5 Best International Money Transfer Apps Reviewed - 2026

5 Best Online Money Transfer Apps in 2026

• Wise: Send money in 40+ currencies, and receive payments with account details in 20+ currencies, with mid-market rates

• PayPal: send and receive payments in 25+ currencies with fees from 4.99 USD per transfer and a 4% conversion cost
• Western Union: Send in the app or start in the app and pay in cash at an agent, for payments all over the world - variable fees and rates apply
• Maya: No fee to send PHP from one Maya account to another, or use Maya with a third party like Wise to send in other currencies
• GCash: Send payments to GCash accounts in PHP, including from overseas, or use GCash with Wise to send money to bank accounts

In this guide we’ve ordered the providers according to their rating in the App store, which you can see below:

*Details correct at time of review, 29th October 2025

Provider 1: Wise

• Fees and exchange rates: Mid-market rate, transfer fees from 0.57%

• Safety: Safe to use, with strong security features built into the app and online service

• Speed: 70%+ of transfers are instant (completed under 20 seconds), and most are delivered in less than 1hour*

• Customer reviews: Excellent score on Trustpilot, 4.3 stars out of 5, from 270,000+ reviews

*The speed of transaction claims depends on individual circumstances and may not be available for all transactions

The Wise app is available in 20 languages, on both iOS and Android, and is easy to use with strong customer ratings. Use Wise to send to 40+ countries, with mid-market exchange rates and low, transparent fees from 0.57%. If you need to receive payments from others, Wise can also help with account details in 20+ currencies to get paid conveniently in foreign currencies.

You can also use Wise for day to day transactions and transfers - hold and exchange 40+ currencies, and spend with a Wise debit card in 150+ countries.

Wise is compatible with popular ewallets in the Philippines like Maya and GCash, so you can send from Wise to GCash or Maya. Or you can also fund an international transfer using Wise by paying from your preferred wallet if you’d like to. This means you stay in control of the exchange rate and can often work out to be a very cost effective way of making a cross currency transfer.

Learn more about Wise vs Maya and Wise vs GCash here to help you decide which is best for your needs.

Wise pros and cons

Pros:

• Hold and exchange 40+ currencies, and send to 40+ countries

• Get paid conveniently to Wise in 20+ foreign currencies

• 70%+ of transfers are instant (completed under 20 seconds)

• Spend and withdraw with a Wise card in 150+ countries

Cons:

• No branch network

• Wise does not offer features like loans or credit

• No cash collection options

*Details correct at time of review, 29th October 2025

How to receive money on Wise

To receive money from abroad on Wise you’ll simply need to give the sender either your bank or ewallet information, or your Wise account details, and they’ll be able to set up the payment. The money is deposited right to your account once the payment is processed, with no need for you to take any further action.

Provider 2: PayPal

• Fees and exchange rates: International transfers 4.99 USD when funded with a bank account or PayPal balance, with an extra 3.4% fee if you pay by card. 4% currency conversion fee applies

• Safety: Safe and easy to use provider with a global network and a long history in electronic payments

• Speed: PayPal to PayPal payments can arrive quickly or instantly, but withdrawing the funds to a bank might take a few days

• Customer reviews: PayPal is not active on Trustpilot

PayPal has an enormous global user base and is available on both iOS and Android. You can send money from one PayPal account to another in 25+ currencies. Once the recipient gets the money in PayPal, they can choose to hold or spend it, or make a withdrawal to their own bank. In some countries withdrawal fees may apply and there’s usually a charge if you need to convert currencies at any point in the transaction.

PayPal can also be used to send payments to the Philippines to be received in ewallets like Maya and GCash. In this case someone using PayPal can send money in PHP which you can claim as credit to your ewallet to spend later.

Many people have PayPal accounts, so this might be a convenient option if you’re sending money to someone who uses PayPal regularly, or receiving a payment from a PayPal user overseas.

PayPal pros and cons

Pros:

• Huge user base - your recipient might already have a PayPal account already

• PayPal to PayPal transfers can be very quick if you pay with your balance

• 25+ supported currencies for holding and exchange

• Use your balance to shop online, send to others or withdraw

Cons:

• Currency conversions are around 4%

• International transfers cost 4.99 USD, with an extra 3.4% fee if you pay by card

• Your recipient may need to pay a fee or wait a few days to withdraw the funds from their account

*Details correct at time of review, 29th October 2025

How to receive money on PayPal

To receive money from abroad on PayPal all you need to do is give the sender your PayPal account information - usually the phone number or email you used when you created your account. The money will be deposited into your account when the payment has been sent with no further action required.

Provider 3: Western Union

• Fees and exchange rates: Variable fees and rates depending on the payment type

• Safety: Safe to use with normal precautions - Western Union is a large, established and reliable provider

• Speed: Some payments can arrive instantly, others may take a few days

• Customer reviews: Great score on Trustpilot, 4.2 stars out of 5, from 136,000+ reviews

You can use the Western Union app on iOS and Android in 30 languages, and also set up payments in person. This combination can be handy if you want to pay in cash, or if you’d rather the recipient gets their money in cash. Simply start the transfer in the Western Union app and either pay electronically or in a store, and your recipient can get their money through your chosen remittance agent.

If someone is sending you a payment from abroad to an ewallet in the Philippines like Maya, you can also claim this payment to your Maya account rather than in cash if you would like to.

Western Union offers transfers to more or less any country in the world and has a huge agent network which can make it a very convenient option. Fees do vary, and can include additional costs built into the exchange rate offered, so compare the quote you get with others to help you decide.

Western Union pros and cons

Pros:

• Send to almost any country on the planet

• Pay out in cash or to a bank account or ewallet very conveniently

• Choose from in app or in person services

• Some transfers can be very fast, especially when paying in cash

Cons:

• Exchange rates may include a markup - a fee

• Transfer costs vary, and in person transactions can be more expensive than electronic ones

• Not all services are available in all countries

*Details correct at time of review, 29th October 2025

How to receive money on Western Union

If you are going to receive money from abroad on Western Union to a bank or ewallet all you need to do is give your details to the sender. If you would like to get your money as cash you’ll need to go to a local Western Union agent, with an ID document and the transfer reference (MTCN) which the sender can give you. The agent will check your details and give you your cash.

Provider 4: Maya

• Fees and exchange rates: Rates and fees are set by the third party provider selected

• Safety: Safe provider with good security features built into the app

• Speed: Speed of payment depends on third party service selected

• Customer reviews: Maya is not active on Trustpilot

Maya is available on both iOS and Android and is a very popular ewallet in the Philippines. You can use Maya to send or receive money internationally using a third party provider. If you want to send a payment overseas, you can use Maya to pay for a transfer arranged by another provider like Wise, for example. Or you can use Maya to cash in a remittance sent from someone overseas through a service like Wise, Western Union or PayPal.

Maya has a whole host of features which are also useful for day to day life in the Philippines, including ways to pay bills, save and spend in person and online. As Maya’s features are all in PHP, to transact internationally - including sending a payment abroad - you'll need to use Maya alongside another service.

Maya pros and cons

Pros:

• Send or receive payments through a range of third party providers

• Ways to receive payments from abroad through partner services in cash

• Get a Maya card for spending, pay bills and get other local services with just your phone

• Popular local provider which has many users in the Philippines

Cons:

• No multi-currency features

• Sending and receiving must be done using a third party

• Fees may apply depending on the service required

*Details correct at time of review, 29th October 2025

How to receive money on Maya

To receive money from abroad on Maya you’ll have a couple of options. If the person sending you money has transferred it in PHP directly to your Maya wallet you can receive it without taking further action. If they’ve sent it as a remittance with a third party you may need to claim it. The process can vary depending on the third party used, and may require you to get a reference number from the sender to enter into Maya to have your money transferred there.

Provider 5: GCash

• Fees and exchange rates:  Rates and fees are set by the third party provider selected

• Safety: GCash is a safe service when used with normal precautions

• Speed: Speed of payment depends on third party service selected

• Customer reviews: GCash is not active on Trustpilot

You can get GCash for iOS and Android, to open a PHP account for use locally. You’ll be able to send and receive international payments using GCash and a third party provider.

If you’re in the Philippines and want to send money overseas you can use GCash and a service like Wise to send a payment overseas. Or if you’re abroad and need to remit money home, you can use a local third party, or a provider like Wise, PayPal or Western Union to send your payment from a foreign currency to PHP to be deposited to GCash.

Aside from transfers, GCash has a huge range of services like savings and investments, loan and credit.

GCash pros and cons

Pros:

• Send money overseas with GCash and a third party

• Receive money in a GCash account in the Philippines from abroad

• Access a huge range of other financial products and services

• Reliable and well liked local provider

Cons:

• Transfers sent or received in a foreign currency must be arranged with the help of a third party

• Fees and rate markups may apply when you send overseas payments

• Transfer times can vary

*Details correct at time of review, 29th October 2025

How to receive money on GCash

To receive money from abroad on GCash you’ll need to cash in your remittance in the GCash app. To do this you’re prompted to enter information like the amount of the payment and the reference number, and then complete a verification step using a code sent to your registered mobile number.

What is the best app for transferring money?

All of the apps we’ve looked at in this guide have different features which might suit different customer needs. Here’s a round up to help you make your decision:

*Details correct at time of review, 29th October 2025

Where we have compared providers this looks at factors like ratings and reviews, as well as feature availability and fees.

Conclusion

Each of these international money transfer apps stand out in different ways - which means the right one for you will depend on the specific service or services you need.

For flexible payments to and from a selection of foreign currencies you may prefer Wise, for example, while Western Union has excellent global reach for cash transactions. Maya and GCash can suit customers transacting primarily in PHP and looking for occasional overseas transfers, and PayPal is a hit with online shoppers who can use their balance to spend around the world.