What is the cheapest way to send money from the US to the Philippines?

Fund the transfer from your bank account (ACH) rather than a card, and send to GCash or a bank account. Bank-funded transfers to digital payout methods typically cost 1–2% all-in, while credit-card-funded transfers can cost 3–6% once the funding surcharge and FX markup stack up. Compare by PHP delivered, not by the advertised fee: a provider with a $0 fee can still cost more through a weaker exchange rate.

Why is the provider's exchange rate different from the rate on Google?

Google shows the mid-market rate — the wholesale rate banks trade at. Most providers add a markup of 1–4% to that rate and keep the difference, which often costs you more than the visible transfer fee. Our tables show each provider's FX markup separately so the real cost is not hidden in the rate.

Should I pay with my bank account (ACH), debit card, or credit card?

ACH is almost always cheapest but can add 1–5 business days depending on the provider's tier. Debit cards usually cost a few dollars more and arrive in minutes. Credit cards are the most expensive option: providers add a card surcharge of roughly 3%, and your card issuer may also treat it as a cash advance with its own fee and immediate interest.

How long does a transfer to the Philippines take?

Card-funded transfers to GCash or for cash pickup typically arrive in minutes. Bank deposits via InstaPay are near-instant around the clock, while PESONet transfers settle in batches on the same banking day. Economy or ACH-funded tiers take 1–5 business days — the trade-off for the lowest cost.

Is it safe to use these transfer providers?

The providers we compare are licensed money transmitters regulated in the US, and their Philippine payout partners are supervised by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas. RisingTide is a comparison site only — we never hold or transmit money, and you complete every transfer on the provider's own licensed platform.

Send money from the US to the Philippines

Around $13 billion flows from the United States to the Philippines every year, and the difference between the best and worst way to send it is real money. Right now, the best option in our comparison delivers ₱61,824.17 on a $1,000 transfer — ₱3,916.36 more than the most expensive route in the same table. We rank every provider by PHP actually delivered after the transfer fee, the funding surcharge, and the exchange-rate markup.

Today's comparison: $1,000 USD → PHP

WorldRemitMost ₱ delivered
Bank account (ACH) → GCashminutesEstimated
₱61,824.17
delivered on $1,000
Fee breakdown
Exchange rate
61.8242 (mid-market 62.5118)
FX markup
1.10%
Transfer fee
$0.00
Total fees
$0.00
Estimated from the provider's published fee schedule, not a live API quote. Updated Sep 3, 2026, 21:03 UTC.
Get this rate →
Wise
Bank account (ACH) → Bank depositby Sep 7, Mon
₱61,710.95
−₱113.22 vs best
Fee breakdown
Exchange rate
62.5016 (mid-market 62.5118)
FX markup
0.02%
Transfer fee
$12.65
Total fees
$12.65
Live quote from the provider's API. Updated Sep 3, 2026, 21:03 UTC.
Get this rate →
WorldRemit
Debit card → GCashminutesEstimated
₱61,699.15
−₱125.02 vs best
Fee breakdown
Exchange rate
61.6991 (mid-market 62.5118)
FX markup
1.30%
Transfer fee
$0.00
Total fees
$0.00
Estimated from the provider's published fee schedule, not a live API quote. Updated Sep 3, 2026, 21:03 UTC.
Get this rate →
Remitly
Debit card → GCashminutesVerified fees
₱61,551.56
−₱272.61 vs best
Fee breakdown
Exchange rate
61.5516 (mid-market 62.5118)
FX markup
1.54%
Transfer fee
$0.00
Total fees
$0.00
Computed from the provider's fee schedule, manually verified against their live calculator. Updated Sep 3, 2026, 21:03 UTC.
Get this rate →
Remitly
Bank account (ACH) → Bank deposit3-5 daysVerified fees
₱61,551.56
−₱272.61 vs best
Fee breakdown
Exchange rate
61.5516 (mid-market 62.5118)
FX markup
1.54%
Transfer fee
$0.00
Total fees
$0.00
Computed from the provider's fee schedule, manually verified against their live calculator. Updated Sep 3, 2026, 21:03 UTC.
Get this rate →
Remitly
Bank account (ACH) → GCash3-5 daysVerified fees
₱61,551.56
−₱272.61 vs best
Fee breakdown
Exchange rate
61.5516 (mid-market 62.5118)
FX markup
1.54%
Transfer fee
$0.00
Total fees
$0.00
Computed from the provider's fee schedule, manually verified against their live calculator. Updated Sep 3, 2026, 21:03 UTC.
Get this rate →
Western Union
Debit card → GCashminutesVerified fees
₱61,418.03
−₱406.14 vs best
Fee breakdown
Exchange rate
61.4180 (mid-market 62.5118)
FX markup
1.75%
Transfer fee
$0.00
Total fees
$0.00
Computed from the provider's fee schedule, manually verified against their live calculator. Updated Sep 3, 2026, 21:03 UTC.
Get this rate →
Western Union
Bank account (ACH) → GCash0-4 daysVerified fees
₱61,418.03
−₱406.14 vs best
Fee breakdown
Exchange rate
61.4180 (mid-market 62.5118)
FX markup
1.75%
Transfer fee
$0.00
Total fees
$0.00
Computed from the provider's fee schedule, manually verified against their live calculator. Updated Sep 3, 2026, 21:03 UTC.
Get this rate →
Wise
Debit card → Bank depositby Fri 06:00
₱61,328.44
−₱495.73 vs best
Fee breakdown
Exchange rate
62.5016 (mid-market 62.5118)
FX markup
0.02%
Transfer fee
$12.65
Funding surcharge
$6.12
Total fees
$18.77
Live quote from the provider's API. Updated Sep 3, 2026, 21:03 UTC.
Get this rate →
Remitly
Debit card → Cash pickupminutesVerified fees
₱61,244.41
−₱579.76 vs best
Fee breakdown
Exchange rate
61.5516 (mid-market 62.5118)
FX markup
1.54%
Transfer fee
$4.99
Total fees
$4.99
Computed from the provider's fee schedule, manually verified against their live calculator. Updated Sep 3, 2026, 21:03 UTC.
Get this rate →
WorldRemit
Debit card → Cash pickupminutesEstimated
₱61,141.66
−₱682.51 vs best
Fee breakdown
Exchange rate
61.3866 (mid-market 62.5118)
FX markup
1.80%
Transfer fee
$3.99
Total fees
$3.99
Estimated from the provider's published fee schedule, not a live API quote. Updated Sep 3, 2026, 21:03 UTC.
Get this rate →
Xoom (PayPal)
PayPal balance → Bank depositminutes-hoursEstimated
₱60,636.45
−₱1,187.72 vs best
Fee breakdown
Exchange rate
60.6364 (mid-market 62.5118)
FX markup
3.00%
Transfer fee
$0.00
Total fees
$0.00
Estimated from the provider's published fee schedule, not a live API quote. Updated Sep 3, 2026, 21:03 UTC.
Get this rate →
Xoom (PayPal)
Bank account (ACH) → Bank deposit1-3 daysEstimated
₱60,401.18
−₱1,422.99 vs best
Fee breakdown
Exchange rate
60.6364 (mid-market 62.5118)
FX markup
3.00%
Transfer fee
$3.88
Total fees
$3.88
Estimated from the provider's published fee schedule, not a live API quote. Updated Sep 3, 2026, 21:03 UTC.
Get this rate →
Western Union
Debit card → Cash pickupminutesVerified fees
₱60,244.87
−₱1,579.30 vs best
Fee breakdown
Exchange rate
60.7307 (mid-market 62.5118)
FX markup
2.85%
Transfer fee
$8.00
Total fees
$8.00
Computed from the provider's fee schedule, manually verified against their live calculator. Updated Sep 3, 2026, 21:03 UTC.
Get this rate →
Xoom (PayPal)
Debit card → GCashminutesEstimated
₱59,961.94
−₱1,862.23 vs best
Fee breakdown
Exchange rate
60.3239 (mid-market 62.5118)
FX markup
3.50%
Transfer fee
$6.00
Total fees
$6.00
Estimated from the provider's published fee schedule, not a live API quote. Updated Sep 3, 2026, 21:03 UTC.
Get this rate →
Remitly
Credit card → GCashminutesEstimated
₱59,300.06
−₱2,524.11 vs best
Fee breakdown
Exchange rate
61.3866 (mid-market 62.5118)
FX markup
1.80%
Transfer fee
$33.99
Total fees
$33.99
Estimated from the provider's published fee schedule, not a live API quote. Updated Sep 3, 2026, 21:03 UTC.
Get this rate →
Xoom (PayPal)
Credit card → Cash pickupminutesEstimated
₱59,101.78
−₱2,722.39 vs best
Fee breakdown
Exchange rate
59.6988 (mid-market 62.5118)
FX markup
4.50%
Transfer fee
$10.00
Total fees
$10.00
Estimated from the provider's published fee schedule, not a live API quote. Updated Sep 3, 2026, 21:03 UTC.
Get this rate →
Wise
Credit card → Bank depositby Fri 06:00
₱58,849.01
−₱2,975.16 vs best
Fee breakdown
Exchange rate
62.5016 (mid-market 62.5118)
FX markup
0.02%
Transfer fee
$12.65
Funding surcharge
$45.79
Total fees
$58.44
Live quote from the provider's API. Updated Sep 3, 2026, 21:03 UTC.
Get this rate →
Western Union
Credit card → Cash pickupminutesVerified fees
₱58,423.55
−₱3,400.62 vs best
Fee breakdown
Exchange rate
60.7307 (mid-market 62.5118)
FX markup
2.85%
Transfer fee
$37.99
Total fees
$37.99
Computed from the provider's fee schedule, manually verified against their live calculator. Updated Sep 3, 2026, 21:03 UTC.
Get this rate →
Typical bank wire
Wire → Bank deposit2-5 daysEstimated
₱57,907.81
−₱3,916.36 vs best
Fee breakdown
Exchange rate
60.6364 (mid-market 62.5118)
FX markup
3.00%
Transfer fee
$45.00
Total fees
$45.00
Estimated from the provider's published fee schedule, not a live API quote. Updated Sep 3, 2026, 21:03 UTC.

Want to filter by funding or payout method? Use the interactive cost matrix.

ACH, debit card, or credit card? Funding choice is half the cost

In the US corridor, how you pay matters as much as which provider you pick. Funding from your bank account via ACH is consistently the cheapest option — most providers charge little or nothing extra for it — but it can add one to five business days while the ACH pull clears.

Debit cards buy speed: transfers typically arrive in minutes for a surcharge of a few dollars. Credit cards are the expensive trap — providers pass through card processing costs of roughly 3%, and many US card issuers additionally treat remittances as cash advances, which means an extra issuer fee and interest from day one. If a transfer is genuinely urgent, a debit card is almost always the better way to pay for speed.

How your family can receive the money

GCash

The most widely used payout method in the Philippines — it needs only a mobile number, arrives in minutes from most providers, and works for bills, groceries and cash-out at thousands of agents. Per-transaction and monthly wallet limits apply, so very large transfers may need a bank deposit instead.

Bank deposit

Reaches every major Philippine bank (BDO, BPI, Metrobank, Landbank, UnionBank, PNB, Security Bank). Transfers routed over InstaPay are near-instant at any hour; PESONet settles in batches on the same banking day.

Cash pickup

Essential outside the big cities: networks like Cebuana Lhuillier, M Lhuillier, Palawan Pawnshop and SM mall counters cover towns where banking access is thin. The recipient needs a valid ID and the reference number — check which network has a branch near your family before choosing a provider.

Frequently asked questions

What is the cheapest way to send money from the US to the Philippines?: Fund the transfer from your bank account (ACH) rather than a card, and send to GCash or a bank account. Bank-funded transfers to digital payout methods typically cost 1–2% all-in, while credit-card-funded transfers can cost 3–6% once the funding surcharge and FX markup stack up. Compare by PHP delivered, not by the advertised fee: a provider with a $0 fee can still cost more through a weaker exchange rate.
Why is the provider's exchange rate different from the rate on Google?: Google shows the mid-market rate — the wholesale rate banks trade at. Most providers add a markup of 1–4% to that rate and keep the difference, which often costs you more than the visible transfer fee. Our tables show each provider's FX markup separately so the real cost is not hidden in the rate.
Should I pay with my bank account (ACH), debit card, or credit card?: ACH is almost always cheapest but can add 1–5 business days depending on the provider's tier. Debit cards usually cost a few dollars more and arrive in minutes. Credit cards are the most expensive option: providers add a card surcharge of roughly 3%, and your card issuer may also treat it as a cash advance with its own fee and immediate interest.
How long does a transfer to the Philippines take?: Card-funded transfers to GCash or for cash pickup typically arrive in minutes. Bank deposits via InstaPay are near-instant around the clock, while PESONet transfers settle in batches on the same banking day. Economy or ACH-funded tiers take 1–5 business days — the trade-off for the lowest cost.
Can my family receive money without a bank account?: Yes. GCash only needs a Philippine mobile number, and cash pickup is available nationwide through networks like Cebuana Lhuillier, M Lhuillier, Palawan Pawnshop and SM malls. Our comparison shows which providers support each payout method so you can pick one your recipient can actually use.
Is it safe to use these transfer providers?: The providers we compare are licensed money transmitters regulated in the US, and their Philippine payout partners are supervised by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas. RisingTide is a comparison site only — we never hold or transmit money, and you complete every transfer on the provider's own licensed platform.

Quotes as of Sep 3, 2026, 21:03 UTC. “Estimated” rows are computed from published fee schedules, not live provider APIs.