Fee: What it is and how much it costs to send money from the U.S.
What is a fee?
A fee is the charge that a money transfer service provider applies for processing your money transfer. It is the visible cost of the transaction: what the service charges you as the sender.
The fee can be a flat rate (for example, $3.99 per transfer regardless of the amount), a percentage of the amount sent (for example, 2%), or a combination of both.
Flat fee vs. percentage fee
- Flat fee: convenient for medium or large transfers, because the cost does not scale with the amount.
- Percentage fee: can be more expensive for large transfers if the percentage is high.
- No fee: the cost of the service is included in the exchange rate. Check how much your beneficiary receives to compare it with other options.
However, the fee is only one of the two components of the real cost. The other is the exchange margin that the provider applies to the market exchange rate.
To know the true cost of a transfer, you must consider both.
Types of fees when sending money
| Type | How it works |
|---|---|
| Transfer fee | Charged to the sender when initiating the transaction. It is the most common and visible charge. |
| Receiving fee | Some providers charge the beneficiary when they pick up the funds. It is not common, but it exists. |
| Exchange margin | It does not appear as a separate fee. It is included in the difference between the market rate and the exchange rate offered by the provider. |
| Payment method fee | Some services charge an additional fee if you pay with a credit card instead of a debit card or bank account. |
Is a "no fee" money transfer better?
A "no fee" money transfer is not always the cheapest, because the provider may cover their cost with the exchange margin included in the exchange rate. To compare options when sending money from the U.S., what counts is the total cost: the fee plus the exchange margin.
You see a $0 fee, but if the rate is far from the market rate, your family member may receive less money than with a provider that charges a small fee and uses a rate closer to the market.
The only way to compare accurately is by looking at the total amount your beneficiary receives, not just what appears as a fee on the screen.
How to calculate the fee when sending money with Félix
With Félix, the fee for sending money starts at $2.99 USD for bank account transfers and depends on the destination country, the amount, and whether your beneficiary receives it in an account or in cash. Before you pay, the summary in WhatsApp shows you the fee, the exchange rate, and the total amount your family will receive. Fees are subject to change. See the full table at how much Félix charges in fees.
For mobile top-ups, Félix currently charges no fee: you pay the top-up amount at the exchange rate you see before confirming. Conditions may change, so always check the summary to see the current cost.
To understand how costs work in detail, check out our complete guide to money transfers: Money transfers and remittances from the U.S.: Everything you need to know in 2026.
