Sending money to family is a regular expense for many newcomers. Small differences add up over a year.
The exchange rate markup: the provider gives you a worse rate than the real market rate and keeps the difference. This is often bigger than the fee.
Example: you send $500. Company A charges $0 fee but gives a poor rate, and your mother gets the equivalent of $485. Company B charges $4 but gives a better rate, and she gets the equivalent of $494. Company B is cheaper.
Search the real rate today, for example "USD to INR".
In each app, type the same amount, such as $500.
Look at "Recipient gets". That number is the only one that matters.
Check how the money arrives: bank account, mobile wallet or cash pickup.
Most international transfers from the US follow a federal rule for remittance transfers:
You get a receipt with the fee, the exchange rate and the amount that will arrive.
You can usually cancel within 30 minutes for a full refund, if the money has not been picked up.
If there is an error, such as the wrong amount arriving, you have 180 days to report it.
The 1% tax on cash transfers
Since January 1, 2026, there is a federal tax of 1% on transfers abroad paid with cash, a money order or a cashier's check. Transfers paid from a US bank account or a US debit or credit card do not have this tax. Pay from your bank account to avoid it.
Send only to people you know.
Someone you met online who asks for money for an emergency, a visa or a ticket is often a scammer.
Use your full legal name as on your ID. Some services ask for ID for larger amounts.
Paying with a credit card. Many card companies treat it as a cash advance, with fees and immediate interest.
Sending many small amounts. One larger transfer often costs less in total.