On top of comparing international money transfer services to determine whether they support Apple Pay, consider the following to help find the most suitable option for you:
Exchange rates
It’s important to get the best exchange rate for the currency you wish to transfer your Australian dollars into, as the higher the rate, the more foreign currency you can buy. The exchange rate you want to look out for is called the ‘mid-market’ rate (as it’s mid-way between the buy and sell price on the international money market). The mid-market rate represents the top exchange rate available at the time and is the same rate banks use to transfer money. Many providers add markups to their rates, so it’s crucial to compare your options.
Fees for transfer
Some international money transfer companies offer to exchange your money for a fee, while others don’t charge a fee but add a bit onto the exchange rate (called adding a ‘margin’ or a ‘mark-up’). The fees charged can either be a set fee (ranging from $6 up to $15) or a percentage of your transfer amount (such as 0.4% to 0.5% of your transfer sum).
Serviceability
Make sure the transfer company you choose services the country and provides the currency you’re after. Not all providers operate in all countries, while some companies specialise in a particular continent and region. For example, SingX is based in Singapore and specialises in transfers to other Asian nations, including sending money to China.
Speed of transfer
We know that banks can take from three to five business days to make a transfer, but international transfer companies get your funds overseas faster, on average within two days. Depending on the destination, many transfers will arrive the same day or even instantly. Since Apple Pay will use your nominated bank credit card, any payments could be subject to lengthy bank delays. If you need to get money overseas quickly, it’s always worth comparing between providers to see who can get your funds to their destination the fastest.
Transfer limits
Some money transfer companies impose limits on transfers. Minimums range from $1 up to $250, and maximums range from $1,000 a day up to between $50,000 and $500,000 or more. However, other companies have no upper limits, so it's worth comparing your options thoroughly if you need to make a very large money transfer.