Wise: Global Money Transfer

Finance

7.6~~/10~~

Our score

★ 4.8 Google Play·50M+ installs

Reviewed by Editorial Team, ScoredApps editorial · updated 2026-10-03

Screenshots

Wise home screen with a 1,250 USD balance, Add, Convert, Send and Request buttons, and GBP holdings below

Transfer screen sending 588.37 USD so the recipient gets exactly 500 EUR, with 2.27 USD in fees and a 24-hour rate guarantee

Explore tab banner stating 12.8 million active customers, with a padlock illustration

Choose a currency list with AUD, GBP, CAD, EUR, SGD, USD and AED, beside a Wise card at an ATM

Debit card payment of 679.34 USD so the recipient gets 500 GBP, arriving today in seconds, with 3.41 USD in fees

Interest screen charting a 100 USD balance boost by month, noting it is unavailable in New York and Alaska

About Wise: Global Money Transfer

Sending $1,000 from a US bank account to a euro account cost $5.47 on the company's own calculator on October 2, 2026, at the mid-market rate; paying by credit card pushed the fee to $65.03. The app also holds 40 currencies, issues a $9 debit card and provides receiving details in 22 currencies. The catch is compliance: identity checks and account reviews can hold money with little explanation.

App information

DeveloperWise Payments Ltd

Version9.44.1 (Android) · 9.103 (iOS)

Size90 MB (Android) · 493 MB (iOS)

Price / In-appFree

Contains adsNo

In-app purchasesNo

Content rating4+

Requires (Android)Android 7.0+

Requires (iOS)iOS 16.0+

Offline modeNo — transfers and balances need a connection; the card works without the phone

Interface languagesCS, NL, EN, FR, DE, HU + 13 more

Store rating (Google Play)4.8 from 2,055,478 ratings

Installs50M+

Updated by developer2026-09-26

Data checked2026-10-01

Specs come from the official store listings and were last checked on 2026-10-01. Developers change pricing and requirements — check the store page before installing.

Wise Review: Honest Exchange Rates, Less Predictable Account Reviews

$5.47 or $65.03: what a $1,000 transfer costs by payment method

Opening the account and holding a balance cost nothing, and there is no subscription. Each transfer carries a fee that starts from 0.23% and varies by currency, while the conversion uses the mid-market rate with no markup. The funding method moves the price most: for $1,000 sent to a euro bank account on October 2, 2026, the quote was $5.47 by ACH bank debit, $16.05 by debit card and $65.03 by credit card. Card issuers may add a cash advance fee on top, since transfers carry merchant code 4829 or 6012. Volume above $25,000 a month earns an automatic discount, and same-currency payments between two account holders are free. Prices are for the US and change.

The Multi-Currency Card: free ATM cash up to $250 a month

Money can sit in 40 currencies, and US customers can open receiving details in 22. Domestic payments in USD, EUR, GBP and six other currencies arrive free; an incoming USD wire or Swift payment costs $6.11. The physical Multi-Currency Card costs $9 once, a replacement $5, and the digital card is free. Spending a currency you hold costs nothing; otherwise the card converts at the mid-market rate with the standard fee. ATM withdrawals are free up to $250 per calendar month, then $1.95 plus 1.95% each, before any operator charge. Topping up some e-wallets costs 2%. Lead Bank and Community Federal Savings Bank issue the card in the US.

Not a bank: FDIC coverage, SSN checks and what the app shares

Wise US Inc. is a licensed money transmitter; in states where it holds no license, Community Federal Savings Bank runs the program. Ordinary balances and transfers carry no FDIC insurance. The company says it keeps US customer money separate, in cash and short-dated government bonds at JPMorgan Chase. Pass-through FDIC coverage up to $250,000 starts only after opting into the interest feature, which needs an SSN or EIN and is not offered in every state. Sending from USD or ordering a card can trigger an SSN or ITIN check without a credit pull, with a live selfie against photo ID as the fallback. Google Play's data card lists contacts and installed apps among collected data. Check current terms with the provider.

Account reviews, 1–2 day document checks and mandatory 2-step verification

Of the 150 newest English Google Play reviews, posted September 30 to October 1, 2026, 17 gave one or two stars, mostly over balances frozen after document requests, failed selfie checks or slow chat support. Document reviews usually take 1–2 working days, and a rejected document comes back with an emailed reason. When the company closes an account it gives no reason, and ACH-funded refunds can take up to 90 working days. Two-step verification cannot be switched off, only moved between a passkey, an approval in the app on a trusted device, an authenticator code or a text or call, while Log out everywhere under Security and privacy ends every session at once.

Pros

Mid-market exchange rate, with the fee shown as a separate line
$1,000 to a euro bank account cost $5.47 funded by ACH
Free domestic receiving in nine currencies, including USD, EUR and GBP
Free ATM withdrawals up to $250 per calendar month
Interest opt-in adds pass-through FDIC coverage up to $250,000
Volume discount applies automatically once monthly transfers pass $25,000

Cons

Credit card funding cost $65.03 on a $1,000 transfer, versus $5.47
Closed accounts get no stated reason; ACH refunds can take 90 working days
No FDIC insurance on ordinary balances unless you opt into interest
No cash pickup for recipients, which Remitly offers to Mexico for $3.99

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Verdict

Our 7.6 rests on pricing: the mid-market rate, a fee shown before you pay and $5.47 on a $1,000 bank-funded transfer to euros. Take it if you send to bank accounts abroad, get paid in foreign currencies or travel with a card that withdraws $250 a month free. Think twice if recipients need cash pickup, if you would pay by credit card, or if a balance frozen for weeks during a review would strand you.

Core function8.5Mid-market conversion, 40 holdable currencies and receiving details in 22, but no cash pickup for recipients.

Ease of use7.5The fee breakdown appears before paying, but SSN checks, live selfies and document requests interrupt early transfers.

Monetisation8.0No ads, subscription or in-app purchases; fees start at 0.23%, yet credit card funding cost 6.5% on $1,000.

Performance6.517 of the 150 newest English Play reviews gave 1–2 stars, citing frozen funds and delayed transfers.

Privacy & permissions6.5Play's data card lists contacts and installed apps; Apple's label shows location and identifiers used for tracking.

7.6out of 10 · weighted average of the five scores above

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Frequently asked questions

Is Wise free to use?

Opening an account, holding money and spending a currency you already hold are free, with no monthly plan. You pay per transfer or conversion, from 0.23% depending on the currency, plus a one-time $9 if you want the physical card. Funding by ACH bank debit is the cheapest route; prices are US figures and may change.

Is money in a Wise account FDIC insured?

Not by default. Wise US Inc. is a licensed money transmitter, not a bank, so ordinary balances and transfers carry no FDIC insurance. Opting into the interest feature for USD, GBP or EUR adds pass-through FDIC coverage up to $250,000 via the program bank, currently JPMorgan Chase. Check the program agreement for current terms.

How much does Wise charge to send money with a credit card?

Much more than a bank debit. On October 2, 2026, the official calculator quoted $65.03 to send $1,000 to a euro account by credit card, against $16.05 by debit card and $5.47 by ACH. Your card issuer may also charge a cash advance fee. Fees vary by currency and change over time.

What happens if Wise closes my account?

Pending transfers are cancelled and refunded the way they were paid: 3–10 working days for cards, 2–3 for bank or wire transfers and up to 90 working days for ACH debits. Remaining money goes back to your bank after security checks. No reason is given, but you can appeal the decision.

Is Wise cheaper than PayPal or Remitly?

Usually cheaper than PayPal abroad: PayPal charges 5%, capped at $4.99, plus a 4.00% conversion spread when the recipient gets another currency, or $40 on $1,000. Remitly lists flat fees, such as $1.99 to a Mexican bank account, sets its own exchange rate and offers cash pickup.