Best International Money Transfer Apps in the Philippines

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If you need to send or receive international payments - as an overseas filipino worker (OFW) sending money home, a local freelancer being paid in PHP from abroad, or for travel, bills and more, you’ll want the best international money transfer app based on cost, convenience and service.

There are many international money sending apps available in the Philippines, either to send an outgoing payment or receive money here in various different ways. This guide walks through options for the best money transfer app for international payments to help you find the best option for your unique needs. We'll also introduce the Wise account, a handy companion to make your money go further with low, transparent fees.

What is a money transfer app?

You can use an app for transferring money internationally to send or receive payments conveniently and without needing to visit a physical bank or remittance office.

To send a payment you’ll usually register an account by uploading an image of your ID document, and then set up the transfer with your phone. You can pay by bank transfer or card, and choose the pay out method that suits your recipient.

If you’re receiving a payment in the Philippines, apps that can transfer money internationally usually offer the option to get your money using methods including bank deposit, debit card deposit, e-wallet deposit, cash collection, or even cash delivery to your home address.

What to consider when choosing an international money transfer app

When choosing an app that can send money internationally it’s worth looking carefully at the features, fees and options, including:

• Exchange rates and upfront fees - usually it’s very easy to see the upfront fee being charged, but there might also be a cost in the exchange rate, known as a markup. This is harder to spot. Look for a provider which uses the mid-market rate for transparency and to make it easier to see what you’re paying for your overseas transfer.

• Transfer speed - different providers and banks have their own payment methods which can mean your money takes anything from a few minutes to a few days to arrive. Compare your options based on the payment methods which suit your needs.

• Sending from vs receiving in the Philippines - finally bear in mind that not all providers offer their services in all countries. Some of the providers we’ve profiled here allow you to receive a payment in the Philippines, but not send from the Philippines, for example.

Best international money transfer apps in the Philippines

We’ve profiled some of the best international money transfer apps in the Philippines to help you select the right one for you. Here’s an overview - with more on each coming up right after the table:

*Details correct at time of research - 21st January 2026
** Services and fees may dependent on the country of the sender and receiver - check local details carefully before you transact

Wise

Best for: Sending and receiving international money with low, transparent fees and the mid-market exchange rate.

Wise is a digital money transfer service that lets people send money internationally, or receive money in the Philippines, with clear pricing and no exchange rate markups.

It can be useful for overseas Filipinos sending money home, freelancers getting paid from abroad, or anyone who wants to see the full cost of a transfer before they send.

Many transfers arrive quickly, and you can track the progress of your transfer in the app. When receiving money in the Philippines, Wise pays out directly to local bank accounts or supported e-wallets, without needing cash collection.

Fees and exchange rate: Low, transparent fees from 0.57%, which vary by currency and payment method; mid-market exchange rate with no markup
Transfer speed: Often fast, depending on the currencies and payment method
Receive method: Bank deposit, e-wallet deposit
Limits: Up to 10,000 USD (or equivalent) per transfer and 50,000 USD (or equivalent) per month when converting or sending PHP. Personal accounts can receive or top up up to 10 million PHP per month.

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Western Union

Best for: Best international money transfer app for cash transactions in an agent location

Western Union is one of the best known money transfer services in the world with a huge agent location so you can set up your payment in app and then have your receiver get their money at an agent close to them - often in minutes. If you prefer to pay in cash you can also skip the app and arrange your transfer at an agent in the Philippines.

Fees and exchange rate: Variable fees, exchange rates may include a markup
Transfer speed: From a few minutes to 4 business days
Receive method: Bank deposit, e-wallet deposit, cash collection
Limits: Online send up to 820,000 PHP per transaction, in an agent there’s usually no limit but you need extra documents to send 15,000 USD or more⁷

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MoneyGram

Best for: Receiving incoming payments in the Philippines, or sending money in person at an agent

With MoneyGram you can receive payments locally in the Philippines in a good range of ways, but it’s helpful to know that you can’t send a payment from the Philippines using the MoneyGram app. Instead you’ll need to visit an agent in person and pay in cash.

Fees and exchange rate: Variable fees, exchange rates may include a markup
Transfer speed: Speed depends on payment type and origin
Receive method: Bank deposit, e-wallet deposit, debit card deposit, cash collection
Limits: Limits vary based on country - check with your agent or contact the customer service team

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PayPal

Best for: Best for transferring money internationally when you don’t require currency conversion

You can send money with PayPal to another PayPal account more or less anywhere in the world, with just your recipient’s name and email or phone number. International fees and conversion costs can be quite high, and the recipient may have to pay a fee to withdraw the funds from PayPal in some countries, particularly for a quick withdrawal.

Fees and exchange rate: Fee of 4.99 USD, with 3.4% additional charge if you pay with a card; Exchange rates include a 4% fee
Transfer speed: Transfers to PayPal accounts can arrive quickly depending on funding method
Receive method: Deposit to PayPal accounts
Limits: 10,000 USD to 60,000 USD from a verified account⁸

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Remitly

Best for: Incoming payments to the Philippines, with great range of pay out methods and quite high limits

You can not send a payment from the Philippines using Remitly, but you can receive payments in the Philippines with a very broad range of pay out methods and varying delivery times. Limits apply depending on the country the sender is in, but the maximum amounts are usually fairly generous for personal payments to loved ones.

Fees and exchange rate: Variable fees, exchange rates may include a markup
Transfer speed: Speed varies - often you can select either a standard or an express delivery time when sending
Receive method: Bank deposit, debit card deposit, e-wallet deposit, cash collection, cash delivery
Limits: Limits depend on sender country - 45,000 AUD from Australia, 85,000 EUR from the Eurozone, or 100,000 USD from the US for example⁹

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WorldRemit

Best for: Best app to receive money from abroad to top up your phone

You can’t send a payment from the Philippines with WorldRemit but there are a great range of receiving methods if someone overseas wants to use a WorldRemit service to send you money here. Get your payment as cash, to your bank or a wallet like Maya or GCash, or to top up your phone credit.

Fees and exchange rate: Variable fees, exchange rates may include a markup
Transfer speed: 90% of payments arrive in minutes
Receive method: Bank deposit, e-wallet deposit, cash collection, mobile load
Limits: Limits depend on countries involved, and pay out method - shown in app when the payment is arranged

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Bank international transfers

Best for: Access to a foreign money transfer app as well as familiar and face to face services, for receiving bank deposits in the Philippines

Most banks in the Philippines offer a variety of ways to send and receive money overseas, online, in app or in person. Options can include bank remittances or cash collection, with specialist services for overseas Filipinos sending money home to loved ones.

Fees and exchange rate: Bank’s own exchange rate which may include a markup - variable fees when sending from PH, 600 PHP with BPI¹⁰ or 500 PHP with Metrobank¹¹ for example
Transfer speed: SWIFT transfers may take 1 - 3 days, other receive methods can vary
Receive method: Bank deposit, some banks also offer cash collection service
Limits: Limits on payments vary and are set by the bank the sender and receiver have an account with

Make foreign currency transfers, receive payments from abroad and convert to PHP cheaper and easier with the Wise account

Wise international money transfers can be set up online or within the Wise app with low fees from 0.57% and the mid-market rate, to over 140+ countries. There’s no markup added to the exchange rate that’s used to convert your currency, which makes it easier to see exactly what you're paying for a transfer, and what the recipient will get in the end. Just transfer the amount indicated in PHP and let Wise do the rest.

To make sending foreign currency even easier, create a free Wise account, and you'll be able to manage and convert your money in PHP and 40+ other currencies. You'll get the same great rates, and be able to track your transfers all from one place. You can also get 8+ local account details to be able to receive money in PHP, USD, GBP, and more.

🚀 Get started with Wise

Summary

International money transfer apps in the Philippines work in different ways, and no single option suits every situation. Digital services like Wise focus on transparent fees and bank or e-wallet payouts, while providers such as Western Union and MoneyGram can be useful if you need cash pick-up.

Beyond that difference, costs, exchange rates, transfer speed and availability can vary depending on the country, currency and payment method involved. Not all services support sending money from the Philippines, and some are mainly designed for receiving funds from abroad.

Before you choose, compare fees, exchange rates, transfer speed and payout methods carefully to find the option that fits your needs.

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Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

What is the best app to receive money from abroad in the Philippines?

There’s not one single best app to receive money from abroad in the Philippines - compare a few options and look out for mid-market exchange rates where possible as this tends to keep down the overall costs.

Are international money transfer apps safe?

Choose a reputable and regulated money transfer service, and only ever send money to someone you know and trust, to make sure your money is safe.

How long do international transfers usually take?

Money transfer apps may take anything from a few minutes to a few days to deliver your payment, so compare available services to make sure you get one which suits your needs.

How can I send money internationally from the Philippines?

Send money from the Philippines in a money transfer app, from a specialist service like Wise, or from your local bank. Not all specialist apps let you send money from the Philippines so check eligibility before you get started.

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Sources:

1. Western Union
2. MoneyGram
3. PayPal
4. PayPal fees
5. Remitly
6. WorldRemit
7. Western Union FAQ - limits
8. PayPal Help - send limits
9. Remitly Help - limits
10. BPI remittance fees
11. Metrobank fees