What is the cheapest way to send money to Haiti?

There is no single answer, because the cheapest option depends on the amount, how your family collects it, and whether they want gourdes or US dollars. The reliable method is to compare the total cost — transfer fee plus the exchange-rate margin — for the exact amount you are sending, on the day you send it. A zero-fee transfer with a poor rate is often more expensive than a transfer with a visible fee and a fair rate.

Why is the exchange rate more important than the fee?

Most providers make money on the spread between the real mid-market rate and the rate they give you. That margin is a percentage of the whole amount, so on larger transfers it can cost far more than a flat fee. Look up the mid-market USD/HTG rate first, then compare it to the rate you are quoted.

Should my family receive gourdes or US dollars?

It depends on what they need to pay for. Gourdes are practical for everyday spending; dollars can hold value better when the gourde is moving quickly, and some larger costs are quoted in dollars. Ask the person receiving the money — they know the local situation better than any comparison website.

How do I avoid remittance scams?

Only use licensed providers. Never send money to someone who contacted you first with an urgent story, never share a transfer reference number with anyone except your recipient, and be suspicious of anyone offering an exchange rate far better than everyone else. If a deal only works if you act immediately, it is not a deal.

How long does a transfer to Haiti take?

Cash pickup is often available within minutes to a few hours. Bank deposits and mobile wallet transfers typically take one to three business days, and can be slower around holidays or when local banks are closed. Always ask for the expected arrival time before you confirm.

Money guide

How to Send Money to Haiti Without Losing Half of It

Compare ways to send money to Haiti, understand the real cost of fees and exchange rates, and pick the safest route for your family.

Last updated August 9, 2026

KONBIT does not sell transfers and takes no commission. We do not recommend one company over another — prices change constantly. What follows is how to compare them yourself so you keep more of the money.

The number that actually matters

Almost every remittance ad talks about one thing: the fee. That is the smaller half of the story. What matters is how many gourdes reach your family per dollar you spend, after both the fee and the exchange rate.

Providers quote you a rate that is slightly worse than the real mid-market rate, and keep the difference. Because that margin is a percentage, it grows with the size of your transfer while a flat fee does not. On a $500 transfer, a 4% rate margin costs $20 — more than most fees.

How to compare in two minutes

Look up today's mid-market USD to HTG rate (search "USD to HTG" — that is the real rate, with no margin).
Open two or three providers and enter the exact amount you plan to send.
Write down the gourdes your recipient will actually receive — not the fee, not the rate.
The biggest received amount wins. That single number already includes every fee and margin.
Re-check before large transfers. Rates and promotions move week to week.

The main ways to send money

Each route trades cost against convenience, and the right choice usually depends on how your family will collect the money rather than on the headline price.

Method	Best for	Watch out for
Cash pickup at an agent	Recipients without a bank account; fast access, often within hours.	Agent locations may run out of cash or be far from your family; travelling with cash carries its own risk.
Mobile wallet transfer	Everyday amounts; the recipient needs only a phone.	Wallet balance and withdrawal limits, plus cash-out fees at the agent.
Bank deposit	Larger amounts and anyone who already has an account.	Slower, and delays around holidays or bank closures.
Sending with a traveller	Nothing — treat this as a last resort.	No protection at all if the money is lost, stolen, or never delivered.

Gourdes or dollars?

This is a question for the person receiving the money, not for you. Gourdes are what most daily costs are paid in. Dollars can hold value better when the gourde is moving quickly, and some larger expenses — rent in certain areas, school fees, imported goods — are quoted in dollars.

Ask before you send. Converting twice, once by the provider and again locally at a worse rate, is one of the most common ways families quietly lose money.

Staying safe

Use licensed providers only. In the United States, money transmitters must be registered with FinCEN and licensed by the states they operate in.
Never share a transfer reference number with anyone except the person collecting the money. A reference number is effectively the cash itself.
Be suspicious of unbeatable rates. A rate far better than every licensed provider is the single most common sign of a scam.
Ignore urgency. Real providers do not need you to decide in the next ten minutes. Pressure is a tactic, not a promotion.
Keep the receipt until your family confirms they received the money. It is what you need to trace or reverse a transfer.

Before you send, a short checklist

Confirm the recipient's full legal name exactly as it appears on their ID.
Agree on the collection method and, for cash pickup, the specific location.
Compare the received amount across at least two providers.
Check the promised arrival time and note the reference number.
Confirm with your family that the money arrived in full.

Frequently asked questions

What is the cheapest way to send money to Haiti?: There is no single answer, because the cheapest option depends on the amount, how your family collects it, and whether they want gourdes or US dollars. The reliable method is to compare the total cost — transfer fee plus the exchange-rate margin — for the exact amount you are sending, on the day you send it. A zero-fee transfer with a poor rate is often more expensive than a transfer with a visible fee and a fair rate.
Why is the exchange rate more important than the fee?: Most providers make money on the spread between the real mid-market rate and the rate they give you. That margin is a percentage of the whole amount, so on larger transfers it can cost far more than a flat fee. Look up the mid-market USD/HTG rate first, then compare it to the rate you are quoted.
Should my family receive gourdes or US dollars?: It depends on what they need to pay for. Gourdes are practical for everyday spending; dollars can hold value better when the gourde is moving quickly, and some larger costs are quoted in dollars. Ask the person receiving the money — they know the local situation better than any comparison website.
How do I avoid remittance scams?: Only use licensed providers. Never send money to someone who contacted you first with an urgent story, never share a transfer reference number with anyone except your recipient, and be suspicious of anyone offering an exchange rate far better than everyone else. If a deal only works if you act immediately, it is not a deal.
How long does a transfer to Haiti take?: Cash pickup is often available within minutes to a few hours. Bank deposits and mobile wallet transfers typically take one to three business days, and can be slower around holidays or when local banks are closed. Always ask for the expected arrival time before you confirm.