Remitly alternatives in Malaysia (2026): 7 apps to use instead

Key takeaways:

• Remitly does not support sending from Malaysia. Residents here cannot create an account or initiate transfers from a Malaysian bank account.

• The best alternatives offer what Remitly is known for: transparent fees, a good app, and fast delivery to your recipient's bank account.

• For Malaysian businesses paying overseas suppliers or staff, Airwallex offers purpose-built tools that personal remittance apps can't match, including multi-currency accounts, competitive FX rates, and batch payment capability.

If you're looking for Remitly alternatives in Malaysia, there's a reason you're searching — Remitly doesn't let you send money from Malaysia.

It's one of the most recognised international transfer apps in the world, but Malaysian residents can't create an account to send transfers, because Malaysia isn't among its supported sending countries.

This guide covers 7 apps that Malaysian residents can actually use to send money abroad, what sets each apart, and who each one suits. There's also a section for business owners, because personal remittance apps aren't the right fit if you're paying suppliers or managing overseas payroll.

Can you use Remitly in Malaysia?

No, Remitly does not support sending from Malaysia. When you sign up for a Remitly account, you choose a sending country that must match your residential address and the bank account you fund transfers from. Malaysia is not on that list.

The countries Remitly supports for sending are mostly in Europe, North America, and a handful of markets in Asia-Pacific — including Singapore and Australia, but not Malaysia.

Note that you can receive money in Malaysia via Remitly. If a friend or family member overseas sends you a transfer from a supported sending country, it can arrive in your Malaysian bank account. But if you're the one trying to send, Remitly isn't an option.

There's no workaround for this. Using a VPN, a foreign address, or another person's account all violate Remitly's terms. The restriction is tied to where your bank account is registered, not just where you're located.

What makes a good Remitly alternative?

Not every money transfer app is worth your time. Before you pick one, here are the three things that matter most.

1. Exchange rate transparency

The exchange rate is where most providers make their money — and where most people get caught out. The rate a provider gives you is almost always worse than the real market rate (the one you'd see on Google). The gap between those two is called the exchange rate markup, and it doesn't show up as a line-item fee.

Look for providers that either use the mid-market rate with no markup, or that show you the exact rate they're using before you confirm. If you have to complete a transfer to find out what rate you got, that's a red flag.

2. Transfer fees

This is the explicit charge per transaction — a flat fee, a percentage of the amount, or sometimes both. Always look at the transfer fee and the exchange rate markup together. A provider with no transfer fee isn't necessarily cheaper if their exchange rate margin is wide.

The best providers show you the full cost — fee and rate — on a single screen before you hit confirm.

3. Delivery speed and funding options

Speed depends on the route and delivery method. Bank-to-bank transfers generally take one to two business days. Mobile wallet and cash pickup transfers can arrive in minutes.

For Malaysian senders, also check how you can fund the transfer. Most digital providers accept FPX bank transfers and Malaysian-issued debit cards. Some also accept Touch 'n Go eWallet. If a provider only accepts credit cards or foreign bank accounts, it won't work for you.

7 Remitly alternatives available in Malaysia in 2026

These are all digital-first, regulated providers you can use to send money from Malaysia. Here’s a quick overview before we go into the individual providers:

The information in this table has been reviewed to be accurate as of 9 April 2026.

1. Wise

Wise is the closest thing to a Remitly experience for Malaysian senders. It uses the mid-market rate — the real exchange rate you see on Google — with no markup applied on top. You pay a small fixed fee plus a variable fee, both shown before you confirm. There are no surprises on the other end.

You can fund transfers via FPX or bank transfer from your Malaysian bank. Debit and credit cards are not supported for MYR transfers, and neither is SWIFT funding.¹

There are a few limits to keep in mind:

• Malaysian residents can send up to 30,000 RM per day on cross-currency transfers, and you can send to a maximum of 7 unique recipients per month.

• Foreign workers on a Visit Pass (Temporary Employment) have a lower limit of 5,000 RM per month.

Worth knowing: Wise explicitly states that sending from MYR is for personal use only. Using your account to pay suppliers, staff, or on behalf of a business violates local regulations and will result in your account being restricted or deactivated.¹

2. Instarem

Instarem is a Singapore-founded platform operated in Malaysia by Nium Sdn Bhd, licensed by Bank Negara Malaysia as a Class B Money Service Business.² It sends to 60+ countries from Malaysia, with particularly strong coverage across ASEAN — India, Indonesia, the Philippines, Bangladesh, Vietnam, and more are all well supported.

Fees and exchange rates are shown upfront before you confirm. Every completed transfer earns you InstaPoints, which you can redeem against fees on future transfers. Most transfers arrive instantly or within the same day, though bank processing times in some corridors can extend that to 1–2 business days.²

Worth knowing: Cash pickup is available in select destination countries only. For most routes, your recipient needs a bank account.

3. WorldRemit

WorldRemit offers the widest range of delivery options on this list: bank deposit, cash pickup, mobile money, and airtime top-ups — where you send mobile credit directly to your recipient's phone with no extra fees.

This makes it particularly useful for sending to countries where mobile money is widely used, such as Bangladesh, Nepal, Indonesia, the Philippines, and countries across Africa.

From Malaysia, you can fund transfers via FPX or a Malaysian-issued debit card. The full cost — fee and exchange rate — is shown before you confirm. WorldRemit is licensed by Bank Negara Malaysia as a Class B remittance provider.³

Worth knowing: Exchange rate markups vary by route and delivery method. The rate can differ significantly between bank deposit and cash pickup.

4. MoneyMatch

MoneyMatch is one of the few providers on this list that is both founded and headquartered in Malaysia, and licensed by Bank Negara Malaysia.⁴ It sends to 110+ countries via bank transfer, mobile wallet, and cash pickup.

MoneyMatch shows you the full cost — the exchange rate and transfer fee — before you confirm. There are no charges on the receiving end, and rates are better than what most Malaysian banks offer for international transfers.

5. TNG Remit (GOremit)

If you already use the Touch 'n Go eWallet for daily payments in Malaysia — at toll booths, petrol stations, or grocery stores — GOremit lets you send money internationally from the same app. It sends to 50+ countries⁵ via bank transfer, cash pickup, or mobile wallet.

What sets it apart is the flat fee structure: you pay one fixed fee regardless of how much you send. That makes it especially good value on larger transfers. There are no hidden costs, and you can track your transfer in the app from start to finish.

Worth knowing: You need a verified Pro or Premium TNG eWallet account to use GOremit. Basic accounts are not eligible. Non-Malaysian residents must upload a valid work permit before their first transfer.⁵

6. BigPay Remit

BigPay is a straightforward remittance app for Malaysian residents. It sends to 45+ countries⁶ and shows you the fixed fee, exchange rate, and total recipient amount on a single screen before you confirm — no hidden charges.

It's the most accessible option on this list for someone new to digital remittance. The app is simple, the process is quick, and everything is transparent upfront. BigPay is regulated by Bank Negara Malaysia.

Worth knowing: BigPay supports bank account transfers and e-wallet transfers at the destination, depending on the country.

7. PayPal

PayPal is on this list because many people already have an account and will consider it by default. It operates in Malaysia, is regulated by Bank Negara Malaysia as an e-money issuer,⁷ and works for sending money internationally.

The main thing to know before you use it: PayPal's cost structure has two layers — a transfer fee per transaction, plus a currency conversion markup on top of the exchange rate. That markup applies whenever currency conversion is involved. For the current fees, check PayPal's official fees page before you send.

There's also a delivery limitation. Transfers land in your recipient's PayPal balance, not directly in their bank account. If they want to withdraw to a bank account, that may involve extra steps or additional fees depending on their country.

Worth knowing: PayPal works best when your recipient already has an active PayPal account and is comfortable leaving funds there. For direct bank-to-bank transfers, the other options on this list are generally more straightforward.

Transfer apps that don't work from Malaysia

Several well-known money transfer apps don't support sending from Malaysia. If you've come across any of these while searching, here's why they won't work for you.

Revolut

Revolut is not available to Malaysian residents. Its supported countries for account sign-up include Australia, Singapore, Japan, the UK, the US, and EEA countries — Malaysia is not among them.

You may come across Revolut content about spending in Malaysia while travelling, but that's aimed at visitors using a foreign Revolut account, not Malaysian residents.

Xe

Xe does not support sending from Malaysia. When you visit Xe's money transfer page from a Malaysian IP address, the site states directly that your country is not supported for money transfers. You can use Xe's currency converter tool, but you cannot initiate a transfer from Malaysia.

Paysend

Paysend supports Malaysia as a receiving country — meaning someone overseas can send money to a Malaysian bank account via Paysend. However, Malaysia is not listed as a supported sending country, so Malaysian residents cannot use Paysend to send money abroad.

OFX

OFX does not have a Malaysian product. Its website operates across Australia, the US, the UK, Singapore, Hong Kong, and a small number of other markets. There is no Malaysian version of the site, no Bank Negara Malaysia licence listed, and no evidence that MYR is a supported sending currency on any OFX page.

Paying suppliers or staff overseas? Here’s what to use.

The apps above are built for personal sending. They work well for sending money to family or friends — but if you're a business owner who came across Remitly while looking for a way to pay overseas suppliers or staff, none of them will scale with you.

To be specific, personal remittance apps have real limits for business use. For example:

• Transfer caps are set for individual senders, not for companies making multiple payments a month.

• There's no way to pay multiple recipients at once.

• Some providers (such as Wise) explicitly state that using your personal remittance account for business payments violates local regulations and can get your account restricted.

If your business regularly pays overseas suppliers, contractors, or employees, you need a platform built for that purpose.

Airwallex is designed for exactly this. It's a business payments platform regulated by Bank Negara Malaysia, and it gives Malaysian companies the tools that personal apps don't offer:

• Pay out to 200+ countries — 93% of transactions arrive on the same working day, and 45% arrive immediately

• Save up to 80% on FX fees compared to traditional banks with our highly competitive rates

• Batch transfers to up to 1,000 recipients at once — useful if you're paying multiple suppliers or running overseas payroll

• Multi-currency accounts — hold funds in 20+ currencies and pay suppliers in their local currency, avoiding unnecessary conversions

• Accounting integrations — connects directly with Xero, QuickBooks, and NetSuite to automatically reconcile your international transfers

Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

Is Remitly available in Malaysia?

No. Remitly does not support sending from Malaysia. Malaysia is not listed as a supported sending country, so you cannot create a Remitly account to send transfers from here. You can receive money in Malaysia via Remitly if someone overseas sends it to you from a supported country.

Can I send money to Malaysia with Remitly?

Yes — but only if you're the one receiving, not sending. If you're based in Malaysia and a friend or family member overseas wants to send you money via Remitly, that's possible. What you can't do is initiate a transfer outbound from Malaysia using Remitly.

What is the best money transfer app in Malaysia?

It depends on what you need. For personal transfers: Wise is the strongest option if rate transparency is your priority — it uses the mid-market rate with no markup. WorldRemit is better if your recipient needs cash pickup or mobile wallet delivery. If you already use Touch 'n Go daily, GOremit is the most convenient option. For a Malaysia-born, BNM-licensed provider, MoneyMatch is worth considering.

Can I use Wise to send money from Malaysia?

Yes, but for personal transfers only. Wise is available to Malaysian residents and uses FPX for funding. However, Wise explicitly states that sending from MYR is for personal use only — using it for business payments violates local regulations and can result in your account being restricted.

What is the cheapest way to send money from Malaysia for a personal transfer?

The total cost of a transfer depends on two things: the transfer fee and the exchange rate markup. Wise typically offers the lowest total cost for bank-to-bank transfers because it uses the mid-market rate with no markup. Always compare the full cost — not just the headline fee — before you send.

Sources:

1. wise.com/help/articles/2932332/guide-to-myr-transfers

2. instarem.com/en-my/

3. worldremit.com/en-my

4. moneymatch.co/

5. touchngo.com.my/tngdr/remittance/

6. bigpayme.com/transfers/international-bank-transfers/

7. paypal.com/my/home

This publication does not constitute legal, tax, or professional advice from Airwallex nor substitute seeking such advice, and makes no express or implied representations / warranties / guarantees regarding content accuracy, completeness, or currency. If you would like to request an update, feel free to contact us at [[email protected]]. Airwallex (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd is licensed in Malaysia as a MSB Class B (remittance business only) licensee and is regulated by Bank Negara Malaysia (licence number 00318).