World First Review - Money Transfer Costs and FXcompared’s rating

4.5/5
Exceptional
WorldFirst
Rating based on expert reviews by FXcompared
Go to WorldFirst
Rating based on expert reviews by FXcompared
Last updated | September 20th, 2023

About WorldFirst

WorldFirst, a UK-based currency broker, offers domestic and international money transfer services for individuals, businesses, and online sellers. It has been ranked in the Sunday London Times Virgin Fast Track list each year since 2009. WorldFirst's CEO Jonathan Quin held an extensive interview with FXcompared in February 2017.

WorldFirst provides money transfer services, competitive exchange rates, and flexible accounts for online sellers who need to send money globally, convert payments into their local currency, or pay overseas suppliers. WorldFirst specialises in serving markerplace and ecommerce clients and offers a multi-currency World Account.

WorldFirst homepage snapshot

Amount Received £ 10,000.00
£ 0.00 Average money saved. Saving vs. Banks
EURn/a
USDn/a
CADn/a
AUDn/a

WorldFirst Transfer Fees and Costs

4.4/5
Outstanding
WorldFirst
Rating based on expert reviews by FXcompared
Go to WorldFirst

WorldFirst Transfer Fees and Costs

Competitiveness on FXcompared for low value transfers e.g. sending GBP200
WorldFirst has a new pricing structure is now more competitive on low value transfers
3/5
Competitiveness on FXcompared for medium value transfers e.g. sending GBP10,000
WorldFirst is competitive on medium value transfers
4/5
Competitiveness on FXcompared for high value transfers e.g. sending GBP250,000
WorldFirst is very competitive on high value transfers
5/5
Does FXcompared have direct access to the pricing
FXcompared has direct access to WorldFirst pricing
2/2
Is it possible to lock in future exchange rates
Offers different service options and the ability to lock in rates
1/1

WorldFirst offers four distinct currency transfer services for individuals based on the customer’s preferred timing of the transaction.

The ‘buy now, pay now’ product is for customers who wish to make an international payment immediately. WorldFirst searches for the best rate on the current market (referred to as its ‘price promise’) and offers this rate to the customer.

The ‘buy now, pay later’ option is a forward contract for customers who wish to lock in a specific exchange rate but don’t want to make the transfer immediately. WorldFirst offers a rate lock for up to three years in advance. To initiate this type of transaction, customers need to pay a deposit up-front, with the balance due at the end of the contract. If the exchange rate moves, customers may be required to pay more to keep their deposit amount at the agreed-upon level.

For customers who need to make regular currency transactions, WorldFirst offers the ability to automate international payments on a schedule. Customers can set up a payment plan and choose between converting the payment at the exchange rate offered on the payment date or can lock in a rate ahead of time.

WorldFirst also offers a ‘best of both’ currency option, which allows customers to lock in a rate ahead of time but permits them to change it if the exchange rate moves when it’s time to make the transaction.

WorldFirst will offer you

 

  • Excellent exchange rates
  • Intuitive app for on the go transfers
  • Expert insight from a personal account manager
  • One of the strongest networks of coverage

Usability

4.0/5
Outstanding
WorldFirst
Rating based on expert reviews by FXcompared
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Usability

Easy to understand website
The website is straighforward to use
2/2
Simple sign up process (number of steps)
Sign up, build your account and make a transfer
2/2
Easy to setup a transfer once registered
If you use paypal, you will understand how to use WorldFirst
2/2
Provider offers a service that our users often sign up to
WorldFirst is sometimes chosen by FXcompared users
1/2
Mobile notifications available on completed transfers
Notifications
1/2

WorldFirst’s website is straight forward to use and fairly self-explanatory. Being able to stay logged in is helpful, but first-time users will be required to sign up. This is similar to many other websites on the internet. First, the website requires users to create a login that consists of an email address and password.

Then all the customer need do is follow the steps to ‘build their account’. This is simple enough and mostly involves pairing the user’s WorldFirst account with their bank or other revenue source. Anyone who has ever used PayPal or a similar service will instantly be at home using WorldFirst — the principle is the same.

World First App

World First mobile app

Whether you want to talk through your options with our team or move money on the go in a couple of clicks, you’ll always get great exchange rates and five star customer service.

Get it on Google Play Download for iOS

Mobile product

4.0/5
Outstanding
WorldFirst
Rating based on expert reviews by FXcompared
Go to WorldFirst

Mobile product

Easy to use mobile website
The website is easy to use on mobile
2/2
Easy to use mobile app
Make a transaction in five taps!
2/2
Can transact in the app
Transactions are straightforward using the app
2/2
Range of in-app product offering
Full services from live rates to market updates
2/2
App store rating
The app has poor ratings on both stores, but a low number of reviews so this may soon change
0/2

Accessing the WorldFirst website on your mobile phone offers the same features as if you were accessing the site on your laptop or desktop computer. However, for ease of use, WorldFirst also has an intuitive app for on-the-go transfers.

WorldFirst’s app includes functions such as a payment tracker, live rates, pay by card functionality and provides market updates to keep the user up to speed with the latest international news developments. The app is also compatible with Android smartwatches, whereby WorldFirst notes that a payment can be conducted in only five taps or three swipes.

At the time of writing, WorldFirst’s app has a rating of 2.8/5 on Google Play store and a rating of only 1/5 on Apple’s App Store (based on a single user rating).

Trustworthiness & Reliability

4.5/5
Exceptional
WorldFirst
Rating based on expert reviews by FXcompared
Go to WorldFirst

Trustworthiness & Reliability

Fully licensed and authorised
WorldFirst is regulated by the FCA, FinTRAC, FinCEN, and ASIC.
4/4
Total amount transferred for their customers
More than GBP70 Billion in transfers since 2004
3/3
Business revenue
Revenue of GBP71.3m in 2018
3/3
Year on year growth
Business declined recently as US arm was closed
0/1
Number of employees
423 at the end of 2018
1/1
Head office location
Headquarters are in London, England
1/1
Branded search performance
WorldFirst is easy to find online
1/1
How long has the company been a partner of FXcompared
FXcompared has worked with WorldFirst for over 8 years
2/2
How long has the company been established?
Worldfirst was formed in 2004
3/3
Quality of financial backers
WorldFirst is owned by Ant Financial, the Chinese financial conglomerate
2/2
Private or public company
WorldFirst is a Private Limited Company and publishes full company accounts in the UK.
1/1

WorldFirst was formed in April 2004. By the end of its first year, it had booked £43m in currency trades.

By October of 2005, the company reached £100m in transactions and had expanded to eight employees.

In 2006, WorldFirst launched its corporate desk and hired Sir David Clementi, former Deputy Head of the Bank of England, to serve as Senior Advisor. The following year the firm reached £1bn in currency transactions and, in 2008, the firm was the first UK-based foreign exchange broker to be granted approval by the FSA to sell currency options. The second WorldFirst office opened in Sydney, Australia.

In 2009, WorldFirst reached £2bn in currency transactions and launched its automated payments product. The company was awarded the Queen’s Award for Enterprise. It finished the year by being authorised as a Payments Institution, and was ranked in the 53rd spot in the Sunday London Times Virgin Fast Track list.

At the start of 2010, the company was named one of the London Sunday Times’ ‘Best Companies to Work For’, and launched its online platform. During the year the company also won the Service Business of the Year award (part of the Fast Growth Business Awards) and was named a finalist in the National Business Awards for Customer Focus.

By April of 2011, the company’s currency transactions had grown to £5bn and it was once again named as one of the London Times’ ‘Best Companies to Work For’. It continued to expand, opening US offices in 2012 in Washington, DC, and was awarded the National Business Award for Customer Focus.

In 2013, the company’s Singapore office opened, and it grew to 200 employees by year-end. By 2014, the number of WorldFirst employees had grown to 300 and the company opened its second Asian office, in Hong Kong. In September of 2014, the company completed its one-millionth transaction. In 2019, it had transferred over £70bn.

WorldFirst is regulated around the globe including by the FCAFinTRAC and ASIC.

Business product offering

5.0/5
Exceptional
WorldFirst
Rating based on expert reviews by FXcompared
Go to WorldFirst

Business product offering

Distinct offering for business
Worldfirst has a seperate team for Business Customers
4/4
Broader product set for business
Services include forward contracts and bulk payments
3/3
Specialised team to support businesses
Yes, the team are dedicated to business customers
2/2
Receivables product options
Yes and a large range of marketplace seller products
1/1
Marketplace seller product offering
One of the broadest product offerings of any company, strong China experience and the World Account multi-currency account.
2/2

The points above are added to calculate the "Business Product offering" score.

WorldFirst’s website segregates itself into two sections — one for business customers and another for personal customers. Each is dealt with by a different team of WorldFirst account managers. Personal and business customers alike are all provided with an individual account manager. However, the support and services offered may differ from client to client.

For business customers, the company notes the following services:

·        Free overseas accounts in up to 10 different currencies.

·        The ability to collect, hold and make payments globally in over 180 currencies.

·        Fixed, transparent pricing across spot & forward contracts, firm orders and bulk payments.

·        Dedicated, award-winning customer-service 24/7.

For personal customers:

·        Free same-day account opening.

·        Payments in over 180 currencies.

·        Same day international payments with no payment fees.

·        The possibility to save up to 85% on FX pricing.

WorldFirst business customers can transfer money worldwide using either the ‘buy now, pay now,’ or ‘buy now, pay later’ options, or create a customised approach that factors in the company’s currency risk appetite and specific currency transfer needs.

Business customers are also provided with current rate information and research, and economic commentary to help them make the best money transfer decision for their business.

As of February 2017, WorldFirst stopped offering FX options contracts to clients.

WorldFirst Products for Marketplace Sellers and the WorldFirst World Account

WorldFirst is one of the leading providers of products for companies who sell on marketplaces such as Amazon. The WorldFirst World . Account is a multicurrency account available in GBP, EUR, USD, CAD, CNH, HKD, JPY, NZD, SGD & AUD.

worldfirst world account review

Product Coverage & Service

4.2/5
Outstanding
WorldFirst
Rating based on expert reviews by FXcompared
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Product Coverage & Service

Number of sending and receiving countries
Payments in over 180 currencies
3/4
Number of available languages
Offices worldwide and websites for 9 locales
2/2
Pay in options
Pay in via bank transfer
2/4
Pay out options
Pay out to a bank account
2/2
Additional services
Strong product set in the ecommerce segement
2/2
Minimum send amount
Can send any amount
2/2
Maximum send amount
Can send large amounts
2/2
Speed and options for speed of transfer
Depending on the currencies and countries between 1 and 4 days
1/2

An exhaustive list of countries that WorldFirst covers has not been made available at the time of writing. However, the company appears to have one of the strongest networks in the industry. This implies that it covers a wide range of currencies and more than many of its competitors.

On top of catering for personal and business customers, WorldFirst provides several additional or complementary services for its customers, including the following:

  • Spot contracts — these are the rates offered if a customer should need to transfer money straightaway.
  • Forward contracts — these can lock in an exchange rate, but transfer the money in the future. This is ideal if the customer wants to get a good exchange rate at that moment but may wish to transfer later.
  • Live exchange rates — WorldFirst provides continually updated interbank exchange rates between currency pairs.
  • Currency converter calculation — WorldFirst provides online currency conversion calculations based on the interbank rate.
  • Rate alerts — allows a customer to sign up for rate alerts for when WorldFirst’s exchange rates meet a particular target.
  • Receiving accounts — WorldFirst provides receiving accounts in many different currencies.

The minimum transfer amount is £1,000. There is no maximum amount for WorldFirst. Customers can set up fixed regular payments, which lock in a favourable exchange rate for a series of payments and can provide protection against currency rate fluctuations.

WorldFirst offers what’s known as a ‘price promise’. This demonstrates its confidence in offering the best exchange rates on the market. This means that should a customer receive a better quote from a competitor, WorldFirst will strive to match or beat it.

In order to take advantage, a customer would first need to register with WorldFirst and the other provider, get the quote (which must be for the same amount and currency pair), then submit it to WorldFirst within three hours. This is the only way to qualify for a price match.

Customer Feedback & Satisfaction

4.7/5
Exceptional
WorldFirst
Rating based on expert reviews by FXcompared
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Customer Feedback & Satisfaction

Customer help including onboarding
No negative reviews for the company’s online account set-up process
2/2
Ease of transfer
An easy and intuative process
2/2
Exchange rates
New pricing structure is simpler and cheaper
2/2
Fees
The company has a price guarantee in place
2/2
Solving issues
helpful customer service and support staff
2/2
Online/mobile experience
Reviews for the website and app are generally positive although app store ratings are low
1/2
Customer service
Most reviewers praised the company’s helpful support staff
2/2
Overall experience
Customers liked the amount of options available for a transaction
2/2

Generally, customer reviews cited WorldFirst’s website, mobile app, and dedicated dealer service as reasons for choosing WorldFirst to send money internationally. Most reviewers praised the company’s helpful support staff and experienced dealers for making the transaction smooth and less stressful. It was difficult to find any negative reviews regarding the company’s ability to make overseas transactions easier and less of a hassle for customers. Overall, WorldFirst customers gave the company positive ratings for the ease of submitting money transfer orders and for being able to track their transactions.

WorldFirst’s market-timing options are well-received and well-liked by customers. Almost all reviews for the company’s ability to execute transactions to the customer’s satisfaction were positive. WorldFirst offers numerous hedging strategies and futures contracts, as well as an experienced and knowledgeable trading team available to help customers — the reviews reflected this. Customers liked the amount of options available for a transaction, as well as having access to a dedicated dealer to advise them throughout the process.

Most customer reviews were positive for WorldFirst’s ability to secure favourable exchange rates for customer transactions, as well as for the fees charged per transaction. The company has a price guarantee in place that was mentioned in several reviews, as well as offering no-fee transactions in the UK. Feefo and ReviewCentre customer reviews were more than 95% positive in regards to the company’s fee structure and the exchange rate they received.

WorldFirst received overall positive reviews for its global reach and the amount of currencies available (over 100). The company offers translations in multiple languages and receives high marks from customers for its global presence, with offices in the UK, US, Australia, Hong Kong, and Singapore.

WorldFirst’s website, its account set-up process, and its mobile app all received positive customer reviews. There were no negative reviews for the company’s online account set-up process or for the company’s mobile app. Several commenters mentioned liking the ability to send and receive money through the app.

Reviews for WorldFirst’s customer service and support staff were overall favourable, with a few negative reviews mentioning difficulty contacting a dedicated dealer or receiving an exchange rate that wasn’t as good as they expected. Most reviewers, however, were pleased with the level of customer service they received from WorldFirst, and several described situations where a dealer spent significant time explaining their options, walking them through the possibilities, and providing support each step of the way. Several reviewers mentioned the dedicated customer support they received while making a large international home purchase, and how the dealer and customer service staff were always available to answer questions.

WorldFirst distinguishes itself from competitors by offering additional products and services that many currency firms do not. The company receives high ratings from customers for its mobile app, which allows customers to track, send, and receive money on the go. The firm also helps merchants and online sellers receive international payments by setting up international bank accounts for them. This is a service few currency firms provide, and is much appreciated by its corporate customers. WorldFirst also offers a suite of sophisticated hedging options, including convertible forwards, market orders, a rate watch feature, and protection options. The company’s dedicated currency dealers are available to help customers choose the best option for their needs.

WorldFirst has a large amount of customer reviews spread across review sites, including Feefo, TrustPilot, and ReviewCentre. Overall, the majority of the reviews are positive, with approximately 98% of Feefo customer reviews citing a positive experience, and 95% positive reviews on ReviewCentre. However, there have been more recent negative reviews on TrustPilot’s site, with many customers describing a poor exchange rate or issues with documentation.

The positive reviews described an easy sign-up process using the company’s website, the helpfulness of having dedicated currency dealers, helpful customer service and support staff, excellent exchange rates, and satisfaction with prompt executions and funds delivery. Some reviewers were extremely happy that they were able to save large amounts of money by using WorldFirst to transfer funds instead of going through a bank.

With regards to onboarding, TrustPilot includes a recent five-star review from a business customer who praises the company’s telephone team and the ease of their initial transaction following the initial application. The customer notes a total transaction saving of 2.5% compared to their high street bank.

Negative customer reviews covered a range of issues, from transactions being delayed due to poor execution or mismanagement on the part of a WorldFirst currency dealer, to receiving an exchange rate that was poorer than what the customer had been offered by their bank. Some of the negative reviews were for aspects that were beyond WorldFirst’s ability to control. These included additional fees charged by a recipient’s bank, a slow transfer due to country regulations that had nothing to do with WorldFirst, and additional documentation requirements which, again, were beyond WorldFirst’s ability to control. Lastly, one reviewer claimed their funds were not received on the day expected because of a bank holiday. While several of the negative reviews did seem valid, others blamed WorldFirst for circumstances that were beyond the company’s control.

 

Customer Help & Assistance

4.3/5
Outstanding
WorldFirst
Rating based on expert reviews by FXcompared
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Customer Help & Assistance

How good is the help section on the website?
Covers most questions, although no search functionality
2/2
Is there live online support?
There is no live chat but you can phone or request a call back
0/1
Is there email support - and to customers and non customers?
New and existing clients are welcome to email
1/1
Is there phone support ?
Local phone numbers are provided on the website
2/2
Is the company easy to contact?
Email, phone and request a call back
1/1
Are FAQs and support available in more than one language?
Website and phone contact details are available for 7 countries
1/1
Is there an FX dealer to support customers
WorldFirst has FX dealers to support customers
2/2

WorldFirst’s online FAQ section is segregated into sections for general queries, payments, its online business platform and an online sellers FAQ. Each section is selectable from the FAQ’s menu, with the answer to each question expandable and collapsible when clicked upon. Although the FAQ is easily navigable, there is no search function provided.

A browse on WorldFirst’s ‘contact’ page reveals no option for live chat. Instead, the support options here include email, telephone and the option to request a call back. In each case, the contact options are categorised for online sellers, and personal and business customers. In each case, the contact channels are open to new and existing clients.

WorldFirst makes its website available for the following countries, in their native languages — China, Japan, France, Singapore, Hong Kong, the Netherlands and the UK. WorldFirst is contactable according to the opening hours of each location, which vary depending on the worldwide branch.

Pricing Transparency

5.0/5
Exceptional
WorldFirst
Rating based on expert reviews by FXcompared
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Pricing Transparency

Is there an explicit exchange rate margin in the total cost of transfer?
WorldFirst has a very simple pricing structure which is volume based in three set tiers.
2/2
Are the fees easy to understand?
No fees for personal customers but business accounts have an agreed fee structure
2/2
Does the company combine fees and exchange rate or clearly broken out?
WorldFirst does charge a margin on all personal transactions and breaks out any fees separately.
2/2
Is a real time quote available without registering?
Pricing is simple at WorldFirst and no need to register to get the price.
2/2

Getting a quote without registering is problematic due to what’s involved but sign up is free, and the company keeps all customer details secure and private. The company is fully regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) in the UK and by its equivalents abroad.

WorldFirst charges a standard fee of $10 for transfers of $10,000 or less. It does not charge any fee for transfers over $10,000. It also provides variable pricing for businesses (between $0 and $10 per transaction) depending on how much money is sent.

WorldFirst’s exchange rates are around 1% below the standard rate a bank would charge, which is typically around 4%. This is low but not as low as some of its competitors.

Whether for business or personal customer, WorldFirst makes its fee guidelines easily accessible from its homepage.

In order to access WorldFirst’s available rates, an online account is required. However, the company does provide the opportunity to view live exchange rates, accurate to the hour. However, these rates do not incorporate WorldFirst’s currency rates.

Alternatives to WorldFirst

Currencies Direct
Rating based on expert reviews by FXcompared
Go to Currencies Direct
TorFX
Rating based on expert reviews by FXcompared
Go to TorFX
OFX (UK)
Rating based on expert reviews by FXcompared
Go to OFX (UK)

Compare Other Currency Rates

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Other International Money Transfer Quotes

OFX (UK)

Est. 1998

OFX (previously UKForex in the UK), provides secure and speedy international money transfers to over 300,000 people in 55 currencies at better-than-bank rates

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Amount Received
USD $12,573.31
GBP £213.32
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TorFX

Est. 2004

Excellent exchange rates | No transfer fees | Thousands of 5 star reviews 

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USD $12,624.06
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Currencies Direct

Est. 1996

Great exchange rates | Specialist services | No added fees, 24/7 transfers | Safe and secure

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USD $12,624.06
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Corpay^

Est. 2005

Great rates | One-off payments | Regular transfers | E-Money Institution | No fees for FXcompared customers

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USD $12,573.31
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Currency Solutions

Est. 2003

Currency exchange specialists ranking No.1 on Trustpilot for the past two years

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USD $12,560.63
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Smart Currency Exchange

Est. 2004
Smart is focused on helping clients to effectively and efficiently send and receive payments internationally
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USD $12,560.63
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Rates From The Average UK High Street Bank

Est. 1934

Banks are the most expensive way to do an international money transfer, the quotes from the providers above show you the typical savings that can be made. All providers on FXcompared.com are regulated in the UK  by the FCA, in the USA by FinCEN, In Canada SSC and Australia, ASIC.

We check all rates regularly and this quote is an actual quote of the average from UK banks for this month. It includes all major and small banks. Lloyds, Barclays, HSBC, Santander, NatWest, RBS, Coutts, Handelsbanken, Metro bank and more - tracked every month. We obtain our rates via our IMTI platform.
 

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Amount Received
USD $12,269.83
No saving vs. banks

Moneycorp

Est. 1979

One-off payments | Regular payments | Great rates | Safeguarded customer funds

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Amount Received
USD $12,408.38
GBP £83.32
saved vs. banks

PayPal

Est. 1998

Shop with PayPal and you’ll still earn your points, airmiles and cashback. Fees are shown as part of the overall exchange rate.

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FXcompared Rating
Amount Received
USD $12,180.00
No saving vs. banks

Frequently Asked Questions

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How do I use WorldFirst?

To use WorldFirst’s services, a customer needs to complete the following steps:

  • Sign up online through WorldFirst’s secure website to create an account.
  • Await contact from WorldFirst to verify customer details.
  • Log in to receive a first live quote.
  • Accept the rate and fees.
  • Enter the recipient’s account details.
  • Transfer the funds, even to international clients.
  • Customers can then receive a text confirmation once their transfer has been approved by WorldFirst.

Does WorldFirst have a minimum transfer?

Yes, the minimum a customer can transfer is £1,000 in order to take advantage of the service.

How can I contact WorldFirst?

WorldFirst’s head office is based in the UK, which can be reached by telephone weekdays from 8.30am to 5.30pm. WorldFirst can also be reached by email, social media, or customers can also request a call back from a representative if that’s more convenient.

Does WorldFirst have an app?

Yes. WorldFirst’s app is free and available on iOS and Android platforms. There are no in-app purchases.

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Why you can trust FXcompared's reviews

FXcompared's goal is to help you find the best money transfer provider for your needs. 

We have been comparing money transfer companies longer than anyone else (over 10 years) and work with the leading money transfer providers across the globe.

We have deep knowledge and relationships across the sector including our own data and intelligence arm allowing us to provide the level of in-depth reviews we have offered here.

We have had a long-term relationship with WorldFirst which allows us to access their exchange rate and fees information and we have many checks in place to ensure this is accurate. Partnerships with providers likes WorldFirst help us provide our site and services free of charge to our users.

FXcompared.com is an fx money comparison site for international money transfer and to compare rates from currency brokers for sending money abroad. The website and the information provided is for informational purposes only and does not constitute an offer, solicitation or advice on any financial service or transaction. None of the information presented is intended to form the basis for any investment decision, and no specific recommendations are intended.  FXC Group Ltd and FX Compared Ltd does not provide any guarantees of any data from third parties listed on this website. FX compared Ltd expressly disclaims any and all responsibility for any direct or consequential loss or damage of any kind whatsoever arising directly or indirectly from (i) any error, omission or inaccuracy in any such information or (ii) any action resulting therefrom.