Should you pick Wise or Western Union for sending money to Guinea? It depends on what your recipient prefers: a bank deposit or cash in hand. Here is the full head-to-head.
Fees
Wise: low and transparent (~ 0.5% to 1%).
Western Union: medium to high, with an extra margin baked into the exchange rate.
Exchange rate
Wise: real mid-market rate, no margin.
Western Union: margin applied to the rate, especially for smaller amounts.
Speed
Wise: a few hours to one business day.
Western Union: minutes for cash pickup, one to three days for bank deposit.
Delivery options
Wise: bank deposit only.
Western Union: cash pickup, bank, mobile money.
Verdict
Use Wise for the best value when your family has a bank account. Use Western Union when they need urgent cash in hand. For a full breakdown, see our comparison table.