Western Union vs Wise:Which is more popular?
In September 2026, Western Union had more branded searches than Wise among money transfer services in Australia. Western Union had about 135,000 branded searches, while Wise had 13,500. Western Union made up 55.3% of all money transfer service searches we track, and Wise accounted for 5.5%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about money transfer services, Wise appeared in all five answers and Western Union in four. Wise was mentioned before Western Union in every answer.
Who do people search for more?
Western Union, about 10 searches for every 1 for Wise
Who does AI mention more?
Wise, mentioned in every answer we collected
Who does AI recommend more?
Wise, named ahead of Western Union in every answer
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Top money transfer services in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews
In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Wise appeared in all five answers. Western Union was mentioned in four out of five: in two of the three ChatGPT answers and in both Google AI Overviews. Wise was listed before Western Union in every answer.
Most recommended by AI
Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.
- Wise1st
Remitly2nd
OFX3rd- Western Union4th
Xe5th
TorFX6th
MoneyGram–
WorldRemit–
Instarem–
Mentioned by AI
Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.
- Wise5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
- Western Union4 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
- Remitly3 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
- OFX3 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
- Xe2 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
- TorFX1 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
- MoneyGram0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
- WorldRemit0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
- Instarem0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
See every answer about money transfer services
5 answers
Asked ChatGPT
“What's the cheapest way to send money overseas from Australia?”
Asked ChatGPT
“Which money transfer service has the best exchange rate in Australia?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What's the best way to send money to family overseas?”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“international money transfer”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“send money overseas”
Not named in any answer:
Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in Australia on October 26, 2026.
Is Western Union or Wise more popular in search?
This chart shows how often people search Google for Western Union and Wise by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all nine money transfer services we track, month by month, from searches in Australia.
Share of searches by month for Western Union, Wise. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of searches table
| Month | Western Union | Remitly | MoneyGram | Wise | OFX | WorldRemit | TorFX | Instarem | Xe |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | 53.8% | 24.1% | 8.8% | 4.7% | 4.8% | 1.4% | 0.96% | 0.96% | 0.4% |
| Nov 2025 | 51.2% | 28% | 8.4% | 4.4% | 4.6% | 1.4% | 0.91% | 0.72% | 0.38% |
| Dec 2025 | 57.9% | 21.2% | 9.5% | 4.1% | 4.2% | 1.3% | 0.67% | 0.84% | 0.31% |
| Jan 2026 | 56.2% | 20.6% | 11.3% | 4.6% | 4.1% | 1.2% | 0.82% | 0.82% | 0.3% |
| Feb 2026 | 52.6% | 23.6% | 10.6% | 5.3% | 4.7% | 1.4% | 0.74% | 0.74% | 0.34% |
| Mar 2026 | 57.5% | 21.1% | 9.4% | 4.7% | 4.2% | 1% | 0.84% | 0.84% | 0.31% |
| Apr 2026 | 52% | 23.3% | 12.8% | 5.2% | 3.8% | 1.1% | 0.73% | 0.73% | 0.34% |
| May 2026 | 52.8% | 23.7% | 10.6% | 5.3% | 4.7% | 1.1% | 0.74% | 0.74% | 0.34% |
| Jun 2026 | 49% | 26.9% | 9.9% | 5.6% | 5.4% | 1.3% | 0.85% | 0.71% | 0.39% |
| Jul 2026 | 55.6% | 20.4% | 11.2% | 5.1% | 5% | 0.99% | 0.78% | 0.66% | 0.36% |
| Aug 2026 | 51.8% | 23.2% | 12.7% | 4.8% | 4.6% | 1.1% | 0.61% | 0.73% | 0.34% |
| Sep 2026 | 55.3% | 20.3% | 11.1% | 5.5% | 5% | 0.98% | 0.78% | 0.66% | 0.41% |
How has the Western Union and Wise comparison changed over the last 12 months?
3 findings
- Western Union was ahead of Wise in every measured month of the 12 months ending September 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Western Union’s share of searches among money transfer services in Australia moved from 53.8% to 55.3%, and its estimated monthly branded searches held steady at 135K.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Wise’s share of searches among money transfer services in Australia moved from 4.7% to 5.5%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 11.7K to 13.5K.
How did search popularity change for Australia money transfer services in September 2026?
2 changes
In September 2026, Western Union gained share of searches among money transfer services in Australia, from 51.8% to 55.3%.
In September 2026, Wise gained share of searches among money transfer services in Australia, from 4.8% to 5.5%.
How are branded searches counted?
3 search terms
Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Western Union’s and Wise’s names. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for these branded terms can be used to understand whether interest in the brands is growing, holding steady, or fading.
Western Union
1 branded search term
- western union
Wise
2 branded search terms
- wise money transfer
- wise transfer
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