MoneyGram is a reliable and convenient way to carry out your monetary transactions through an elegant and intuitive app. Our review below will explore all of its features to help you decide if it is the right choice for you.
Send money to more than 200 countries and territories.
Fortunly Rating
Fortunly's Rating: Our editorial team determines the rating based on a set of evaluation criteria developed for each product and service category.
- $0 fee may be available on a first online transfer in eligible corridors
- Fast transactions
- Real-time transfer tracking
- Available in 200+ countries
- Outstanding mobile app
- Unfavorable exchange rates
- Online transfer limited to certain countries
MoneyGram Overview
MoneyGram International is a peer-to-peer (P2P) money transfer company with over 80 years of experience in the industry. It has been using the name MoneyGram since 1998. It’s headquartered in Dallas, Texas, but has offices worldwide.
While the first international wire transfer was made possible by Western Union in 1872 via telegram, the first credit card appeared in the 1950s. It would take a few more decades for wire transfer services as we know them today to become available.
MoneyGram is one of the culminations of that technology; like most money transfer services, it allows you to link your bank account, credit, or debit card to your MoneyGram account.
In supported corridors, senders may also be able to use Apple Pay, while recipients can receive funds through bank account deposit, debit card, mobile wallet, or cash pickup, depending on availability.
How to Use MoneyGram
MoneyGram is one of the handy ways to gift money to someone, or pay the bills. It is also a valuable tool for businesses to transfer money to their employees. There are three ways to transfer money using this service:
- Online payments
- Visiting an agent location
- Touchscreen kiosks
You can conduct an online transaction via the website or app. Either way, you’ll need to:
- Register
- Input information about the receiver
- Choose a payment method
The second option requires you to physically go to the agent location with the cash you wish to send. Apart from money, you also need to bring your ID to carry out the transaction.
Finally, the kiosk method is a great way to speed up the process if the online payment option isn’t available to you. All you need to do is fill out the information using the touchscreen kiosk, and then complete the transaction with the store cashier.
All of these methods are quite straightforward, and usually aren’t too much of a hassle. MoneyGram processing time is pretty quick, so your money will be transferred in no time.
MoneyGram says many transfers can arrive in minutes, but delivery speed depends on the destination country, payment method, receive method, bank or agent hours, system availability, and compliance checks.
Key Features
MoneyGram has a handful of features that make it stand out from its competition.
For example, it offers app-based sending, real-time tracking, cash pickup, bank account transfers, debit card transfers, mobile wallet delivery where available, bill pay, mobile top-ups, and a loyalty program.
Let’s explore these features and see who they are useful for.
Features By Country
MoneyGram is available in over 200 countries, including Austria, Bulgaria, Chile, China, Great Britain, India, Mexico, Turkey, and the United States.
Keep in mind that this pertains to MoneyGram’s overall global network. Online and in-app transfers still depend on the country corridor and the selected send and receive methods.
MoneyGram Debit Card Receive Option
MoneyGram supports sending to an eligible debit card in certain corridors, and debit card delivery may be instant where available. Senders can also choose bank account, mobile wallet, or cash pickup in supported markets.
Real-Time Tracking
MoneyGram now places more emphasis on real-time tracking than on the older FastSend branding. Users can track transfers in real time in the app and online, and estimated delivery time is shown before checkout.
MoneyGram Plus Rewards
MoneyGram has a loyalty program you can sign up for, with some attractive rewards:
- 20% discount on the fee during your second transfer
- 40% discount on the fee every fifth transfer
The company's site shows that Plus Rewards is offered in multiple markets, but the exact terms, eligibility rules, and expiration windows vary by country.
Mobile App
MoneyGram has a sleek-looking mobile app, available both for iOS and Android. The user interface is simple, with easily accessible options.
Customer reviews are highly favorable. The app has received an outstanding 4.9 out of 5 rating on the App Store based on over 654,000 reviews.
When it comes to Google Play, the app listing shows about 4.6 stars and roughly 125,000 reviews, while MoneyGram’s own app materials cite 4.7 stars and 188,000 reviews.
According to many users, the mobile application is highly convenient, and some even claim it’s faster than the website. They also like the instructions guiding them through each transaction.
On the downside, some customers have reported issues, such as the app signing out mid-use, while others had trouble logging in.
However, MoneyGram solves the problems users notify the company about with subsequent updates.
Also, multiple users noted that contacting customer service has helpful results. All in all, although by no means perfect, the app has proven pretty remarkable. The current app also highlights upfront fees and exchange rates, real-time tracking, and the ability to send money to 200+ countries and territories.
Fees, Exchange Rates, and Limits
As you’re probably already aware, using a money transfer service usually comes at a cost. That cost is the fees from the service provider, as well as any additional charges.
The transfer fee varies according to the amount of money in question, payment method, and your and the receiver’s location.
For instance, if you want to send $100 from the United States to Canada, and you select a credit card as your payment option, MoneyGram no longer presents this as a stable fixed public example across its site. Instead, it directs users to its estimator and makes clear that fees vary by transaction details.
Credit-card-funded transfers may also cost more, and your card issuer may charge a cash-advance fee and interest.
MoneyGram charges more than some of its counterparts for conversion, too, and the exact amount depends on the currencies in question.
For instance, if you’re exchanging GBP to EUR, MoneyGram says a currency exchange rate may apply and that it earns money from currency exchange, but it does not publish a universal fixed markup percentage.
Currently, there’s a new offer that allows you to carry out your first online international transfer without a fee. Therefore, you can try out the service with no transaction fee, and see whether it is right for you. Promotional first-transfer pricing is available in some corridors, but eligibility rules and promotional exchange rates may vary.
MoneyGram's monthly limit is not disclosed as a single universal cap. The daily limit is also variable. This means the amount you can send depends on factors such as payment method, send country, receive country, receive method, market trends, security needs, and applicable laws and regulations.
Security
The company is authorized to do business in all US states and territories. In addition, it has multiple licenses, including:
- The Georgia Department of Banking and Finance license
- The Puerto Rico Office of the Commissioner of Financial Institutions money transfers license
- The New York State Department of Financial Services money transmitter license
That is just the tip of the iceberg, as the complete list is much longer. Apart from holding an array of permits, the company has also taken measures to lessen the number of scams during online payments.
When the user enters the required information to transfer funds, MoneyGram displays an informative text about different kinds of fraud.
This is their attempt to arm the users with enough info to prevent identity theft and other types of scams.
MoneyGram also notes that completed transfers may be difficult or impossible to reverse once collected, which makes scam awareness especially important.
Customer Support
The company’s customer service can be contacted via phone, live chat, email, or the contact form on the website. The site also features an elaborate FAQ section, so you may not have to contact them at all.
The majority of users have voiced their satisfaction with the customer support, citing friendly staff and quick problem-solving as the primary reasons.
A few of them claimed to have had issues with the team, such as a long response time. Nevertheless, it seems that, for the most part, their service is adequate.
Our Verdict
MoneyGram offers a reliable and necessary service. Its solid loyalty program can make up for generally higher fees, too.
All in all, this is a money transfer option worth checking out.
It is strongest for users who want a broad global network, app-based sending, cash pickup, and fast delivery options.