Editorial Policy & How We Rate
Complete transparency on our review methodology, scoring system, editorial standards, and how we maintain independence from the providers we cover.
5
Rating Criteria
Quarterly
Review Updates
Zero
Pay-for-Placement
Regulation Verified
Every Provider
How We Score Providers
Every provider review on InternationalMoneyTransfer.com follows the same structured methodology. We score providers across 5 weighted criteria that together produce our IMT Score out of 5.0. The weightings reflect what matters most to consumers making international transfers.
Trust & Security
25%Regulatory authorisation status (FCA, ASIC, FinCEN, FINTRAC, etc.), client fund safeguarding arrangements, regulatory history, data security certifications, and corporate transparency. We verify every provider against their relevant regulatory register and check for any enforcement actions.
Fees & Exchange Rates
25%Transfer fees, exchange rate margins vs mid-market rate, transparency of pricing, and how rates scale with transfer size. We conduct test transfers at multiple amounts ($1,000, $5,000, $10,000, $50,000) across key corridors to benchmark real-world pricing.
Service & Products
20%Range of transfer options (spot, forward contracts, limit orders, regular payments), number of currencies supported, payment methods accepted, platform features, and business services. We assess the breadth and depth of what each provider actually offers.
Reviews & Reputation
15%Trustpilot rating and volume, Financial Ombudsman Service complaint data, industry awards, media coverage, and longevity in the market. We weight both the score and the volume of reviews to avoid manipulation by low-volume providers.
Ease of Use
15%Account opening process, platform and mobile app quality, transfer speed, customer support quality and availability, and overall user experience. Our editor personally tests the sign-up and transfer process for every provider.
Calculating the Final Score
Each criterion is scored from 1.0 to 5.0 by our editorial team. The final IMT Score is the weighted average: (Trust x 0.25) + (Fees x 0.25) + (Service x 0.20) + (Reviews x 0.15) + (Ease x 0.15). This produces a score out of 5.0 which determines the provider's tier: Platinum (90+), Gold (80-89), Silver (70-79), or Bronze (60-69) on our 100-point scale.
Our Editorial Standards
Editorial Independence
Our editorial team operates independently from our commercial relationships. Providers cannot pay to influence their review score, change their ranking position, or alter the content of their review. All reviews are written by our editor based on first-hand testing and verified data.
Fact-Checking Process
Every factual claim in our reviews is verified against primary sources. Regulatory status is checked against the relevant register (FCA, ASIC, FinCEN, etc.). Fee and rate data is verified through test transfers or official provider documentation. Trustpilot ratings are verified directly on Trustpilot. We cite our sources and provide links to official registers where available.
Review Update Schedule
All provider reviews are updated at least quarterly. Exchange rate comparisons are refreshed regularly as market conditions change. We also perform ad-hoc updates when providers announce significant changes to their fees, features, or regulatory status. Each review displays a 'Last Updated' date so readers know how current the information is.
Corrections Policy
If we publish incorrect information, we correct it promptly and transparently. Material corrections are noted at the top of the affected page. If you spot an inaccuracy in any of our content, please contact us with the details and we will investigate within 2 business days.
How We Fund Our Research
InternationalMoneyTransfer.com earns revenue through commercial partnerships with featured providers. When you click a 'Get Quote' or 'Visit Provider' link and subsequently use that provider, we may receive compensation. This funds our independent research, testing, and editorial work.
What commercial relationships do NOT affect:
- IMT Scores or individual criteria ratings
- Ranking positions on comparison tables
- The content of written reviews (pros, cons, analysis)
- Whether a provider is included or excluded from the site
- The exchange rate or fees you receive from a provider
What commercial relationships DO affect:
- Which providers have 'Get Quote' buttons (non-partner providers link to their website directly)
- The commercial viability of this site (provider compensation funds our research and editorial work)
All commercial links on our site are marked with rel="sponsored nofollow" as required by Google's webmaster guidelines.
Our Accreditation Programme
In addition to our editorial reviews, we operate a separate Accreditation Programme that evaluates providers across 9 objective criteria including regulatory authorisation, safeguarding, pricing transparency, and complaint records. This programme awards Platinum, Gold, Silver, or Bronze accreditation based on a 100-point scoring system.