Personal Finance Tips

Top payment methods in the Philippines: A guide on best ways to pay

Nicholas Chia

25.08.25

Read time 2 minutes

Wondering what the most popular ways to pay are in the Philippines? Explore the top payment options and choose wisely.

The Philippines, with a population of around 114.37 million people, has a GDP of approximately $497.50 billion, making it the 33rd largest economy in the world. The official currency of the Philippines is the Philippine Peso (PHP).

The economy is driven by a large services sector, fueled by remittances from its overseas workforce and a growing business process outsourcing industry. It is a member of ASEAN, with the United States, Japan, and China as its top trading partners.


Country	The Philippines
Population	114.37 million
GDP (USD)	497.50 billion
Global Ranking	33rd
Currency	Philippine Peso (PHP)

What is the main payment method in the Philippines?

The e-wallets GCash and Maya dominate the digital landscape in the Philippines, functioning as "super apps" for QR payments (QR Ph), P2P transfers, bill payments, and a wide array of other financial services.¹,² Despite their popularity, physical cash in the form of the Peso remains the primary payment method for a significant portion of the population.³ Real-time and batch bank transfer systems, InstaPay and PESONet, are used for moving money between bank accounts.⁴

How to pay in the Philippines

Each country has its own way of moving money, and choosing the right method can sometimes be difficult. That’s why we have curated the most popular and best payment options for you to use in the Philippines.

Payment method	Description	Type
Wise	Wise provides international money transfer services. It is known for offering transparent, low-cost currency exchange rates and fast transfers. Wise uses the real mid-market exchange rate and charges a small, upfront fee, making it a cost-effective alternative to traditional banks for sending money abroad. The platform also offers multi-currency accounts, allowing users to hold and manage money in multiple currencies.	Online/in-person
Digital Wallets (GCash, Maya)	Digital wallets are a dominant payment method. GCash and Maya are super-apps used by millions for QR payments, P2P transfers, bill payments, and online shopping.¹,²	Online/in-person
Cash (Philippine Peso)	Cash remains a primary and essential payment method for the majority of the population, especially outside of metropolitan areas.³	In-person
Bank Transfers (InstaPay, PESONet)	Real-time (InstaPay) and batch (PESONet) bank transfers are a very common way to move money and pay for goods, often initiated via a banking or wallet app.⁴	Online
Cards (Debit/Credit)	Debit and credit cards are used, particularly in formal retail and for online subscriptions, but wallets and bank transfers have higher usage for many digital transactions.	Online/in-person

Is PayPal available in the Philippines?

Yes, PayPal is accepted in the Philippines.⁵

Cover all your international travel expenses with the Wise card

Whatever you need to buy during your trip, whether it’s a travel adapter, train ticket or an extra bottle of sunscreen, the Wise card has you covered.

You can spend like a local in 150+ countries, as this clever contactless card automatically converts currency at the mid-market exchange rate whenever you spend - for just a small conversion fee.

And for extra convenience, you can add your Wise card to your Google Wallet or Apple Wallet. Then you can travel even lighter and pay using just your phone, with no need to pack the physical card.

Get started with Wise

*Wise is not a bank. The Wise Multi-Currency Card is issued by our sponsor Bank(s), member(s) FDIC. Fees and T&C apply. See https://growth-layer.live/%3C/a%3E for details.

Sources:

GCash

Maya

Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas - Financial Inclusion

Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas - Payments and Settlements

PayPal Philippines

*Please see terms of use and product availability for your region or visit Wise fees and pricing for the most up to date pricing and fee information.

This publication is provided for general information purposes and does not constitute legal, tax or other professional advice from Wise Payments Limited or its subsidiaries and its affiliates, and it is not intended as a substitute for obtaining advice from a financial advisor or any other professional.

We make no representations, warranties or guarantees, whether expressed or implied, that the content in the publication is accurate, complete or up to date.