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InstaReM
Rate 0.8601 · Fee free
You send
$1,000
Recipient gets
€860
Affiliate link · No extra cost to you
Quick answer: The cheapest way to send money to Germany in May 2026 is InstaReM, which delivers 860.12 EUR on a 1,000 USD transfer with a fee of zero and an exchange rate of 0.8601. According to SendMoneyCompare's comparison of 19 providers updated every 6 hours, the difference between the cheapest and most expensive provider on this corridor is 3 EUR.
Last reviewed: by Awais Imran, Reviews Editor
Based on 60 days of data (2026-03-13 to 2026-05-20)
Sending $1,000 from to Germany. Sorted by best value — most money received.
Source: SendMoneyCompare · Data updated every 6 hours from live provider APIs
InstaReMBest value
0.8601
Free
€860.12
0.8605
$1.50
€859.18
0.8559
$0.99
€855.06
0.8540
Free
€854.01
0.8565
$2.99
€853.95
0.8563
$3.50
€853.34
0.8527
$1.99
€851.02
0.8507
$1.99
€849.04
0.8454
Free
€845.39
0.8435
$2.49
€841.40
0.8375
Free
€837.47
0.8350
Free
€834.97
0.8364
$5.00
€832.25
0.8315
Free
€831.53
0.8411
$15.00
€828.47
Potential savings: Choosing the best provider over the most expensive saves your recipient €3.01 on a $1,000 transfer.
Germany is Europe's largest economy and one of the top destinations for money transfers from Turkish, Polish, Russian, and broader global diaspora communities. German IBAN (DE format, 22 characters) is one of the most commonly used in the world. SEPA Instant Credit Transfer enables EUR transfers to German bank accounts in under 10 seconds — faster than most countries globally.
Exchange rate
0.8601
Fee
Free
Recipient gets
€860.12
Speed
1-3 business days
Different providers excel at different things. Here's who's best for each use case on the to Germany route.
Cheapest transfer
InstaReM
Delivers the most EUR for your money
Fastest transfer
Wise
Delivers in Instant
Cash pickup
Western Union
Widest cash pickup network
Bank transfer
InstaReM
Best rate for bank deposit to Germany
Sending money to Germany is straightforward with the right provider. Here's how it works in 3 simple steps.
Choose how much USD you want to send, compare providers above, and pick the one offering the best EUR amount for your transfer to Germany.
Enter your recipient's details in Germany — you'll need their iban. Most providers verify details instantly.
Pay using bank transfer, debit card, or credit card. Track your money in real-time until it arrives — sepa transfer typically takes hours to 1 day.
Make sure you have these details from your recipient before starting your transfer.
Full name
Recipient's name as registered on their European bank account
IBAN
IBAN (International Bank Account Number) — length varies by country (e.g. DE: 22 chars, FR: 27 chars, ES: 24 chars)
Example: DE89370400440532013000
BIC/SWIFT code
Optional8 or 11-character bank identifier code (optional for SEPA transfers within EU, required for SWIFT)
Example: COBADEFFXXX
Note: All Eurozone countries use IBAN for bank transfers. For SEPA transfers (the fastest and cheapest option), only the IBAN is required — the BIC/SWIFT code is optional. Each EU country has a different IBAN length and format.
See how much your recipient would get for common transfer amounts.
InstaReM
0.86 · 1-3 business days
Wise
0.86 · Instant
Revolut
0.86 · 0-1 days
Western Union
0.86 · 0-4 days
TapTap Send
0.85 · Under 3 minutes (95% of transfers)
Remitly
0.86 · Minutes to 3-5 days
InstaReM
0.86 · 1-3 business days
Revolut
0.86 · 0-1 days
Wise
0.86 · Instant
Western Union
0.86 · 0-4 days
TapTap Send
0.85 · Under 3 minutes (95% of transfers)
Remitly
0.86 · Minutes to 3-5 days
Wise
0.86 · Instant
InstaReM
0.86 · 1-3 business days
Revolut
0.86 · 0-1 days
Remitly
0.86 · Minutes to 3-5 days
Western Union
0.86 · 0-4 days
TapTap Send
0.85 · Under 3 minutes (95% of transfers)
Transfer fees to Germany vary by provider and how you pay. Specialist services charge €0–10 per transfer, while banks charge $25–50 plus a 2–5% exchange rate markup. The exchange rate markup is usually the bigger cost — always compare the total EUR your recipient receives.
The true cost of a money transfer has two components:
Transfer fee
The upfront charge — typically $0–$10 with specialist providers.
Exchange rate markup
The hidden cost — the difference between the provider's rate and the mid-market rate (0.8614).
Choose how you want to pay for your transfer. Each payment method has different costs and speeds.
SEPA is the gold standard for EUR transfers — it's faster and cheaper than SWIFT. If your provider offers SEPA routing, always choose it over SWIFT for European bank deposits.
Speed: 1–3 business days
Usually the cheapest option — lowest fees and no card processing charges
Speed: Minutes to hours
Fast and convenient — small card processing fee applies
Speed: Minutes to hours
Fastest option but highest fees — card issuer may charge cash advance fee
Speed: Minutes to hours
Convenient mobile payment — linked card fees apply
Speed: Varies
Pay cash at an agent location — available at select providers
Speed: Minutes to hours
Convenient mobile payment — linked card fees apply
Your recipient in Germany can receive money through these delivery methods. The best option depends on their location and preferences.
Single Euro Payments Area transfer — the standard for EUR payments across 36 European countries. Fast, cheap, and reliable.
Real-time euro transfer available at participating banks. Delivers in under 10 seconds, 24/7.
Traditional international wire transfer. More expensive and slower than SEPA but available for any bank globally.
Collect cash at agent locations across Europe.
Important rules and requirements to know before sending money to Germany.
Regulatory body
European Central Bank (ECB) / National regulators (BaFin, AMF, etc.)
Inbound transfer limits
No general restriction on receiving transfers within the EU/EEA
Documentation you may need
Most transfers to Germany arrive within 1–2 business days with specialist providers. Mobile wallet and cash pickup options are often available within minutes. Bank deposits typically take 1–3 business days.
These are the most commonly used banks for receiving international transfers in Germany.
Deutsche Bank (Germany)
DEUTDEFFXXX
BNP Paribas (France)
BNPAFRPPXXX
ING (Netherlands)
INGBNL2AXXX
Santander (Spain)
BSCHESMMXXX
UniCredit (Italy)
UNCRITMM
N26 (Germany)
—
Daily best exchange rates from top providers over the last 60 days. Rates shown are for sending $100.
| Date | MoneyGram | Xoom (PayPal) | Remitly | Wells Fargo | InstaReM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Trend | |||||
| May 20 | 0.8527 | 0.7828 | 0.8561✓ | 0.8350 | 0.8554 |
| May 19 | 0.8500 | 0.7796 | 0.8534✓ | 0.8317 | 0.8524 |
| May 18 | 0.8521 | 0.7815 | 0.8552✓ | 0.8339 | 0.8546 |
| May 17 | 0.8516 | 0.7809 | 0.8551✓ | 0.8335 | 0.8541 |
| May 16 | 0.8520 | 0.7809 | 0.8551✓ | 0.8335 | 0.8541 |
| May 15 | 0.8496 | 0.8487 | 0.8540✓ | 0.8319 | 0.8527 |
| May 14 | 0.8461 | 0.8487 | 0.8501✓ | 0.8284 | 0.8491 |
| May 13 | 0.8432 | 0.7735 | 0.8470✓ | 0.8254 | 0.8462 |
| May 12 | 0.8414 | 0.7719 | 0.8452✓ | 0.8238 | 0.8442 |
| May 11 | 0.8428 | 0.7721 | 0.8455✓ | 0.8239 | 0.8444 |
| May 10 | 0.8412 | 0.7703 | 0.8435✓ | 0.8223 | 0.8424 |
| May 9 | 0.8398 | 0.7703 | 0.8435✓ | 0.8223 | 0.8424 |
| May 8 | 0.8436 | 0.7743 | 0.8471✓ | 0.8261 | 0.8460 |
| May 7 | 0.8415 | 0.7722 | 0.8449✓ | 0.8240 | 0.8437 |
| May 6 | 0.8444 | 0.7749 | 0.8479✓ | 0.8265 | 0.8466 |
| May 5 | 0.8452 | 0.7766 | 0.8507✓ | 0.8293 | 0.8496 |
| May 4 | 0.8437 | 0.7742 | 0.8483✓ | 0.8268 | 0.8471 |
| May 3 | 0.8438 | 0.7746 | 0.8482✓ | 0.8270 | 0.8471 |
| May 2 | 0.8460 | 0.7746 | 0.8482✓ | 0.8270 | 0.8471 |
| May 1 | 0.8446 | 0.7738 | 0.8483✓ | 0.8263 | 0.8466 |
| Apr 30 | 0.8482 | 0.7783 | 0.8528 | 0.8303 | 0.8631✓ |
| Apr 29 | 0.8446 | 0.7754 | 0.8504 | 0.8276 | 0.8631✓ |
| Apr 28 | 0.8449 | 0.7752 | 0.8500 | 0.8147 | 0.8631✓ |
| Apr 27 | 0.8466 | 0.7742 | 0.8485 | 0.8140 | 0.8631✓ |
| Apr 26 | 0.8471 | 0.7749 | 0.8494 | 0.8145 | 0.8631✓ |
| Apr 25 | 0.8469 | 0.7749 | 0.8494 | 0.8272 | 0.8631✓ |
| Apr 24 | 0.8470 | 0.7773 | 0.8521 | 0.8295 | 0.8631✓ |
| Apr 23 | 0.8444 | 0.7753 | 0.8503 | 0.8279 | 0.8631✓ |
| Apr 22 | 0.8437 | 0.7733 | 0.8474 | 0.8256 | 0.8631✓ |
| Apr 21 | 0.8404 | 0.7705 | 0.8447✓ | 0.8228 | 0.8422 |
| Apr 20 | 0.8398 | 0.7724 | 0.8469✓ | 0.8247 | 0.8441 |
| Apr 19 | 0.8394 | 0.7717 | 0.8462✓ | 0.8243 | 0.8437 |
| Apr 18 | 0.8416 | 0.7717 | 0.8462✓ | 0.8243 | 0.8437 |
| Apr 17 | 0.8409 | 0.7709 | 0.8456✓ | 0.8230 | 0.8427 |
| Apr 16 | 0.8390 | 0.7689 | 0.8640✓ | 0.8213 | 0.8416 |
| Apr 15 | 0.8406 | 0.7697 | 0.8640✓ | 0.8219 | 0.8420 |
| Apr 14 | 0.8414 | 0.7717 | 0.8640✓ | 0.8238 | 0.8441 |
| Apr 13 | 0.8486 | 0.7767 | 0.8640✓ | 0.8294 | 0.8500 |
| Apr 12 | 0.8456 | 0.7745 | 0.8640✓ | 0.8265 | 0.8472 |
| Apr 11 | 0.8448 | 0.7745 | 0.8640✓ | 0.8265 | 0.8472 |
| Apr 10 | 0.8480 | 0.7767 | 0.8640✓ | 0.8289 | 0.8498 |
| Apr 9 | 0.8506 | 0.7790 | 0.8640✓ | 0.8311 | 0.8519 |
| Apr 8 | 0.8475 | 0.7774 | 0.8640✓ | 0.8296 | 0.8510 |
| Apr 7 | 0.8579 | 0.7870 | 0.8631✓ | 0.8402 | 0.8607 |
| Apr 6 | 0.8567 | 0.7888 | 0.8619✓ | 0.8391 | 0.8593 |
| Apr 5 | 0.8578 | 0.7882 | 0.8644✓ | 0.8415 | 0.8620 |
| Apr 4 | 0.8578 | 0.7882 | 0.8644✓ | 0.8415 | 0.8620 |
| Apr 3 | 0.8590 | 0.7868 | 0.8645✓ | 0.8410 | 0.8624 |
| Apr 2 | 0.8574 | 0.7833 | 0.8629✓ | 0.8395 | 0.8608 |
| Apr 1 | 0.8556 | 0.7851 | 0.8602✓ | 0.8360 | 0.8582 |
| Mar 31 | 0.8591 | 0.7910 | 0.8621✓ | 0.8397 | 0.8601 |
| Mar 30 | 0.8629 | 0.7889 | 0.8679✓ | 0.8455 | 0.8656 |
| Mar 29 | 0.8606 | 0.7888 | 0.8661✓ | 0.8432 | 0.8645 |
| Mar 28 | 0.8590 | 0.7871 | 0.8648✓ | 0.8416 | 0.8628 |
| Mar 18 | 0.8582 | 0.7929 | 0.8630 | 0.8398 | 0.8635✓ |
| Mar 17 | 0.8634 | 0.7949 | 0.8659 | 0.8431 | 0.8664✓ |
| Mar 16 | 0.8616 | 0.7948 | 0.8622 | 0.8413 | 0.8631✓ |
| Mar 15 | 0.8643 | 0.8013 | 0.8718 | 0.8489 | 0.8725✓ |
| Mar 14 | 0.8643 | 0.8013 | 0.8718 | 0.8489 | 0.8724✓ |
| Mar 13 | 0.8682 | 0.8002 | 0.8718 | 0.8490 | 0.8724✓ |
Wise and Revolut offer the best EUR rates for most currencies. For USD-to-EUR, OFX is also competitive for amounts above $3,000. Given Germany's EUR use and SEPA connectivity, the fee structure matters more than the exchange rate spread — both are generally very low for major currency pairs.
German IBANs are exactly 22 characters: DE + 2 check digits + 8-digit BLZ (Bankleitzahl — bank sort code) + 10-digit account number. Example: DE89370400440532013000. The BLZ identifies the specific bank and branch. Recipients can find their IBAN in their bank's online banking portal or on a bank statement.
SEPA Instant transfers to German banks arrive in under 10 seconds. Standard SEPA Credit Transfer arrives next business day. Wise uses SEPA Instant where available, making transfers to Deutsche Bank, Commerzbank, Sparkasse, and N26 near-instant. International SWIFT wires take 1–3 business days before the SEPA leg.
Deutsche Bank's SWIFT/BIC code is DEUTDEDB (Frankfurt) or DEUTDEFF. Commerzbank: COBADEFFXXX. Sparkasse (varies by region): check with the specific Sparkasse. N26: NTSBDEB1. For SEPA transfers, the IBAN alone is sufficient — the BIC is optional under SEPA rules for EUR transfers within SEPA.
Germany has a gift tax (Schenkungsteuer) with generous exemptions. Gifts from parents or grandparents are exempt up to €400,000 per recipient per 10 years; from siblings or other relatives up to €20,000. Personal support payments between family members are generally not taxable. Germany's tax authority (Finanzamt) requires declaration of gifts above exemption thresholds, but routine family remittances are exempt.
Compare providers for your specific sending country to get the most accurate rates and fees.
Enter your exact amount to see personalised quotes from every provider on this route.
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