MoneyGram vs Xoom 2026: Cash Pickup, Fees & Which Is Worth It
Xoom (PayPal) wins · 3 of 4 corridors
Cheaper than MoneyGram on the transfers we sampled below.
MoneyGram
4.0MoneyGram is a global money transfer company with a large agent network, offering both online and in-person transfer options to 200+ countries.
Xoom (PayPal)
4.7Xoom, a PayPal service, offers fast international money transfers with options for bank deposit, cash pickup, and mobile reload in 130+ countries.
MoneyGram and Xoom (owned by PayPal) are two of the most widely used cash-pickup-enabled money transfer services, both targeting the US remittance market. MoneyGram has the larger agent network (350,000+ vs Xoom's ~50,000+ pickup locations), while Xoom is known for speed and a cleaner digital experience backed by PayPal's infrastructure. This comparison examines fees, rates, delivery options, and which is cheaper on popular corridors.
In this article
Live comparison: MoneyGram vs Xoom (PayPal) across popular corridors
| Corridor | MoneyGram | Xoom (PayPal) | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| USD → INR($1,000) | ₹95,383.64 | ₹96,083.38 | Xoom (PayPal) |
| GBP → EUR(£1,000) | €1,144.01 | €1,113.34 | MoneyGram |
| USD → PHP($500) | ₱30,246.21 | ₱31,483.55 | Xoom (PayPal) |
| USD → MXN($1,000) | MX$17,080.04 | MX$17,475.20 | Xoom (PayPal) |
Amounts shown are what the recipient receives. Based on current scraped data, updated every 6 hours.
Overview: MoneyGram vs Xoom
| Feature | MoneyGram | Xoom (PayPal) |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 1940 (Dallas, USA) | 2001 (San Francisco, USA) |
| Owned by | Independent (formerly NYSE: MGI) | PayPal Holdings |
| Best for | Widest cash pickup network globally | Fast digital transfers, PayPal integration |
| Transfer fee | $1.99–$11.99+ | $0–$4.99 |
| Exchange rate markup | 1%–3% | 1%–3% |
| Transfer speed | Minutes to 3 days | Minutes to 3 days |
| Max transfer | $10,000 | $50,000 (with KYC) |
| Cash pickup | 350,000+ locations, 200+ countries | 50,000+ locations, 30+ countries |
| Mobile reload | No | Yes |
| Bill payment | No | Yes (select countries) |
| Regulated by | FinCEN, FCA | FinCEN |
Fee comparison
Both MoneyGram and Xoom earn primarily from exchange rate markups, but their explicit fee structures differ.
Xoom charges $0–$4.99 per transfer. Some high-volume corridors like USD→INR and USD→MXN frequently offer $0 transfer fees (Xoom makes up for it on the exchange rate). Debit card and credit card funding costs more.
MoneyGram starts at $1.99 for bank-funded transfers but rises steeply with card payments and in-store transactions. The $0 fee option is less common than with Xoom.
| Payment method | MoneyGram fee | Xoom fee |
|---|---|---|
| Bank transfer → bank deposit | $1.99–$3.99 | $0–$1.99 |
| Debit card → bank deposit | $4.99–$7.99 | $2.99–$4.99 |
| Debit card → cash pickup | $4.99–$11.99 | $2.99–$4.99 |
| Rate markup (both) | 1%–3% | 1%–3% |
Xoom's fees are consistently lower than MoneyGram's, particularly for debit card payments.
Cash pickup: MoneyGram's decisive advantage
MoneyGram's 350,000+ agent locations across 200+ countries is approximately 7× larger than Xoom's ~50,000 pickup locations in ~30 countries. For destinations in Africa, South Asia, Eastern Europe, or less-traveled corridors, MoneyGram almost always has cash pickup where Xoom doesn't.
Xoom's cash pickup strength is concentrated in Latin America (Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, Colombia, Dominican Republic) and South Asia (India, Philippines). If you're sending to these regions, Xoom's network is adequate and its fees are lower.
MoneyGram's pickup network is particularly stronger in:
- Sub-Saharan Africa (50+ countries)
- Central America and the Caribbean
- Eastern Europe and Central Asia
- Remote island nations (Pacific, Caribbean)
Speed and delivery options
Both providers offer fast delivery for cash pickup — typically minutes after payment is processed. For bank deposits, both take 1–3 business days on most corridors.
Xoom has a unique advantage: mobile reload (airtime top-up) and bill payment in select countries. You can pay a utility bill in India or Mexico directly through Xoom, which MoneyGram doesn't support.
Xoom also leverages PayPal's infrastructure — if you have a PayPal account, you can fund Xoom transfers from your PayPal balance or linked accounts without re-entering payment details.
Which is cheaper on popular corridors?
$1,000 USD → MXN (Mexico, cash pickup)
| Provider | Fee | Rate markup | Estimated recipient receives |
|---|---|---|---|
| Xoom (bank pay) | $0 | ~2% | ~MXN 16,800 |
| MoneyGram (bank pay) | $1.99 | ~2% | ~MXN 16,630 |
$500 USD → PHP (Philippines, cash pickup)
| Provider | Fee | Rate markup | Estimated recipient receives |
|---|---|---|---|
| Xoom (bank pay) | $0–$2.99 | ~1.5% | ~₱27,400 |
| MoneyGram (bank pay) | $1.99 | ~1.5% | ~₱27,200 |
Illustrative. Check live on the day you send.
On popular corridors, Xoom's $0 fee option makes it slightly cheaper than MoneyGram. The exchange rate markups are broadly similar (both 1%–3%), so the fee difference determines the winner on these corridors.
Final verdict
Choose Xoom if:
- You're sending to Mexico, Philippines, India, or other major Xoom corridors
- You want lower fees (especially the $0 fee option)
- You need bill payment or mobile reload
- You have a PayPal account and want integrated funding
Choose MoneyGram if:
- You need cash pickup in a country Xoom doesn't serve
- You're sending to Africa, Eastern Europe, or Pacific Islands
- You want to pay in-store with cash
- The recipient is in a rural area with only local MoneyGram agents
MoneyGram vs Xoom (PayPal): Summary table
| Feature | MoneyGram | Xoom (PayPal) |
|---|---|---|
| Overall rating | 4.0/5 (Good) | 4.7/5 (Excellent) |
| Fee structure | From $1.99 to $11.99+ | From $0 to $4.99 |
| Exchange rate markup | 1% - 3% above mid-market | 1% - 3% above mid-market |
| Transfer speed | Minutes to 3 days | Minutes to 3 days |
| Supported countries | 200+ | 130+ |
| Supported currencies | 50+ | 50+ |
| Max transfer | $10,000 | $50,000 |
| Payment methods | Bank Transfer, Debit Card, Credit Card, Cash | Bank Transfer, Debit Card, Credit Card |
| Delivery methods | Bank Deposit, Cash Pickup, Mobile Wallet | Bank Deposit, Cash Pickup, Mobile Reload |
| Regulators | FinCEN, FCA | FinCEN |
| Founded | 1940 | 2001 |
| Best for | Large transfers, transparency, business | Small remittances, speed, cash pickup |
MoneyGram
Pros
- Large global agent network
- Cash pickup available worldwide
- Transfers can arrive in minutes
- In-store and online options
- Crypto integration with Stellar
Cons
- Higher fees for smaller transfers
- Exchange rate markup can be steep
- Online experience less polished
Xoom (PayPal)
Pros
- Fast delivery to many countries
- Cash pickup widely available
- Mobile reload option
- Backed by PayPal
- No fees on some corridors
Cons
- Exchange rate includes markup
- Limited to personal transfers
- Not available in all countries for sending