Learn how to send money instantly from the UK to Nigeria with Remitly. Discover Remitly fees, transfer speed, exchange rates and tips for 2026 in this complete guide

Introduction: Sending Money Home Has Never Been Easier

If you live in the UK and regularly send money to family or friends in Nigeria, you’ve probably heard of Remitly. The app has become one of the easiest and fastest ways to move money internationally, especially across the UK-to-Nigeria corridor.

Back in the day, sending money abroad meant queuing up at a bank, filling forms, and waiting days. Today, thanks to mobile apps like Remitly, you can send funds instantly from your phone while sitting on your sofa in London.

This 2026 guide breaks down everything you need to know about Remitly — how it works, its fees and speed, its benefits and drawbacks, and tips to make sure every pound you send arrives safely and swiftly in Nigeria.

What Is Remitly and Why Is It So Popular in 2026?

Remitly is a digital money-transfer company that lets you send money abroad via its mobile app or website. It was founded in Seattle in 2011 and has grown into one of the world’s leading remittance brands.

In 2026, Remitly serves millions of users in over 150 countries. Its popularity in the UK→Nigeria corridor comes from a few key reasons:

Speed: Most transfers arrive within minutes when using Express mode.
Transparency: The app shows exactly how much your recipient will get before you send.
Reliability: It works with major Nigerian banks and is regulated by the UK’s Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).
Ease of use: No bank visits needed — just download, verify, and send.

Whether you’re supporting family in Lagos, paying for a child’s school fees in Abuja, or sending funds to a friend in Port Harcourt, Remitly makes it simple.

How to Send Money from the UK to Nigeria Using Remitly

Here’s a quick walkthrough of how you can send money in a few minutes:

Download and sign up: Get the Remitly app from Google Play or the App Store. Create your account with your UK email and verify your identity.
Choose Nigeria as the destination: Select your recipient’s country and preferred delivery method (bank deposit, mobile wallet or cash pickup).
Enter the amount: Type how much you want to send in GBP. You’ll see the converted amount in NGN instantly.
Pick a delivery speed: Remitly offers two options — Express (fastest) or Economy (lower fee, slower).
Add recipient details: You’ll need their full name, bank name, and account number (if choosing bank deposit).
Pay securely: Fund the transfer with your debit card or bank account.
Track your transfer: Use the app’s real-time tracker to see when the money arrives.

💡 Tip: Double-check your recipient’s bank details — even a small error can delay delivery.

Understanding Remitly’s Two Delivery Options

Remitly gives you two ways to send money — Express and Economy. Knowing the difference can help you choose the best for each situation.

Express Transfers

Speed: Usually minutes to a few hours.
Payment method: Debit card or credit card.
Best for: Emergencies or time-sensitive payments.

Economy Transfers

Speed: 1–3 business days.
Payment method: Bank transfer from the UK.
Best for: Larger sums where you want lower fees.

⚙️ Pro tip: If you transfer regularly, use Economy for planned transfers and Express for urgent ones.

Remitly Fees & Exchange Rates (General 2026 Overview)

Remitly’s pricing is transparent but varies based on amount and speed. Typically, you pay:

A small transfer fee (from about £1 to £4 per transfer).
A small exchange-rate markup on the GBP→NGN rate.

Remitly displays the exact rate before you hit “Send.” You’ll see how many naira your recipient gets and what fee applies.

New users often get a “no-fee first transfer” promotion, so keep an eye out for that when signing up.

Because exchange rates fluctuate, it’s smart to compare before sending large amounts. Even a 1 % difference in rate can save (or cost) you thousands of naira.

Is Remitly Safe to Use?

Yes — Remitly is fully licensed and regulated. In the UK, it operates under the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). It also uses:

Bank-level encryption to protect your data.
Two-factor authentication for logins and transfers.
Real-time alerts so you always know the status of your money.

With millions of happy users and a strong reputation, Remitly is one of the most trusted apps for sending money to Nigeria in 2026.

What Makes Remitly Different from Other Money Transfer Apps?

Here’s how Remitly stands out in the crowded world of remittance apps:

Feature	Remitly	Wise	WorldRemit	Western Union
Speed	Minutes (Express)	1–2 days	Minutes–hours	Instant–days
Fees	Low	Low	Medium	Higher
Exchange rate	Competitive	Mid-market	Slight markup	Varies
Ease of use	Very easy	Moderate	Easy	Offline/online mix
Promo offers	Yes (first transfer free)	Sometimes	Occasional	Rare

Remitly balances speed and cost beautifully — that’s why many diaspora users prefer it over traditional money transfer services.

Real-Life Scenarios — How People Use Remitly Every A student in Manchester sends rent money to parents in Lagos for their retirement home project. Funds arrive in minutes.

A nurse in Birmingham uses Remitly to pay school fees for her niece in Enugu — she tracks the transfer on the app while on break at work.
A small business owner in London pays suppliers in Nigeria through Economy mode to save on fees every month.
Remite money transfer

Each user has different needs — and Remitly’s flexibility meets them all.

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Remitly App Review 2026: Honest Look at Its Pros, Cons & Real User Experience

Remitly has built a strong reputation among UK users sending money to Nigeria — but no app is perfect.
Let’s break down what real users are saying about their experience in 2026.

Remitly Pros (Why So Many Users Love It)

✅ Instant delivery with Express — Many users confirm funds land in Nigeria within minutes, especially to banks like GTBank, Access Bank, and Zenith.
✅ Transparent exchange rates — No hidden fees; what you see is what you get.
✅ Ease of use — Intuitive design, perfect even for non-tech-savvy users.
✅ 24/7 support — Remitly’s customer service can be reached via live chat or phone.
✅ Welcome bonus — Often offers “no-fee first transfer” promos for new signups.
✅ Security — Remitly uses multi-layer encryption and is FCA-regulated.
✅ Transfer tracking — Real-time notifications keep both sender and receiver updated.

💬 “Remitly has made sending money home feel like sending a text message,” says Ada, a UK nurse who remits monthly to her parents in Nigeria.

Remitly Cons (Where It Could Improve)

⚠️ Exchange rate markup — While still good, some competitors (like Wise) offer closer-to-mid-market rates.
⚠️ Card funding fees — Paying via credit card adds extra charges.
⚠️ Transfer limits — New users have capped sending limits until full verification.
⚠️ Occasional delays — Some Economy transfers may take 2–3 business days.
⚠️ Customer service response times — High-demand periods (like holidays) can lead to slower replies.

Still, compared to many other transfer options, Remitly’s reliability and simplicity make it one of the best choices for Nigerians abroad.

How Remitly Compares in 2026: Real Numbers

According to Statista (2025) and World Bank remittance data, the UK→Nigeria remittance corridor remains one of the largest in Africa, exceeding $6.2 billion annually.
Remitly, Wise, and WorldRemit dominate this flow — but Remitly continues to grow due to its speed and mobile-first design.

App	Avg. Delivery Time	Avg. Fee (per £100)	App Store Rating	Best For
Remitly	0–30 minutes	£1.99	4.8 ★	Instant, family transfers
Wise	1–2 days	£0.65	4.7 ★	Business & freelancers
WorldRemit	0–6 hours	£2.99	4.5 ★	Cash pickups
Western Union	1 day+	£4.99	4.2 ★	Global coverage

Fees Breakdown: What You’ll Actually Pay

Remitly’s fee structure (as of 2026) generally includes:

Express Transfer (card): £1.99–£3.99 per transfer.
Economy (bank): £0.99–£1.99 per transfer.
Exchange rate margin: Typically 0.5%–1.2% below the mid-market rate.
Credit card surcharge: Around 3%.

While Wise may have lower rate margins, Remitly wins with instant delivery and ease of use — especially when sending to family members who need funds urgently.

How Fast Is “Instant”? Testing Remitly’s Speed

In real-world tests conducted by financial bloggers in late 2025:

Express transfers from London to Lagos landed within 3–10 minutes at GTBank and Zenith.
Economy transfers via UK bank took 2 business days.
Mobile wallet delivery (for services like Paga or Opay) was usually under 15 minutes.

That’s impressive for cross-border transactions — especially compared to traditional bank wire transfers that take 3–5 days.

Remitly’s App Experience: User-Friendly & Clean

Remitly’s app (on both Android and iOS) has a 4.8-star rating on average across over 2 million reviews.
The interface is designed for clarity — large buttons, progress indicators, and instant tracking.

You can also:

Save frequent recipients for one-tap re-sending.
Set reminders for monthly transfers.
Enable Face ID or fingerprint logins.

💡 Tip: Turn on notifications to stay updated when the money arrives. It also builds trust with your recipient.

Who Should Use Remitly in 2026?

Remitly is ideal for:

💷 UK workers sending funds to family in Nigeria.
🏦 Students or freelancers needing to pay bills or tuition fees.
🛒 Small business owners paying Nigerian suppliers.
❤️ Anyone who prioritizes convenience and speed over squeezing every penny out of the exchange rate.

If you send money home regularly, Remitly is likely your best all-around choice.

How to Get the Best Exchange Rates on Remitly

Here are a few insider tips to make the most of your transfers:

Send midweek — Avoid weekends when markets close and exchange rates tighten.
Use Economy for larger transfers — It saves on fees when time isn’t a factor.
Leverage promotions — Remitly often emails “fee-free” offers for loyal users.
Enable notifications — The app alerts you when rates improve.
Avoid credit cards — Use bank accounts to dodge extra surcharges.

Following these can save you up to £50–£100 per year depending on your transfer frequency.

Remitly for Businesses — Is It Possible?

While Remitly mainly serves individuals, some freelancers and small businesses use it to pay partners or employees abroad.

However, for corporate-level payments, solutions like Wise Business or Payoneer may offer more options (like invoicing or batch transfers).
Still, for quick one-off payments or reimbursements to Nigeria, Remitly works perfectly fine.

Customer Support and Reliability

Remitly’s 24/7 support team can be reached via:

In-app Live Chat
Email: support@remitly.com
Phone: Local UK & global numbers listed on their website

The company’s Trustpilot rating (as of Q1 2026) is 4.6/5, with most reviews praising fast delivery and reliability.

FAQs

Q1: How much does it cost to send £500 from UK to Nigeria with Remitly?
A: Example: fee ~£3.99; rate maybe ~₦2,020 per £1; you might receive ~₦1,010,000. Cost includes fee and FX margin of about 1-3%.

Q2: How fast is the transfer to Nigeria?
A: With Remitly Express from the UK to Nigeria, many transfers arrive in minutes or a few hours. Economy option may take 1-3 business days.

Q3: Can I pay with my UK debit card?
A: Yes — Remitly accepts UK-issued Visa/Mastercard debit cards. Credit cards may attract extra fees via your bank. Remitly

Q4: Are there any hidden fees?
A: Remitly displays upfront fees and the rate before you send; however the exchange-rate margin (difference from mid-market) is implicit and affects how much your recipient gets.

Q5: Is Remitly safe?
A: Yes. Remitly is regulated in the UK (FCA authorised) and globally, has strong user ratings (4.6/5 on Trustpilot in the UK) and is publicly traded. topmoneycompare.co.uk+1

Conclusion: Why Remitly Remains a Top Choice in 2026

Remitly’s evolution from a small Seattle startup to a global remittance powerhouse is a testament to how much people value speed, trust, and simplicity.
For UK users sending money to Nigeria in 2026, it’s one of the fastest, most transparent, and easiest-to-use services on the market.

Whether you’re sending ₦10,000 or ₦1,000,000, the app’s interface makes every transaction smooth and secure — and that’s exactly why millions of users continue to rely on it year after year.

🌍 In short:
Remitly = Fast + Safe + Simple + Transparent.

So next time you need to send money home, you’ll know your loved ones in Nigeria will receive it quickly, securely, and stress-free.

Esmanews

Remitly Guide: Instant Transfers from UK to Nigeria – Fees & Speed Explained | Remitly Payment App Review 2026