost | Exchange Rate |
|---|---|---|
| ICICI Bank (Cheapest Option) | £24.01 | 123.8818 GBP to INR |
| Wise (Runner Up) | £25.33 | 124.4520 GBP to INR |
| State Bank of India (Alternative) | £29.47 | 123.7229 GBP to INR |
| XE (Alternative) | £30.18 | 123.7053 GBP to INR |
| Remitly (Alternative) | £32.43 | 123.6500 GBP to INR |
Why this matters
- The Savings: Choosing ICICI Bank saves you 173.55 GBP compared to Halifax, 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 124.452.
If the real rate is 124.452, a bank might offer you a rate of roughly 128.18556, keeping the difference for themselves.
Finding alternative ways to transfer money to India shouldn't be hard. Review our full list of cheap ways to send money to India to help you with your search.
The fastest way to send money India
Of the 18 providers we found for sending money to India 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 |
| Xoom (Alternative) | 0-1 Days |
| CurrencyFair (Alternative) | 1-3 Days |
| OFX (Alternative) | 1-3 Days |
Speed comparison: banks vs digital providers
The fastest provider for transferring money to India 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 India
Of the 18 providers we found for transferring money to India, here is how the top 5 stack up based on user reviews from Trustpilot.
| Provider | TrustScore | Volume |
|---|---|---|
| Xoom (Best Rated) | 4.7 / 5 (Excellent) | 147960 reviews |
| Remitly (Runner Up) | 4.6 / 5 (Excellent) | 101275 reviews |
| HSBC (Alternative) | 4.5 / 5 (Excellent) | 23087 reviews |
| CurrencyFair (Alternative) | 4.5 / 5 (Excellent) | 10623 reviews |
| XE (Alternative) | 4.4 / 5 (Excellent) | 82686 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 Xoom with a score of 4.7 and 147960 reviews is generally safer than a newer company with a perfect 5.0 rating but only 10 reviews.
Exchange rate trend between GBP/INR
As with many currencies, the GBP/INR 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 India 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 ₹124.452
Loading chart data...
Conclusion
When it comes to choosing the best provider for sending money to India from the United Kingdom, it really depends on what your needs are.
The cheapest provider shown in our comparison table is ICICI Bank. If the transfer time is what you're interested in, then Wise is the fastest way to transfer money to India. Wise can get your money to your recipient to India in Instant-2 Days.
If safety is what interests you the most when it comes to picking the best international money transfer provider to India, then all the providers we listed above are regulated by different financial institutions and should be safe to send money to India with.
FAQs: sending money to India
The details you'll need to send money internationally from the United Kingdom to India 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:
- Account number
- IFSC code
You can't send money to India 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 India 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 India using one of the international money transfer providers in our tables, the fees range from 24.01 GBP with ICICI Bank to 197.56 GBP with Halifax (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.















