How to Send Money from UK to Nigeria — Best Ways in 2025
Last updated: 6/22/2026 | By Aboki Forex
The United Kingdom is home to over 200,000 Nigerian-born residents, making it one of the top sources of remittances to Nigeria. Sending pounds (GBP) to Nigeria efficiently is a priority for millions of Nigerians in London, Manchester, Birmingham, Leeds, and across the UK. This guide compares every major method available in 2025 — from zero-fee apps to UK bank wire transfers — so you can maximise the naira your family receives.
Quick Comparison: Best Apps to Send Money from UK to Nigeria
| Service | Fee (GBP → NGN) | Speed | Rate Quality |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sendwave | £0 fee | Minutes | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Great |
| Wise | 0.5–1.5% | 0–2 days | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Best rate |
| WorldRemit | £0.99–£2.99 | Minutes–1 day | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Very good |
| Remitly | £2.99–£3.99 | Minutes–1 day | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Very good |
| USDT P2P | <1% | 10–30 mins | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Black market rate |
| Western Union | £4.90–£15+ | Minutes (cash) | ⭐⭐⭐ OK |
| UK Bank SWIFT | £9.50–£35 | 2–5 days | ⭐⭐ Poor — CBN rate |
Benchmark against today's pound to naira black market rate. Any service giving rates close to that is a good deal.
1. Sendwave — Zero Fees from the UK
Sendwave is available in the UK and charges no fees for sending to Nigeria. It's one of the most popular remittance apps among Nigerian communities in London and across the UK. Money arrives within minutes to any Nigerian commercial bank account.
How to pay: Link your UK debit card (Visa/Mastercard) or use a bank transfer. Monzo, Starling, Barclays, NatWest, Lloyds debit cards all work with Sendwave.
Limits: Up to £2,999 per day with full identity verification. Not ideal for large one-off payments above that limit.
Best for: Regular monthly remittances for family upkeep, bills, and everyday expenses in the £50–£2,000 range.
2. Wise — Best GBP to Naira Exchange Rate
Wise (formerly TransferWise) was founded in the UK and remains the gold standard for fair exchange rates. Wise uses the real mid-market GBP/NGN rate with a transparent fee of 0.5–1.5%. For large transfers, this typically delivers significantly more naira than any traditional bank or service with a hidden rate markup.
How to pay: UK bank transfer via Faster Payments (usually free and instant), debit card, or SWIFT. Faster Payments from Barclays, Lloyds, NatWest, HSBC, Monzo, or Starling to Wise is free and settles immediately — making Wise very fast when funded this way.
Best for: Large transfers — school fees (JAMB, WAEC, uni fees), property deposits, or business transfers from £500 upward.
3. WorldRemit — Low Fees, Founded in the UK
WorldRemit was founded in the UK and has a strong track record for Nigeria transfers. It offers competitive GBP-to-naira rates with low flat fees (often under £3) and delivery within minutes to all major Nigerian banks. WorldRemit also supports cash pickup through MoneyGram agents in Nigeria for recipients without bank accounts.
Best for: A trusted, established UK-based service with a good mix of speed, rate, and fee. Also good when the recipient needs cash pickup.
4. Remitly — Express Speed Option
Remitly offers fast Express transfers (minutes) and cheaper Economy transfers (2–5 business days). Their exchange rates are competitive, and they frequently run promotions for first-time senders. Remitly supports all major Nigerian banks and is available on iOS, Android, and web.
Best for: When the recipient needs money urgently and you want speed guaranteed, or when taking advantage of a first-transfer promotion.
5. USDT P2P Crypto — Best Naira Rate from the UK
For Nigerians in the UK who want rates closest to the pound to naira black market rate, USDT P2P crypto is increasingly popular. The process:
- Buy USDT on a UK-accessible exchange (Coinbase UK, Kraken, or Binance — using GBP bank transfer).
- Send USDT to your recipient's Binance or Bybit wallet in Nigeria.
- The recipient sells USDT on Binance P2P for naira at near black market rates, which are deposited to their Nigerian bank account.
See the current USDT to Naira rate to estimate naira received. UK crypto transactions may be subject to Capital Gains Tax — check HMRC guidance if you trade significant amounts.
6. UK Bank Wire (SWIFT Transfer to Domiciliary Account)
Most UK banks — Barclays, Lloyds, HSBC, NatWest, Santander — offer international wire transfers to Nigeria. However, the fees are high and the exchange rates poor:
- Barclays: £25 for international transfers.
- Lloyds: £9.50 online, £20 in branch.
- HSBC: £4–£25 depending on account type.
- NatWest/RBS: £15–£20 for international payments.
Funds take 2–5 business days and arrive in the recipient's Nigerian domiciliary (USD or GBP) account. The benefit: keeping funds in a domiciliary account lets the recipient convert when the naira rate is more favourable. Avoid converting at the bank at the CBN rate — it's significantly less than the black market rate.
Best for: Transferring large amounts (>£5,000) to a domiciliary account for business or property purchase, where app daily limits are too low.
Monzo, Starling, and Revolut — What Works for Nigeria?
Monzo: No direct international transfers to Nigeria. Use your Monzo debit card to fund Sendwave, Wise, or Remitly — this is the most popular workaround.
Starling Bank: Starling supports SWIFT international payments, but the exchange rate is mid-market (good) and fees apply. Alternatively, use your Starling debit card with Wise for a cleaner experience.
Revolut: Revolut does not support direct transfers to Nigerian bank accounts as of 2025. You can use Revolut to hold and exchange GBP to USD, then transfer via Wise.
How to Maximise Naira Received from the UK
- Use Aboki Forex as your benchmark. Check the pound to naira black market rate before every transfer. Calculate what the service would deliver and compare.
- Prefer Faster Payments into Wise. Faster Payments from any UK bank to Wise is instant and free — making the Wise transfer fast and very cost-effective.
- Avoid sending on Fridays. Nigerian banks process SWIFT wires on working days. A Friday arrival may not be credited until Monday.
- Use first-transfer promotions. WorldRemit, Remitly, and Wise often have promotions for new users — better rate or no fees on the first transfer.
- For amounts above £3,000: Wise typically beats all other services on rate, even accounting for the percentage fee.