How to Send Money Outside Europe for Free? A Comparison of the Three Most Common Methods
- michalstachera
- May 12
- 3 min read
Updated: May 29
Wondering how to send money abroad – for example to the USA, Canada, or South America – in the safest and cheapest way? Sending funds outside the European Economic Area comes with additional costs, and choosing the right method can significantly impact the transaction's speed and security. In this article, we compare three main ways of sending money outside Europe: SWIFT transfers, physically sending cash, and remote transfer via payment card.
1. SWIFT Transfer – How Much Does It Really Cost?
SWIFT (Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication) is the most commonly used system for international bank transfers. While widely used and considered secure, it’s also one of the most expensive and time-consuming options.
Typical SWIFT transfer costs:
Sender's bank fee: 20–100 PLN
Intermediary banks (so-called “correspondent banks”): 10–30 USD each (often 2–3 banks involved)
Recipient's bank fee: 10–30 USD
Total cost: from approx. 100 PLN to even 300–400 PLN per transfer
Cost settlement options:
OUR – all fees paid by the sender
SHA – fees split between sender and recipient
BEN – all fees paid by the recipient
Advantages:
Ability to send large amounts
Global reach
Supported by most banks
Disadvantages:
High, unpredictable fees
Long processing time (1–5 business days)
Lack of control over final total cost
2. Can You Physically Send Cash Abroad?
Sending cash in a parcel still happens among people who don't use banks or want to avoid formalities. However, physically sending money abroad comes with high risk.
Costs of physically sending cash:
International courier (e.g., DHL, FedEx): 150–350 PLN
No insurance for cash – most companies exclude it from coverage
Potential delays at borders and customs
Why you should avoid this method:
Cash over 10,000 EUR must be declared – otherwise, it risks confiscation
No way to recover funds in case of loss or theft
Delivery time is typically 5–14 days (or more)
Pros:
Avoids banks
Sometimes cheaper for small amounts
Cons:
High risk of losing funds
No legal or safe tracking options
Time-consuming and dependent on customs services
3. Remote Payment Card – Is It Possible to Send Money Outside Europe for Free?
A growingly popular way to send money abroad is generating a payment card (physical or virtual) linked to a bank account or e-wallet. This solution is cheap, fast, and secure, especially for small or recurring transfers.
How it works:
The sender creates a card using the recipient’s details (email, phone number), so it goes directly to them.
The recipient logs in to the platform and receives the card information.
The card can be added to Apple Wallet or Google Wallet.
The card is ready to use – both online and for contactless payments.
You can set transaction limits, card expiration date, and allowed location of use.
Typical costs:
Card issuance: 0 to 20 PLN (e.g., 5 PLN with Sparados)
Transfer of funds: no commission
Advantages:
Speed: funds are available immediately after card creation
Security: high level of control and data protection
Full control: e.g., configure card for one-time purchase in a specific location
Disadvantages:
Basic knowledge of digital tools required
Example use case:
You can generate a card usable only in one specific medical facility in the USA, for a single payment, with a 5,000 USD limit. Once the transaction is completed, the card is automatically deleted.
Comparison Table of Methods for Sending Money Outside Europe
Method | Cost | Processing Time | Security | Notes |
SWIFT Transfer | 100–300+ PLN | 1–5 business days | High | Costs depend on intermediary banks |
Physical Cash Parcel | 150–400+ PLN | 5–14 days | Low | Risk of confiscation, no insurance for cash |
Remote Payment Card | 0–20 PLN | Immediate | Very High | Full control over access and fund limits |
We encourage you to get to know the Sparados platform even better through our blogs:
