When it comes to international money transfers and multi-currency financial management, Wise (previously TransferWise) had become a popular choice for many Filipinos. However, Wise is not the only option. Several other platforms offer comparable or even superior services, depending on your specific needs and preferences. In this article, we will explore and compare some leading alternatives to Wise tailored for the Filipino market – Dragonpay, PayMaya, PayMongo, and Wind.

Whether paying suppliers, receiving international payments, managing global business finances, or sending money to family abroad, there are likely alternative services with lower fees and better rates than Wise. This guide will walk you through the top options so you can make an informed decision on which platform works best for your situation.

Wind

Wind is a self-custodial wallet allowing instant, direct worldwide transfers with near zero fees. Users securely send, receive, and store funds. Wind Business enables companies to run optimized batch payouts from any country directly to recipients’ Wind wallet addresses or bank accounts, with competitive foreign exchange rates. Wind is also currently providing off-ramp APIs & users can earn yield on their idle funds with the wallet.

The platform leverages blockchain for speed and cost efficiency. Wind aims to empower worldwide financial control and wealth ownership for individuals and businesses.

Features :

• Cross-border payments for Philippines, India, & more
• Same-day bank transfers
• Competitive foreign exchange rates
• Free, instant peer to peer transactions
• Earn up to 7% returns on idle funds
• Seamless token swapping with 1inch’s swapping mechanism
• Minimal fees, unified platform
• Business dashboard for running multiple transactions at a time.

Pros : 

• Minimal fees
• Self-custody wallets
• Earn yield and access DeFi
• Wide selection of digital 
• Global transfers within millisecond 
• iOs, Android app & Business dashboard for Wind Business users
• 24/7 customer support

Cons : 

• Varying interest rates

It is of note that using any e-wallet on the blockchain would encounter these cons for use, so these aren’t exclusive to the Wind app.

Wind supports over 100 tokens including USDC, USDT, ETH, BTC and Philippine peso. It allows cash outs to 31 major Philippine banks including BDO, BPI, Metrobank and Unionbank with limits from 1-20 PHP up to 1 billion PHP maximum. Wind also enables cash outs to top e-wallets like GCash and Maya with minimums of 1-20 PHP and 300,000 PHP maximums. This extensive cash out support gives flexibility to transfer crypto funds to Philippine peso in bank accounts or e-wallets. For more, click Banks and E-wallets supported by Wind in the Philippines | Wind Help Center.

Step by Step: How to Cash Out with Wind in the Philippines | Wind Help Center

Dragonpay

Dragonpay is an online payment platform that allows consumers to buy from e-commerce merchants without using credit cards or PayPal. Instead, buyers can pay via online banking, over-the-counter bank deposits, or at payment centers. Dragonpay monitors payments and notifies merchants upon completion so goods can be shipped. With Dragonpay, merchants enjoy low fixed fees and no hidden charges.

Pros:

• Access to multiple real-time payment channels
• Low fixed fees, no hidden charges
• Crypto payment option
• Installment plans available
• Recurring payments and mass payout features

Cons:

• Setup fee for non-Philippine merchants
• Transaction fees vary by payment type
• Limited payment options compared to credit cards/PayPal
• Must monitor payments and ship goods manually

Paymongo

PayMongo is an online payment platform that enables businesses in the Philippines to accept various types of payments from their customers. Whether you have a website, an app, an e-commerce store, or a social media shop, you can use PayMongo to integrate multiple payment methods, such as credit cards, e-wallets, online banking, buy-now-pay-later, installments, and more. You can also create and send payment links, QR codes, and invoices to collect payments without any coding needed. PayMongo aims to simplify and streamline the payment process for both businesses and customers, while also providing security, reporting, and support features.

Features:

• API Payments.
• Plugin Payments.
• Customizable Checkout Pages.
• One-time Payment Links: Collect payments via various channels.
• Real-time Business Reporting
• Payment and Tax Reporting
• Advanced fraud detection and 3D Secure authentication.

Pros :

• No setup or annual fees; pay for successful transactions.
• Easy setup, no technical knowledge needed.
• Multiple payment options: Visa, Mastercard, GCash, GrabPay, PayMaya, and more.
• Customer support via chat or email.
• Zero monthly fees.

Cons :

• Excludes some popular Philippine payment methods.
• Incompatible restricted plugins with various e-commerce platforms.
• No accounting integrations.
•  Manual transaction handling required.
• No extra business software. Relies on other platforms for website setup and invoices.

Maya

Maya, formerly named PayMaya, is an end-to-end digital payments ecosystem enabler in the Philippines, with platforms and services that cut across consumers, merchants, communities, and government. It is a practical app that provides you with a virtual prepaid card for hassle-free online payment portal.Backed by Smart Communications, it ensures broad acceptance without the need to be a Smart subscriber. It also comes with a physical card resembling a regular ATM card, complete with an EMV chip for enhanced security. Simple, convenient, and widely accepted – PayMaya simplifies your financial transactions, offering a blend of virtual flexibility and real-world utility.

Features : 

• Free loading at 90,000+ nationwide touchpoints.
• Pays bills, fees, and insurance premiums at 600+ billers with discounts.
• Shops securely online with a virtual or physical PayMaya card.
• Sends and receives money easily, even to non-PayMaya users.
• Purchases tickets, books flights, and gets gaming credits.
• Manages transactions, receives real-time notifications, and secures the account.
• Uses PayMaya QR to scan and pay at 200,000+ merchants nationwide.

Pros : 

• Offers discounts on mobile services.
• Ticket and flight purchases, gaming credits.
• PayMaya QR enables easy payments at numerous merchants.
• Convenient integration with Amazon Pay and Gumroad for swift checkouts.

Cons : 

• Acceptance online may not be universal.
• Loading delays can occur due to system issues or touchpoint unavailability.
• A minimum PHP 100 load is required for online transactions.
• For offline use, a separate physical card (PHP 200 or PHP 250) is needed.
• Various high fees apply for transactions like ATM withdrawals, bank transfers, or bill payments.

Pricing Comparison

Feature	Wind	Maya	Dragonpay	PayMongo
Setup Fee	Free	3.5% + subscription fee of Php750 per month. Other varying rates within the service	PHP 36,000 (waived for PH merchants)	Free
Transaction Fees	Near-zero	PHP 15 to external bank	Fees may vary from fixed to MDR	3.5% + ₱15
Domestic Payments	Free between Wind users	Visa, Mastercard, JCB, BancNet:3.5%   WeChat Pay, GrabPay, Maya QR:1.5% per transaction	PHP 10 among banks, Varies for credit cards	2 to 2.5%
Withdrawal Fees	Best market rates	PHP 2 to 15	Varies	Custom Pricing Available
Currency Conversion	Yes	Varies	Varies	Varies
Volume Discounts	Custom pricing available	Varies	Varies	Adjusted based on volume
Payment Sources	Cards, Banks, Transfers, and Exchanges	Cards, E-wallets, OTC, Online Banking	Cards, E-wallets, OTC, Online Banking,	Cards, E-wallets, OTC, Online Banking, Buy Now Pay Later, Card Installments

How To Choose The Best Alternative for Yourself or Your Business?

Accepted payment methods & currencies

Choose a platform that supports the payment methods that your customers prefer, such as credit cards, debit cards, e-wallets, bank transfers.

For example, Wind supports over 100 tokens including USDC, USDT, ETH, BTC and Philippine peso. It allows cash outs to 31 major Philippine banks including BDO, BPI, Metrobank and Unionbank & enables cash outs to top e-wallets like GCash and Maya.

PayMaya & Dragonpay offer various cash-in options such as 7-Eleven etc. 

Transaction fees

You may want to compare the fees that each platform charges for processing your payments, such as a percentage of the transaction amount, a fixed fee per transaction, or a monthly subscription fee. For example, PayMongo charges 3.5% + ₱15 for local cards, 4.5% + ₱15 for foreign cards, and 1.5% for e-wallets, while PesoPay charges 3.9% + ₱10 for cards and 2.9% + ₱10 for e-wallets.. At the same time, the Wind app has near zero transaction fees within Wind wallets & provides free international transfers.

Security

Look into it if the platform aligns with security measures like PCI-DSS for cardholder data protection and offers security features like fraud detection, payment data tokenization, and 3D Secure authentication. 

Opt for non-custodial wallets like Wind for heightened security, granting users exclusive control over private keys and digital assets, with no access granted to the wallet provider.

Customer experience & Extra features

Evaluate your platform’s user-friendliness for payments, considering steps, speed, interface, and support. Explore additional features like subscription support, invoicing, payment links, card readers, analytics, and integrations. 

For instance, Wind app offers more than money transfers, allowing users to earn yield through integrated protocols like Aave (2% yield) and Affine (up to 15% yield). Both Dragonpay and Wind app offer a web-based dashboard for transaction monitoring, report generation, and refunds.

In conclusion, while Wise has been a popular choice for international money transfers, alternatives like Wind offer distinct advantages for Filipinos. 

Wind’s self-custodial wallet provides near-zero fees for instant worldwide transfers and offers features such as customizable checkout pages, one-time payment links, and real-time business reporting. With support for over 100 tokens and cash outs to major Philippine banks and e-wallets, Wind stands out as a versatile option. 

However, it’s essential to consider individual preferences, accepted payment methods, transaction fees, security features, and additional functionalities when choosing the best alternative for personal or business needs.