Traditional money transfer agencies are another service facilitating money transfers abroad without a need for banks. Two of the best money transfer companies in Canada are MoneyGram and Western Union which are also the two biggest money transfer companies in the world.  You can send money with Western Union and MoneyGram by using money orders, but both have transitioned online too allowing you to send or receive money 24/7. If you are wondering how to send money abroad with Western Union or MoneyGram all you need to do is: Visit their website Provide information about the recipient Select how much you wish to send Select how you want the recipient to receive the funds Pay the amount that will be sent plus any transfer fees using a debit or credit card The time it takes to transfer money internationally can range from a few minutes to a couple of days depending on the service and the fees you are willing to pay. If you transfer money with Western Union or MoneyGram for cash pick-up, the money transfer time may only be a few minutes, whereas if you send money with Western Union it may take up to 2-5 days. MoneyGram money transfers to bank accounts can take as little as a few hours, or one business day.  Advantages of traditional money transfer agencies Secure - they are regulated within every country they operate Can transfer money abroad for cash pick-up or to a bank account Lower fees than traditional bank transfers Transfers to cash can be picked up within minutes The top two companies Western Union and MoneyGram operate in over 200 countries and territories Disadvantages of traditional money transfer agencies Fees are higher than online money transfer services They often offer poor exchange rates as the fee is built into the exchange rate structure You may face limits on transactions based on your history with the company, local regulations and the type of money transfer