PayPal to GCash: How to Transfer Money From PayPal to GCash (Or Use Better Alternatives)

GCash is one of the most popular and powerful mobile wallets in the Philippines. And while PayPal is a common way to send remittances to GCash, it is one of the worst methods in terms of transfer fees and exchange rate markups. To help you understand the hidden fees, we explain how to transfer money from PayPal to GCash.

Instead of sending with PayPal, we almost always recommend using WorldRemit as the cheapest and fastest service to GCash in the Philippines. WorldRemit's transfers to GCash usually take no more than a few minutes for the money to arrive, and, unlike PayPal, its fees and exchange rates are very reasonable. To compare WorldRemit with the best PayPal alternatives, use Monito’s live comparison tool below. 👇

Is it Possible to Send a Remittance to GCash via PayPal?

Yes, sending money (including remittances) to GCash via PayPal is possible. However, as we'll see, it's not recommended.

To send money from PayPal to GCash, you must first open an account with PayPal and download their mobile app. Signing up is very easy and straightforward. Then, you must use your PayPal account details to link up with GCash.

Follow the steps below to link your PayPal account to your GCash account:

PayPal to GCash Transfer Fees

PayPal and GCash have partnered to make your domestic transfers in Philippine pesos digital and easy to complete, however, there might be some unexpectedly high costs involved. Fortunately, though, if you have Philippine pesos in your PayPal account, then you will be able to send that money to GCash without a fee. You can withdraw up to ₱100,000 per month.

PayPal to GCash International Transfer Fees

On the other hand, if you're sending a remittance from PayPal to GCash, then that's a different story. Sending money from overseas with PayPal to GCash will be very expensive. Furthermore, PayPal's conversion fees are not transparent.

If you are sending a PayPal balance that is in foreign currency (such as US dollars), then you will be charged a fixed fee to send that to the Philippines. This fee ranges from $1 to $5.

• Fixed Transfer Fee: $1 to $5 depending on the currency

What is often more costly is PayPal's hidden exchange rate markup. To make a profit off of you, PayPal applies an exchange rate that is weaker than the live market rate. PayPal will pocket this difference.

• Exchange Rate Margin: 4.5% to 7% on average

Read more about PayPal's full fees for international payments in our in-depth guide.

What Are the Best PayPal Alternatives to Send Money to GCash?

Based on their fee schedule, we would recommend WorldRemit for anyone sending money to GCash from Japan in particular. It is also very competitive for transfers from the United States, Malaysia, Switzerland, and many more countries across the Eurozone.

According to years of search data on our comparison engine here at Monito, WorldRemit always has superior rates to PayPal — no matter the size and location of the remittance to the Philippines. WorldRemit has been one of the top services for remittances to the Philippines on Monito in 2023, so we think you can feel confident that you're getting a good deal.

Remitly is another great option that has ranked highly this year.

WorldRemit

Known for its low fees and excellent exchange rates, WorldRemit is one of the leading money transfer services worldwide, supporting transfers to pesos from dozens of countries and currencies. Like PayPal, WorldRemit is also a GCash partner. To send money from WorldRemit to GCash, simply use their Mobile Money transfer option to get started.

WorldRemit to GCash Transfer Fees

WorldRemit often charges zero fixed fees to transfer money to GCash in the Philippines, although this may depend on the sending country. For popular sending countries, like the United States, WorldRemit does not charge a fixed fee.

• Fixed fee: $0 (may vary by sending country)

WorldRemit to GCash Exchange Rates

On average, WorldRemit applies a foreign exchange rate that is 0.2% to 2.0% weaker than the real mid-market price. WorldRemit often offers promotional pricing for first-time users, which can save you a lot of money — especially if you send in large amounts.

• Exchange rate margin: 0.2% to 2.0% on average

WorldRemit to GCash Transfer Limits

WorldRemit allows a maximum of ₱50,000 per transfer to GCash. The maximum you can send monthly is ₱100,000 (or an equivalent amount).

Conclusion: Should I Transfer Money From PayPal to GCash?

In summary, PayPal is a trusted GCash partner that links seamlessly to your GCash account. It is a convenient and cost-effective service to make domestic peso withdrawals to GCash.

For your international transfers to GCash, we highly discourage using PayPal. Instead, we recommend WorldRemit as an international money transfer service to the Philippines. Not only was it the cheapest provider to the Philippines in October 2023. It was also the cheapest service in around 12% of Monito comparisons for transfers to mobile wallets in the Philippines from October 2022 to October 2023.

If you're still not sure if it's the cheapest or safest, use our real-time comparison engine below to compare WorldRemit to other top remittance companies. 👇