Wise Fees for the Philippines: Full USD to PHP Cost Breakdown

Q: What is the total Wise fee for sending $500 USD to the Philippines?

For a $500 ACH bank transfer, Wise charges approximately $3.59 total — a fixed fee of ~$0.54 plus a variable fee of ~$3.05 (roughly 0.61%). There is no FX markup; the recipient receives PHP at the mid-market rate. Using a debit card to fund the transfer adds an extra ~1.68% (~$8.40), raising total cost to ~$12.

Q: Does Wise use the real exchange rate for USD to PHP?

Yes. Wise uses the mid-market rate — the same rate you see on Google or XE.com — with no markup added. This is different from most banks and services that quietly embed a 1–4% profit in the exchange rate. Wise's profit comes entirely from its stated fees, not the rate.

Q: How long does a Wise transfer to the Philippines take?

Most Wise USD to PHP transfers complete within 1–2 business days. ACH funding adds 0–1 business day for Wise to receive your USD before converting and sending. GCash delivery may be faster than bank deposit for some recipients.

Q: Is Wise cheaper than Western Union for sending money to the Philippines?

Generally yes. Western Union's bank deposit option typically costs $5–8 in fees plus a 1.5–2.5% FX markup — totaling $13–21 on a $500 transfer. Wise costs ~$3.59 on the same amount with no markup. For cash pickup, Western Union can sometimes be competitive for small amounts, but Wise wins on total cost for bank-to-bank transfers.

Q: What Philippine banks does Wise support for direct deposits?

Wise supports most major Philippine banks including BDO, BPI, Metrobank, UnionBank, Landbank, PNB, Chinabank, RCBC, and Security Bank. Wise also supports GCash wallet top-ups as an alternative to bank deposit. The full list is shown during the transfer setup process.

How Wise calculates its fee on USD to PHP transfers

~0.61% — Wise variable fee for USD to PHP (typical)

What the mid-market rate means in practice

Cost comparison: $500 USD to PHP

Provider	Transfer Fee	FX Markup	Total Cost	Speed
Bank Wire (SWIFT)	$25–45	2–3%	$35–60	2–5 days
Western Union (bank deposit)	$5–8	1.5–2.5%	$13–21	1–2 days
Remitly (Express)	$3.99	0.5–1%	$6–9	Minutes
Wise	~$3.59	0%	~$3.59	1–2 days
USDC on Stellar (via Coins.ph)	$1–3	~0.2%	$2–4	< 1 hour
USDC on Tron (via Coins.ph)	$1–3	~0.3%	$2–4	< 1 hour

How Wise fees scale with transfer amount

$0.54 — Wise fixed fee for ACH bank transfers (USD)

1. Create a Wise account and verify your identity

2. Enter your transfer amount and recipient details

3. Fund via ACH bank transfer, not debit card

4. Track your transfer to completion

Watch out: debit card funding adds ~1.68% surcharge

When crypto rails beat Wise on the USD-PHP corridor

Wise vs crypto rails: $500 USD to PHP detailed breakdown

Cost Component	Wise (ACH)	USDC via Stellar (Coinbase → Coins.ph)
On-ramp / funding fee	$0.54 fixed + ~$3.05 variable	~$2.00 (0.4% Coinbase buy fee)
Network / transfer fee	Included	< $0.01 (Stellar)
FX / off-ramp markup	0% (mid-market)	~$0.50–1.00 (Coins.ph spread ~0.2%)
Total estimated cost	~$3.59	~$2.50–3.00
Recipient requirement	Bank account only	Coins.ph account required
Settlement speed	1–2 business days	30–60 minutes

Wise limits and eligibility for USD to PHP

See live USD to PHP rates from all providers

Related guides

Frequently asked questions

What is the total Wise fee for sending $500 USD to the Philippines?

For a $500 ACH bank transfer, Wise charges approximately $3.59 total — a fixed fee of ~$0.54 plus a variable fee of ~$3.05 (roughly 0.61%). There is no FX markup; the recipient receives PHP at the mid-market rate. Using a debit card to fund the transfer adds an extra ~1.68% (~$8.40), raising total cost to ~$12.

Does Wise use the real exchange rate for USD to PHP?

Yes. Wise uses the mid-market rate — the same rate you see on Google or XE.com — with no markup added. This is different from most banks and services that quietly embed a 1–4% profit in the exchange rate. Wise's profit comes entirely from its stated fees, not the rate.

How long does a Wise transfer to the Philippines take?

Most Wise USD to PHP transfers complete within 1–2 business days. ACH funding adds 0–1 business day for Wise to receive your USD before converting and sending. GCash delivery may be faster than bank deposit for some recipients.

Is Wise cheaper than Western Union for sending money to the Philippines?

Generally yes. Western Union's bank deposit option typically costs $5–8 in fees plus a 1.5–2.5% FX markup — totaling $13–21 on a $500 transfer. Wise costs ~$3.59 on the same amount with no markup. For cash pickup, Western Union can sometimes be competitive for small amounts, but Wise wins on total cost for bank-to-bank transfers.

What Philippine banks does Wise support for direct deposits?

Wise supports most major Philippine banks including BDO, BPI, Metrobank, UnionBank, Landbank, PNB, Chinabank, RCBC, and Security Bank. Wise also supports GCash wallet top-ups as an alternative to bank deposit. The full list is shown during the transfer setup process.

Compare live rates across 370+ corridors on RemitRoutes · methodology.