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Send Money Overnight

Compare ways to send money overnight here with Savvy.

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, updated on August 18th, 2023       

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Compare the quickest options to send money overnight

Do you need to send money overnight so it can arrive the very next day? This is often the case with important or time-critical business deals, or if family members need urgent assistance.  Find out more about sending money overnight here with Savvy and compare a range of providers to help you find the best one for your fast money transfer needs today.

site-logos OFX
  Minimum Transfer Amount Transfer Speed Transfer Fee Total Currencies Available  
site-logos $250 1-3 days $0 50+
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Special Offer: 5 fee free transfers (saving you up to $75 in fees) + preferential rates for international money transfers

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site-logos Instarem
  Minimum Transfer Amount Transfer Speed Transfer Fee Total Currencies Available  
site-logos $1 Within minutes From 0% to 1% 55+
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Enjoy $40 bonus on your first money transfers of $250 & above! Use code*: SAVVY20X2 (Minimum transfer of AUD 250 Valid till 31st August 2023)

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site-logos Xe
  Minimum Transfer Amount Transfer Speed Transfer Fee Total Currencies Available  
site-logos $0 1-3 days From $0 100
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Xe is a 2021 Canstar Award Winner and offers the best exchange rates, low to no fees so customers save the most money

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site-logos Western Union Money Transfer
  Minimum Transfer Amount Transfer Speed Transfer Fee Total Currencies Available  
site-logos $0 1 - 2 days $0 35
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Send money to over 200 countries and territories across the world online

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site-logos Wise Money Transfer
  Minimum Transfer Amount Transfer Speed Transfer Fee Total Currencies Available  
site-logos $0 1-3 days From 0.41% 53
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Send money cheaper and easier with Wise with no hidden fees.

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site-logos TorFX
  Minimum Transfer Amount Transfer Speed Transfer Fee Total Currencies Available  
site-logos $200 0-2 days $0 35
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Excellent exchange rates with no transfer fees. Trusted by over 325,000 customers. Awarded Canstar’s 5 star rating 2018-2021.

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site-logos Currencyfair
  Minimum Transfer Amount Transfer Speed Transfer Fee Total Currencies Available  
site-logos $5 Within minutes From $0 20+
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Send money overseas at better exchange rates, with no hidden fees.

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site-logos Remitly
  Minimum Transfer Amount Transfer Speed Transfer Fee Total Currencies Available  
site-logos $0 0-2 days From $0 21
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Remitly offers fast, safe and secure money transfers with excellent rates to over 100 countries

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site-logos Revolut
  Minimum Transfer Amount Transfer Speed Transfer Fee Total Currencies Available  
site-logos $0 Within minutes From $0 27+
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Fast and easy, with super competitive rates across all major currencies. Join 25+ million customers saving on global transfers.

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Disclaimer: Savvy is not advising or recommending any particular product to you. We provide general information on products for the purposes of comparison, but your personal situation or goals are not considered here. Although we try to make our comparisons as thorough as possible, we do not have information on all products on the market on our site.

If you decide to initiate a money transfer with one of the providers listed above via our website, you will not be dealing with Savvy; any applications or enquiries will be conducted directly with the provider offering that product.

Overnight money transfers explained

How do I send money overnight?

If you need to send money somewhere fast, you have several options to choose from.  These include:

Online money transfer service

Using an online money transfer service is an effective way of ensuring your money transfer arrives at its destination almost instantly (or as soon as possible).  Some companies offer an express transfer service that can guarantee same-day delivery, as long as the money is deposited before a certain cut-off time (such as 10:30am), or even complete transfers within seconds in some cases.  This is often one of the cheapest ways to send money overseas, but you may have to pay premium fees for this service with some providers.

Money app to money app

If you and your recipient have a money transfer app with the same provider, you can often send money to them instantly.  However, make sure you fund your transfer with a pre-paid debit card or credit card so there isn’t any delay waiting for a bank to clear the payment. Be aware that transfers funded with a credit card may attract additional fees from your card provider. All you’ll typically need to send money this way is your recipient’s name and mobile number or email address.

Cash pickup or delivery

Many international transfer companies offer an instant cash pickup (and delivery) service.  Pickups can happen within minutes of you booking the transfer, while deliveries can often be arranged within 12 hours, so your money could be available overnight if required.  You can pay for the transfer either in cash, by EFTPOS or using a debit or credit card. You’ll need to provide the exact details of who will be collecting the money, including their full name as it appears on their government-issued ID (for example, their passport or driver’s licence). 

In the case of a cash delivery, you’ll need to provide details of exactly where it should be delivered and who it should be handed to at that location. In some cases, independent courier services are used for cash deliveries, so there could be additional charges for this service. 

Sending a phone top-up

Another way to get money to someone overnight is to send a phone top-up (also known as a phone recharge) to a mobile phone number.  Many international transfer companies can arrange this and the top-up will be almost instant.  If your recipient has a digital wallet the money can be received instantly into a virtual wallet and used to pay bills, or even be withdrawn as cash through an ATM in some circumstances.

Standard bank transfers won’t get your money there overnight

The standard time it takes for a bank transfer is between three and five business days, so there’s no way you can use the SWIFT banking system to send money overnight if you need it to arrive quickly. Bank transfers will often be your slowest option.

What factors can affect the speed of an overnight money transfer?

How fast your money will arrive will depend on a variety of other factors, including:

  • the time of day you send your transfer – the earlier in the day, the better if you’re hoping for a quick delivery time and for your transfer to be completed overnight
  • the day of the week you send your transfer – if you send money on a Friday afternoon, it could be caught up with weekend closures, so it’s better to send transfers earlier in the week
  • how you fund your transfer – using cash or a debit card are the quickest options, while a bank transfer will be your slowest option
  • the location of your recipient – whether they live in a country which has a high volume of international money transfers with Australia can impact the speed of the transfer. These high-volume countries which transfer money frequently to Australia include the USA, the UK, New Zealand, India and China. More remote transfer locations will traditionally take longer to receive funds sent from Australia
  • whether you pay extra for the express service – an express service can guarantee delivery in 12 to 24 hours, which may not be the case for all standard transfers

How else should I compare money transfer providers?

The other features you should take into consideration when sending money overseas include:  

  • the exchange rate offered – the closer to the mid-market rate your exchange rate is, the better, as this represents the best rate available to customers sending money overseas and will allow you to buy more foreign currency with your Australian dollars
  • the fees charged for the transfer – some transfer organisations charge a set fee (for example $15), while others charge a percentage of the transfer amount (typically ranging from 0.4% to 0.65%). Some don’t charge any fees, instead setting a mark-up on the exchange rate
  • exchange rate guarantee – whether there’s a guarantee that the exchange rate you’re quoted will be the one achieved when you make the transfer. Some companies offer an exchange rate guarantee for several hours, while others don’t
  • transfer limits – are there any limitations placed on how much you’re able to transfer? Some companies have minimum transfer limits, such as $200 or $250, while others limit the amount you can send in one transaction or in one day, which may be a $1,000 to $5,000 daily limit.  If you wish to send a large amount of money, it may be best to look at a transfer company that has higher maximum limits, which can range from as little as $50,000 up to $1.5 million with some providers
  • currency and destination availability – make sure the company you choose offers service to the country you want to send to in the currency you need, as not all providers service all continents or nations of the world

More of your frequently asked questions about sending money overnight

Do transfer companies offer 24/7 customer support?

Some companies can offer 24/7 customer support, typically those which have more of a focus on business money transfers and have offices in multiple time zones.  However, other providers which are more retail-oriented may not offer 24/7 customer support, so assistance may take longer to organise.

What should I do if the transfer doesn’t arrive overnight?

If your transfer hasn’t arrived by the expected time, contact your money transfer provider through their customer service or helpline. Make sure you have your receipt number, tracking number or confirmation code handy when you do contact customer services.

Is it possible to send money overnight to someone without a bank account?

Yes – phone top-ups or recharges are one option to transfer money to someone quickly without a bank account.  Another option would be a cash pickup or delivery, as a bank account isn’t required for either of these options. All you’ll need is your recipient’s name, mobile phone number and, in the case of a cash delivery, their address. Cash deliveries and pickups can generally only be received during business hours at your destination, however, so it may take longer for them to be received if it’s also night-time in your receiver’s country.

Will using PayPal get my money sent overnight?

You may be able to send money to a recipient’s PayPal account almost instantly, but it can take three to four days for your recipient to be able to send that money from PayPal to their bank account so they can access it.  If you need your money to be received overnight, PayPal is rarely your best option, so you’d be better off relying on an international money transfer provider to get your funds overseas fast.

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