If you’re based in Australia or New Zealand and looking for a reliable way to send money home to family, OrbitRemit and Remitly are two of the most commonly compared options. Both are built for migrants sending money to Asia-Pacific and beyond — but they work differently, charge differently, and suit different types of senders.
This guide covers what each provider actually offers in 2026, so you can make a clear, informed decision.
Quick Comparison: OrbitRemit vs Remitly at a glance
| Feature | OrbitRemit | Remitly |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 2008 | 2011 |
| Headquarters | Wellington, New Zealand | Seattle, USA |
| Listed company | ❌ No | ✅ Yes — NASDAQ (ticker: RELY) |
| Send from Australia | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Send from New Zealand | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Countries supported | 51+ | 175+ |
| Minimum transfer | Varies by corridor | No stated minimum |
| Fee structure | Flat fee per transfer | Flat fee per transfer (varies by corridor and speed tier) |
| Exchange rate | Competitive market rate | Markup of 1%–3.7% above mid-market (varies by corridor and speed) |
| Transfer speed tiers | No tiered pricing — one standard speed | Express (minutes) or Economy (3–5 business days) |
| Transfer speed — mobile wallet | Minutes | Minutes (Express) |
| Fee-free threshold | AUD/NZD $10,000+ | ❌ No fee-free threshold |
| First transfer offer | ✅ Free transfer + promo rate | ✅ No fees on first transfer |
| Delivery options | Bank deposit, mobile wallets (GCash, Maya, GrabPay), cash pickup | Bank deposit, mobile wallets, cash pickup, home delivery |
| Home delivery | ❌ No | ✅ Yes — select corridors (availability varies by sending country) |
| On-time delivery guarantee | ❌ No | ✅ Yes — fee refund if delayed |
| Mobile app rating | ✅ Excellent | ✅ 4.9/5 App Store, 4.8/5 Google Play |
| Trustpilot rating | Excellent — 33,000+ reviews, 4.8/5 | Great — 300,000+ reviews, 4.3/5 |
| Regulation (AU) | ASIC-regulated; AUSTRAC registered (AFSL: 470646) | ASIC-regulated (Remitly Australia Pty Ltd) |
| Regulation (NZ) | DIA-supervised money remitter (FSP7721) | FSPR-registered (Remitly NZ Limited, FSP1003229) |
| Multilingual support | ✅ Tagalog, Nepali, Hindi, Vietnamese, English | ✅ Multiple languages |
| Business transfers | ✅ Yes — selected corridors | ✅ Yes — Remitly Business (select markets; check remitly.com for AU/NZ availability) |
| Mobile app | ✅ iOS & Android | ✅ iOS & Android |
About OrbitRemit
OrbitRemit was founded in 2008 and is headquartered in Wellington, New Zealand — making it one of the few international money transfer services genuinely home-grown to the Australia–New Zealand region. It was built to serve migrant communities sending money to family across Asia-Pacific, and today supports transfers to 51+ countries.
OrbitRemit’s strongest corridors from Australia and New Zealand include the Philippines, India, Nepal, Vietnam, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Pakistan, Malaysia, Thailand and more.
Regulation in Australia: Regulated by ASIC, AUSTRAC registered. AFSL: 470646.
Regulation in New Zealand: Supervised by the DIA as a licensed money remitter. FSP: 7721.
Source: orbitremit.com/about
About Remitly
Remitly was founded in 2011 in Seattle, USA by Matthew Oppenheimer, Josh Hug, and Shivaas Gulati, originally to help US-based immigrants send money home affordably. It has since expanded to serve senders from Australia, New Zealand, the UK, Canada, the EU, Singapore, and other countries, supporting transfers to 170+ destination countries.
Remitly went public on the NASDAQ in 2021 (ticker: RELY), making it one of the few publicly listed consumer remittance companies in the world. It is designed primarily for personal transfers and does not currently offer a business account product.
Regulation in Australia: Remitly Australia Pty Ltd is regulated by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC).
Regulation in New Zealand: Remitly NZ Limited is registered on the Financial Service Providers Register (FSP: 1003229).
Source: remitly.com/nz/en | remitly.com/au/en
Fees and Exchange Rates
OrbitRemit
OrbitRemit charges a flat fee per transfer, shown upfront before you confirm. There are no exchange rate markups — all costs are visible in the fee.
- First transfer: $0 fee + promotional exchange rate (new customers; applies to first $500; terms apply)
- Transfers of AUD/NZD $10,000 or more: fee-free
- All other transfers: flat fee (varies by corridor and delivery method)
Source: orbitremit.com
Remitly
Remitly also charges a flat fee per transfer — but its pricing model has an important additional layer: the exchange rate margin.
Remitly applies a markup of 1%–3.7% above the mid-market rate, depending on the destination country, delivery method, and which transfer speed tier you choose:
- Express: Faster delivery (minutes to same day), but a less favourable exchange rate
- Economy: Slower delivery (3–5 business days), but a better exchange rate
This means the true cost of a Remitly transfer includes both the flat fee and the exchange rate margin. Always compare the total amount your recipient will receive — not just the headline fee.
First transfer: No fee on the first transfer for new customers. Terms apply.
Source: moneytransfers.com — Remitly review | thecurrencyshop.com.au — Remitly review
Transfer Speed — Express vs Economy
One of Remitly’s most distinctive features is its two-tier speed model:
Remitly Express delivers funds within minutes for most corridors — making it one of the fastest options available for urgent transfers. Express transfers are funded by debit or credit card only (bank transfer is not available for Express).
Remitly Economy takes 3–5 business days but applies a better exchange rate, meaning your recipient receives more. Economy transfers can be funded by bank transfer.
OrbitRemit does not operate a tiered speed model. Standard transfer speeds vary by corridor and delivery method:
- Mobile wallet (e.g. GCash): typically within minutes
- Cash pickup: typically 1–2 hours
- Bank deposit: typically same business day
For senders who need money to arrive urgently, Remitly Express is fast and widely available. For senders sending to mobile wallets or cash pickup, OrbitRemit’s standard speed is similarly fast without the premium pricing of an Express tier.
Delivery Options
Both providers support bank deposit, mobile wallets and cash pickup. There are some differences worth noting:
OrbitRemit
- Bank deposit — 51+ countries
- Mobile wallets — GCash, Maya (PayMaya), GrabPay, Coins.ph (Philippines); other corridors where available
- Cash pickup — Philippines (5,000+ locations), Nepal (NIC Asia Bank), Vietnam (DongA Bank)
- Home delivery — ❌ Not available
Remitly
- Bank deposit — 170+ countries
- Mobile wallets — GCash, Maya, GrabPay and others (Philippines); mobile money in select African and Asian corridors
- Cash pickup — available in select corridors via partners including Ria Money Transfer
- Home delivery — available in select corridors; availability varies by sending country. Check remitly.com for options from Australia and New Zealand
Source: moneytransfers.com — Remitly review
On-time delivery guarantee
Remitly offers an on-time delivery guarantee — if your transfer is not delivered by the estimated time, Remitly will refund your transfer fee. This is a meaningful consumer protection feature, particularly for urgent transfers.
OrbitRemit does not currently offer a formal on-time delivery guarantee.
Countries and corridors
OrbitRemit
OrbitRemit supports 51+ destination countries with a focus on Asia-Pacific remittance corridors. Key destinations include the Philippines, India, Nepal, Vietnam, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Pakistan, Malaysia, Thailand, Bhutan, Egypt and more.
Full list: orbitremit.com/destinations
Remitly
Remitly supports 175+ destination countries — a significantly broader global footprint. If you need to send to a country outside OrbitRemit’s 51+ corridors, Remitly is likely to cover it.
Business transfers
OrbitRemit supports business transfers alongside personal transfers for selected corridors, with higher transfer limits for business accounts.
Remitly offers Remitly Business — a business payments product supporting payments to contractors, employees and vendors in 100+ currencies. Availability from Australia and New Zealand may vary; check remitly.com/business for current options.
Customer reviews
OrbitRemit holds a Trustpilot Excellent rating of 4.8/5 based on over 33,000 reviews. It also holds a ProductReview.com.au Top Rated badge for 2025 and 2026, and was awarded WeMoney Best for Value 2025 and WeMoney International Money Transfer App of the Year 2024.
Remitly holds a Trustpilot Great rating of 4.3/5 based on over 300,000 reviews — one of the largest review counts of any remittance provider on Trustpilot. Positive reviews consistently highlight the ease of the app, fast Express delivery, and reliable on-time transfers. Some reviews mention exchange rates not being as competitive as other providers, and occasional compliance-related account reviews on larger transfers.
Sources: au.trustpilot.com/review/orbitremit.com | trustpilot.com/review/remitly.com
Which provider is right for you?
Both OrbitRemit and Remitly are well-established, regulated providers built for migrants sending money home. The right choice depends on your corridor, how urgently your recipient needs the funds, and how your recipient prefers to receive money.
OrbitRemit may suit you if:
- You want flat fees with no exchange rate markup — what you see is what you pay
- You’re sending AUD/NZD $10,000 or more and want fee-free transfers
- You want multilingual support in Tagalog, Nepali, Hindi or Vietnamese from a locally based team
- You need a business account alongside personal transfers
- You prefer a provider with ANZ roots and a strong local reputation
Remitly may suit you if:
- You need Express delivery in minutes for an urgent transfer
- You want to send to a country outside OrbitRemit’s 51+ corridors — Remitly covers 170+ destinations
- You value an on-time delivery guarantee with a fee refund if your transfer is late
- You prefer Economy transfers at a better exchange rate and can wait 3–5 business days
- You need home delivery for recipients in select corridors
Always compare the total amount your recipient will receive — including the fee and the exchange rate applied — before confirming any transfer. Both providers show this upfront before you confirm.
FAQS (Frequently Asked Questions)
Is Remitly available in New Zealand?
Yes. Remitly NZ Limited is registered on New Zealand’s Financial Service Providers Register (FSP: 1003229) and supports outbound transfers from New Zealand to 170+ countries.
Is OrbitRemit available in New Zealand?
Yes. OrbitRemit is headquartered in Wellington and is supervised by the Department of Internal Affairs (DIA) as a licensed money remitter in New Zealand (FSP: 7721).
What is the difference between Remitly Express and Economy?
Express delivers funds within minutes but applies a less favourable exchange rate — you pay for speed. Economy takes 3–5 business days but offers a better exchange rate, meaning your recipient receives more. OrbitRemit does not use a tiered speed model.
Does Remitly have a fee-free threshold like OrbitRemit?
No. Remitly charges fees on all transfers regardless of amount. OrbitRemit waives all fees on transfers of AUD or NZD $10,000 or more.
Does Remitly support GCash from Australia and New Zealand?
Yes. Remitly supports GCash delivery to the Philippines from Australia and New Zealand. OrbitRemit also supports GCash, Maya, GrabPay and Coins.ph delivery to the Philippines.
Which is cheaper — OrbitRemit or Remitly?
It depends on the corridor, transfer amount and speed tier. OrbitRemit charges a flat fee with no exchange rate markup, and is fee-free above AUD/NZD $10,000. Remitly charges a flat fee plus an exchange rate margin of 1%–3.7%. For mid-to-large transfers, OrbitRemit’s fee-free threshold and transparent flat fees are often more cost-effective. Always use each provider’s calculator to compare the exact amount your recipient will receive.
Does Remitly have a business account?
Yes — Remitly offers Remitly Business for payments to contractors, employees and vendors in 100+ currencies. Availability from Australia and New Zealand may vary; check remitly.com/business for current options. OrbitRemit supports business transfers on selected corridors.
Send money from Australia or New Zealand with OrbitRemit
OrbitRemit has been helping Australians and New Zealanders send money home since 2008. With transparent flat fees, no exchange rate markup, multilingual support, and a Trustpilot Excellent rating from over 33,000 reviews, OrbitRemit is a trusted choice for the Asia-Pacific corridors that matter most.
- Regulated by ASIC in Australia (AFSL: 470646) | DIA-supervised in New Zealand (FSP7721)
- Flat fees shown upfront — no hidden markup
- Mobile wallets, bank deposit and cash pickup supported
- Fee-free transfers above AUD/NZD $10,000
- Support in Tagalog, Nepali, Hindi, Vietnamese and English
- 500,000+ customers | Rated Excellent on Trustpilot — 4.8/5
- WeMoney Best for Value 2025 | ProductReview.com.au Top Rated 2025 & 2026
Rates, fees and product features are subject to change. Always verify current terms directly with each provider before making a transfer. This post was last updated May 2026.
Sources: orbitremit.com | remitly.com/au/en | remitly.com/nz/en | moneytransfers.com — Remitly review | thecurrencyshop.com.au — Remitly review | sendmoneycompare.com — Remitly review
