Cheapest Way to Send Money to the Philippines

Looking for the cheapest way to send money to the Philippines without getting surprised by hidden charges? The soon-to-be-launched Ogvio money transfer app is designed to make that possible.

It’s still under development, but Ogvio is shaping up to be a promising name in global remittances with its focus on low-cost cross-border payments.

Table: Ogvio fees

The app is being built to be beginner-friendly and versatile. You’ll be able to send fiat currencies like USD or EUR, or switch to crypto with BTC and ETH in just a few taps. It also plans to introduce an @username feature that makes transferring money as simple as sending a DM.

Funding options are also set to be flexible. You’ll be able to top up with a credit card, debit card, Apple Pay, Google Pay, or a traditional bank transfer.

And don’t worry about your money getting stuck in the Pacific Ocean. Ogvio’s lightning-fast transfer feature ensures your funds arrive back home in seconds. With this, you can expect your money to reach your family or friends safely in almost no time at all!

Key Features

Ogvio is being developed with affordability, speed, and practicality in mind. Here’s what’s to be expected:

• Worldwide accessibility. Transfer funds instantly to over 160 countries, including the Philippines, with ease.
• Transparent pricing. See exactly what you’re paying for each transaction, with no hidden fees or surprises.
• Robust security. Protect your funds with advanced 256-bit AES encryption and biometric security.

• Inflation hedging. Shield your funds from volatile or inflating currencies by pegging them to stable options like USD or EUR.
• Crypto trading. Buy and hold popular cryptocurrencies like BTC, ETH, and DOT with zero trading fees.

With its mix of speed, reliability, and simplicity, I'd say Ogvio has the potential to become your go-to choice for remittance payments. If you’re looking for the cheapest way to send money to the Philippines, it’s an upcoming app worth keeping an eye on.

Formerly known as TransferWise, Wise is probably one of the most recognized names in international money transfers. It’s especially a popular application for sending money to Philippines.

With over 16 million users worldwide (both retail and business alike), the cross-border payments platform built its reputation on speed and transparency. It boasts that more than 65% of transfers arrive in under 20 seconds, which makes it a lifesaver if you’re ever in a pinch and need to send money to Philippines online fast.

Table: Wise asset movement

As you can see, Wise also supported quite a number of funding methods, though, if you were to consider the platform's size and compare it to some money transfer platforms, its delivery methods are limited.

That said, Wise also prides itself on transparency. Every transfer uses the mid-market rate, which the platform believes to be the most accurate and fair option for customers.

Key Features

I’ve used Wise myself a couple of times, and it’s easy to see why many people rely on it for their everyday transfers. The features pretty much speak for themselves:

• Global payment methods. Spend or withdraw cash in more than 160 countries to keep transfers flexible.
• Secure money transfers. Transact with peace of mind knowing every transfer is safeguarded by Wise’s security team and protection features.

• Regulated service. Wise operates under financial licenses in multiple regions, ensuring compliance and safety.
• Wide currency support. Move money across 40+ currencies and convert instantly without juggling multiple apps.
• User-friendly app. Manage transfers, balances, and spending in one clean, mobile-first app.

With everything Wise offers, it’s no surprise that many see it as one of the best money transfer to Philippines services, or pretty much anywhere else.

PayPal is another name that comes to mind when people think about sending money online. It’s available in most countries and supports direct transfers to the Philippines, either to another PayPal account or into a linked local bank.

Beyond remittances, PayPal has established a reputation as a go-to payment platform for both retailers and businesses. It’s easy to set up, widely recognized, and makes receiving payments simple.

Table: PayPal's user experience

One thing I also appreciate is how fast it lets you access your money. You can start accepting payments with almost no technical setup, and funds are often deposited into your balance instantly. It’s a nice feature to have, especially if you’re a budget-conscious person and like to keep your cash flow steady.

Key Features

I’ve used it plenty myself over the years, whether for transfers abroad or as a checkout option. It’s been a pretty reliable online payment app thanks to a few standout features:

• Global availability. Send money or make payments across borders, with coverage in more than 200 countries and regions.
• Cash delivery option. Use Xoom (a PayPal service) to send money directly to the recipient's doorstep by providing their name and address.
• Direct bank withdrawals. Move funds from PayPal to major banks in the Philippines and receive in pesos.

• Widely used platform. With millions of active users worldwide, chances are your recipient already has a PayPal account, making the process seamless.
• High transfer limits. Send up to $4,000 per transaction with an unverified account, or up to $60,000 if you’re verified.
• Secure payments. Transactions are protected with encryption, two-step verification, and PayPal’s buyer protection system.

That being said, I wouldn’t call PayPal the cheapest way to send money to the Philippines. Its fees for international transfers and currency conversions can hit your pocket harder than you’d like.

But considering the convenience, reliability, and global reach, I’d say the “extra” cost is worth it.

To be honest, I’ve mostly used Xe just to check my local currency against the dollar (spoiler: it’s usually pretty depressing). So I was surprised to learn that it also runs an international money transfer service.

And what’s even more surprising to me is how wide its coverage is. As of writing, you can use Xe to send money to 190+ countries with support for over 130 currencies, including Philippine pesos. Unfortunately, though, if you're looking for a physical or virtual card, the platform does not provide such services, so you'll have to look elsewhere.

Table: Details about Xe accounts

Moreover, you don't get an option to open up a business account or get a virtual IBAN; the only great thing is that onboarding itself should be relatively quick.

Still, I’d say Xe’s biggest strength circles back to its roots as real-time exchange rate data. You can expect accurate, live rates at the time of transfer, which means no second-guessing and no outdated conversions messing up your remittance bottom line.

Key Features

Xe can be a good option if you're looking to send money to Philippines online. Here’s why:

• Accurate currency data. See live market rates and know exactly what your recipient will get.
• Bank deposits. Send money directly into Philippine bank accounts, with funds usually arriving within minutes.
• Extensive cash pickup network. Let your recipient collect funds instantly from over 17,000 pickup locations across the Philippines.

• Transfer live tracking. Keep an eye on your money with real-time updates and notifications until it lands safely.
• Reliable brand. XE has been a reliable name in currency exchange for decades.

But is Xe the cheapest way to send money to Philippines, though?

The answer is a bit of both. Xe usually charges a small fee for transfers, and the total cost depends on how much you send and which payment method you choose.

Founded in Seattle in 2011, Remitly started as a small international remittance service promising competitive exchange rates. Since then, it has grown into a comprehensive money transfer platform that lets customers send, receive, and exchange over 100 currencies across more than 170 countries.

Remitly is especially popular among Filipino expats, digital nomads, and migrant workers. Its appeal lies in affordable transfer costs and decent delivery times, making it a go-to option for sending money back home.

Table: Remitly asset movement

In addition, Remitly has a lot of delivery methods, including more niche ones like cash pickup and even home deliveries.

And it’s not just for personal use. There’s also Remitly for Business, designed to handle international payroll, freelancer payouts, e-commerce payments, and other cross-border business needs.

Key Features

Depending on your situation, Remitly can be among the cheapest ways to send money to the Philippines. Plus, it comes with a few perks that make the whole experience a lot smoother:

• Multiple delivery methods. Choose the option that works best for your recipient, whether it’s a bank deposit, mobile wallet, or cash pickup in the Philippines.
• Guaranteed delivery window. Transfer your money with confidence, knowing that if it isn’t delivered on time, your fee will be refunded.
• Stable performance. With 99.99% uptime, the platform is designed to keep your transfers moving smoothly without interruptions.

• Secure transfers. Benefit from multi-level security that keeps both your money and personal data protected.
• Reliable customer support. Help is available 24/7 through phone or the help center, with support available in English, Spanish, and French.

Looking at the features it offers, Remitly earns its place on my shortlist. If you care about sending money to the Philippines quickly and securely without breaking the bank, it’s one of the names worth a look.

Revolut is a digital banking app that lets you send and receive money both locally and across borders. A lot of people use it for everyday stuff too, like splitting bills or sending small gifts to each other.

But transfers and payments aren’t the only reason Revolut is popular with 60+ million customers worldwide. As a neobank, it also offers features you’d normally expect from a traditional bank, like flexible cash funds that let you grow your money over time.

Table: Revolut user experience

On top of that, Revolut includes a range of investment tools. You can buy stocks from big names like Apple, Tesla, Amazon, and Nvidia, or diversify into commodities such as gold, silver, platinum, and palladium.

Key Features

Revolut has gone beyond being just another option for sending money to Philippines with these features:

• Multi-currency accounts. Hold, exchange, and transfer money in dozens of currencies, including GBP, USD, EUR, and PHP.
• Revolut Pay. Use a speedy one-click checkout online or quick QR scans in person, with rewards sprinkled in.
• Money management. Split your salary into buckets for bills, savings, and spending with built-in budgeting tools.

• Global stock investing. Access over 2,500 global stocks with fractional investing starting from as little as £1.
• Secure service. Use biometric logins, freeze or unfreeze your card instantly, and rely on AI fraud monitoring for extra peace of mind.

So yeah, Revolut offerings might be a bit much if all you're after is the cheapest way to send money to the Philippines. But if you want an all-in-one finance app that covers far more than cross-border transfer, it’s worth keeping on your radar.

WorldRemit’s story starts with something most expats can relate to. One of its founders grew frustrated with the long journeys to money transfer agents who charged a small fortune in fees just to send money back to his family. So in 2010, he decided to build a platform that would ease that burden for others in the same boat.

Fast forward more than a decade, and WorldRemit now serves over 5.7 million customers worldwide. It’s managed to stay true to its original promise of convenience and affordability, making cross-border transfers less of a headache.

Table: WorldRemit user experience

And sometimes, it even goes the extra mile for local users. For example, WorldRemit once ran a promo for the Philippines offering the chance to win a house and lot, plus monthly cash prizes of up to 15,000 PHP, just by sending money. Pretty sweet deal, eh?

Key Features

WorldRemit has earned its place among the most popular transfer apps thanks to:

• Global coverage. Send money in over 70 currencies to more than 130 supported countries.
• Fast and simple transfers. Complete your transaction in just a few taps with an easy-to-use mobile app.
• Flexible receiving options. Let your recipient choose between bank deposits, mobile wallets, or cash pickup at partner locations.

• Secure transfers. Keep your money and personal details safe with strong encryption and app-level security.
• Real-time updates. Track your transfers on the go and get notified of their status instantly.

WorldRemit says it has completed over 20 million money transfers to the Philippines since 2011. So when it comes to local know-how, it’s safe to say they’ve got plenty of experience under their belt.

So if you’re looking for one of the cheapest ways to send money to the Philippines with a reliable track record, WorldRemit is a name worth keeping on your list.

When talking about international transfers, it’s hard not to bring Western Union into the mix. It’s one of the oldest names in the business, starting way back in the 1800s with telegraph services before becoming a global remittance giant.

Founded in Rochester, New York, Western Union has long been considered the go-to choice for figuring out how to send money from US to Philippines. Thanks to its massive network, it makes sure money can still be transferred and collected by your recipient even in rural areas where online transfers aren’t practical.

Table: Western Union asset movement

The platform might not have any special funding methods, but it does offer cash pickup service, which is crucial for some users.

Western Union also lets you pay for prepaid mobile phone minutes. This service allows you to top up a family member’s phone in the Philippines while sending money, so they’ll always have credit to call you whenever you miss their voice.

Key Feature

Here’s why Western Union stands out as one of the biggest names in international remittances:

• Massive global network. Send money to 200+ countries with hundreds of thousands of payout locations.
• Multiple delivery options. Choose between bank deposits, mobile wallets, or instant cash pickup at partner outlets.
• Real-time transfer tracking. Easily track your transfer through the website or mobile app using the MTCN number.

• Digital convenience. Manage transfers through the Western Union mobile app or website, and track them with real-time updates.
• Security & compliance. Protect your transfers with strict ID verification, AML checks, and a regulated global network.
• 24/7 availability. Access transfers around the clock with support both online and through physical branches.

Now, it’s fair to question whether Western Union deserves a spot in my shortlist of the cheapest ways to send money to the Philippines. But what it doesn’t deliver in bargain pricing, it makes up for in reach and reliability.

Its massive network and long-standing reputation still make it one of the few services that can get money delivered even in places most apps can’t touch. And sometimes, that kind of reach is worth more than shaving off a few pesos.