10 Best Money Transfer Services in the Philippines 2024 | Western Union, Transferwise, Palawan Express, and More

Western Union is a household name in the Philippines, especially for those who have an OFW in their lives. It is known mostly for the safe and secure money transfer that the recipient can receive in minutes. You can even track the money through the MTCN - you can see if the transfer has been processed, collected, and completed.

We would recommend Western Union Sulit Padala if you want to send the money within the Philippines or to the Philippines. Western Union is available in over 200 countries and territories all over the world, over 8,400 branches all over the country, and they have more than 160 years in the industry. You can never go wrong with this service!

Although they have an online option wherein you can create an account and input all the necessary information through the app or the website, you will still have to pay in-store or through your bank account. 

When sending money through Western Union, in-store payment and pick-up are recommended if you want the recipient to receive the money immediately. With their Mobile Money Transfer service, it allows customers to send money to a PayMaya mobile wallet at any branch.

When it comes to transparency and being upfront with the fees, nothing beats TransferWise. What you see when you input the amount you want to send, that is what you will pay. They will even send you updates every step of the process, so you can track the transfer process. 

They have one of the lowest rates for their transfers, which depend on three things - the amount you're sending, how you pay, and the exchange rate. You can also pay through direct bank transfer and your credit card. 

However, the rate will be higher if you use a credit card. We would recommend TransferWise for individuals who frequently send large amounts of money because of the affordable transfer rates. 

With about 5,000 branches nationwide, you'll know that you can send money wherever your family is in the Philippines - even in the most remote areas. Palawan Express was originally a pawnshop business, but in the past few years, it has emerged as one of the most prominent money transfer services in the country.

Although their rates vary depending on the recipient's location and the amount you will send, their rates remain one of the most affordable when compared to other services. Both the recipient and the sender will receive text updates when the remittance has been processed, is ready for pick-up, and if the money has been claimed. 

One unique service they offer is that they can provide a Suki card to their frequent customers. The cash card is powered by BDO and can be used to remit and receive money through any BDO bank or ATM. Frequent customers can even get points and rebates! However, this may not be useful for those needing only a one-time-use of their service. 

If you are ever in need to send money as soon as possible, LBC's Instant Pera Padala will be your best bet. You only have to fill out a form, hand the amount, and the cash will be ready for pick up at any LBC branch in the Philippines. Due to the current pandemic, LBC has come up with a way to make the money transfer even more convenient.

You can go to this link to provide all of the necessary information. Once you've completed all the steps necessary for the transaction, you will receive a confirmation SMS that the transfer has been processed, and the recipient can claim the money at any LBC branch or partner remittance centers.

You can also choose to send the money to a bank account. You just need to provide the bank details, and the cash - LBC will send it to the recipient's account. Since LBC is known as a delivery service, they also provide a next day door-to-door money delivery service so that your loved ones don't have to go out and claim the money.

Cebuana Lhuillier is one of the biggest names in the Philippines when it comes to money transfer. They are highly accessible as they have branches in most malls. Some of their branches even offer a 24/7 availability! Aside from money remittance, they also offer services like pawning, currency exchange, and more.

To make the money transfer faster and more convenient, you can make use of the Online Appointment System, wherein you can set an appointment online before you visit a branch. This lets you skip waiting in line and filling out forms - a great way to practice social distancing!

Emergencies can happen at any time of the day. For situations where the money is needed immediately, you can go to any of the 150 24/7 M Lhuillier branches nationwide, which lets you receive the money even in the middle of the night. 

There are also 100 overseas agents where you can send and receive money through their partners. Unlike other money transfer services, their rates only vary depending on the amount you will send, and not the location. 

Gcash is a service provided by Globe - it requires the sender to be a Globe or TM subscriber, but not the recipient. You can send the money to another GCash account through the GCash app. If the recipient is not a Globe user, they can go to any of the GCAsh outlets to claim the money. 

We recommend using GCash remit if both you and the recipient are Globe users, as the transfer and receiving of funds are free of charge. However, GCash has a limit of ₱40,000 per transaction or ₱100,000 a month, so it is not really suitable if you intend to send larger sums of money.

Aside from the money transfer service offered, GCash also offers other services like bills payment, buying load, booking movies, shopping online, splitting restaurant bills, and many more! 

If you've done your fair share of online shopping, there is a high chance you've heard of PayPal. It is considered one of the safest ways to pay for online purchases and services rendered. No matter how sketchy the e-commerce site is, if you pay with PayPal, you know your money and personal information are secure.

Since Paypal mainly works online, you can use the service 24/7, and the recipient will be able to instantly receive the money in their PayPal funds or GCash wallet. However, if you prefer to transfer the money directly to a bank account, expect it to take 2 to 4 days.

If you want the safest way to transfer your money anywhere in the world, PayPal will not fail you. We would also recommend PayPal if you frequently send large amounts since they do not have a sending limit for verified users. Their app is very easy to use, and reviewers have lauded their great customer service and support.

Another app innovation with affordable transfer rates is WorldRemit. With this app, you can choose to pay using various options like Apple Pay, Android Pay, debit or credit card, and bank transfer. You can also choose to send the money directly to the recipient's bank account, mobile wallet, or you can choose the cash pick up option.

If you frequently send money abroad or live abroad and often send money to your family in the Philippines, WorldRemit is a convenient and affordable option for you. True, their rate tends to go higher as the amount of money you'll send increases, but it remains relatively affordable.

When the transfer is completed, both the sender and the recipient will receive text alerts. This will give you the peace of mind that the money has arrived safely. They also have a promo - you get your first three transactions for free!

TrueMoney was originally established in Thailand in 2003 and is now thriving in the Philippines with or 20,000 TrueMoney centers nationwide. TrueMoney has one of the lowest transfer fees on our list - you can even send money for free for transfers under 100 pesos! Recipients also do not need to pay anything upon claiming the remittance. 

The main selling point for TrueMoney is its accessibility. Their remittance centers can be found practically anywhere - in sari-sari stores, internet shops, pawnshops, salons, carinderias, water refilling stations, and even neighborhood bakeries! Senders receive text alerts with confirmation codes, which the recipient can then use to claim the money.