Western Union — review & details
The legacy global network — its edge is cash pickup at thousands of agent locations and long-standing reach, but the all-in cost is usually higher than the app-first services.
Best for cash pickup
Western Union
★★★★☆
Higher; varies by method
Transfer Fee
Wider margin
Exchange Rate
Bank, wallet or cash pickup
Payout
Minutes (cash pickup)
Speed
Licensed IMTO
Licence
Cash pickup + reach
Best For
inbound
Direction
Pros
- Cash pickup at thousands of agent locations
- Huge global reach and brand trust
- Bank and wallet payout too
Cons
- Usually the most expensive all-in
- Wider exchange-rate margin
- Cash pickup needs ID and can queue
Fees, eligibility & documents
Fees
Transfer feeHigher; varies by method
Exchange rateWider margin
PayoutBank, wallet or cash pickup
Eligibility
- Sending from a country the operator supports
- Sender ID verification (KYC)
- Recipient's Nigerian bank or wallet details
Documents needed
- Sender ID (KYC)
- Recipient account/wallet details
- A payment method in the send country
How Western Union compares in money transfer & remittance
| Western Union | LemFi | Sendwave | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Transfer Fee | Higher; varies by method | Usually zero | No flat fee |
| Exchange Rate | Wider margin | Tight margin (≈0.5–2%) | Competitive margin |
| Payout | Bank, wallet or cash pickup | Naira to bank/wallet | Naira to bank/wallet |
| Speed | Minutes (cash pickup) | Minutes to same day | Minutes to same day |
| Licence | Licensed IMTO | CBN-licensed IMTO | CBN-licensed IMTO |
| Best For | Cash pickup + reach | Lowest all-in cost | Simple mobile transfers |
| Visit Western Union → | Visit LemFi → | Visit Sendwave → |
← Compare all money transfer & remittance
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