Introduction

Every year, millions of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) send billions of dollars back home to the Philippines. Finding the best way to send money to Philippines can mean the difference between your family receiving Php 50,000 or Php 48,000 from the same transfer. In this guide, we compare the top services for sending money to the Philippines from the USA, UK, UAE, and other countries.

Why the Philippines is a Major Remittance Corridor

The Philippines is one of the top remittance recipients in the world. In 2023 alone, overseas Filipinos sent back more than $36 billion USD. This makes the Philippines a highly competitive market for remittance providers, which means better options and lower fees for you.

Wise — Best Overall for the Philippines

Wise consistently offers the best value for sending money to the Philippines. It uses the mid-market exchange rate with no markup, meaning you get the exact rate you see on Google. Transfer fees are low and transparent. For example, sending $500 to the Philippines typically costs around $2-5 in fees depending on how you pay.

Wise supports bank transfers to all major Philippine banks including BDO, BPI, Metrobank, UnionBank, and LandBank. Transfers usually arrive within 1-2 business days. Wise also supports GCash for instant mobile wallet delivery.

Remitly — Best for Express Transfers

Remitly offers Express transfers to the Philippines that can arrive in minutes. This is particularly valuable when your family needs money urgently. Remitly covers BDO, BPI, Metrobank, and other major banks, plus M Lhuillier and Cebuana Lhuillier for cash pickup.

The Economy option on Remitly uses the mid-market exchange rate with a small margin, making it competitive for larger transfers.

WorldRemit — Best for Cash Pickup

WorldRemit covers over 9,000 cash pickup locations across the Philippines through its partner network. This is ideal when your recipient does not have a bank account. Partners include M Lhuillier, Cebuana Lhuillier, and Palawan Express. Bank transfers are also available to BDO, BPI, and UnionBank.

Xoom — Best for PayPal Users

If you already use PayPal, Xoom is the fastest way to send money to the Philippines. Xoom delivers to BPI, BDO, UnionBank, and more. You can also send for cash pickup at over 1,500 locations. However, Xoom typically has higher exchange rate markups than Wise.

Western Union — Largest Network

Western Union has the largest cash pickup network in the Philippines with over 15,000 locations. It is widely trusted among Filipino families. However, fees and exchange rate markups tend to be higher than digital-first providers.

How to Send Money to GCash

Both Wise and Remitly support direct transfers to GCash, the most popular mobile wallet in the Philippines. This is one of the fastest ways to get money to your family — funds arrive in minutes and can be withdrawn at any time.

Our Verdict

For most people sending money to the Philippines, Wise is our top recommendation. The combination of the mid-market exchange rate, low fees, and GCash support makes it the most cost-effective option. For urgent transfers, Remitly Express delivers in minutes. For cash pickup in remote areas, WorldRemit has the widest network.