Send Money from the UK to Hungary

There is no single cheapest provider on this corridor — it depends on how much you send and how your recipient is paid. Compare the total amount received in Hungarian forints rather than the advertised fee, since the exchange rate margin is usually the larger cost. Bank deposit is typically cheaper than cash pickup.

Delivery ranges from minutes to a few business days depending on the provider and payout method. Western Union can deliver within minutes when you pay by debit card. Bank-funded and economy transfers typically take one to three business days but usually cost less. Transfers sent outside banking hours or over a weekend may not settle until the next working day.

Across the providers we compare, the available payout methods are bank deposit, cash pickup, mobile wallet and card payout. The most widely used options in Hungary are bank deposit to the major Hungarian banks, plus cash pickup. Hungary uses the forint, not the euro, and its currency status is written into the constitution — so this will remain a non-euro corridor for the foreseeable future. Not every provider supports every method, so check the table above before you commit.

No. Western Union offer cash pickup in Hungary, so your recipient can collect the funds with valid photo ID and the transfer reference number. That said, bank deposit to the major Hungarian banks, plus cash pickup generally cost less than cash collection.

Providers rarely give you the mid-market rate — the reference rate you see on Google or Reuters. Instead they add a margin, typically between 0.4% and 4%, and keep the difference. That margin is often larger than the visible transfer fee, which is why a "no fee" service can still be more expensive overall. For GBP to HUF, compare the quoted rate against the mid-market rate to see the real spread you are paying.

Yes, provided you use a licensed provider. Every service listed on this page is regulated in the UK under the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), which requires safeguarding of customer funds and identity verification. Send only to people you know personally, keep your transfer reference private, and be sceptical of anyone pressuring you to send money urgently to someone you have not met.

Yes. Each provider sets its own transfer limits, which vary by how much identity verification you have completed and how you pay. Larger transfers may require additional documentation such as proof of source of funds. For transfers above roughly £10,000, a specialist foreign-exchange broker will often beat an app on rate.

WorldRemit does not serve Hungary. Its European destination list names only Albania and Turkey. If you already use that service, you will need an alternative from the comparison table above for this corridor.

Hungary uses the forint, not the euro. Sending euros triggers a second conversion at the recipient's bank, so check your provider quotes HUF. SEPA only carries euros, so a transfer from a sterling account is converted to euros first and then travels on SEPA rails. That conversion, not the SEPA leg, is where most of the cost sits. Forint transfers cannot use SEPA and rely on each provider's own Hungarian banking relationships. Some providers can deliver euros to a Hungarian card account rather than forint. That is occasionally useful but usually means your recipient pays to convert — confirm which currency they actually want.