Western Union vs Xoom (PayPal): Fees, Rates & Speed Compared
Western Union ahead on GBP → EUR, GBP → PKR, USD → NGN; Xoom (PayPal) on USD → INR, USD → PHP.
Western Union
Won 3 of 5 routes here
4.3
Xoom (PayPal)
Won 2 of 5 routes here
4.6Xoom is a digital PayPal service; Western Union also offers an in-person sending channel. Someone holding physical cash has a different starting point from someone funding online. Select that starting point before treating the two prices as interchangeable.
Live comparison: Western Union vs Xoom (PayPal) across popular corridors
Recipient payout route by route, Western Union against Xoom (PayPal), from collected quotes (not guaranteed).
| Corridor | Western Union | Xoom (PayPal) | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| USD → INR($1,000) | ₹96,154.36 | ₹96,347.40 | Xoom (PayPal) (+₹193.04) |
| GBP → EUR(£1,000) | €1,152.19 | €1,138.24 | Western Union (+€13.95) |
| USD → PHP($500) | ₱30,411.00 | ₱31,474.20 | Xoom (PayPal) (+₱1063.20) |
| USD → MXN($1,000) | MX$17,936.39 | — | N/A |
| GBP → PKR(£500) | ₨182,079.85 | ₨179,035.62 | Western Union (+₨3044.23) |
| USD → NGN($200) | ₦266,623.44 | ₦263,955.31 | Western Union (+₦2668.13) |
Western Union vs Xoom (PayPal): Feature comparison
| Feature | Western Union | Xoom (PayPal) |
|---|---|---|
| Overall rating | 4.3/5 (Excellent) | 4.6/5 (Excellent) |
| Fee structure | From $0 to $10+ depending on method | From $0 to $4.99 |
| Exchange rate markup | 1% - 4% above mid-market | 1% - 3% above mid-market |
| Transfer speed | Minutes to 5 days | Minutes to 3 days |
| Supported countries | 200+ | 130+ |
| Supported currencies | 130+ | 50+ |
| Max transfer | $50,000 | $50,000 |
| Delivery methods | Bank Deposit, Cash Pickup, Mobile Wallet | Bank Deposit, Cash Pickup, Mobile Reload |
| Regulators | FinCEN, FCA, Various | FinCEN |
The sender’s funding method can decide this pair
For an online-funded transfer, obtain a Xoom quote and a Western Union online quote using the same receiving method. If paying at a Western Union counter instead, request that counter’s total price. Do not carry an app price into an agent visit and assume it applies.