MoneyGram vs Xoom

Updated November 2026 · AppBreakup editorial

MoneyGram

International money transfer service for sending cash, bank deposits and wallet payments in-app or in person.

Paid

Visit MoneyGram MoneyGram profile

Xoom

PayPal's international money transfer service for bank deposits, cash pickup and mobile wallets

Paid

Visit Xoom Xoom profile

The short answer

MoneyGram and Xoom both send money abroad to banks, mobile wallets and cash pickup points, charging a transfer fee plus an exchange-rate margin. MoneyGram's edge is its retail network of nearly 500,000 locations where you can also send in person. Xoom, owned by PayPal, is online-only but funds transfers from a PayPal balance and pays out to UPI and PIX. Pick MoneyGram for cash-first sending; pick Xoom if you already use PayPal.

MoneyGram or Xoom: our take

Both services cover the same core job: sending money to family and friends abroad, delivered to a bank account, debit card, mobile wallet or a cash pickup location, depending on the country. MoneyGram's partner network reaches 200+ countries and territories, and its biggest difference is that you can send in person as well as in the app or online, at agent locations such as supermarkets, pharmacies and Walmart stores in the US. Xoom works only from its website and iOS and Android apps, but it can push money to instant payment systems such as UPI in India and PIX in Brazil, and offers home delivery in some countries.

Costs work the same way at both: no subscription, a fee per transfer and a margin on the exchange rate, with both varying by amount, destination, payment method and delivery option. Xoom shows the fee and the amount the recipient gets before you confirm, and runs promotions on some corridors, including $0 on eligible transactions to India. Card-funded Xoom transfers usually cost more than bank-funded ones. MoneyGram is often costlier than online-only services for bank transfers, so comparing the total cost on a specific route is worthwhile.

Funding is another split. Xoom transfers can be paid from a PayPal balance, a bank account or a card, which makes it convenient for existing PayPal users. MoneyGram accepts payment in the app, online or at the counter, which suits senders who prefer to pay in cash. Both handle extras: MoneyGram offers bill payments, money orders and mobile top-ups in the US, while Xoom can top up prepaid phones and pay some bills abroad.

For senders who want to pay in person, or recipients who rely on cash pickup in places with limited banking, MoneyGram's network is the main reason to choose it. For PayPal users sending to bank accounts, wallets, UPI or PIX from their phone, Xoom is usually the simpler option.

Choose MoneyGram if…

People sending money to families who collect cash or use mobile wallets
Huge cash pickup network in over 200 countries and territories
Send in the app, online or in person

Choose Xoom if…

PayPal users sending money home to bank accounts, wallets or cash pickup points
Pays out to banks, debit cards, mobile wallets, UPI, PIX and cash pickup
Can be funded straight from a PayPal account

What is MoneyGram?

MoneyGram is one of the largest international money transfer networks. You can send in its app, online, or in person at agent locations such as supermarkets, pharmacies and Walmart stores in the US, and recipients can collect cash nearby or receive money in a bank account, on a debit card or in a mobile wallet, depending on the country. Its partner network reaches more than 200 countries and territories, which makes it a common choice for cash-first families and places with limited banking. In the US it also handles bill payments, money orders and mobile top-ups. There's no subscription: each transfer carries a fee plus an exchange-rate margin that varies by amount, payment method, destination and delivery option, so comparing the total cost against online-first services is worthwhile. It suits people who need cash pickup or prefer to pay in person, rather than those sending large bank-to-bank sums. It runs on the web and in iPhone and Android apps.

What is Xoom?

Xoom is PayPal's remittance service for sending money to family and friends abroad. From the website or the iOS and Android apps, senders can pay into a recipient's bank account or debit card, push money to mobile wallets and instant payment systems such as UPI in India and PIX in Brazil, or send cash for pickup at partner locations, with home delivery in some countries. It can also top up prepaid phones and pay some bills abroad. Transfers are funded with a PayPal balance, a bank account or a card, which makes it a natural choice for people who already use PayPal. Xoom shows the fee and the amount the recipient gets before you confirm, but like most remittance services it also earns money on the exchange rate, so the real cost is the fee plus the rate margin. Fees and delivery speed vary by country, payment method and payout option, and some popular corridors, such as the US to Mexico, run promotions with no transfer fee on eligible transfers.

Side by side

Attribute	MoneyGram	Xoom
Pricing	Paid	Paid
Open source	No	No
Self-hostable	No	No
Platforms	Web, iOS, Android	Web, iOS, Android
Best for	People sending money to families who collect cash or use mobile wallets	PayPal users sending money home to bank accounts, wallets or cash pickup points
Status	Active	Active