How to send money to Argentina in 2023? What are the best online and cheapest alternatives? (GUIDE)

How To Send Money To Argentina In 2023 (Best Ways And Online)

I’m an Argentinean living abroad, and I get it: it’s complicated! Are you also looking for the best ways to send money to Argentina? What are the options out there that you can trust, that are not Western Union, or that you can manage from your phone? Maybe you are sending money to friends or family. Or, even, sending money to yourself from Europe or the US if you are studying or working abroad.

Why would you send money to yourself using an online service rather than just using a debit card? Because you get a much better exchange rate. See, Argentina is a very complex country when it comes to exchange rates and economics: there are almost 200 different rates that are not the official one. Long story short: if you use your regular bank, you loose money.

Since this is a very important topic and something I revisit very often in my life, in this post, I tried to cover every good option you can use in 2023 to send money to Argentina in a quick, cheap and simple way, either online or through your phone.

Remitly Logo (2023)
Remitly

Best for: cheapest
First transfer for free. Better exchange rates to some destinations.
TrustPilot 4.1

WorldRemit Logo (2023)
WorldRemit

Best for: exchange rates
Reaches some countries that others don’t. Higher transfer limits.
TrustPilot 4.1

Revolut Logo (2023)
Revolut

Best for: debit card
Great everyday bank with cheap international transfers from the app.
TrustPilot 4.3

Western Union Logo Square
Western Union

Best for: cash pickup
Great for the UK, Germany, France, and Sweden. Transfers from the app.
TrustPilot 4.0

International Money Transfers vs Debit Card: Why?

Don’t waste money. If you use your international debit or credit card in Argentina, you will get one particular exchange rate: the MEP rate (or Mercado Electronico de Pagos), which is often between 10% and 20% lower than what you can get by selling foreign currency on the street. It’s also heavily regulated and limited by the government. Instead, you can use a money transfer service like the ones below, which have low fees and better currency exchange rates.

Here are the main key reasons why sending money to Argentina in other ways can be difficult:

  • Currency controls: The Argentine government imposes strict currency controls, which make it difficult to transfer money in and out of the country.
  • High inflation: Argentina has a high inflation rate, which can make the value of the Argentine peso fluctuate wildly. This can make it difficult to calculate the exchange rate and estimate the cost of a money transfer.
  • High fees: Money transfer companies often charge high fees for sending money to Argentina. This can eat into the amount of money that the recipient receives.
  • Slow delivery times: It can take several days or even weeks for a money transfer to arrive in Argentina. This can be a problem if the recipient needs the money urgently.

How to send money to Argentina in 2023? (Best Online Websites And Apps)

1. Remitly

Remitly is the most recent player in the game, and one of the best ways to send money to South America in general. Remitly specializes in international money transfers, providing a platform allowing individuals to send and receive money across borders quickly, securely, and at a lower cost than traditional money transfer methods.

Remitly Logo (2023)

Remitly is available in over 20 countries and supports various currencies, including the US dollar, Euro, British Pound, Argentinean Peso, and Chinese Yuan. Remitly’s services include bank transfers, cash pickups, and home delivery options. The company is based in Seattle, Washington, and was founded in 2011. It has since expanded its operations globally and processed over $20 billion in money transfers for its customers.

Why to choose Remitly?

Compared to the alternatives below, Remitly is one of the simplest and most complete solutions. They have more cash pickup locations than Western Union, they can transfer money to Mercado Pago, BNA+, NaranjaX, Ualรก, and others, plus, they can transfer to any bank account in Argentina. All with ultra-low fees.

Remitly: one of the best ways to send money to Argentina in 2023 (Western Union Alternative)

Send money to Argentina with Remitly (step-by-step):

  1. Create a free Remitly account.
  2. Enter the recipient’s information. This includes their name, address, and the method of payment they prefer.
  3. Choose how much money you want to send and the exchange rate. Remitly will show you all of the fees involved before you confirm your transfer.
  4. Choose a delivery method. You can send the money to a bank account, a mobile wallet, or have it picked up in cash.
  5. Review your transfer and confirm it. Once you’re happy with everything, click “Send”.

How do they pick up the money? Here are the specific steps involved in each method of delivery:

  • Bank deposit: The recipient must provide their bank account number and the CBU (Clave Bancaria รšnica), a unique identifier for their account.
  • Mobile wallet: The recipient must provide the name of their mobile wallet provider and their account number.
  • Cash pickup: The recipient will need to go to a Remitly cash pickup location in Argentina and show their ID (Cobro Express, Megatone, Transfery, Girso Express or More Money Transfer).

The delivery time for a Remitly transfer to Argentina typically takes 1-3 business days.

Cash pickup locations

Remitly, specifically when it comes to money transfers to Argentina, offers more convenient cash pickup locations than Wester Union. WU offices are usually crowded with long queues of over one hour. With Remitly you can choose different provides: Cobro Express, Megatone, Transfery, Giros Express (Andesmar), or More Money Transfers.

Here are some screenshots of using Remitly to send money to a cash pickup spot in Argentina

How to send money to Argentina with Remitly: Cash Pickup Locations

Mobile Wallets and Bank transfers

A huge plus about Remitly is that it can transfer money to all the biggest mobile wallets in Argentina, such as Mercado Pago, NaranjaX, Ualรก, Modo, BNA+, and more. It can also transfer fee-free to every major bank in Argentina regulated by the Central Bank (BCRA).

Advantages of Remitly

  • Excellent TrustPilot score of 4.1+
  • Competitive exchange rates: Remitly offers competitive exchange rates, which means that you get more money for your money.
  • Low fees: Remitly charges low fees for its services. This can save you a lot of money, especially if you are sending a large amount of money.
  • Fast delivery times: Remitly offers fast delivery times, so you can rest assured that your money will reach your recipient quickly.
  • Convenient and easy to use: Remitly is convenient and easy to use. You can send money online or through the Remitly app.
  • Wide network of partners: Remitly has a wide network of partners in over 100 countries, so you can send money to almost anywhere in the world.
  • Transparency: Remitly is transparent about its fees and exchange rates. You can see exactly how much money you will send and receive before you confirm your transfer.
  • Customer support: Remitly has customer support available 24/7. If you have any questions or problems, you can contact Remily’s customer support team for assistance.

2. WorldRemit

WorldRemit was founded in 2010 and is based in London, UK, as a digital money transfer company that provides a platform for individuals to send and receive money across borders.

WorldRemit offers services in more than 130 countries worldwide and supports various currencies, including the US dollar, Euro, British Pound, and many others. They pride themselves on offering low fees and competitive exchange rates, making it a popular choice for people looking to send money abroad.

WorldRemit Logo (2023)
WorldRemit: one of the best ways to send money to Argentina in 2023 (Western Union Alternative)

Send money to Argentina with WorldRemit (step-by-step):

  1. Create a free WorldRemit account or get the app.
  2. Enter the recipient’s information. This includes their name, address, and the method of payment they prefer.
  3. Choose how much money you want to send and the exchange rate. WorldRemit will show you all of the fees involved before you confirm your transfer.
  4. Choose a delivery method. You can send the money to a bank account, a mobile wallet, or have it picked up in cash.
  5. Review your transfer and confirm it. Once you’re happy with everything, click “Send”.

How do they pick up the money? Here are the specific steps involved in each method of delivery:

  • Bank deposit: The recipient will need to provide their bank account number and the CBU (Clave Bancaria รšnica), which is a unique identifier for their account.

The delivery time for a WorldRemit transfer to Argentina typically takes 1-3 business days. 90% of WorldRemit’s transactions arrive within the same day.

Advantages of WorldRemit

  • Excellent TrustPilot score of 4.1+
  • Promotions: WorldRemit often offers promotions and discounts, which can help you save even more money on your money transfers.
  • Customer support: WorldRemit has customer support available 24/7. If you have any questions or problems, you can contact WorldRemit’s customer support team for assistance.
  • Transparency: WorldRemit is transparent about its fees and exchange rates. You can see exactly how much money you will send and receive before you confirm your transfer.

3. Revolut

I’ve covered Revolut many, many times on the blog. In 2022, Revolut got an official banking license in the EU, meaning it is now an official bank with a deposit guarantee.

Revolut uses the interbank exchange rate for currency conversion on international transfers, which means that you’ll get the real exchange rate with no hidden fees. It also offers competitive fees and allows you to send money to over 130 countries.

This method is only valid for countries where Revolut works (EEA, UK, and the US). Revolut is a great option but might require a bit of extra paperwork to set up, and only supports receiving the money in Argentina via bank transfer.

Revolut Logo (2023)

Ongoing Offer

Upgrade to try Revolut Premium and get 3 months for FREE. With Revolut Premium or Revolut Ultra you get free international money transfers.

WorldRemit: one of the best ways to send money to Argentina in 2023 (Western Union Alternative)

Send money to Argentina with Revolut (step-by-step):

  1. Download the Revolut app and create an account.
  2. Add money to your Revolut account using a bank transfer, credit/debit card, or Apple Pay.
  3. Go to the Payments tab in the app and select “Send Money”.
  4. Under Country, select Argentina.
  5. Enter the recipient’s details in Argentina, including their name and bank account information.
  6. Choose the amount you want to send and select the currency you wish to pay in.
  7. Review the transfer details, including the exchange rate and fees.
  8. Confirm the transfer by entering your Revolut passcode, or use your fingerprint to authenticate the transaction.
  9. Revolut will convert the money and send it to the recipient’s bank account in Argentina.
  10. You and the recipient will receive notifications once the transfer is complete.

Unlike Remitly or WorldRemit, Revolut only supports bank transfers. The delivery time is typically 1-3 business days, but most often, transfers arrive within the same day.

Advantages of Revolut

  • International money transfers: Revolut allows you to send money to over 150 countries at competitive exchange rates and low fees.
  • Fee-free currency exchange: Revolut offers fee-free currency exchange on all of its plans.
  • ATM withdrawals: Revolut allows you to withdraw cash from ATMs worldwide without paying any fees.
  • Virtual and physical debit cards: Revolut offers both virtual and physical debit cards that can be used to make payments online and in stores.
  • Travel insurance: Revolut offers travel insurance that can be purchased through the app.
  • Investing: Revolut offers a variety of investment products, including stocks, ETFs, and cryptocurrencies.

4. Western Union

Western Union is best known for its money transfer services. They have recently revamped their website and app making the whole process smoother and quicker. They have also been around for a long time, hence they have plenty of agent locations. You will need to provide the recipient’s name and address and the amount of money you want to send. You will also need to pay a fee for the service.

They are best for cash pickups in remote areas, but the exchange rates are worse than other platforms, and their app is a bit sketchy. If you look for a simple transfer to a local bank account, Remitly might be a good alternative.

Western Union Logo (2023)

Ongoing Offer

No fees on your first transfer.

Western Union: one of the best ways to send money to Argentina

Send money to Argentina with Western Union (step-by-step):

  1. Go to the Western Union website or mobile app.
  2. Create an account or log in to your existing account.
  3. Select Argentina as the destination country.
  4. Enter the amount of money you want to send and the recipient’s name, address, and phone number.
  5. Choose how you want to pay for the transfer. You can pay with a credit or debit card, bank account, or cash at a Western Union agent location.
  6. Review the transfer details and confirm the transfer.
  7. You will receive a tracking number (MTCN). Share this number with the recipient so they can track the transfer and pick up the money.

Some things to keep in mind

  • The exchange rate offered by Western Union may be lower than that offered by other alternatives like Remitly or World Remit.
  • Western Union charges a fee for its money transfer services. The fee varies depending on the money you send and the destination country. You get the first transaction for free when using the mobile app.
  • You can track the status of your money transfer on the Western Union website or mobile app.
  • The recipient must provide identification and the MTCN to pick up the money.

Advantages of Western Union

  • Global reach:ย Western Union has a larger global network of agent locations than Remitly or WorldRemit. This means it is easier to find a place to send or receive money through Western Union, especially in less developed countries.
  • Reliability: Western Union is a well-established and trusted financial institution with a long history of providing money transfer services.
  • Convenience: Western Union offers a variety of ways to send and receive money, including online, through its mobile app, and at agent locations.
  • Speed:ย Western Union money transfers are typically available within minutes.

Conclusion: What’s the best way to send money to Argentina?

As an Argentinean living abroad for over 15 years, I know the struggles of trying to send money to friends, family, or even myself. The regulations change every day, and if you are not on top of the latest methods, apps, and services, you’ll probably lose money in the end. The situation these days is even more complex, with more than 150 different exchange rates recognized by the government.

The truth is that, any option in this list will get the job done. The best choice will most likely depend on your origin country and currency you are trying to transfer (i.e. if it’s USD, EUR, SEK, CHF, etc.). It will also depend if your recipient has a local bank account in Argentina or needs to pick up the money from an office or pickup location.

I’m committed to keeping this list updated and extend it over time to always have the latest information at hand. Feel free to suggest more ways in the comment below or via Instagram. Note that Wise was also on this list but since a few months back, they paused transactions in ARS due to new limitations.

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