Sending money to family or friends in India is quite easy these days. There are many inexpensive options for transferring funds abroad safely and quickly, including wire transfers, Western Union, PayPal, or a personal check. Some options are more secure, while others are faster and more convenient.

Western Union

One of the best ways to send money to India is by using Western Union. You can do a fee-free bank transfer online or by using the mobile app. Western Union makes it easy to transfer funds from a U.S. bank account to an Indian bank account. An ACH transfer can take four to five days, but it is among the cheapest ways to send money abroad. For a faster transfer, try using a debit or credit card. The fees for using a card are considerably higher, but the money arrives within the same day. Western Union also has an option to transfer cash for pickup in India, which usually only takes a few minutes to process.

PayPal

The popular and secure online bank, PayPal, is an excellent method to transfer money to India. Xoom, a PayPal service, allows customers to send money abroad. With the convenient online service, people can quickly have cash delivered directly to a recipient or have it waiting for pickup at one of Xoom's many partnered locations throughout India. Using Xoom, Paypal customers can also choose to use the ACH transfer method to deposit money directly into an Indian bank account. Xoom offers instant deposits to PNB and HDFC accounts. With customer service operating 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, customers have access to live support if they require any assistance.

Wire Transfer

Wire transfers are a traditional method of sending cash abroad. It's a domestic and international service that has been around for over 50 years. It costs more than a direct bank transfer, but the money arrives within 24 hours. To use the wire transfer method to send money to someone in India, you may have to go through your bank. Western Union and other leading money service providers such as MoneyGram, also provide the option to wire money.

Personal Check

One of the safest ways to send money to India is by writing a personal check and mailing it. Checks can only be cashed by the intended recipient and can be canceled any time before the check is cashed, making it a secure option. Keep in mind, exchange rates do apply and some banks may not accept a foreign check. It's a good idea to ensure that the recipient uses a bank that will cash it without any problems. It can take a week or even longer to arrive at the recipient's address, depending on courier speed and the postage used. Mailing a personal check also comes with the risk of it being lost in the mail, further delaying its arrival.

Out of the many ways to send money to India, the fastest and most secure ways involve Western Union and PayPal.