Best Ways to Send Money to Thailand in 2024: Comparison & Recommendations
Sending money to Thailand? You have more options than ever—each with different trade-offs on speed, cost, convenience, and recipient access. Here's a practical comparison for 2024.
Quick Comparison
| Method | Speed | Cost (Typical) | Best For | Recipient Gets |
|---|
| Wise (ex-TransferWise) | Minutes–24h | 0.5–1.5% + small fixed fee | Bank-to-bank, best rate transparency | Thai bank account (THB) |
| Remitly / WorldRemit | Minutes–hours | Variable (often $0 fee first transfer; markup on FX) | Cash pickup, mobile wallet, speed | Cash (Kasikorn, SCB, etc.), TrueMoney, bank |
| Western Union / MoneyGram | Minutes | Higher fees + FX markup | Cash pickup ubiquity, no bank account needed | Cash at 6,000+ agents (7-Eleven, banks, post offices) |
| Bank Wire (SWIFT) | 2–5 business days | $25–50 + intermediary fees + FX markup | Large amounts, institutional comfort | Thai bank account |
| PayPal / Xoom | Minutes–days | High (3–4.5% + fixed fee + FX markup) | PayPal users, small amounts | Bank deposit, cash pickup (Xoom) |
| Revolut / Wise (Multi-currency) | Instant–24h | Low (interbank rate + small fee) | Frequent senders, multi-currency holders | Thai bank account |
| Cryptocurrency (USDT, USDC, BTC) | Minutes | Network fees + spread + cash-out fees | Tech-savvy, unbanked recipients, speed | Crypto wallet → P2P / exchange → THB cash/bank |
| DeeMoney / PromptPay (Thailand-specific) | Minutes | Low (THB 150–200 flat) | Expats in Thailand sending domestically | PromptPay ID / Thai bank |
Detailed Breakdown
🏆 Best Overall: Wise
- Real mid-market exchange rate (no hidden markup).
- Transparent fees shown upfront.
- Direct to Thai bank accounts (all major banks).
- Regulated by FCA (UK), FinCEN (US), ASIC (AU), etc.
- App/web; Apple Pay/Google Pay funding.
⚡ Best for Cash Pickup: Remitly / WorldRemit
- Partner with Kasikornbank, SCB, Bangkok Bank, Krungsri, TMBThanachart, Government Savings Bank.
- Cash ready in minutes at bank counters or 7-Eleven (Remitly).
- First transfer often fee-free (promo).
- Good for recipients without bank accounts.
🏪 Best for Ubiquity: Western Union / MoneyGram
- 6,000+ pickup locations in Thailand (every 7-Eleven, post office, bank branch).
- No recipient bank account needed.
- Higher total cost (fees + 3–5% FX markup).
- Use only when speed/access outweigh cost.
🏦 Bank Wire: Only for Large/Institutional Transfers
- Fees: $25–50 outgoing + $10–25 incoming + 1–3 intermediary banks each taking a cut.
- FX markup: 2–4% typical.
- Use for: Property purchases, business payments, >$50K where compliance trail matters.
💰 PayPal / Xoom: Convenient but Expensive
- PayPal: 5% fee (max $4.99) + 3–4% FX markup = ~8–9% total.
- Xoom (PayPal-owned): Better rates, cash pickup option, but still ~3–5% total.
- Only for small, urgent, PayPal-to-PayPal transfers.
🔗 Crypto: Niche but Real
- Stablecoins (USDT/USDC on Tron, BSC, Polygon) = low network fees (<$1).
- Recipient needs: Crypto wallet → P2P (Binance, Bybit, local FB groups) → Thai bank/cash.
- Risks: Volatility (non-stablecoins), scams, regulatory uncertainty, technical barrier.
Decision Framework
| If... | Use |
|---|
| Recipient has Thai bank account; you want best rate | Wise |
| Recipient needs cash TODAY; no bank account | Remitly / WorldRemit / Western Union |
| Sending >$10K for property/business | Bank wire (or Wise for large amounts) |
| You & recipient both use Revolut/Wise | Revolut / Wise internal (instant, free) |
| You're in Thailand sending domestically | DeeMoney / PromptPay / Bank app |
| Recipient is crypto-native | USDT on Tron/Polygon → P2P |
Pro Tips
- Compare total received THB — not just fees. Use Monito or Exiap for live comparison.
- Avoid dynamic currency conversion (DCC) — always pay in YOUR currency, let Wise/bank convert.
- Thai bank incoming fees: Most charge THB 100–500 for international receipt. Wise covers this for most banks.
- First-transfer promos: Remitly, WorldRemit, Wise often have fee-free first transfer.
- Regulatory: Transfers >$10K reported (US); >THB 2M may trigger Thai AML reporting.
For most people, Wise hits the sweet spot: best rate, low fee, direct to bank, regulated. For cash pickup, Remitly or WorldRemit. Western Union only when no other option reaches the recipient.
Wanderlust World