Wise vs Remitly 2025: Which Is Better for Transfers to the Philippines?

Overview: Wise and Remitly in a Nutshell

Wise and Remitly ease sending money abroad, but cater to very different kinds of users. Wise is favored by professionals and digital nomads who wish to move money between accounts or purchase global services using actual mid-market exchange rates. Remitly, by contrast, is built for remittances to the Philippines, where recipients tend to like cash pickup and mobile wallets like GCash. Whether to pick one or the other will depend purely on your prioritization of speed, or cost-effectiveness.

Transfer Fees and Exchange Rates

Wise

Wise’s biggest leg up comes from the fact that its fees are totally transparently set up. You will never waste time figuring out, precisely what you will pay, when you confirm the transaction. Unlike conventional banks or remittance companies, Wise never adds a hidden margin to the exchange rate. This implies that when sending your money to the Philippines via Wise, your recipient receives greater pesos for every dollar or euro you send. For example, a transfer worth $1,000 may cost less than $8 and would reach you almost at Google’s mid-market rate, which is among the gentlest money transfer in the industry.

Remitly

Remitly provides us with flexibility through two pricing plans: Economy and Express. The Economy plan would also suit those who want lower fees and have a few days to wait, with Express, which is an advanced money transfer tool that arrives in minutes. That said, Remitly typically adds a small markup on the exchange rate, so you will receive a final amount in pesos that may be slightly lower than what Wise sells. For pressing times, though, many users do accept the trade-off for the speed and convenience Remitly offers.

Verdict: Wise is generally cheaper for large or regular bank transfers, while Remitly is more flexible for smaller or time-sensitive transactions.

Transfer Speed

Speed always makes all the difference when it comes to sending money to loved ones, especially with family members in the Philippines. Wise transfers usually occur in between 1 and 2 days for both sides of the line, provided that both parties have confirmed online funds. Remitly, however, can get that money almost instantly through its Express feature, for cash pickups or mobile wallets. Which is why Remitly is also for emergencies or when your family needs money right away. Wise, by contrast, is set on stable and affordable transfers that don’t supplant transparency with speed.

Payout and Delivery Options

Wise

• Bank deposits (PHP accounts)
• Ideal for OFWs sending to family’s bank accounts
• No cash pickup or wallet option

Remitly

• Bank deposits
• Cash pickup at Cebuana, Palawan Pawnshop, M Lhuillier, etc.
• Mobile wallets (GCash, Coins.ph)
• Home delivery (limited areas)

What really shows one of Remitly’s strengths is its wide variety of payout options. For example, your recipient can collect cash in minutes at local partners or receive funds in a GCash mobile wallet directly. Wise, which simply accepts bank-to-bank funds, is great for those users who are already using a bank account in the Philippines. Wise does not have cash pickup, but it’s straightforwardly laid out for senders who value direct deposits and pricing transparency.

Limits and Availability

Users can pay up to $1 million per transaction via Wise, making it great for businesses or high-dollar transfers. Remitly has upper limits, usually between $2,999 and $10,000, which is appropriate for smaller, regular remittance transfers to the Philippines. Wise is good for one-time or large transfers (e.g., tuition, real estate payments) and Remitly is better for monthly family support.

User Experience and App Usability

Both are available to all major banks and regions of the Philippines, so beneficiaries have easy access. Wise and Remitly have very good, basic apps designed for sending money to the Philippines quickly and easily. The Wise app manages different currencies, tracks transfers in real time, and provides a Wise debit card to spend internationally. Remitly’s simplicity is a plus, since it focuses on remittances and that’s why it’s ideal for most users who send money frequently to their families. Both systems are tidily designed yet highly intuitive in design, but Wise offers more longer-term financial management tools.

Security and Regulation

Wise and Remitly are both fully licensed and have regulatory approval from organisations such as the FCA (UK), FinCEN (US), and BSP (Philippines). They incorporate bank-level encryption, two-factor authentication and fraud monitoring to safeguard every transaction. Every time you send money on Wise or Remitly the cash is managed in a secure manner in compliance with worldwide standards. Users are now able to send money to the Philippines with peace of mind that both forms of services are secure.

Wise vs Remitly: Summary Table

When comparing them side by side, Wise wins most often with transparency and cost-effectiveness, while Remitly wins in speed and ease. If you care about value and understanding, Wise wins. If your Filipino family wants to quickly get cash, Remitly continues to be one of the most accessible remittance platforms on the market.

Final Verdict: Which Is Better for Transfers to the Philippines?

Ultimately, which depends on your priorities: Wise or Remitly? If you’re putting in large amounts to a Philippine bank account, Wise will get lower fees, better exchange rates and you get what you pay for. Conversely, if you don’t want to wait for an order from the bank or to pick up your wallet, Remitly is your friend. Both are trusted and secure — but Wise provides the best balance of cost, reliability and transparency for money transfers to the Philippines for the majority of users in 2025.