Both Western Union and Caxton are popular international money transfer services. But which one is better?
Below we compare them on their fees and reviews.
Fees
Western Union | Caxton | |
Homepage | ![]() | ![]() |
Transfer Fee | Based on the sender’s location, transfer amount, and payment method. Usually, there’s a fee that’s as low as $0-$15, but some can be as high as $100 if sending to an exotic location or paying by credit card. | No fee |
Average Exchange Rate Markup | 1% – 5% | N/A |
Minimum Transfer Amount | $1 | £100 (or currency equivalent) |
Maximum Transfer Amount | Depending on the sender’s country: $50,000 if identity verified $3,000 if identity isn’t verified | £100,000 (or currency equivalent); £10,000 if paying with a debit card. |
Top Rated Money Transfer Service
Currencies Direct are the top rated International Money Transfer Service on our list.
- 4.9 out of 5 on Trustpilot based on over 8,000 reviews
- No transfer fees
- Bank-beating rates
- Award-winning service
- Exclusive Amazon gift card offer for users of MoverDB.com
Reviews
Western Union | Caxton | |
Trustpilot Rating | 3.9 | 4.8 |
Number of Trustpilot Reviews | 50,800 | 4,700 |
iOS App Rating | 4.8 | 4.6 |
Number of iOS App Reviews | 630,000 | 7 |
Android App Rating | 4.6 | N/A |
Number of Android App Reviews | 28,000 | N/A |
Features
Western Union | Caxton | |
App Transfers | Yes | Yes |
Online Transfers | Yes | Yes |
Phone Transfers | Yes | No |
In-person Transfers | Yes | No |
Available Countries | 200 | 170 |
Number of Currencies | 130 | 28 |
Payment Methods | Bank account Debit card Credit card Cash | Bank account Debit card |
Receiving Methods | Online wallet Bank account Cash pickup Home delivery | Bank account |
Cash Pickup Option | Yes | No |
Payments Flexibility | Web platform Mobile app Phone In person | Web platform Mobile app |
Supported Languages | English, Spanish, French, Danish, Norwegian, Turkish, German, Italian, Russian, Swedish, Chinese, Dutch, Polish, Ukrainian, Portuguese, Japanese, and Finnish | English |
Transfer Speed | Within minutes for cash or debit card transfers 1-3 days for transfers between bank accounts | 1-2 days |
Dedicated Dealer | No | Only for business clients |
Instant Custom Quote | Yes | No |
Business Features | N/A | Spot contracts Forwards contracts Batch payments Risk management tools Rate alerts API integration |
Debit Card | Western Union® Netspend® Prepaid Mastercard | Caxton Currency Card |
Cancellation Policy | Cancellations are possible as long as the money hasn’t been claimed by the recipient. | While Caxton does offer a cancellation policy, the ease of canceling an international money transfer largely depends on how quickly you act and the status of the transaction. |
Suitability | Small money transfers | Small and large money transfers |
Top Rated Money Transfer Service
Company Comparison
Western Union | Caxton | |
Year Founded | 1851 | 2002 |
Headquarters | Denver, CO, United States | London, UK |
Other Office Locations | Brazil, Sweden, Australia, New Zealand, Poland, Austria, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, China, Japan, Malaysia, Malta, Singapore, Switzerland, South Korea, United Kingdom, etc. | No other offices |
Annual Trading Volume | $300 billion | £1 billion |
Number of Employees | 10500 | 170 |
Number of Clients | 150 million | 660000 |
Regulatory Institutions | State licensing in the USA FINTRAC in Canada FCA in the UK AUSTRAC in Australia | FCA and the HMRC in the UK |
Awards | Digital Edge 25 Awards (2016) Payments Innovation of the Year (2016) Candidate Experience Award (Talent Board, 2017, 2018) “Way to Go” Champion Award (Denver Regional Council of Governments, 2019) Regional Partner Award (Education for Employment, 2019) Humanitarian Logistics Award (American Logistics Aid Network, 2020) Consumer Payments Innovation Award (FinTech Breakthrough Awards, 2021) | FX Provider of the Year (FT and Investors Chronicle Awards, 2018) 5 Star Travel Prepaid Card (Moneyfacts, 2018) |
Western Union Pros & Cons
Western Union Pros
- Diverse payment methods
- Availability of cash pickup locations
- High rating on Trustpilot
- Excellent mobile application
- An abundant industry experience
- Comprehensive information repository
- Exceptional convenience
- Worldwide service reach
- Robust currency handling
- Rapid fund transfers
- Fee and rate prediction tool
- Beneficial rewards scheme
Western Union Cons
- Not optimal for substantial money transfers
- High transaction fees
- High markups on exchange rates
- Absence of hedging options for businesses
Caxton Pros & Cons
Caxton Pros
- A variety of different payment choices
- Exceptional customer service
- Strong Trustpilot score
- No transfer fees
- Personalized service with dedicated account managers
- Beneficial travel card
- Fast international money transfers
- Option for exchange rate notifications
- Worldwide service availability
Caxton Cons
- Little support for uncommon currencies
- No instant custom quote feature
- Exclusively accessible for UK residents
- Non-transparent exchange rates
Top Rated Money Transfer Service
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