Cheapest Way to Send Money to Sierra Leone from the UK and USA (2026)

Sending money home to Sierra Leone? On our check on 21 October 2026, Sendwave got the most leones into your family's hands, from both the UK and the US.

From the UK it charged no fee, and £200 delivered Le 6,164. Remitly came close, and its first transfer is free, so new customers should compare both. Full results, in new leones (SLE), are below.

Sending £ from the UK to Sierra Leone: what arrives

Sending $ from the US to Sierra Leone: what arrives

Quotes from each provider's public pricing on 21 October 2026, for standard (not first-time) transfers. Rates change daily; check the app before you send.

The benchmark: on 30 September 2026, the Bank of Sierra Leone's official rates were Le 30.47 per pound and Le 22.95 per US dollar. Both apps were paying close to, or slightly above, the official rate. That's unusual and worth knowing: the margin is small, so the fee matters more than it does on many African routes.

First-transfer offers

Remitly waived its fee on the first transfer and offered a promotional rate of Le 31.28 per pound (on up to £250) and Le 24.21 per dollar (on up to $500) when we checked. On a first $500 transfer, that's Le 12,105 against Sendwave's Le 11,531. After the first transfer, Remitly returns to its standard pricing. Promotions change often, so treat these as an example of what to look for, not a fixed offer.

How the money can arrive in Sierra Leone

Money transfer apps usually pay out into mobile money wallets, bank accounts or for cash pickup. Mobile money is the fastest and most common route. The recipient's cost doesn't end at the transfer: if the money lands in Afrimoney and they cash it out, they pay Afrimoney's cash-out fee including 15% GST (NLe 23 on NLe 1,000). Orange Money also charges to cash out. See our guide to Afrimoney and Orange Money charges in Sierra Leone.

The full cost of sending £100 for cash in hand: with Sendwave, £100 becomes Le 3,082 in an Afrimoney wallet. Cashing out Le 3,082 costs NLe 57.50 (the NLe 3,000–3,999.99 band). Your relative gets about Le 3,024 in cash, roughly 2% less than what arrived. If they spend it from the wallet instead, they keep the full amount.

How to choose the cheapest option

1. Compare what arrives, not the fee. A "no fee" offer with a weaker rate can cost more than a small fee with a better one. The table above shows the leones received.
2. Check against the official rate. Divide the leones received by what you sent and compare with the Bank of Sierra Leone's rate for that day. The closer, the better.
3. Use first-transfer promotions once, then compare again. They're designed to win you over; check standard pricing on the second transfer.
4. Send fewer, larger amounts if a provider charges a flat fee. Remitly's $2.99 is 6% of $50 but 0.3% of $1,000.
5. Make sure it's in new leones. If an app quotes over 20,000 leones per dollar, it's showing old leones (SLL). Divide by 1,000; see our old leones to new leones conversion table.

What about Western Union, MoneyGram and WorldRemit?

These services also send to Sierra Leone, including cash pickup in towns where mobile money is less common. They don't show public quotes without signing in, so compare them in their own apps when you send, using the same test: how many leones arrive for the same amount, including the fee.

Watch out for

• Old-leone quotes. Some screenshots and messages still show rates like "22,950 per dollar". That's SLL; in SLE it's 22.95.
• Card fees. Paying with a credit card can add a cash-advance fee from your card provider. Bank transfers and debit cards are usually cheaper.
• Name mismatches. The recipient's name must match their mobile money or bank registration, or the transfer can be delayed or returned.
• Scam requests. Never send money to someone you've only met online who asks for "fees" to release a parcel, a job or an inheritance.

For more on the cheapest ways to send money to Africa in general, including Kenya, Nigeria and Ghana, see our international money transfer comparison. More Sierra Leone guides are on our Sierra Leone page.

Frequently asked questions

What is the cheapest way to send money to Sierra Leone from the UK?

On our 21 October 2026 check, Sendwave: no fee and Le 30.82 per pound, slightly above the Bank of Sierra Leone's official rate. £200 delivered Le 6,164, against Le 6,104 with Remitly plus its £1.99 fee.

What is the cheapest way to send money to Sierra Leone from the USA?

Sendwave again, on our check: a $1.99 fee and Le 23.06 per dollar, so $200 delivered Le 4,612. Remitly charged $2.99 at Le 22.88. For a first transfer, Remitly's fee-free promotion was better.

How many leones is $100 in Sierra Leone?

About Le 2,295 at the Bank of Sierra Leone's official rate of Le 22.95 per dollar (30 September 2026). Through a transfer app, $100 delivered between Le 2,288 and Le 2,306 on our check.

Can I send money to Orange Money or Afrimoney in Sierra Leone?

Yes, money transfer apps commonly pay out to mobile money wallets in Sierra Leone. Check the payout options in the app before you send, and remember the recipient pays a fee if they cash out.

Why do some apps show 22,000 leones to the dollar?

They're quoting old leones (SLL). Sierra Leone removed three zeros in 2022, so 22,950 old leones is Le 22.95 in new leones (SLE).

Is it better to send pounds or dollars to Sierra Leone?

Send in your own currency. Converting pounds to dollars first and then to leones means paying two exchange margins.