Send money from United States to United Kingdom(USD → GBP)

Wise and OFX consistently offer the best value for USD to GBP transfers. Wise uses the real mid-market exchange rate with 0% markup and a transparent fee of approximately 0.5–0.7% — on a $1,000 transfer, that's about $5–$7 total cost. OFX charges $0 in fees with a small exchange rate spread, making it particularly competitive for transfers over $5,000. By comparison, US banks charge $25–$50 per wire plus a 2–3% FX markup, costing $45–$80 total on the same $1,000 transfer. We recommend comparing Wise, OFX, and XE on the day you send.

Most specialist providers deliver to UK bank accounts within 1 business day via the UK Faster Payments network. Wise and Remitly can deliver within hours if you fund by debit card. Traditional US bank SWIFT wires take 2–4 business days and may pass through correspondent banks that deduct intermediary fees. For urgent transfers, debit card funding with Wise or Revolut is the fastest option — your recipient can receive GBP the same day.

Through a US bank, wiring money to the UK costs $25–$50 in wire fees plus a 2–3% exchange rate markup — totaling $45–$80 on a $1,000 transfer. Specialist providers are dramatically cheaper: Wise charges ~$5–$7 (0% markup + small fee), OFX charges $0 in fees with a small spread, and XE charges $0 in fees with a 0.5–1.5% spread. Switching from bank wires to a specialist provider saves 80–95% on transfer costs.

For most people, Wise offers the best combination of low cost, speed, and transparency for USD to GBP transfers. For large transfers ($5,000+), OFX may offer better rates through their zero-fee model. For speed, Revolut and Wise both support same-day delivery to UK bank accounts. For cash pickup in the UK, Western Union has the widest network. We recommend using our comparison tool to check live rates on the day you send, as USD/GBP rates fluctuate throughout the day.