GCash: Free mobile wallet
GCash is a free finance app that lets you send and receive money. It was created by Mynt - Globe Fintech Innovations and acts as a mobile wallet. It can be used between your bank account and anyone with whom you’re transacting. With GCash, you also have access to a whole host of other digital financial services, such as paying bills and even in-app insurance.
GCash is capable of holding its own against industry leaders such as PayPal and Cash App. The app is used globally but has one downside for non-Philippine residents: GCash has to be registered with a Philippine-based mobile phone number.
Digital wallets are incredibly popular right now, whether to protect against security concerns or simply initiate transactions from multiple accounts. GCash is a secure and reliable mobile app since it’s supported by the central bank of the Philippines.
GCash is your digital wallet
While most banking apps charge fees for each transaction, GCash largely doesn’t. Essentially, if you connect your bank accounts to the app and transact with your money through GCash, you can waive transactional fees. The app also features a wide range of built-in billers, making paying many accounts easy and stress-free.
Concerns
As with any app that makes high claims about itself, it should be mentioned that there are known issues people have. For one, any error on the part of the app’s management resulting from the use of their services doesn’t entitle you to a refund. Additionally, if you accidentally send money to the wrong recipient with GCash, there’s no way to get your money back unless you reach out to the said recipient and ask them to return it.
The last issue only applies to people outside of the Philippines. If you are not in the Philippines, your use of GCash is a little more complicated. You need to have a roaming plan in place to use GCash, and many of the built-in billers are native to the Philippines. This means support for clients outside of that region is minimal.
Which countries can use GCash?
GCash is not just a local sensation but a global player, letting you pay with QR codes in many countries. You can use GCash for payments in places like:
- France
- Hong Kong
- Italy
- Japan
- Macau
- Malaysia
- South Korea
- Singapore
- UAE
- United Kingdom
- USA
What use cases can you access with GCash Overseas?
Being a GCash Overseas user means you have access to some useful services:
- Express Send: Send money smoothly to another GCash user in the Philippines.
- Bank Transfer: Put money directly into a bank account in the Philippines, making cross-border transactions easier.
- Pay Bills: Pay bills conveniently with over 100 billers available through GCash.
- Buy Load: Get prepaid mobile load for any network or pre-pay for essential services.
How are international users verified in-app?
Making sure international users are legit is a priority for GCash. Here's the step-by-step process:
- Pick a valid ID. For GCash OFW, this means showing a valid Philippine-issued ID like a Passport, Driver’s License, or UMID.
- Snap pictures of the front and back of the chosen ID, especially if it's a passport.
- Take a real-time selfie for an extra layer of security.
- Complete a form with all the necessary details.
- After checking everything, read and agree to the Terms and Conditions.
- Once you're happy with everything, confirm and submit your application. That's the final step to get verified.
In a world where going digital knows no borders, GCash makes it easy for you to handle your money matters across the globe, providing a secure and smooth experience.
A good alternative for banking in the Philippines
If you’re a citizen of the Philippines, GCash is definitely worth the consideration as a cash management app. Bear in mind, though, that the app and its support structure aren’t without fault. Unfortunately, the app was not designed to work particularly well in the rest of the world.
