Send more pesos, not more fees
I've sent money home from the UK every month since 2017, and tried eight different apps along the way. Here's a quick way to check which gives your family the most, the one I use now, and the others worth knowing.
The 3-app check
Open two or three apps, type in the same amount, and copy the fee and rate each one shows you. This works out which one gives your family the most for every pound you pay.
Check each app's summary screen: some add the fee on top, others take it out of the amount you send, so the total leaving your bank stays the same. Pick the right one under each app. Rates move through the day, so compare apps at the same time. Nothing you type here leaves your device.
Wise
For me it usually gives the most pesos after fees, and it's the one I keep coming back to after trying the rest.
- Uses the real exchange rate, with the fee shown up front
- Smaller amounts often land in my Philippine bank in seconds
- Saved recipients and repeat transfers make my monthly send a ten-minute job
- Authorised by the FCA in the UK
Pick it only if it wins your own check above. Competition keeps changing who's cheapest.Try Wise Referral link New users can get a welcome offer through my link. Wise sets the offer and it can change, so check what it is when you sign up.
Worth putting in your check
I've used all of these, some only for a first-transfer promo. Any of them can win on a given day, so they're good ones to compare against. Where the money can land (bank, GCash or Maya, cash pickup) varies, so check in the app.
Remitly
One of the biggest names for the Philippines, with lots of ways for the money to arrive. Often has a better rate on your first transfer.
WorldRemit
Another big all-rounder. Handy if someone back home prefers to collect cash.
Taptap Send
Simple app built around mobile wallets like GCash and Maya. Rates can be very competitive.
Sendwave
Also focused on mobile wallets, and quick to use. Worth a look if your family lives on GCash.
Kabayan Remit
A UK-based service set up for Filipinos sending home. Some people like dealing with a team that knows the corridor well.
BCRemit
Popular with Filipinos in the UK. Another good one to add to your comparison.
TransferGo
A European app I tried for a promo. Worth checking now and then, as offers change.
Four habits that protect your money
Check it's FCA-authorisedLook the provider up on the FCA register (register.fca.org.uk) before you send.
Send a small test firstThe very first time, send a little and check it arrives. Then save the recipient so you never retype the details.
Expect ID checks on big amountsLarger transfers can be held until you show ID. Send them when your documents are to hand, not mid-shift.
Never share a codeNo real provider asks for your one-time code or login, not even "customer support".
Do the maths before the big decisions
Sending money home, smarter
The whole routine in 8 pages: the 3-app check, setting your number, a 10-minute monthly habit, and how to be clear about your limits with family. Plus a one-page plan to fill in.
Get it freeGeneral information from my own experience, not financial advice. Fees, rates and offers change often, so always check the latest with the provider. Not sure how much you can afford to send? Start from your real take-home pay with the UK take-home pay calculator.