Whether you’re traveling, living in Brazil long-term, or supporting family and friends, sending money across borders shouldn’t cost a fortune—or give you a headache. But traditional banks often hit you with high fees, bad exchange rates, and slow delivery times.
So what’s the best way to send money to Brazil in 2025? Let’s break down the cheapest, easiest, and most reliable options, including trusted affiliate links to help you save even more.
✅ 1. Wise (Formerly TransferWise)
Best Overall for Expats and Travelers
If you need to send money regularly, pay bills, rent, or even just access your own funds while living in Brazil—Wise is your best bet.
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🏦 Uses the real mid-market exchange rate (no inflated bank rates)
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⚡ Transfers often arrive in 1–2 business days
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💳 Comes with a debit card you can use in Brazil
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📲 Lets you hold a BRL balance like a local bank account
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🔒 Highly secure and transparent
💳 2. Remitly
Great for One-Time or First-Time Transfers
Remitly is popular with people who want a fast, simple way to send money internationally—especially for first-time users.
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💸 Often includes promotions for first transfers
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⏱️ Fast delivery (usually same day or next day)
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🧾 Supports both bank transfers and cash pickups
🎁 Bonus:
Sign up for Remitly here and get $20 off your first money transfer of $100 or more!
🏦 3. Western Union
Best for Cash Pickups or Non-Bank Recipients
If the person you’re sending to doesn’t have a Brazilian bank account, Western Union is a solid option thanks to its widespread availability.
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🌎 Hundreds of pickup locations across Brazil
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💵 Recipients can get cash in-hand within minutes
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📲 Easy to send via app or in person
👉 Send money via Western Union here
⚠️ Watch for fees—they can vary based on how you send and receive the money.
🚫 4. Avoid: Traditional Bank Wire Transfers
While it sounds convenient to send money directly from your U.S. bank to Brazil… it’s not.
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❌ $30–$50 in fees, minimum
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❌ Terrible exchange rates
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❌ 3–5 business days delivery time
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❌ Often requires the recipient’s CPF and full bank data
Unless you’re transferring a large amount and don’t mind the fees, this isn’t the best choice.
🪙 5. Crypto (For the Tech-Savvy Only)
Some expats use crypto wallets and exchanges to move money. You can send stablecoins like USDT or USDC, then cash out in Brazil using local exchanges like Mercado Bitcoin or Binance Brazil.
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⚡ Fast and low-cost
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💹 Great for large transfers
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🚫 Risky if you don’t understand crypto
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🧾 May not work for paying rent or bills
For crypto with real-world utility, check out Crypto.com—they offer a Visa card that works in Brazil and earns cashback.
🧠 Final Tips for Sending Money to Brazil
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Compare fees + exchange rate before sending
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If you’re living here, Wise gives the best long-term value
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Remitly is perfect for fast, one-time sends (and don’t forget your $20 bonus!)
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For cash pickups, Western Union still gets the job done
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Avoid big bank transfers unless absolutely necessary
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And whatever you do—don’t carry large sums of cash on you
Affiliate Disclosure
Some of the links in this article are affiliate links, meaning I may earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase. This comes at no additional cost to you and helps support the content I provide. I only recommend products and services that I trust and believe will benefit my readers.
