How to send money from US to South Africa
Best right now: TapTap Send. $100.00 gets R1,656.50 (1 USD = 16.5650 ZAR). Refreshed 9 Nov, 00:02.
Who pays the most on $100.00 today
- Send moneyTapTap SendBest dealExchange rate16.5650+0.30% vs mid-marketTotal feesNoneRecipient getsR1,656.50
TapTap Send's rate of 16.5650 is 0.30% better than the mid-market rate of 16.5155, so there's no hidden markup in the rate.
They don't publish a separate transfer fee for this amount.
Altogether, your recipient gets R4.95 more than they would at the mid-market rate.
Save up to $10.03 compared with Wise - Go to NalaNalaExchange rate16.5597+0.27% vs mid-marketTotal feesNoneRecipient getsR1,655.97
Nala's rate of 16.5597 is 0.27% better than the mid-market rate of 16.5155, so there's no hidden markup in the rate.
They don't publish a separate transfer fee for this amount.
Altogether, your recipient gets R4.42 more than they would at the mid-market rate.
- Go to PesaPesaExchange rate16.4200−0.58% vs mid-marketTotal fees$0.58Recipient getsR1,642.00
The exchange rate Pesa uses is 16.4200, which is 0.58% lower than the mid-market rate of 16.5155. That adds $0.58 as a hidden exchange-rate markup.
They charge no transfer fee.
Altogether, this transfer costs you $0.58 compared with the mid-market rate.
- Go to GreyGreyExchange rate16.4900−0.15% vs mid-marketTotal fees$1.15Recipient getsR1,632.51
The exchange rate Grey uses is 16.4900, which is 0.15% lower than the mid-market rate of 16.5155. That adds $0.15 as a hidden exchange-rate markup.
They also charge a transfer fee of $1.00.
Altogether, this transfer costs you $1.15 compared with the mid-market rate.
- Go to SendwaveSendwaveExchange rate16.4500−0.40% vs mid-marketTotal fees$1.38Recipient getsR1,628.71
The exchange rate Sendwave uses is 16.4500, which is 0.40% lower than the mid-market rate of 16.5155. That adds $0.39 as a hidden exchange-rate markup.
They also charge a transfer fee of $0.99.
Altogether, this transfer costs you $1.38 compared with the mid-market rate.
- Go to Send AppSend AppExchange rate16.1798−2.03% vs mid-marketTotal fees$2.03Recipient getsR1,617.98
The exchange rate Send App uses is 16.1798, which is 2.03% lower than the mid-market rate of 16.5155. That adds $2.03 as a hidden exchange-rate markup.
They charge no transfer fee.
Altogether, this transfer costs you $2.03 compared with the mid-market rate.
- Go to RemitlyRemitlyExchange rate16.4100−0.64% vs mid-marketTotal fees$2.12Recipient getsR1,616.55First transfer: R1,643.15
The exchange rate Remitly uses is 16.4100, which is 0.64% lower than the mid-market rate of 16.5155. That adds $0.63 as a hidden exchange-rate markup.
They also charge a transfer fee of $1.49.
Altogether, this transfer costs you $2.12 compared with the mid-market rate.
First-transfer offer: new customers get 16.6800, so your recipient would get R1,643.15 on your first transfer. We rank on the standard rate, which is what you'll get every time after that.
- Go to WorldRemitWorldRemitExchange rate16.4500−0.40% vs mid-marketTotal fees$2.38Recipient getsR1,612.26
The exchange rate WorldRemit uses is 16.4500, which is 0.40% lower than the mid-market rate of 16.5155. That adds $0.39 as a hidden exchange-rate markup.
They also charge a transfer fee of $1.99.
Altogether, this transfer costs you $2.38 compared with the mid-market rate.
- Go to Western UnionWestern UnionExchange rate16.2910−1.36% vs mid-marketTotal fees$6.28Recipient getsR1,547.81
The exchange rate Western Union uses is 16.2910, which is 1.36% lower than the mid-market rate of 16.5155. That adds $1.29 as a hidden exchange-rate markup.
They also charge a transfer fee of $4.99.
Altogether, this transfer costs you $6.28 compared with the mid-market rate.
- Go to XoomXoomExchange rate15.8848−3.82% vs mid-marketTotal fees$8.62Recipient getsR1,509.21
The exchange rate Xoom uses is 15.8848, which is 3.82% lower than the mid-market rate of 16.5155. That adds $3.63 as a hidden exchange-rate markup.
They also charge a transfer fee of $4.99.
Altogether, this transfer costs you $8.62 compared with the mid-market rate.
- Go to WiseWiseExchange rate16.5475+0.19% vs mid-marketTotal fees$9.73Recipient getsR1,490.93
Wise's rate of 16.5475 is 0.19% better than the mid-market rate of 16.5155, so there's no hidden markup in the rate.
They also charge a transfer fee of $9.90.
Altogether, this transfer costs you $9.73 compared with the mid-market rate.
Step by step
- Compare what your recipient gets
Check the live table on this page. Providers differ on both fee and exchange rate, so rank them by what lands in South Africa, not by the fee alone. Right now the gap between the best and worst option on $100.00 is R165.57.
- Open an account with the provider
Sign up on the provider's app or website. You'll verify your identity once, usually with a US driver's licence, state ID or passport, and often your Social Security number. Many new-customer offers give a better rate on your first transfer.
- Add your recipient
Have the recipient's full name, bank, branch code and account number ready. Double-check the name matches their account exactly; mismatches are the most common reason transfers are held.
- Enter the amount and check the final figure
Type how much you're sending. Before you confirm, check the exact amount your recipient will get on the provider's summary screen, since rates move during the day.
- Pay and track the transfer
Pay with a bank account (ACH), debit card or, with some providers, a credit card. You'll get a reference and status updates; send the reference to your recipient so they can follow it too.
How your recipient gets it in South Africa
- Directly into a South African bank account
- Cash pickup with some providers
What people send for
- Monthly support for parents and family
- School fees and university costs
- Building or property projects back home
- Weddings, funerals and family emergencies
- Paying staff, suppliers or business costs
The providers, at a glance
Questions
Right now TapTap Send pays the most: sending $100.00, your recipient gets R1,656.50 after fees (1 USD = 16.5650 ZAR). The cheapest provider changes often, so check the live table before each transfer.
Most app-based providers deliver within minutes to a few hours once your account is verified. First transfers can take longer while ID checks complete, and bank payouts outside business hours may land the next working day.
Directly into a South African bank account. Cash pickup with some providers. Each provider supports different payout options, so check before you send.
Usually the exchange rate. A "zero fee" transfer can still cost more if the provider's rate is further from the mid-market rate. That's why we rank by what your recipient actually gets.
No. Ratenify compares providers; you always send on the provider's own app or website. We never hold your money.