Key takeaway
The cheapest and easiest ways to send money home from Ireland — comparing banks, Wise, Revolut, and specialist transfer services.
Why bank transfers are expensive
If you use your Irish bank to send money abroad, you'll typically pay a transfer fee (€10–€25) plus a currency conversion spread of 2–4%. On a €500 transfer, that's potentially €30–€45 in charges. There are much cheaper options.
Wise (formerly TransferWise)
Wise is consistently the cheapest option for international transfers. It uses the mid-market exchange rate (the rate you see on Google) and charges a small transparent fee — typically 0.4–0.8% depending on the currency. For most corridors, a €500 transfer costs around €3–€5. You can send directly from your Irish bank account or via debit card.
Revolut
If you already use Revolut for day-to-day banking, it's a convenient option for international transfers. The free tier includes a certain amount of fee-free currency exchange per month; above the limit, a 0.5% fee applies. Revolut to Revolut transfers are instant and free.
Specialist remittance services
For transfers to countries in Asia, Africa, or Latin America, specialist services like WorldRemit, Remitly, and Western Union often offer competitive rates and can deliver cash to local agents or mobile money wallets — useful when the recipient doesn't have a bank account.
What to watch out for
- Always compare the total amount received, not just the headline rate
- Weekend rates are sometimes worse — check if timing matters for your transfer
- Large transfers (€10,000+) may require additional identity verification
General guidance only. Always verify with official sources — gov.ie, citizensinformation.ie, hse.ie.