“Mani, someone in the group shared that Abound is giving 92 rupees per dollar. That’s better than even the mid-market rate. Is this real? Should I use it?”
I got this exact message last week.
And honestly, I had the same reaction you probably did – that rate sounds too good to be true.
So I dug deep. I looked at user reviews, compared rates, read the fine print, checked Trustpilot, CompareRemit, app store reviews, and talked to community members who’ve actually used it.
Here’s my honest take.
What is Abound?
Abound (joinabound.com) is a remittance app built for NRIs in the US.
It’s backed by Times Internet – the digital arm of the Times of India Group.
It launched as “Times Club” and rebranded to Abound. In March 2025, they raised $14 million in external funding and claim to have over 500,000 monthly transacting users.
Beyond money transfers, Abound positions itself as a “super app” – offering cashback at 4,000+ Indian grocery stores in the US, rewards programs, and plans for investments and cross-border credit.
The company is legitimate in the sense that it’s backed by a large Indian media conglomerate. It’s not some unknown startup operating from a garage.
But legitimate backing doesn’t automatically mean great service. Let me explain.
The Exchange Rate: Yes, It’s Real. Here’s Why.
As of late February 2026, the mid-market USD to INR rate hovers around ₹90.68-91 per dollar.
Abound has been offering rates as high as ₹92 per dollar – which is actually above the mid-market rate.
How is this possible?
This is a customer acquisition strategy, plain and simple.
Abound raised $14 million in VC funding.
They’re burning through that money to attract users with rates that no sustainable business can offer long-term.
The idea is to build a massive user base, then monetize through other services (rewards, subscriptions, investments, credit products).
Think of it like how Jio offered free data when it launched. The rates won’t last forever.
Other ways Abound makes money:
- Abound Elite subscription: $9.99/month for faster transfers and better rates
- Exchange rate markup on regular transfers: They add a spread on non-promotional transfers
- Cashback ecosystem: Ad revenue and merchant partnerships
- Float income: Your money sits with them for 8-12+ days before reaching India – they earn interest on that float
That last point is key. And it leads to the biggest problem.
The Real Catch: Transfer Speed (or Lack of It)
This is where things get ugly.
Officially, Abound says transfers take 6-10 business days. That’s already slow compared to competitors.
But what users actually experience is far worse.
Here’s what I found across Trustpilot (2.0 out of 5 stars), CompareRemit reviews, Google Play, and Apple App Store:
| What Abound Promises | What Users Report |
|---|---|
| 6-10 business days | 2-4 weeks (commonly) |
| Delivery date shown in app | Date keeps getting pushed back |
| “Fast, secure transfers” | Money stuck for weeks, some cases months |
| Customer support available | Emails go unanswered, no reliable phone support |
Some real examples from recent reviews (late 2025 and early 2026):
- One user sent $5,000 in October 2025 for a family medical emergency. The delivery date kept moving – from December 25 to December 28, then December 31, then January 3. After 8-9 emails, they still hadn’t received meaningful support.
- Another user sent $6,500 in June 2025. Two weeks later, it still hadn’t been credited in India.
- A user had $20,000 stuck for approximately two months. They eventually had to file a police complaint to get their money back.
- One user on the Google Play Store summarized it perfectly: “The extra exchange rate is not worth the delay, hassle, and uncertainty.”
- A January 2026 reviewer on Trustpilot reported filing a complaint with FinCEN (the US financial crimes enforcement agency).
This is not one or two bad experiences. It’s a consistent pattern across every review platform I checked.
Other Limitations You Should Know
Beyond the speed issue, here are important restrictions.
1. Can only send to NRO/Resident accounts
Abound cannot send money to NRE accounts. This is a big deal for NRIs who maintain NRE accounts for tax-free interest and full repatriability.
If you’re sending money to your own NRE FD or NRE savings account, Abound won’t work for you.
2. US to India only
Right now, Abound only supports transfers from the US to India. If you’re in the UK, UAE, Canada, or Singapore – this service isn’t available to you.
3. 30-minute cancellation window
You can cancel a transfer only within 30 minutes of initiating it. After that, you’re locked in. Given that transfers take weeks, this is a problem.
4. No web platform (app only)
Everything happens through the mobile app. Some users report bugs with OTP verification, getting locked out, and losing access to good rates because the app malfunctioned.
5. Customer support is poor
This came up in almost every negative review. There’s no easily accessible phone number. Email responses are slow or nonexistent. The in-app chat is inconsistent.
For a service handling thousands of dollars of people’s hard-earned money, this is unacceptable.
Abound vs Other Remittance Services: Honest Comparison
Here’s how Abound stacks up against the services NRIs in our community actually use.
| Feature | Abound | Wise | Remitly | Google Pay (Intl) | SBI RemitNow |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Exchange Rate | Above mid-market (promotional) | Mid-market rate | Slightly below mid-market | Close to mid-market | Bank rate (1-2% below) |
| Transfer Fee | ~$1.99 flat | ~$4-8 (varies by amount) | $0-4.99 | Free (limits apply) | Varies |
| Transfer Speed | 6-10 days (claimed), 2-4 weeks (actual) | 1-2 business days | Minutes to 3 days | Minutes to 1 day | 1-3 business days |
| Send to NRE | No | Yes | Yes | No (UPI only) | Yes |
| Send to NRO | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes (via UPI) | Yes |
| Max Transfer | ~$10,000/transaction | High limits | Varies by method | $15,000/year | High limits |
| Customer Support | Poor (email/chat only) | Good (email/chat) | Good (phone/chat) | Standard Google support | Bank-level support |
| Trustpilot Rating | 2.0/5 | 4.2/5 | 4.0/5 | N/A | N/A |
| Backed By | Times of India Group | Publicly listed (London) | Publicly listed (NASDAQ) | State Bank of India |
Let me break this down.
For best exchange rate (short term): Abound wins. But you’re trading speed and reliability for that extra ₹1-2 per dollar.
For speed + reliability: Wise and Remitly are far superior. Money reaches in hours to 2 days. Consistently.
For NRE account transfers: Use Wise, Remitly, or your bank’s SWIFT transfer service. Abound can’t do NRE.
For sending large amounts to India: Wise or direct bank wire transfer. Abound’s limits and reliability issues make it risky for large sums.
For small, non-urgent amounts: Abound could work if you don’t mind waiting 2+ weeks and the risk of delays.
Let’s Do the Math: Is the Better Rate Worth It?
Say you’re sending $5,000 to India.
| Service | Rate (₹/$) | Fee | Amount Received in India | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Abound | 92.00 | $1.99 | ₹4,59,632 | 2-4 weeks |
| Wise | 90.50 | $6.50 | ₹4,51,778 | 1-2 days |
| Remitly | 90.20 | $3.99 | ₹4,50,484 | Same day to 3 days |
The difference between Abound and Wise: approximately ₹7,854 (about $86).
That’s real money. But ask yourself – is ₹7,854 worth:
- Waiting 2-4 weeks instead of 1-2 days?
- The risk of your money getting stuck for weeks?
- No reliable customer support if something goes wrong?
- The stress of not knowing when your family will actually receive the money?
For most people in our community, the answer is no. Especially when money is being sent for time-sensitive needs like medical bills, rent, school fees, or family emergencies.
If you’re transferring money that’s not time-sensitive and you’re okay with the wait, the rate advantage is real. But go in with open eyes.
What Community Members Are Saying
I checked with folks in our WhatsApp groups and the feedback is mixed.
Those who had good experiences say:
- “Rate was great. Took about 10 days. No issues.”
- “I use it for small amounts when I’m not in a rush.”
- “The cashback on grocery shopping is a nice bonus.”
Those who had bad experiences say:
- “Sent $3,000 for my mom’s hospital bill. Waited 3 weeks. Never again.”
- “The rate is bait. They hold your money and earn interest on it.”
- “Customer support doesn’t exist. I sent 6 emails before getting a real response.”
- “Used Wise after that. Money reached the same day. I’ll pay the slightly lower rate happily.”
The pattern is clear. When Abound works, it’s great. When it doesn’t, you’re stuck with no recourse and no one to talk to.
My Honest Verdict
Let me be straight with you.
Abound is not a scam.
It’s a real company backed by the Times of India Group. They’ve raised institutional funding and process significant volumes.
But it has serious operational problems.
The transfer delays are not occasional glitches – they’re a widespread, consistent issue documented across every review platform.
The exchange rate is genuinely attractive – but it’s almost certainly a VC-subsidized customer acquisition play.
It won’t last forever, and the hidden cost is your time and peace of mind.
Here’s who should consider Abound:
- You’re sending small, non-urgent amounts (under $1,000)
- You don’t need the money to arrive quickly
- You’re comfortable with potential 2-3 week delays
- You want cashback on US grocery shopping as a bonus
- You’re sending to an NRO or resident bank account (not NRE)
Here’s who should avoid Abound:
- You’re sending money for emergencies, bills, or time-sensitive needs
- You’re transferring large amounts ($5,000+)
- You need to send to an NRE account
- Reliability and predictability matter more than saving ₹1-2 per dollar
- You want accessible customer support when things go wrong
My personal recommendation?
For reliable, everyday money transfers to India, stick with Wise or Remitly. They’re not perfect either, but they deliver consistently within 1-3 days, have responsive support, and their rates are competitive enough.
If you want to compare options yourself, our Remitly vs Wise comparison breaks it down in detail.
Quick Checklist: Before Using Any Remittance Service
Regardless of which service you choose, here’s what I always tell our community members.
- [ ] Compare rates on the same day across 2-3 services before transferring
- [ ] Check the total cost (rate + fees), not just the exchange rate
- [ ] Start with a small test transfer before sending large amounts
- [ ] Keep transaction reference numbers and screenshots of every transfer
- [ ] Know the purpose code required for your transfer type
- [ ] Understand the difference between NRE and NRO accounts and which one you’re sending to
- [ ] Check if TCS (Tax Collected at Source) applies – our guide on TCS on remittances explains this
- [ ] Never send your entire amount through an untested service – always diversify
- [ ] Watch out for money transfer scams – verify everything
Have you used Abound? I’d love to hear about your experience – good or bad. Join our WhatsApp community at https://backtoindia.com/groups where 20,000+ NRIs share real, unfiltered feedback on remittance services, banking, and everything about the move-back journey. It’s free and volunteer-run.
Disclaimer: This review is based on publicly available information, user reviews, and community feedback as of February 2026. Exchange rates, fees, and service quality can change. We have no commercial relationship with Abound, Wise, Remitly, or any remittance service mentioned in this article. Always verify current rates and terms directly with the service provider before transferring money.
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