Accept USD, Settle in PHP Philippine Pesos
Your PayPal Business account settles in PHP, but your customers see USD prices. PayRequest bridges the gap automatically — live exchange rates, zero guesswork, no PayPal currency conversion fees.
The Currency Problem for Filipino Sellers
When you create a PayPal Business account in the Philippines, PayPal sets PHP (Philippine Peso) as your primary settlement currency. Every payment you receive gets credited to your account in PHP.
Currency Mismatch
Your freelancing clients, international customers, or platform payments are often quoted in USD — but PayPal forces a single settlement currency.
PayPal's Markup
PayPal adds 2.5–4% above the mid-market rate when converting currencies. On a $1,000 payment, that’s $25–40 lost to conversion fees alone.
No Multi-Currency Holding
Unlike some competitor platforms, standard PayPal Business accounts in the Philippines receive everything in PHP automatically. You can’t hold a USD balance.
Customer Confusion
If you display PHP prices to international customers, they see unfamiliar numbers. Showing USD builds trust and matches their expectation.
How PayRequest Solves This
PayRequest’s payment pages display prices in any currency you choose while automatically converting the amount to your PayPal settlement currency at checkout.
1. Set Your Display Currency
Create a payment page or link on PayRequest and set the display price in USD (or any currency). Your customers see familiar prices.
2. Connect Your PHP PayPal Account
Link your PayPal Business account that settles in Philippine Pesos. PayRequest detects the settlement currency automatically.
3. Auto-Conversion at Checkout
When a customer pays, PayRequest converts the USD amount to PHP using live market rates before sending it to PayPal. Your PayPal account receives the correct PHP value.
4. Customer Sees the Estimate
The PayPal checkout shows the PHP equivalent so there are no surprises. The rate shown matches the rate used for the actual charge.
Real Example: $10 USD to PHP
Your payment page shows a product for $10.00 USD. Your PayPal account settles in PHP. Here’s what happens with PayRequest:
You sell a digital product for $10.00 USD to a customer in the US.
With PayRequest, the customer sees $10.00 USD on your page, and PayPal charges approximately ₱607.50 PHP (at 1 USD ≈ 60.75 PHP). Your account receives ₱607.50 PHP from PayPal.
Exchange rate shown is illustrative. Live rates from market-rate feed apply at time of transaction.
PayRequest vs PayPal: Currency Conversion for PHP Accounts
| Feature | PayPal Direct | PayRequest |
|---|---|---|
| Display prices in USD | Limited — forced to PHP display | Yes — any currency |
| Conversion rate | 2.5–4% above mid-market | Live market rate — no markup |
| Customer sees PHP estimate | Inconsistent | Yes — on PayPal button |
| Automatic conversion | Manual workarounds needed | 100% automated |
| Multi-currency pages | No | Yes — 135+ currencies |
| Works with PayPal | N/A | Yes — native integration |
Philippines-Specific Context
Filipino Freelancers & BPO
Over 1.5 million Filipino freelancers serve international clients. Most quote in USD but their PayPal accounts settle in PHP. PayRequest eliminates the currency friction.
Local Payment Methods
PayRequest also supports local payment methods alongside PayPal. When you accept payments through PayRequest, your customers can also pay via credit card, Apple Pay, or Google Pay — not just PayPal.
Peso Settlement Benefits
Receiving PHP directly means no second conversion when withdrawing to a Philippine bank account. Your PHP balance goes straight to BDO, BPI, Metrobank, or GCash.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I set my PayPal settlement currency to USD instead of PHP?
PayPal determines your settlement currency based on your account’s registration country. Philippine-registered accounts settle in PHP. You cannot change this without a US-registered account.
How much does PayPal charge for USD to PHP conversion?
PayPal typically adds a 2.5–4% spread above the mid-market exchange rate for USD to PHP conversions. The exact rate depends on PayPal’s current currency conversion rate table.
Does PayRequest add any markup to the exchange rate?
No. PayRequest uses a live market-rate feed and passes the rate through without markup. The rate shown to your customer is the rate used for the charge.
What if my customer also pays in PHP?
If your payment page displays PHP prices and your PayPal account settles in PHP, no conversion is needed. PayRequest handles this transparently.
Can I accept payments from GCash or local Philippine methods?
PayRequest integrates with PayPal, Stripe, Mollie, and Ponto. For local Philippine methods like GCash Pay, you’d need to use a local payment gateway alongside your PayPal setup.
Related Guides
Start Accepting USD Payments Today
Create payment pages in USD while your PayPal account settles in PHP. No markup, no manual conversion, no surprises.