Is Zelle International? (2024)

Monito

Guide

Reviewer

Dec 16, 2022

Affiliate disclosure

If you're a Zelle user, you probably know that it's one of the best ways to send and receive money from your smartphone. But if you've tried using Zelle to send money internationally ⁠— you'll probably have run head-first into a brick wall with no apparent options.

This is because Zelle is only available in the US and doesn't work internationally. If you want to transfer your money overseas, you'll need to pick a Zelle international transfer alternative instead. Find the cheapest and fastest alternative using Monito's live comparison engine below 👇

Zelle isn't international. Compare top digital providers instead:

Zelle International: Alternatives and More

01. Why isn't Zelle international? scroll down
02. Remitly as a Zelle international alternative scroll down
03. Wise as a Zelle international alternative scroll down
04. WorldRemit as a Zelle international alternative scroll down
05. Banks or PayPal as Zelle international alternatives scroll down
06. FAQ about Zelle international transfers scroll down

Why Isn't Zelle International?

As we saw above, Zelle is not international, and the app is currently only available to US residents. —

To use the Zelle app in the first place (let alone send and receive money via online banking), both the sender and the recipient must have US bank accounts. Moreover, this only applies to the mainland US, as Zelle is unavailable in US territories, including the US Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, and the Northern Mariana Islands.

So why exactly doesn't Zelle work internationally?

In a nutshell, Zelle international transfers aren't possible because foreign exchange is a hugely complex market, with many rules, regulations, and industry standards that companies are obligated to follow. Over and above this, the profit margins tend to be very tight and competitive.

Simply put, this leads to many mobile payments apps avoiding international transfers altogether. It saves them a lot of time, money, and stress! Zelle isn't the only app to avoid foreign exchange for this reason: VenmoandSquare Cash do the same. And those mobile payments apps that do get involved in foreign exchange usually charge exorbitant fees to cover the costs (e.g. Paypal).

Compare alternatives ❯

Zelle International Transfer Alternatives

The good news is that if you're a Zelle user who'd like to send money abroad, you'll have plenty of options to choose from to send your money overseas instead. In summary, here are the main two:

Transfer via a digital provider: Many international money transfer providers offer low fees, fast transfers, and a great user experience to suit your needs. The best are Wise for bank transfers, Remitly for cash pick-ups, and WorldRemit for mobile money transfers. However, pricing and exchange rates vary constantly, so compare providers on Monito to find the best deal every time.
Send an international bank wire: US banks such as Wells Fargo, Bank of America, Citibank, and others charge very high fees and poor exchange rates because they transfer over SWIFT. We therefore don't recommend them for transferring money abroad for most people. You can learn more about bank charges for international transfers here.

We go over both of these options in detail below:

Option 1 — Digital Providers

Digital international transfer providers are online platforms that have grown in popularity in recent years as a low-cost, savvy, and safe way to send money across borders. If you're a Zelle user, we think switching over to a digital provider is a natural choice for several reasons:

Savviness: The user-friendly, seamless experience is usually slick and similar to Zelle in terms of accessibility and convenience.
Cost: They're (by far) the cheapest way to send money internationally, usually costing between 0.5% and 2% in total fees.
Speed: Money usually arrives overseas in a matter of hours or, at most, around one to two days depending on the provider.

To learn more about digital providers and how they differ from banks, take a look at ourbank vs digital provider comparison.

Ultimately, the best digital provider for you will depend on factors such as 1) which country you're sending to, 2) how much you're sending, and 3) how your recipient will receive their funds. According to millions of searches on Monito's real-time comparison engine, here are the three best digital providers for transfers from the US to bank accounts abroad:

Remitly — Great for Cash Pick-Up

A world leader in low-cost internationalcash pickuptransfers, Remitlyoften offers the cheapest (although seldom the fastest) money transfers abroad from the United States.

9.1

Monito Score 2023

Go to Remitly ❯

Cheapest:On 26% of Monito comparisons for transfers from the US to foreign bank accounts.

Cheapest destinations:Latin America, Asia-Pacific.

Transfer time:2-3 business days.

Wise — Great for Bank Transfers

One of the most popular and widely-used money transfer services out there, London-basedWisehas built a solid reputation on fast, affordable bank transfers over its user-friendly web and mobile platforms.

9.5

Monito Score 2023

Go to Wise ❯

Cheapest:On 20% of Monito comparisons for transfers from the US to foreign bank accounts.

Cheapest destinations:North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific.

Transfer time:1-2 business days.

Recommended for:Fast, affordable bank transfers, especially to North America and Europe.

More info:See our Wise review, or visit their website.

WorldRemit — Great for Mobile Wallet Transfers

WorldRemitis a much-loved money transfer service that's particularly popular for remittances across the globe. It offers fast, affordable bank transfers and cash pickup transfers, but its mobile wallet deposit options are particularly extensive and affordable.

8.0

Monito Score 2023

Go to WorldRemit ❯

Cheapest:On 15% of Monito searches for transfers from the US to foreign bank accounts.

Cheapest destinations:Latin America, Africa.

Transfer time:1 business day.

Recommended for:Speedy and affordable bank transfers, especially to Latin America and Africa. We recommend WorldRemit for mobile money transfers due to its industry-leading coverage among mobile wallets (e.g. M-PESA, GCash, MTN Mobile Money, Airtel, and others).

More info:See our fullWorldRemit review, or visit their website.

Option 2 — Banks and PayPal

The second (and generally the far worse) alternative to using Zelle for international transfers is to use your bank or PayPal.

Not only is using your bank or PayPal the slower and less convenient to transfer abroad, but going this route also comes with high hidden fees, as both your bank and PayPal will typically give you a poor exchange rate on top of the standard service fees for international transfers.

For example, our research revealed that sending $1,000 from the US to a Eurozone country withWells Fargowould cost$30 in service feesand$50 in exchange rate margin fees. Together, these fees amount to around 8% of the amount transferred, which is about10 times more than the cheapestavailable service compared on Monito's comparison engine for the same transfer. And given PayPal's similarly high exchange rate margins, the story isn't very different with them either.

But it doesn't stop there. When sending money internationally with your bank, your funds will go over SWIFT, meaning third-party banks (called correspondent banks) can potentially charge additional fees (called correspondent bank fees) that can further reduce the amount that arrives in your beneficiary's account.

This makes banks a costly way to send money abroad — and finding a cheap solution is as crucial as ever.

As we explored above, by offering bank-beating exchange rates, very low fees, and a top-notch user experience, digital providers are fortunately doing what Zelle does within the US, but internationally! And depending on where you're sending money, providers such as Wise,Remitly, and WorldRemit will probably be your best choice. See the table below to understand why:

Provider	Total Transfer Cost
	0.3 - 2.5%	Go to Wise ❯
	0.5 - 2%	Go to Remitly ❯
	0.5 - 3%	Go to WorldRemit ❯
	N/A	See alternatives ❯
	5 - 7%	See alternatives ❯
	3 - 7%	See alternatives ❯

Last updated: 2022/06/02

In summary, if there were one thing to take away from this article, here's what it'd be:

You cannot use Zelle to transfer internationally. This means you'll need to find alternatives. Banks (and PayPal) charge high service fees and exchange rates, making them a poor choice for most. Digital providers, on the other hand, are by far the cheapest, fastest, and savviest options, making them the best Zelle alternatives for international transfers.

Get started now by comparing your options below: —

Compare leading digital providers:

FAQ About Using Zelle Internationally

🌎 Does Zelle work internationally?

No, Zelle is available only in the US. The payment app only allows you to send money from one US bank account to another, meaning both the sender and the recipient must have US bank accounts. We recommend using Monito.com to compare alternatives instead.
💵 What's the best Zelle international alternative?

There are plenty of good options as intuitive as Zelle for sending money abroad with an app. We recommend using Monito.com to compare money transfer providers and find the best alternative for your needs in real-time.
🌐 Can Zelle be used internationally?

While you can use Zelle if you're outside the US and already have the app, you cannot use Zelle to transfer money internationally. We recommend using Monito.com to compare alternatives instead.
🏦 Do international banks have Zelle?

No, it's only possible to link Zelle to a US bank account. If you'd like to transfer money from the US to a country abroad, run a search on Monito's real-time comparison engine to find the best deal in real-time.
📱 Does Zelle work with international numbers?

No, Zelle doesn't work with international numbers. You need to use a US mobile phone number to sign up to Zelle or send money to another user. If you're looking to transfer money from the US to a country abroad, we recommend using Monito's real-time comparison engine to find the best deal in real-time.
🌍 Is Venmo or Zelle international?

No, neither Venmo nor Zelle work for international transfers, nor can you sign up for either service without a US bank account and mobile phone number. Find out about Venmo alternatives for international transfers here.
🇨🇦 Does Zelle work in Canada?

No, Zelle does not work in Canada. While you can use the app in Canada if you're from the US and visiting the country, you cannot use it to send money from the US to Canada. Find out more about why, as well as the top alternatives, in our dedicated Zelle Canada guide.
🇲🇽 Does Zelle work in Mexico?

No, Zelle does not work in Mexico. While you can use the app in Mexico if you're from the US and visiting the country, you cannot use it to send money from the US to Mexico. Find out more about why, as well as the top alternatives, in our dedicated Zelle Mexico guide.
🇬🇧 Does Zelle work in the UK?

No, Zelle does not work in the UK. While you can use the app in the UK if you're from the US and visiting the country, you cannot use it to send money from the US to the UK. Find out more about why, as well as the top alternatives, in our dedicated Zelle UK guide.
🇵🇷 Does Zelle work in Puerto Rico?

No, despite the fact that Puerto Rico is a US Territory which also uses the dollar, Zelle does not work on the island. While you can use the app in Puerto Rico if you're from the US and visiting the country, you cannot use it to send money from the US to Puerto Rico. Find out more about why, as well as the top alternatives, in our dedicated Zelle Puerto Rico guide.
🇵🇰 Does Zelle work in Pakistan?

No, Zelle does not work in Pakistan. While you can use the app in Pakistan if you're from the US and visiting the country, you cannot use it to send money from the US to Pakistan. Find out more about why, as well as the top alternatives, in our dedicated Zelle Pakistan guide.
🇮🇳 Does Zelle work in India?

No, Zelle does not work in India. While you can use the app in India if you're from the US and visiting the country, you cannot use it to send money from the US to India. Find out more about why, as well as the top alternatives, in our dedicated Zelle India guide.
🇳🇬 Does Zelle work in Nigeria?

No, Zelle does not work in Nigeria. While you can use the app in Nigeria if you're from the US and visiting the country, you cannot use it to send money from the US to Nigeria. Find out more about why, as well as the top alternatives, in our dedicated Zelle Nigeria guide.
🇪🇺 Does Zelle work in Europe?

No, Zelle does not work in Europe. While you can use the app in Europe if you're from the US and visiting the country, you cannot use it to send money from the US to Europe. Find out more about why, as well as the top alternatives, in our dedicated Zelle Europe guide.
🇩🇪 Does Zelle work in Germany?

No, Zelle does not work in Germany. While you can use the app in Germany if you're from the US and visiting the country, you cannot use it to send money from the US to Germany. Find out more about why, as well as the top alternatives, in our dedicated Zelle Germany guide.
🇿🇦 Does Zelle work in South Africa?

No, Zelle does not work in South Africa. While you can use the app in South Africa if you're from the US and visiting the country, you cannot use it to send money from the US to South Africa. Find out more about why, as well as the top alternatives, in our dedicated Zelle South Africa guide.
🇩🇴 Does Zelle work in the Dominican Republic?

No, Zelle does not work in the Dominican Republic. While you can use the app in the Dominican Republic if you're from the US and visiting the country, you cannot use it to send money from the US to the Dominican Republic. Find out more about why and the top alternatives in our dedicated Zelle Dominican Republic guide.
🇰🇪 Does Zelle work in Kenya?

No, Zelle does not work in Kenya. While you can use the app in Kenya if you're from the US and visiting the country, you cannot use it to send money from the US to Kenya. Find out more about why, as well as the top alternatives, in our dedicated Zelle Kenya guide.
🇦🇺 Does Zelle work in Australia?

No, Zelle does not work in Australia. While you can use the app in Australia if you're from the US and visiting the country, you cannot use it to send money from the US to Australia. Find out more about why, as well as the top alternatives, in our dedicated Zelle Australia guide.
🇵🇷 Does Zelle work in Puerto Rico?

No, Zelle does not work in Puerto Rico. While you can use the app in Puerto Rica if you're from the US and visiting the country, you cannot use it to send money from the US to Puerto Rica. Find out more about why, as well as the top alternatives, in our dedicated Zelle Puerto Rico guide.

Why You Can Trust Monito

Our recommendations are built on rock-solid experience.

We've reviewed 50+ money transfer providers
We've made 100+ test transfers
Our writers have been testing providers since 2013

Learn more about us

Best US Banks for Foreigners

August 4, 2023 - by Jarrod Suda

Zelle vs Cash App: Differences, Fees & Which Is More Secure?

December 22, 2022 - by Jarrod Suda

Sending Money From PayPal to Venmo

August 10, 2022 - by Byron Mühlberg

Does Venmo Work in Mexico?

September 9, 2022 - by Byron Mühlberg

Does Zelle Work in Canada?

February 10, 2023 - by Byron Mühlberg

American Express Travelers Cheques Review: Is it safe? How does it work? What are the rates?

October 14, 2022 - by François Briod

Is Cash App International?

December 22, 2022 - by Byron Mühlberg

Essentials About How to Use Cash App Without an SSN

December 22, 2022 - by Jarrod Suda

Does Chime Have Zelle to Send Money Transfers? Not Exactly

August 29, 2023 - by Jarrod Suda

PayPal International Fees & How to Avoid Cross-Border Charges

November 29, 2023 - by Jarrod Suda

PayPal Philippines to US

February 2, 2023 - by Byron Mühlberg

PayPal UK to Australia

July 12, 2022 - by Byron Mühlberg

UK-to-Poland PayPal Transfers: Beware the Fees

May 28, 2021 - by Byron Mühlberg

PayPal US to Canada

December 13, 2022 - by Byron Mühlberg

PayPal US to India

May 23, 2023 - by Byron Mühlberg

PayPal US to Colombia

May 23, 2023 - by Byron Mühlberg

PayPal US to Mexico

September 8, 2022 - by Byron Mühlberg

PayPal USD to GBP

July 5, 2022 - by Byron Mühlberg

PayPal Quietly Increased Its Currency Conversion Fees. Here’s What You Need to Know

October 29, 2019 - by Pascal Briod

Popular Money Transfer Comparisons on Monito

Why Trust Monito?

You’re probably all too familiar with the often outrageous cost of sending money abroad. After facing this frustration themselves back in 2013, co-founders François, Laurent, and Pascal launched a real-time comparison engine to compare the best money transfer services across the globe. Today, Monito’s award-winning comparisons, reviews, and guides are trusted by around 8 million people each year and our recommendations are backed by millions of pricing data points and dozens of expert tests — all allowing you to make the savviest decisions with confidence.

Learn More About Monito

Monito is trusted by 15+ million users across the globe.
Monito's experts spend hours researching and testing services so that you don't have to.
Our recommendations are always unbiased and independent.

As a seasoned expert in the field of international money transfers, I bring forth a wealth of knowledge and hands-on experience to dissect the intricacies of Zelle's limitations in the global money transfer landscape. My expertise extends beyond the mere understanding of Zelle's domestic functionalities, encompassing a comprehensive grasp of alternative solutions and the underlying dynamics of the international financial market.

Now, delving into the provided article, the primary focus revolves around Zelle's incompatibility with international money transfers. This limitation stems from the complex nature of the foreign exchange market, marked by stringent regulations, industry standards, and thin profit margins. Zelle's exclusivity to the United States, with a further restriction to the mainland, renders it impractical for users seeking international fund transfers.

To address this gap, the article introduces Monito's live comparison engine, positioning itself as a reliable source for finding the cheapest and fastest alternatives to Zelle for international transfers. The alternatives presented include Remitly, Wise, WorldRemit, and traditional banks or PayPal. Each alternative is scrutinized based on factors such as cost, speed, and suitability for specific regions.

The digital provider options are further elaborated upon, with Remitly highlighted for its cost-effectiveness in cash pick-ups, Wise praised for its efficiency in bank transfers, and WorldRemit recommended for its prowess in mobile wallet transfers. The article emphasizes that digital providers offer a savvy, cost-effective, and rapid means of sending money internationally, making them the preferred alternatives to Zelle.

Additionally, the article discredits the use of banks and PayPal for international transfers due to their slower processes, inconvenience, high hidden fees, and unfavorable exchange rates. A comparative analysis underscores the superiority of digital providers like Wise, Remitly, and WorldRemit, citing bank-beating exchange rates, low fees, and superior user experiences.

In conclusion, the article urges Zelle users to explore alternatives for international transfers, emphasizing the cost-effectiveness, speed, and overall superiority of digital providers over traditional banking methods. Monito's role as a trusted platform for real-time comparisons adds credibility to the recommendations provided in the article, making it a valuable resource for individuals navigating the complexities of international money transfers.

Is Zelle International? (2024)

Zelle isn't international. Compare top digital providers instead:

Zelle International: Alternatives and More

Why Isn't Zelle International?

Zelle International Transfer Alternatives

Option 1 — Digital Providers

Remitly — Great for Cash Pick-Up

Wise — Great for Bank Transfers

WorldRemit — Great for Mobile Wallet Transfers

Option 2 — Banks and PayPal

Compare leading digital providers:

FAQ About Using Zelle Internationally

Why You Can Trust Monito

Popular Money Transfer Comparisons on Monito

Best ways to send money United States

Best ways to send money Philippines

Best ways to send money India

Best ways to send money Colombia

Best ways to send money Canada

Best ways to send money United Kingdom

Why Trust Monito?