How to send money via GCash from Canada to the Philippines?

GCash® is a popular mobile transfer service in the Philippines. You can send money from Canada via GCash to pay friends or family overseas. However, you can't make a direct GCash transfer to the Philippines. You'll need an intermediary transfer service for your transaction.

Let's take a look at how to send GCash from Canada to the Philippines, including some of the best intermediary services for your transfer. We'll also look at Wise as an alternative transfer provider. You can send fast, easy, and low-cost transfers back home with just the touch of a button.

Key considerations for sending money from Canada to the Philippines via GCash

Users in the Philippines can use GCash to access a range of helpful account features, including SMS transfers and mobile bill payments from abroad.

To send money via GCash from Canada, you'll need to use one of GCash's remittance partners. This includes money transfer services such as Remitly® or OTT Remit®.

How to send money from Canada to the Philippines with GCash

Let's take a closer look at how to send GCash from Canada to the Philippines, including everything you need to know for your first payment.

Sending money from Canada to the Philippines via GCash: step-by-step

Here's a step-by-step guide to sending money to the Philippines from Canada with GCash:

Step 1. Choose your remittance partner – you can't send a direct GCash transfer from Canada, so you'll need to use an intermediary platform

Step 2. Select the Philippines as your destination country

Step 3. Enter your payment amount and select GCash as your delivery method

Step 4. Enter your recipient's name and GCash number

Step 5. Choose your payment method, such as bank transfer or debit card

Step 6. Review your transfer and confirm the payment¹

The exact steps for your transfer will depend on which remittance service you choose. Make sure to check with your provider for more information.

Factors to consider: fees, exchange rates and transfer speed

There are a few things to consider when choosing the right intermediary service for your GCash transfer.

Many providers charge transaction or exchange rate fees. These fees differ by platform, but they can really add up for frequent international payments.

You'll also need to consider transfer speed, particularly if you need to send urgent funds. Look into all your options before choosing the right platform for you.

Popular methods for sending money from Canada to the Philippines via GCash

If you want to send money to the Philippines from Canada via GCash, you'll need to choose an intermediary platform to facilitate the transaction. Let's take a look at some popular transfer methods.

Remitly

You can use your Remitly account to send money from Canada to the Philippines via GCash. Remitly's accepted payment methods for GCash transfers include:

• Debit or credit card
• Prepaid card
• Bank account
• Interac e-Transfer®²

The platform may offer no transfer fees and a promotional exchange rate for first-time customers, according to the linked source. However, you'll pay Remitly's regular exchange rate for future transfers.

This may include a markup on the standard rate for currency conversion — and you can only access the promotional rate on your first 1,000 CAD, according to the linked source. Any excess funds are charged at the provider's regular rate.

Remitly also charges transfer fees for some transactions. If you're not a first-time customer, you may pay 1.99 CAD for mobile wallet payments to the Philippines, according to the linked source.³

Remitly uses 2 transfer speeds: Express and Economy. Express transfers cost more than Economy transfers, but they should reach your recipient faster.²

OTT Remit

OTT Remit is an official GCash remittance partner. You can use the OTT Remit app or online portal to send money to family in the Philippines.

Select "E-Wallet-GCash" as your delivery method. You can pay for your transfer via Interac e-Transfer.⁴

OTT Remit's fee structure is based on the speed of your transaction. If you want to send a fast, urgent transfer in minutes, you'll pay an increased transaction fee.

However, if you want to send a same-day or standard GCash transfer, you can access a more cost-effective delivery service.⁵

Other service providers for GCash transfers

There are a few other service providers for GCash transfers to the Philippines. You can use WorldRemit® to send fast and convenient mobile wallet payments worldwide.

Your WorldRemit transfer should reach your recipient within minutes, but you may need to initiate a payment to view the exact fees you'll pay.⁶

You can also use Western Union® to send money to GCash. You'll get a special rate on your first transfer, but you'll likely pay a fee for future transfers.

You'll also pay Western Union's set rate for currency conversion. The provider makes money from currency exchange, so the rate may include a markup.⁷

Comparing GCash transfer services from Canada

Considerations for sending money to a GCash account from Canada

You'll need to consider how much you can spend before initiating your first payment to the Philippines. Each provider sets its own transaction limits.

For example, you can send up to 140,000 CAD from Canada via Remitly⁹, whereas you can send up to 2,980 CAD per day via OTT Remit.⁴

GCash may also set account limits. Fully-verified GCash users can receive up to 100,000 PHP per month, for example.¹⁰

Your recipient will need a fully verified account to receive remittances from abroad.¹¹ They can verify their account using a valid government ID.¹²

Using Wise as an alternative for transfers to the Philippines

Wise is an international money transfer alternative! Spend money in Canada or send money to family in the Philippines – all from just one digital account.

Although you can't send money to a GCash account directly via Wise, you can use your account to set up fast and convenient bank deposits to the Philippines.

Whether you're paying friends or sending money to family back home, Wise uses the same 'fair' mid-market exchange rate for all transactions.

This is the standard rate for currency conversion – no markups or hidden fees. You can even access lower fees for larger transfers to save money with every payment!

GCash partner services vs Wise

Frequently asked questions about sending money to GCash from Canada

Can I send money directly from Canada to GCash?

No, you'll need to use an intermediary platform like Remitly to send money to your recipient's GCash account.

What is the cheapest way to send money to GCash from Canada?

Wise may be a low-cost option for sending money to the Philippines, but you can't send a direct GCash transfer. Other platforms will likely charge transaction fees and exchange rate markups.

How long does it take to send money to GCash from Canada?

It depends on which service provider you use. Some apps will deliver your payment in minutes, whereas others can take up to 5 days.

Is there a limit to how much I can send to GCash?

Each provider sets its own limits for transfers to GCash. For example, Remitly lets Canadian users send up to 140,000 CAD per transfer. Verified GCash account holders can receive up to 100,000 PHP per month.

Do I need a GCash account to send money to the Philippines?

You won't need a GCash account of your own to send money to the Philippines from Canada, as you can use an intermediary remittance service to facilitate your transfer. However, your recipient will need a verified GCash account.

Conclusion

You can use a money transfer service such as Remitly or WorldRemit to send money to a GCash account in the Philippines from Canada.

However, you'll need to look into any service fees for your transaction. Most providers charge for currency conversion, which can add to the cost of your transfer.

To send your money to the Philippines at the 'fair' mid-market exchange rate, check out Wise.

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Sources:

1. How to send money from Remitly to GCash – RemitBee
2. Send money to the Philippines from Canada – Remitly
3. CAD to PHP exchange rate – Remitly
4. FAQs – OTT Remit
5. Save on international transfers by understanding how remittance fees work – OTT Remit
6. Mobile money to the Philippines – WorldRemit
7. Send money to a GCash account – Western Union
8. Calculator – WorldRemit
9. Sending limits – Remitly
10. What are my GCash wallet and transaction limits? – GCash
11. How do I claim/receive my remittance with GCash? – GCash
12. How to verify my GCash account – GCash

Sources verified on 24 March 2026