Verithiathe honest score on any app
Updated July 2026 · real, multi-region App Store reviews
Head-to-head

Western Union vs Xoom

Western Union 4.8★ · Free to download 65
Winner Xoom
Xoom 4.8★ · Free to download 75

While both apps have high lifetime ratings, recent reviews indicate that Xoom provides a slightly more reliable and faster transfer experience, despite some users finding it expensive, whereas Western Union faces more frequent complaints about app glitches, slow transfers, and hidden fees.

Full reviews: Western Union · Xoom

Western Union and Xoom both facilitate international money transfers, with high lifetime ratings. However, recent user feedback suggests Xoom offers a more consistent and quicker service, though some find its fees high. Western Union users frequently report issues with app functionality, delayed transfers, and unfavorable exchange rates.

Head to head

Features & Functionality tieR1R4R6R16
Western Union Western Union users report difficulties with basic app functions, such as editing or canceling transfers, and issues with card acceptance and password resets R4R6R1. The app is also described as slow and glitchy, with frequent, unnecessary updates R16. Some users also report issues with linking bank accounts .
Xoom Xoom users experience problems with logging in on mobile devices, with the keyboard covering the login button . Some also find it impossible to edit or delete recipients . There are also complaints about excessive spam notifications that cannot be turned off .
Ease of Use edge: XoomR2R5R8R10
Western Union Many Western Union users find the app easy and convenient for sending money R5R8. However, others describe it as hard to manage, with small fonts and difficult cursor placement R10. Some also report issues with security checks and password recovery R2.
Xoom Xoom is praised for being easy, fast, and convenient by many users R65. However, some find the process confusing, unsure if transactions went through . Others complain about constant re-verification .
Reliability & Speed edge: XoomR25R30R46R50
Western Union Western Union users frequently report delayed or unsuccessful transfers, with some waiting days or even a week for money to arrive R25R30R50. The app is also described as slow . Some users have experienced transactions being canceled R46.
Xoom Xoom is generally praised for its speed, with many users reporting instant transfers R83. However, a significant number of users complain about delayed transfers, holds, and cancellations, sometimes taking days R103. Some users also report issues with transactions getting stuck for verification .
Price & Value tieR1R7R9R13
Western Union Western Union users frequently complain about high fees and unfavorable exchange rates R1R9R13. Some users report being charged for no reason R7. There are also concerns about deceptive promo codes that reduce the exchange rate, negating the fee discount R15.
Xoom Xoom users report that the service has become expensive, with high remittance fees and low exchange rates . Despite this, some users still find it economical .
Customer Support edge: Western UnionR25R42R48R64
Western Union Western Union's customer service receives negative feedback, with users reporting unhelpful staff, long waits, and difficulty resolving issues R25R42R48. Some users also mention being lied to by staff R42.
Xoom Xoom's customer service is a major point of contention, with users describing it as terrible, slow, rude, and unhelpful R64. Users report being unable to get clear answers, having calls get sketchy, or being told they cannot use the app again without clear reasons R76.
Pick Western Union if

You prioritize a long-standing brand and are comfortable with potential app glitches or slower service, especially if you have a designated bank account for transfers .

Pick Xoom if

You need generally fast and reliable transfers and are willing to pay potentially higher fees or deal with occasional verification issues R83R98.

Evidence note: Both apps have a high volume of positive reviews, but recent negative feedback for both often highlights issues with fees, exchange rates, and customer service. The free-to-download nature means some negative reviews might stem from users encountering limits or friction that paying users might not, but the reviews don't explicitly differentiate free vs. paid tier experiences.

Frequently asked

Are Western Union and Xoom reliable for sending money?
Both Western Union and Xoom are generally considered reliable by many users, with both apps having high lifetime ratings, though recent reviews for both indicate occasional issues with delayed transfers and cancellations R43R65R103R50.
Which app has better exchange rates and lower fees?
Users for both Western Union and Xoom frequently complain about high fees and unfavorable exchange rates, making it a tie in this dimension R1R9R13. Western Union users specifically mention deceptive promo codes that lower the exchange rate R15.
Is Western Union or Xoom faster for money transfers?
Xoom is frequently praised for fast and instant transfers R83R98, while Western Union users more often report delayed transfers, sometimes taking days R25R50.
Which app has better customer service?
Western Union's customer service, while not perfect, appears to have a slight edge over Xoom, which receives numerous complaints about rude, unhelpful, and slow support, with users reporting account closures without clear reasons R42R48R64R76.

What reviewers actually said

Built only from these 120 real reviews (foreign ones translated). Superscripts jump to the quote here. Apple has no per-review links, so [ref] opens that app's reviews on the App Store.

  1. [R1] Western Union 1/5 · US Frustrating: Cannot get it to accept my debit card so charged way more fees. Looking for new way to send money.
  2. [R4] Western Union 1/5 · US The app is trash: I cannot cancel a edit the transfer or edit the receiver name anymore, even the receipt says the money is ready to pick up, on the app it shows the transfer status it’s not ready or completed The app is trash now, I don’t what changed
  3. [R6] Western Union 3/5 · US Not easy: I dropped my phone. It broke. I’m in a foreign country. I’m transitioning from Android to iOS. I forgot my passwords. If you can’t get your bank account, they can’t help you. Everything else you can reset your password word. Not here. Make sure you have what you need if everything goes bad. Now it dropped my card that has been used several times. I had to resubmit my card twice. It to
  4. [R16] Western Union 1/5 · US Garbage: Doesn’t work. Another day, another unnecessary update. Complete piece of garbage that needs to be updated over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over every single day and every single
  5. [R2] Western Union 4/5 · US Visa: CAN YOU GET VISA TO STOP SECURITY CHECK WITH A CODE?! Visa WONT SEND OT TO MOBILE AND WHEN BISA SENDS TO EMAIL IT GOES TO JUNK MAIL. I CALLED MY BANK COMPLAINING TO THEM BUT THE PROBLEM WAS VISA
  6. [R5] Western Union 5/5 · US Awesome: Excelent service
  7. [R8] Western Union 5/5 · US I love: I love it because they make it easy
  8. [R10] Western Union 2/5 · US Sending money: To hard to mange site to transfer money to other countries
  9. [R25] Western Union 1/5 · US No resuelven rápido: Tuve una experiencia muy poco agradable realicé un envío el viernes y no se ha completado no me pueden decir cuál es el motivo por el cual la persona a la que envío no puede recibir el dinero esto es por tarjeta bancaria. Deberían solucionar más rápido. A veces los envíos son urgentes y las personas necesitamos el dinero rápido. Muy insatisfecha con el servició.
  10. [R30] Western Union 1/5 · US Transfer unsuccessful: These last couple days I’ve been trying to send money from the US to Colombia and it’s not working. What’s going on? Is anyone having this issue?
  11. [R46] Western Union 1/5 · US Bad service: Cancel all my transactions
  12. [R50] Western Union 1/5 · US Delayed transfers: They constantly delay transfers for days on end. I’ve had my money transfer delayed as in progress for a week now and all the chat people can respond with is they’re working on it. It’s been days? This is the 4th time since downloading this app that this has happened.
  13. [R7] Western Union 1/5 · US Fraud: They charged me $54.60 for no reason
  14. [R9] Western Union 3/5 · US Rates: Exchange rate is incorrect! So makes money of the exchange rate and transaction fees. Been using this service for over 7 years
  15. [R13] Western Union 2/5 · US Servicio carísimo: Lamentablemente, mi profe de piano usa este sistema que me mata con las comisiones. Usureros.
  16. [R42] Western Union 1/5 · US The staff are hard to work with. I can’t send money.: I can’t send money and the staff have lied to me when I call to ask why things are not going through. The tech and it help are clueless. That company may be good. Until you have a problem that needs to be fixed. Then you are going to have to endure rude and at times , staff that lies.
  17. [R48] Western Union 1/5 · US Poor customer service: Poo
  18. [R64] Xoom 1/5 · US Terrible app & customer service: I was initially very excited about this app after struggling for some months to find a good streamlined but fairly full featured alternative to Wise that appeared in most cases to be cheaper (or even free) than most transfer apps. I’m an international research veterinary medical doctor and artist, I am a dual citizen so split my time between the EU & the US & trave
  19. [R43] Western Union 5/5 · US Safe and secure: Been using WU for a while now and super happy with the speed of transfer. They communicate timely. They are trustworthy and keep me at peace when transmitting money regardless of the amount. thank you!
  20. [R65] Xoom 5/5 · US Great service: I love it. A great service you can rely on.
  21. [R103] Xoom 1/5 · US AVOID!!: XOOM’s service is completely unacceptable. They advertise fast transfers and make it sound like your money will arrive in 30 minutes, but in reality, transfers can take days. This has not been a one-time issue either. I have been dealing with delayed transfers for months, and more than 20 of my transfers have arrived late. What makes this even worse is the complete lack of accountability
  22. [R15] Western Union 3/5 · US Beware of the "discount" promo code trick!: I noticed something shady while sending money. When I applied their promo code to waive the $1.99 transfer fee, the app quietly dropped the exchange rate from 94.0515 INR to 93.2008 INR per USD. My family would have received 255 INR less, which is actually more than the $1.99 fee I "saved." So the promo code is not actually a discount. They simply shift
  23. [R83] Xoom 5/5 · US Excelente: La forma más fácil, rápida y segura de enviar dinero a tus seres queridos en Dominicana. Cualquier error te devuelven tu dinero, me encanta
  24. [R98] Xoom 5/5 · US Los mejores: En segundos está la remesa !
  25. [R76] Xoom 1/5 · US Customer Service and the whole company Sucks!: I was able to send money one day and the next my account was closed. Called customer service only for them to tell me that they couldn’t verify my information, there was no way they can help, and I can never use the app again. After telling me that I can try through PayPal only for them to go back and say that wouldn’t work either. Basically I’m never

Synthesized from 120 recent App Store reviews · updated July 2026 · View on the App Store