To cash in GCash, open the app, tap Cash In and pick a route: Over-the-Counter at a store like 7-Eleven, Puregold or a pawnshop, a linked bank, InstaPay or PESONet from your bank app, or a global partner like PayPal or Payoneer. Store cash-ins are free up to a monthly allowance that resets on the 1st, then a fee applies.
Cashing in just means adding funds to your GCash wallet. If you're a freelancer, creator or online seller, it's also how your earnings get from PayPal, Payoneer or your bank into the wallet you spend from. Each route has its own catch, so here's how they compare, based on GCash's Help Center.
The main ways to cash in
| Route | Where | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Over-the-Counter | 7-Eleven, Alfamart, Puregold, SM, Mercury Drug, Cebuana, M. Lhuillier, Palawan, LBC, Petron and more | Free up to a monthly allowance, then a fee |
| GCash Pera Outlet (GPO) | Authorised sari-sari stores and small shops | Pay in cash, the outlet loads your wallet |
| Linked bank | BPI, UnionBank, AllBank, ChinaBank | Needs Fully Verified, one account per bank |
| InstaPay or PESONet | Your own bank's app | InstaPay arrives right away, PESONet usually next banking day |
| PayPal | Global Banks and Partners in the app | Needs a PH-based verified PayPal |
| Payoneer | Global Banks and Partners in the app | Both accounts must be verified |
Cash in at a store (Over-the-Counter)
- In the GCash app, tap Cash In.
- Tap Over-the-Counter.
- Pick your cash-in type and choose a partner to see its steps.
- Pay the cashier and save your receipt as proof.
Here's the detail worth knowing: GCash gives you a free Over-the-Counter allowance each month, and the app shows a note when you're close to it so you can avoid the fee. The allowance resets on the first day of each month. Some partners, like 7-Eleven, charge their own cash-in fee, so check before you hand over cash.
Cash in at a GCash Pera Outlet with a code
At a GPO you can give your mobile number, or use a barcode. In the app, tap Cash In, then Over-the-Counter, then Cash In via Code or Barcode, enter the amount and show the barcode. GCash says that barcode expires after 3 hours, so generate it when you're already near the shop.
Cash in from your bank
If you bank with BPI, UnionBank, AllBank or ChinaBank, you can link the account inside GCash and top up without leaving the app. You'll need a Fully Verified GCash account, and you can link only one account per bank at a time.
Any other bank works through InstaPay or PESONet from your bank's own app: choose transfer to another bank, pick GCash, enter your GCash number and the amount. The difference matters. InstaPay lands right away. PESONet usually arrives the next banking day, with set crediting windows through the day.
Cash in from PayPal
- Link PayPal first: your GCash must be Fully Verified and your PayPal must be Philippines-based and verified.
- Convert your PayPal balance to PHP. If you don't see PHP, add it on the PayPal site.
- In GCash, tap Cash In, then Global Banks and Partners, then PayPal.
- Type the amount, tap Next and confirm.
GCash says PayPal cash-ins are processed in real time but may take 24 to 48 hours, and you can link only one PayPal to one GCash. If you earn through PayPal, this guide to PayPal in the Philippines covers the account side.
Cash in from Payoneer
Freelancers paid through Payoneer can link it under Profile, then My Linked Accounts, then Payoneer. Both accounts need to be verified. One catch from GCash's own page: if you haven't cashed in from Payoneer for more than one month, you may need to link it again. For the Payoneer side, see how Payoneer works in the Philippines.
When a cash-in doesn't show up
- Check your wallet limits under Profile, then Profile Limits. GCash updated its wallet limits on 1 October 2026, so update the app first.
- Bank apps set their own daily limits for e-wallet top-ups, so you may need to raise yours in the bank app.
- Keep the receipt or reference number from any store cash-in until the funds appear.
Which route suits you
| If you... | Use this |
|---|---|
| Get paid by foreign clients through PayPal | PayPal cash in, after linking a PH-based verified PayPal |
| Freelance through Payoneer | Payoneer link under My Linked Accounts |
| Have your salary or savings in a local bank | A linked bank or InstaPay from your bank app |
| Need to top up with cash today | A store or GCash Pera Outlet, inside the free monthly allowance |
| Receive family support from abroad | An official GCash remittance partner |
Whatever you pick, the name on the sending account and your GCash should match. Mismatched names are one of the commonest reasons a cash-in gets stuck or unlinked.
My advice
For small top-ups, a store is fine as long as you stay inside the free monthly allowance. For earnings, link your bank or use InstaPay: it's faster and you'll keep a clean record. And get Fully Verified first, because the bank, PayPal and Payoneer routes all need it.
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Frequently asked questions
Is cashing in to GCash free?
Some routes are. Over-the-Counter cash-ins are free up to a monthly allowance that resets on the 1st. Some partners and banks charge their own fees, so check before you pay.
Can I cash in at 7-Eleven?
Yes. 7-Eleven is one of GCash's Over-the-Counter partners, though GCash notes it charges a cash-in fee.
How long does a PayPal cash-in take?
GCash says it's processed in real time but may take 24 to 48 hours.
Do I need to be verified to cash in?
Basic accounts can cash in at stores. Linking a bank, PayPal or Payoneer needs a Fully Verified account.
What's the difference between InstaPay and PESONet?
InstaPay arrives right away. PESONet usually arrives the next banking day.
Why does my PayPal need to be in PHP?
GCash asks you to convert your PayPal balance to PHP before you cash in. If you don't see PHP in PayPal, add it on the PayPal site first.
Can I link more than one PayPal account?
No. GCash says you can link only one PayPal to one GCash, and the other way round.
My cash-in from the bank failed. Why?
Check your GCash wallet limits first. Your bank's app may also have its own daily limit for e-wallet top-ups that you need to raise.
