Western Union vs Wise:Which is more popular?
In September 2026, Wise had more branded searches than Western Union among currency exchange services worldwide. Wise had about 71,700 branded searches, while Western Union had 18,100. Wise made up 12.3% of all currency exchange service searches we track, and Western Union accounted for 3.1%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about currency exchange services, Wise appeared in all four answers and Western Union in three. Wise was mentioned before Western Union in every answer.
Who do people search for more?
Wise, about 4 searches for every 1 for Western Union
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 currency exchange services in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews
In three ChatGPT questions and one Google AI Overview, Wise appeared in all four answers. Western Union was mentioned in three out of four: in two of the three ChatGPT answers and in the Google AI Overview. 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
Western Union2nd
Xe3rd
OFX4th
Travelex–
WorldFirst–
TorFX–
CurrencyFair–
Mentioned by AI
Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.
- Wise4 of 4Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 1 Google answers
- Western Union3 of 4Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 1 Google answers
- Xe2 of 4Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 1 Google answers
- OFX2 of 4Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 1 Google answers
- Travelex0 of 4Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 1 Google answers
- WorldFirst0 of 4Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 1 Google answers
- TorFX0 of 4Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 1 Google answers
- CurrencyFair0 of 4Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 1 Google answers
See every answer about currency exchange services
4 answers
Asked ChatGPT
“Which currency exchange service should I use?”
- 1Wise
- 1
Asked ChatGPT
“What are the best currency exchange services?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What's the best currency exchange service for sending money abroad?”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“currency exchange services”
Google showed no AI Overview for this search.
Searched Google, AI Overview
“international money transfer”
Not named in any answer:
Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in the United States on October 20, 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 eight currency exchange services we track, month by month, from English-language searches worldwide.
Share of searches by month for Wise, Western Union. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of searches table
| Month | Xe | Travelex | Wise | OFX | WorldFirst | Western Union | TorFX | CurrencyFair |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | 40.4% | 27.1% | 9.6% | 8.1% | 8.1% | 4.4% | 1.6% | 0.59% |
| Nov 2025 | 42.3% | 23.2% | 9.5% | 8.5% | 10.4% | 3.8% | 1.7% | 0.62% |
| Dec 2025 | 40.5% | 22.2% | 10.3% | 8.2% | 12.2% | 4.5% | 1.6% | 0.48% |
| Jan 2026 | 39.5% | 26.5% | 11.5% | 8% | 8% | 4.4% | 1.6% | 0.58% |
| Feb 2026 | 43% | 23.6% | 10.2% | 8.6% | 8.6% | 3.9% | 1.4% | 0.63% |
| Mar 2026 | 41.1% | 22.6% | 12.8% | 8.3% | 8.3% | 4.5% | 1.7% | 0.74% |
| Apr 2026 | 42.7% | 23.4% | 12.5% | 7% | 8.6% | 3.9% | 1.4% | 0.5% |
| May 2026 | 42.7% | 23.4% | 12.5% | 7% | 8.6% | 3.9% | 1.4% | 0.5% |
| Jun 2026 | 44.3% | 19.8% | 12.9% | 8.9% | 8.9% | 3.3% | 1.5% | 0.52% |
| Jul 2026 | 42.4% | 23.2% | 12.3% | 8.5% | 8.5% | 3.1% | 1.4% | 0.5% |
| Aug 2026 | 37.5% | 25.2% | 15.4% | 7.6% | 9.2% | 3.4% | 1.2% | 0.54% |
| Sep 2026 | 42.4% | 23.2% | 12.3% | 8.5% | 8.5% | 3.1% | 1.4% | 0.5% |
How has the Western Union and Wise comparison changed over the last 12 months?
3 findings
- Wise was ahead of Western Union 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 currency exchange services worldwide moved from 4.4% to 3.1%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 27.1K to 18.1K.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Wise’s share of searches among currency exchange services worldwide moved from 9.6% to 12.3%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 58.6K to 71.7K.
How did search popularity change for currency exchange services worldwide in September 2026?
2 changes
In September 2026, Wise lost share of searches among currency exchange services worldwide, from 15.4% to 12.3%.
Estimated monthly branded searches for Western Union worldwide fell 33.2% over 12 measured months, from 27.1K to 18.1K in September 2026.
How are branded searches counted?
7 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 currency exchange
Wise
6 branded search terms
- transfer wise app
- transferwise apps
- transferwise mobile app
- transferwise wise
- wise app
- wise business
Other head-to-heads among currency exchange services
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