Are you new to Germany and looking for the best way to transfer money to India? When I first moved here, I had the same question. After trying several options, I want to share my personal experience and the apps I trust to get the best rates and fastest service.
My Top Picks: Wise, XE, and InstaReM
I primarily use three platforms: Wise, XE, and InstaReM. In my experience, all three are reliable, and I have never faced any major issues. One thing that stands out is their customer support—whenever I had a small query, they replied promptly to resolve it.
1. Wise: Best for Instant Transfers
If you need to send money immediately
- Speed: Transfers are near-instant if you already hold funds in your Wise multi-currency account.
- Bank Transfers: If you are sending money from your German bank account to Wise first, it still usually arrives within a few hours or, at most, one working day.
- Transparency: They show you the exact mid-market exchange rate and a clear fee upfront.
2. InstaReM & XE: Great for Competitive Rates
Are you new to Germany and looking for the best way to transfer money to India? When I first moved here, I had the same question. After trying several options, I want to share my personal experience and the apps I trust to get the best rates and fastest service.
My Top Picks: Wise, XE, and InstaReM
I primarily use three platforms: Wise, XE, and InstaReM. In my experience, all three are reliable, and I have never faced any major issues. One thing that stands out is their customer support—whenever I had a small query, they replied promptly to resolve it.
1. Wise: Best for Instant Transfers
If you need to send money immediately, Wise is my top choice.
- Speed: Transfers are near-instant if you already hold funds in your Wise multi-currency account.
- Bank Transfers: If you are sending money from your German bank account to Wise first, it still usually arrives within a few hours or, at most, one working day.
- Transparency: They show you the exact mid-market exchange rate and a clear fee upfront.
2. InstaReM & XE: Great for Competitive Rates
I personally use the Bank Transfer method for these platforms because it often avoids extra card fees. However, it is important to understand how this works so you aren’t surprised by the timing:
- The Two-Step Process: Unlike a card payment, the transfer doesn’t start the moment you click “Send” on the app. First, you must log into your German bank account and manually transfer the Euro amount to the platform’s bank details provided.
- The “Wait” Period: It typically takes a few hours (or up to one business day) for your German bank to deliver the funds to InstaReM or XE.
- Final Processing: Once the platform receives your money, they converted it to INR and send it to India.
- Total Timing: Usually, if you start the process during bank working hours, the money reaches India within 24 hours. If you do it on a weekend or late at night, expect it to arrive the next working day.
Important Note: When making the transfer from your German bank, always include the Reference Number provided by the app. This ensures they can match your payment to your account quickly
Which App Offers the Best Conversion Rate?
There is no single “cheapest” app every time. Exchange rates fluctuate constantly.
My Strategy: Before sending money, I always check the live rates on all three platforms. I simply use whichever one gives me more Indian Rupees (INR) for my Euros (€) at that specific moment.
Savings Tip: Even a small difference in the exchange rate can add up if you are sending a large amount. Always compare before you click “Send.”
Ready to Start?
If you are ready to open an account and start saving on your transfers, you can use my referral links below to get a bonus or a fee-free first transfer:
- Wise: https://bit.ly/4sBjpIW
- InstaReM: https://bit.ly/4pxObzW
- XE: To get your reward, sign up via https://account.xe.com/signup
and enter the promo code XEREF-IYKAJUB5 when you start your first transfer. Refer XE Referral Program Guildeline https://help.xe.com/hc/en-gb/articles/360020025678-Xe-s-refer-a-friend-programme
Note: My goal is to help you save money on transfers to India. To support the maintenance of this blog, some of the links below are referral links. This means if you create an account, you might get a discount (like a fee-free transfer), and I may receive a small reward from the platform. Rest assured, I have used Wise, XE, and InstaReM personally for a long time, and my recommendations are based on my actual experience.
What about other platforms?
I know there are other options like Remitly and various online providers, but I haven’t personally tried them yet.
Have you used other apps? If you’ve found a platform with even better conversion rates or faster service, please share your experience in the comments! Your feedback helps everyone in the expat community in Germany and Europe save more money.
Which App Offers the Best Conversion Rate?
There is no single “cheapest” app every time. Exchange rates fluctuate constantly.
My Strategy: Before sending money, I always check the live rates on all three platforms. I simply use whichever one gives me more Indian Rupees (INR) for my Euros (€) at that specific moment.
Savings Tip: Even a small difference in the exchange rate can add up if you are sending a large amount. Always compare before you click “Send.”
Ready to Start?
If you are ready to open an account and start saving on your transfers, you can use my referral links below to get a bonus or a fee-free first transfer:
- [Insert your Wise Referral Link Here]
- [Insert your XE Referral Link Here]
- [Insert your InstaReM Referral Link Here]
Note: My goal is to help you save money on transfers to India. To support the maintenance of this blog, some of the links below are referral links. This means if you create an account, you might get a discount (like a fee-free transfer), and I may receive a small reward from the platform. Rest assured, I have used Wise, XE, and InstaReM personally for a long time, and my recommendations are based on my actual experience.
What about other platforms?
I know there are other options like Remitly and various online providers, but I haven’t personally tried them yet.
Have you used other apps? If you’ve found a platform with even better conversion rates or faster service, please share your experience in the comments! Your feedback helps everyone in the expat community in Germany and Europe save more money.