If you need to send money to China, the Remitly app gives you a mobile process for setting up a transfer, reviewing the live quote, and selecting how your recipient receives the funds. You can fund a transfer through a bank account, debit card, credit card, or another supported payment method, depending on your sending country.
The right transfer decision depends on more than a promotional rate. You need to check the fee, exchange rate, delivery method, transfer limit, and final amount your recipient will receive. Use the steps below to download the official app and complete your first transfer without skipping the important checks.
Why use Remitly to send money to China?
Remitly supports several delivery methods for transfers from the United States to China. Your recipient may receive funds through bank deposit, Alipay, or Weixin (WeChat Pay), subject to current availability and eligibility requirements.
Bank deposit is suitable when the recipient wants funds placed directly into a Chinese bank account. Alipay and WeChat Pay may work better when the recipient already uses those services for everyday payments. The available option depends on the transfer corridor, recipient information, and Remitly’s current network.
The US-to-China transfer flow lets you select China as the destination, enter the amount, and choose a delivery method before you confirm the payment. The app then displays the exchange rate, transfer fee, delivery estimate, and expected recipient amount.
Review the official Remitly China transfer page before starting. It contains the current corridor details and may show promotional pricing for eligible customers.
For Alipay transfers, Remitly’s current guidance says the recipient may need a Chinese national ID or a Foreigner’s Permanent Resident Identity card. The recipient’s name and account details must also match the information used for the transfer. Incorrect details can cause delays or prevent delivery.
The cheapest transfer isn’t always the best choice if it uses a delivery method your recipient can’t access.
Remitly is an option, not a guarantee of the lowest rate or fastest delivery for every transaction. Compare the live quote with other providers before confirming a large payment.
How to download the official Remitly app
Download Remitly through your device’s official app store. Don’t install an APK file from a third-party website or use a download link sent through an unsolicited message.
Follow these steps:
- Open the Apple App Store on an iPhone or the Google Play Store on an Android device.
- Search for “Remitly.”
- Check that the app is published by Remitly, Inc. Review the app icon, publisher name, and store listing before installing it.
- Tap Get or Install, then wait for the installation to finish.
- Open the app and create an account with your email address or another supported sign-in method.
- Confirm your email address or phone number if Remitly requests it.
- Complete identity verification using the requested government-issued identification.
Identity verification is a standard requirement for many money-transfer services. Remitly may request additional information based on your sending country, transfer amount, payment method, or transaction review.
Only provide documents inside the official app or official Remitly website. Avoid sending identification through social media, text messages, or email addresses that you can’t verify.
If you prefer a computer, you can begin through Remitly’s website. The mobile app is more practical when you need to check a quote, upload verification documents, or track a transfer while away from your desk.
Your account must be active before you can complete the first transfer. The setup time varies because some accounts receive automatic verification while others require a manual review.
How to complete your first transfer to China
Prepare the recipient’s information before opening the payment screen. The required details depend on the delivery method you select.
For a bank deposit, you may need the recipient’s legal name, bank name, account type, account number, and phone number. For Alipay or WeChat delivery, you may need the recipient’s account ID and phone number. Ask the recipient to send these details directly rather than copying them from an old transaction.
Use this process for your first transfer:
- Sign in to the Remitly app and select China as the destination country.
- Enter the amount you want to send or the amount the recipient should receive.
- Select the delivery method, such as bank deposit, Alipay, or Weixin.
- Enter the recipient’s legal name and account information exactly as requested.
- Choose the delivery speed available for your transfer.
- Select a payment method, such as a bank account, debit card, or credit card.
- Review the exchange rate, transfer fee, payment total, delivery estimate, and recipient amount.
- Confirm the transfer after checking every recipient detail.
- Save the confirmation information and monitor the transfer status inside the app.
The sending amount and receiving amount can produce different quotes. If you enter the amount in US dollars, the app calculates the expected Chinese yuan amount. If you enter the target amount in yuan, it calculates how much you need to pay.
The final quote depends on the sending country, payment method, delivery speed, and recipient payout method. A debit-card-funded Express transfer may have different pricing from a bank-funded Economy transfer. Don’t compare only the visible transfer fee. Compare the amount received after the exchange rate is applied.
Check the exchange rate and total cost
Exchange rates change throughout the day. A quote from an older article, search result, or social media post isn’t a reliable basis for today’s transfer.
Use the Remitly USD to CNY converter to check the current currency conversion, then verify the final quote inside the app. The in-app amount controls what you pay and what your recipient is scheduled to receive.
Look at these five figures before confirming:
- The exchange rate applied to your transfer.
- The transfer fee charged for the selected speed and payout method.
- The total amount taken from your payment source.
- The amount your recipient will receive in CNY.
- The estimated delivery time.
Promotional rates can make a first transfer look different from later payments. The Remitly US-to-China page currently advertises special rates for eligible new customers, including a no-fee first-transfer offer in some cases. The promotion has conditions, and the displayed offer can depend on your account and transaction details.
Current US promotion terms also describe an eligible first-time transfer of up to $2,000 at a special exchange rate during the stated promotional period. Check the terms shown for your account instead of assuming the offer applies to every user or every transfer.
A fee-free transfer can still have a cost through the exchange rate. That doesn’t mean the offer is unsuitable. It means you should compare the complete quote against the amount your recipient will receive.
Compare Remitly with other money-transfer apps
Remitly may fit your needs if your recipient can use one of its supported payout methods and the live quote meets your budget. You should still compare it with other providers for recurring transfers or larger amounts.
A useful comparison focuses on the final transaction result, not the provider’s headline marketing. Use this checklist:
- Confirm that the provider supports your sending country and China as the receiving country.
- Check whether your recipient can receive a bank deposit, Alipay transfer, WeChat payment, or cash pickup.
- Compare the total payment required for the same recipient amount in CNY.
- Review the delivery estimate for the exact payment and payout method.
- Check transfer limits, identity requirements, and possible review delays.
- Confirm what happens if the recipient details are incorrect.
- Review customer support hours and available contact methods.
- Check whether the exchange rate changes after you select a different delivery speed.
The Remitly fees guide from Wise provides additional context on how Remitly charges can vary by destination and transfer conditions. Use third-party comparisons for research, but confirm the current price in the provider’s own transfer flow.
For a small personal transfer, convenience and recipient access may matter more than a minor rate difference. For monthly family support or business-related payments, small pricing differences can add up. Record the total paid and amount received after each transfer so you can compare providers using your own transaction history.
Don’t use a service that requires your recipient to create an account they can’t access. A technically low-cost transfer still fails if the payout method doesn’t match the recipient’s banking or wallet setup.
Limits, delivery times, and common delays
Transfer limits vary by sending country, verification level, transaction history, destination restrictions, and delivery method. Remitly’s US help information lists a maximum single-transaction sending amount of $100,000, but China-specific receiving rules may impose a lower limit.
Remitly’s China guidance states that a limit of ¥50,000 per transfer applies to money sent to China. Treat the limit displayed in your account and transfer quote as the controlling figure. Don’t split a large transaction into multiple transfers to avoid a restriction without checking the applicable rules first.
Delivery estimates also change. Payment method, delivery method, transaction review, system availability, weekends, and public holidays can affect when funds arrive. Express doesn’t mean every transfer is instant, and Economy doesn’t have one fixed delivery time for all users.
A transfer may need extra review when the amount is unusual, account details change, or verification information is incomplete. Respond to requests inside the official app and don’t create duplicate transfers while the first transaction is under review.
Check the recipient’s name before payment. For bank deposits and wallet transfers, even a small spelling difference can create a failed or delayed payout. Keep the confirmation number until the recipient confirms receipt.
Financial-services disclaimer
Remitly’s rates, fees, transfer limits, payout methods, and delivery estimates can change. Review the current quote and all applicable requirements in the official app before confirming. Availability depends on your sending country, recipient location, payment method, verification status, and local regulations. This article is general information, not financial advice.
Final thoughts
The Remitly app gives you a clear workflow to send money to China from a phone or computer. Download it from the official app store, verify your identity, select the correct delivery method, and confirm the live quote before payment.
The strongest control is simple: compare the total amount paid with the exact amount your recipient receives. When you check the rate, fee, limit, and delivery estimate every time, you reduce avoidable delays and unexpected costs.
