6 Western Union Alternatives In Canada

Western Union: Overview

Western Union is one of the most common ways people send money abroad in Canada. Imagine having to panic when it's time for you to send money to your friends and family in another country. This is why there are options like Western Union, which has a big name and establishment, to send money abroad.

With options like Western Union, a lot of people prefer the security and the availability of the option in multiple countries all over the world, which makes it easy for people to send money to their loved ones from Canada.

However, you are here because you’re looking for alternatives to Western Union and here are options you can consider.

Western Union Alternatives In Canada

1. Pesa

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Pesa is a Canadian favourite when it comes to sending and receiving money all over the world.  With the option of fast transfer time and multiple currencies, different people in Canada trust Pesa to securely and quickly transfer their money. Pesa provides reliable transfer services that create a transfer world without borders. Here are some of the key features of Pesa:

• A multi-currency wallet that lets you hold, send and receive money in multiple currencies without creating multiple wallets.
• No hidden or excessive transaction fees.
• Very fast money transfers across borders.
• Supports over 30 currencies.
• The best exchange rates.

Pesa has the best experience for users in Canada, allowing you to spend and receive money from anywhere in the world. With zero transaction fees and fast rates, it is hands-down your best option as an alternative to Western Union in Canada.

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Send and receive money in Canada with Pesa.

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2. MoneyGram

MoneyGram is one of the most popular international money transfer options in the world. With the option of transferring money to different countries all over the world online or at a physical location without going through a ridiculously long process, MoneyGram is a world favourite. MoneyGram’s key features include:

• Coverage of all major currencies in the world
• Multiple transfer options
• You can send money to over 380,000 locations in the world.

However, one problem with MoneyGram is the speed and exchange fees. The way fees work on MoneyGram is that they aren’t fixed. International transfer fees vary based on the method of transfer you use, the country you’re sending it to and the amount of money you’re sending. So, it might not always be the best alternative in terms of transfer fees.

3. PayPal

PayPal is a globally known money transfer option, an online payment system that lets people transfer anywhere in the world. It is also a payment method embraced by different people in Canada and beyond. With its secure and quick payment and transfer services to different places in the world, PayPal is a worldwide choice. Some of PayPal’s major features include:

• You can send money from an app, browser, or tablet to any device that can access the internet.
• Depending on your use case, you can create two types of accounts: business and personal.
• It supports 25 currencies and exists in over 200+ countries.

The one problem with PayPal is that, unlike with Western Union, whoever you are transferring to needs to have a PayPal account. At the same time, there is a 5% charge and extra fees for international transactions.

4. WorldRemit

WorldRemit is a flexible payment option that serves as another alternative to Western Union, as it provides similar services. It is another payment option that doesn’t require the receiver to have a Worldremit account to receive transfers. With its ease of transactions and good exchange rates, it is a good choice for people who want to send money abroad to Canada. The key features of WorldRemit include:

• It supports over 70 countries and is available to send and receive in over 13 countries on different continents.
• Transfer fees are transparent.
• Options to send to mobile money, cash pickup or airtime
• Good exchange rates.

The transfer fees, however, depend on the amount of money to be sent, the currency, and the way it will be collected. It may not always be the best alternative, depending on where you are sending it.

5. Ria Money Transfer

In existence for over 30 years, Ria has proven to be one of the top players in the international transfer game. Ria offers international money transfers to and from different countries, alongside the use of agents and online transfers, depending on where you are. Some major features of Ria Money Transfer include:

• A global reach in 149 countries with around 350,000 agent locations.
• Online tracking option for money through the mobile app
• The exchange rate is better than most options.
• User-friendly experience

The transfer fees are another problem that Ria Money has compared to Western Union. The processing time is also relatively fast. However, the time range might be too long for most people, which might be a problem.

6. Skrill

Skrill is a more recent money transfer option that’s an alternative to Western Union that is gaining more traction. Skrill provides virtual wallets for users to send and receive money from worldwide.

• Multi-currency accounts for VIP Users.
• International transfer through credit cards
• Free international and local bank transfers

However, one of the problems that come with using Skrill is that the features are available on the usage level. This means that features are use-based; the more you use Skrill, the more features are available to you. There is also a huge deposit fee through the use of global payment methods.

Conclusion

Western Union is a staple for people all over the world, including Canada. However, there are cases where you might need to try out alternatives to Western Union. So, if you want to try out a faster option with zero transaction fees and keep your money very secure, try out Pesa. Make the most of your money with help from Pesa.

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Create a PESA account today - and start sending and receiving money globally.

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