Cheapest Way to Send Money to the Philippines (Compared Today)

Every payday, millions of Filipinos abroad do the same math: magkano ba talaga ang matatanggap nila sa bahay? This page is our starting point for answering that honestly. It shows today's reference exchange rates for the main sender countries, explains where the real cost of a remittance hides, and links to a detailed page for each route.

We are a comparison and referral site, not a remittance company. We don't move money. We point you to the providers, show you how to compare them, and tell you when we earn a commission (see our disclosure).

Today's reference rates into pesos

These are mid-market reference rates, the midpoint between buying and selling prices that central banks publish. No remittance app pays exactly this rate to consumers. Think of it as the "fair price" line. The closer a provider gets to it, after fees, the better the deal.

What "cheapest" actually means

There are two ways a provider makes money on your padala, and most use both:

1. The transfer fee. A fixed amount you see on the screen, like a few dollars or a few dirhams. Some providers waive it on the first transfer or above a certain amount.
2. The exchange rate margin. The provider gives you a rate a little below the mid-market rate and keeps the difference. This one is easy to miss because it never appears as a line item.

Here is a worked example with round numbers so you can see the effect. These are not real quotes.

Provider A advertises "no fee", yet Provider B delivers more pesos because its rate margin is smaller. That is why we always say: compare the amount received, not the fee.

The size of the margin usually depends on the route, the amount, how you pay (bank transfer is usually cheaper than card) and how the money arrives (bank deposit vs GCash vs cash pickup).

Pick your sending country

Each corridor page covers the providers that actually serve that country, payout options in the Philippines, IDs you need, limits, local tips and FAQs.

• Send money from the USA to the Philippines: the biggest corridor, with the most apps. Also see USA to GCash.
• Send money from the UAE to the Philippines: exchange houses like Lulu and Al Fardan, plus Remitly and bank apps.
• Send money from Saudi Arabia to the Philippines: bank remittance services like Enjaz and Tahweel Al Rajhi, plus Western Union partners. See also SAR to PHP today.
• Send money from the UK to the Philippines: strong app competition, GBP is one of the most competitive routes.
• Send money from Canada to the Philippines: Remitly, Wise, Western Union, Xoom and Sendwave all serve CAD senders.
• Send money from Japan to the Philippines: yen senders use Japanese remittance companies (SBI Remit, Kyodai, Seven Bank) plus Remitly and Wise.

Best option by payout method

The right provider depends a lot on how your family wants to receive the money.

Bank deposit (BDO, BPI, Metrobank, Landbank and others)

Bank deposits are usually the cheapest payout because the provider doesn't have to fund a cash counter. Services built around low margins, like Wise, tend to be competitive here, and remittance apps like Remitly also deposit to all major Philippine banks. Double-check the account name and number. A typo can delay the transfer by days.

GCash and Maya

E-wallets are now the payout most families ask for. GCash keeps an official list of remittance partners by country on the GCash Help Center, and it is worth checking before you pick an app. Your recipient's GCash account should be fully verified, and wallet limits apply. Our send money to GCash from abroad page maps partners by country.

Cash pickup (Cebuana Lhuillier, M Lhuillier, Palawan Express and others)

Cash pickup helps when your family lives far from a bank or prefers cash. It often costs a bit more. Your recipient needs a valid government ID and the reference number (for Western Union, the MTCN). Pawnshop and remittance chains that pay out cash in the Philippines are supervised by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP).

Home delivery

A few providers, such as Remitly and Xoom, offer door to door delivery in some areas. It's useful for elderly parents but usually the most expensive option.

How to compare in five minutes

1. Check today's reference rate above for your currency.
2. Open two or three provider apps and enter the same amount, same payout method and same payment method.
3. Write down the pesos received for each. Ignore the headline "fee" until you've done this.
4. Check the delivery time and any limits for your recipient (GCash wallet limits, bank cut-off times).
5. Send with the one that leaves the most pesos, as long as speed and payout method fit.

Kung first time mo sa isang app, check also the first transfer promos. Several providers offer a better rate or no fee on the first transfer. We keep a dated list on our first transfer promos page.

Providers we cover

We started with the providers Filipinos use most and that serve several sender countries. Our in-depth reviews:

• Remitly review: wide payout network (bank, GCash, Maya, cash pickup, home delivery), Express and Economy speeds, serves the US, UAE, UK, Canada and Japan among others. Does not serve senders in Saudi Arabia.
• Wise review: shows a fee separately and converts at the mid-market rate, pays to Philippine banks and to GCash and Maya. Does not yet let you send from a UAE bank account in AED.
• Remitly vs Wise: which one leaves more pesos depends on the route, amount and payout method.

We also list Western Union, WorldRemit, Xoom, MoneyGram, Ria, Panda Remit and Sendwave where they serve a route. Links to providers go through our /go/ redirect, which tells the provider we referred you.

Paying for your transfer

How you fund the transfer changes the price:

• Bank transfer or ACH: usually the cheapest, sometimes slower.
• Debit card: fast, often a small extra fee.
• Credit card: often the most expensive. Your card issuer may treat it as a cash advance with its own fee and interest from day one. Read our guide on sending money with a credit card first.

Safety checklist before you send

• Use a provider licensed in your sending country. In the US that means FinCEN registration and state money transmitter licences. In the UK, the FCA register. In Canada, FINTRAC's MSB registry. In the UAE, the Central Bank of the UAE.
• Never send money to someone you've only met online, or to "release" a prize, a parcel or a loan. Remittance scams target OFWs every season.
• Keep your receipt and reference number until your family confirms they received the money.
• Make sure the recipient's name matches their ID or GCash account exactly.

Frequently asked questions

What is the cheapest way to send money to the Philippines?

The provider that delivers the most pesos for the same amount, after both the fee and the exchange rate margin. It changes by route, amount and payout method, so compare the amount received in two or three apps on the day you send. Bank deposits are usually cheaper than cash pickup.

Is the rate on this page what my family will get?

No. The rate shown is a mid-market reference rate from Frankfurter, with its date and the time we checked it. Remittance providers add a margin and sometimes a fee, so the rate you get will be lower. Use it as a benchmark.

Which is better for GCash, Remitly or Wise?

Both list GCash as a payout option. Remitly is on GCash's official remittance partner list for many countries, and Wise says it pays PHP to GCash with a limit of 50,000 PHP per wallet transfer. Compare the pesos received for your amount. Our Remitly vs Wise page goes deeper.

How long does a transfer to the Philippines take?

Many app transfers to GCash or major banks arrive within minutes, especially when paid by card. Bank-funded transfers and some banks can take one to three business days. Each provider shows an estimate before you confirm.

Do I pay tax on remittances to the Philippines?

Personal remittances to family are generally not taxed as income for the recipient in the Philippines. Your sending country may have its own rules. In the US, a 1% federal remittance transfer tax has applied since 1 January 2026 when you pay the provider in cash, a money order or a cashier's check. Transfers funded from a bank account or a US-issued debit or credit card are exempt, according to the IRS. For anything else, check with the provider or a tax adviser.

Is moneytransfer.ph a remittance company?

Hindi. We are a comparison and referral site operated by Dominet BV in Amsterdam. We never send, hold or exchange money. You transfer directly with the provider you choose.