FOR OFWs Β· UPDATED MAY 2026
Cheapest way to send
money to the Philippines
Compare real fees and exchange rates from the top remittance services β€” so more of your hard-earned money reaches your family.
πŸ“Š Based on May 2026 rate data
πŸ† CHEAPEST OVERALL
Wise
Uses the real mid-market exchange rate with no hidden markup. For most corridors (USD, KRW, SAR, AED, SGD β†’ PHP), Wise beats Remitly, WorldRemit, and bank wires by a clear margin. New users often get their first transfer up to $2,000 fee-free.
Typical Fee
0.5% – 1.3%
Exchange Rate
Mid-market (real)
Speed
Minutes – 1 day
Best For
Bank / GCash
Today's Exchange Rate (Mid-Market)
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You're sending from
Amount
$
Full Comparison (USD β†’ PHP, $1,000)
Service Fee FX Markup You Get (β‚±) Speed
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Best Method by Situation
πŸ’» Wise β€” Bank Account or GCash
1
Best for regular monthly remittances. Real exchange rate, transparent fees, fast to GCash (often instant) or Philippine banks (same day–1 day).
Cheapest No hidden fees
πŸ“± Remitly Express β€” Cash Pickup
2
Best when your family needs cash same-day and doesn't have a bank account or GCash. Costs more in FX markup but very reliable delivery.
Fast Cash pickup
🌍 WorldRemit β€” Mobile Wallet
3
Good backup option, low flat fees. Best for smaller, frequent transfers when Wise isn't available in your country.
Low flat fee
🏦 Bank Wire (SWIFT)
4
Avoid for regular remittances β€” highest fees and worst exchange rates. Only use for very large one-time transfers (e.g. property purchase) where your bank offers a negotiated rate.
Most expensive
πŸ’‘ Pro Tips to Save Even More
1
Compare on the day you send. Rates shift daily β€” apps like Wise let you compare against competitors live before confirming.
2
Send to GCash instead of cash pickup when possible β€” GCash transfers are usually faster and cheaper than physical pickup locations.
3
Avoid credit card funding β€” most services add a 3%+ surcharge. Use bank transfer or debit card instead.
4
Use first-time promos wisely. Remitly and WorldRemit offer good promotional rates for your first transfer β€” great for one large transfer, less useful for recurring ones.
5
Batch your transfers. Sending β‚±30,000 once costs less proportionally than sending β‚±10,000 three times, since flat fees don't scale with amount.
More Calculators
πŸ’° Net Pay Calculator
SSS + PhilHealth + Pag-IBIG + Income Tax
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πŸŽ„ 13th Month Pay Calculator
Compute your mandatory year-end bonus
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