Send Money from Singapore to the Philippines: Licensed Options Compared

Payday in Singapore usually means two things for a kababayan: paying your own bills here, then sending the rest home before it disappears into small spending. For many helpers that happens on a Sunday off at Lucky Plaza. For nurses, engineers and shop staff it's more often a few taps on PayNow at lunch. Either way, the amount that reaches your family depends on two numbers, the fee and the exchange rate, and both change from service to service. Below is today's SGD to PHP reference rate, then the licensed services on this route and how to pick one for bank, GCash or cash pickup.

SGD to PHP today

This is the mid-market reference rate, the midpoint between the buying and selling price of the Singapore dollar. No remittance service pays you exactly this rate. Most pay a little less and some also charge a fee. The closer a service gets to this number after its fee, the more pesos your family gets.

Provider estimates

Who sends from Singapore to the Philippines

Singapore regulates remittance under the Payment Services Act 2019, which took effect on 28 January 2020. A business that sends money overseas needs a payment institution licence from MAS that covers "Cross-border Money Transfer Service". We looked up every service below in the MAS Financial Institutions Directory on 27 Oct 2026. Most hold a Major Payment Institution licence. MoneyGram's Singapore company holds a Standard Payment Institution licence, which is a smaller licence class for the same activity.

Apps

• Wise. Licensed as Wise Asia-Pacific Pte. Ltd. (Major Payment Institution). Wise converts at the mid-market rate and shows its fee separately before you pay. From Singapore you can pay by linked bank account, debit card, PayNow or your Wise balance. Credit cards only work if they were issued outside Singapore, and card payments are capped at SGD 16,000 per transfer. When you pay by PayNow, the money must come from a bank account in your own name. Wise pays to Philippine bank accounts and to GCash, Maya and other wallets (up to 50,000 PHP per wallet transfer). It doesn't do cash pickup. See our Wise review.
• Remitly. Licensed as Remitly Singapore Pte. Ltd. (Major Payment Institution). Your family can receive by bank deposit, cash pickup or mobile wallet, including GCash. Remitly's own payment list for Singapore covers Visa and Mastercard debit and credit cards, prepaid cards and Apple Pay. When we checked on 27 Oct 2026, its Singapore page offered new customers a promotional rate on the first SGD 750 sent. See our Remitly review.
• Panda Remit. Licensed in Singapore as Wotransfer Pte. Ltd. (Major Payment Institution). You pay by PayNow, bank transfer or ATM transfer. Payout options are bank accounts (BDO, Metrobank, Security Bank and other major banks), GCash, Maya and Coins, or cash pickup at Palawan Pawnshop, Cebuana Lhuillier and M Lhuillier.
• Singtel Dash. Dash Remit runs inside the Singtel Dash app and is operated by SingCash Pte. Ltd. (Major Payment Institution). It's one of the few services here that publishes flat fees for the Philippines: SGD 3.50 to a GCash wallet, SGD 4 to a bank account and SGD 4.50 for Western Union cash pickup, per transfer, as listed on its Philippines page on 27 Oct 2026. Dash says GCash credits take about 5 minutes. Bank deposits take about 15 minutes to Metrobank, and to other banks for up to PHP 50,000. Larger amounts to other banks take 1 to 2 Philippine banking days. The fee is fixed, but Dash sets its own exchange rate, so check the pesos received in the app.
• Western Union. Licensed as Western Union Global Network Pte Ltd (Major Payment Institution). You can send online, in the app or in person at more than 40 locations in Singapore, and pay by PayNow, bank transfer, debit card, credit card or cash. Payout is bank deposit, mobile wallet including GCash, or cash pickup at Western Union agents across the Philippines. Its Singapore help centre says verified users can send up to SGD 20,000 per transfer when paying by PayNow to a bank account, and up to SGD 5,000 per transfer with other combinations. When we checked, its Singapore page advertised a zero transfer fee on a new customer's first online transfer paid by PayNow or bank transfer. Your family tracks a cash transfer with the MTCN.
• Ria. Licensed as Ria Financial Services Singapore Pte. Ltd. (Major Payment Institution). Ria sends to GCash from Singapore, and you can pay by credit or debit card, Apple Pay, Google Pay or in person.
• MoneyGram. Licensed as MoneyGram International Pte. Ltd. (Standard Payment Institution, cross-border money transfer). You can send online, in the app or at an agent. In the Philippines, MoneyGram lists cash pickup at Cebuana Lhuillier, M Lhuillier and Palawan Express, plus bank account and mobile wallet options.

Singtel Dash, Kabayan Remittance and Metro Remittance aren't in the table because they aren't in our provider list yet, so we don't link to them. That doesn't make them worse. Compare them with the same method as everything else on this page.

Remittance shops in Lucky Plaza

Lucky Plaza on Orchard Road has been the Sunday meeting place for Filipinos in Singapore for decades, and it still has remittance counters run by Philippine-linked companies. Two that we found on the MAS directory with a Major Payment Institution licence and a Lucky Plaza address:

• Metro Remittance Singapore Pte. Ltd. (unit #03-30).
• Kabayan Remittance Pte. Ltd. (unit #02-33), which is also on GCash's Singapore partner list. Its website said on 27 Oct 2026 that online transactions were paused and asked customers to visit the shop instead.

Why people still queue at a counter:

• You can pay in cash. Handy if your salary is paid in cash or you don't want to use a banking app.
• Staff speak Tagalog. When a name is misspelled or a transfer is stuck, you can sort it out face to face.
• It's on the way. If you're already at Lucky Plaza on your day off, sending takes a few minutes.

The trade-off is the Sunday crowd and the fact that every shop sets its own rate. Ask for the total pesos received before you hand over your money, then compare it with an app quote for the same SGD amount on your phone. If the shop gives more, use the shop.

How to check that a remittance service is licensed

MAS keeps a public list of every licensed payment institution. Before you send through a new app, shop or "agent":

1. Open the MAS Financial Institutions Directory and search for the company name.
2. Check that the licence type is Major Payment Institution or Standard Payment Institution, and that "Cross-border Money Transfer Service" appears under its activities.
3. Brand names and company names often differ. Singtel Dash is SingCash Pte. Ltd. and Panda Remit is Wotransfer Pte. Ltd., for example. If the brand doesn't match any company, ask the shop which licensed company it operates under.
4. Look up the name on the MAS Investor Alert List too. That list names businesses that people may wrongly think are licensed by MAS.

Be wary of anyone in a Facebook group or chat who offers to "padala" your money at a better rate through a personal bank account. If the money never arrives, there's no regulator to complain to and often no way to trace it.

ID and verification: what to expect

Licensed providers in Singapore have to follow MAS anti-money laundering rules, so every one of them will check who you are.

• Apps verify you once. Wise, Remitly, Panda Remit, Dash and Western Union online ask for your ID when you open the account or before your first transfer, then set your limits from there. Have your passport and your work pass (Work Permit, S Pass or Employment Pass) or FIN card ready.
• Shops check you at the counter. A counter may ask for your passport or work pass card, your address and phone number. That's the law, not a sign the shop doesn't trust you.
• Pay from your own account. Wise only accepts PayNow payments from a bank account in your own name, and other apps follow similar rules. Paying from a friend's or your employer's account can get the transfer refunded or held.
• Keep your details current. When your work pass is renewed or you get a new passport, update it in the app before your next transfer. An expired document is one of the most common reasons a transfer is put on hold.

For domestic helpers: your salary and your bank account

The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) sets clear rules for employers of foreign domestic workers, and they matter for how you send money home:

• Monthly pay. Your employer must pay your salary every month, no later than 7 days after the end of the salary period.
• Bank transfer if you ask. If you request it, your employer must pay you by direct bank transfer into an account in your own name. It must not be a joint account with your employer.
• Your money stays yours. Since 1 January 2019, employers must not keep your salary, your bank book or your bank card, even if you ask them to.

Having your own bank account in Singapore makes sending cheaper and easier. You can pay apps by PayNow straight from your account on any day of the week, without queuing on your day off. MOM's website has a guide for employers on helping a helper open a bank account.

Best option by payout method

Bank deposit

For BDO, BPI, Metrobank, Landbank, PNB and other banks, compare Wise, Panda Remit and Dash in the app with a counter at Lucky Plaza. Bank deposits are often the cheapest payout. Dash's own page says transfers up to PHP 50,000 reach most banks within about 15 minutes. Double-check the account name and number, because a typo can hold the transfer for days.

GCash and Maya

GCash's official partner list for Singapore (GCash Help Center, checked 27 Oct 2026) includes Remitly, Singtel Dash, Kabayan Remittance, Panda Remit, MoneyGram, Ria and Western Union, plus several payment networks that work in the background. Wise isn't on that list but pays to GCash through the Philippine local transfer system. The receiver's name and mobile number must match the GCash account exactly. See send money to GCash from abroad.

Cash pickup

Panda Remit pays out at Palawan Pawnshop, Cebuana Lhuillier and M Lhuillier. MoneyGram pays out at Cebuana Lhuillier, M Lhuillier and Palawan Express. Western Union pays at its agents across the Philippines, and Dash sends to Western Union cash pickup too. Your family needs a valid government ID and the reference number, and the name on the ID must match what you typed. Cash pickup tends to cost a little more than a bank or wallet payout.

Fees and rates: how to compare

Every transfer has two costs: the fee you see and the exchange rate margin you don't. A "zero fee" offer can still deliver fewer pesos if the rate is weak. Here's a quick way to compare:

1. Enter the same SGD amount in each service, say SGD 800.
2. Note the pesos your family will receive and the total SGD you'll pay, fee included.
3. Divide the pesos received by the total SGD paid. The closer that number is to the reference rate above, the cheaper the service.

Worked example with made-up round numbers, not today's rate: say the reference rate were 45.00 PHP per SGD and you send SGD 800. Service A charges SGD 4 and pays 44.60, so your family gets 35,680 PHP for SGD 804 paid. Service B charges no fee but pays 44.20, so your family gets 35,360 PHP for SGD 800 paid. Service A delivers 320 PHP more even after its fee. Send that way every month for a two-year contract and the gap is 7,680 PHP.

Tips for sending from Singapore

• Use PayNow if you can. The money reaches the app quickly and several apps prefer it. Western Union's first-transfer offer, for example, applies only to PayNow or bank transfer.
• Watch out for card fees. A credit card payment can be treated as a cash advance by your bank, which means extra charges and interest from the first day.
• Flat fees reward bigger transfers. With a flat fee like Dash's, one transfer of SGD 600 costs less than three transfers of SGD 200.
• Set up two services. Save your recipient in two apps, or one app and one shop. Comparing takes a minute and the cheaper one changes more often than people expect.
• Keep the receipt. A screenshot of the confirmation and the reference number makes a delayed transfer much easier to trace.
• Never share your OTP. No licensed remittance company will ask for your password or one-time PIN by phone, chat or SMS.
• Plan around Philippine holidays. GCash credits usually arrive any day, but bank deposits may wait for the next Philippine banking day around Holy Week and Christmas.

Singapore bank transfer vs remittance service

Most Singapore banks can send a telegraphic transfer to a Philippine bank account. For the amounts most people send each month, this is usually the more expensive route. Banks may charge a sending fee, set their own exchange rate, and an intermediary bank may take a cut along the way. Apps and remittance shops are built for this route and usually deliver more pesos for SGD 200 to 2,000. For a large one-off amount, like a down payment on a house and lot, ask your bank for a quote anyway and compare the pesos received side by side.

Frequently asked questions

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

It depends on the amount and how your family receives it. Compare an app such as Wise, Panda Remit or Singtel Dash with the counter you usually use, for the same SGD amount, and pick the one that delivers the most pesos after fees.

Can I send money from Singapore to GCash?

Yes. GCash's official Singapore partners include Remitly, Singtel Dash, Kabayan Remittance, Panda Remit, Western Union, MoneyGram and Ria, and Wise also pays to GCash. The receiver's name and mobile number must match their GCash account.

Do I need a Singapore bank account to send money home?

Not always. Western Union agents and remittance shops in Lucky Plaza accept cash. Apps like Wise and Panda Remit need you to pay from a Singapore bank account, usually by PayNow, while Remitly and Ria accept cards.

How do I know a remittance company in Singapore is legit?

Search for the company in the MAS Financial Institutions Directory. It should hold a Major or Standard Payment Institution licence with Cross-border Money Transfer Service listed. Avoid informal padala arrangements through personal bank accounts.

Can my employer keep my salary or bank card for me?

No. MOM rules say employers of foreign domestic workers must not keep a helper's salary, bank book or bank card, even if the helper asks. Your salary must be paid every month, and by bank transfer into your own account if you request it.

What does my family need to receive the money?

For bank deposits and GCash, nothing extra: the money lands in their account. For cash pickup they need a valid Philippine government ID and the reference number, and the name on the ID must match the name you entered.

How long does it take?

GCash transfers can arrive within minutes. Singtel Dash says about 5 minutes to GCash and about 15 minutes to a bank account for most amounts. Wise says bank account and FAST payments usually reach it within 15 minutes, and converting can take up to 2 working days before it sends the pesos. Philippine holidays can add a day for bank deposits.