How to Invest in Stocks Using GCash (GStocks PH and GFunds)

For many Filipinos the hardest part of investing is simply starting — opening an account, funding it, working out where to send the money. If you already use GCash, much of that friction disappears, because the app has two ways to invest built directly into it. Here is how each one works, and which to begin with.

GFunds — the gentlest start, from ₱50

GFunds (formerly GInvest) lets you buy professionally managed investment funds inside GCash: money-market funds, bond funds, and global feeder funds that invest in things like technology or worldwide consumer brands. A fund manager makes the actual investment decisions; your job is only to choose a fund that matches how much risk you are willing to take.

You can start with as little as ₱50. From the GCash app you open the Grow tab, choose GFunds, answer a short risk-profile questionnaire so the app can match you with suitable funds, pick one, and invest. Fund prices update once a day rather than in real time, buying and selling takes a few business days to settle, and some funds charge no transaction fee. There is no minimum holding period. For an absolute beginner who wants a low-risk, hands-off start, this is the easiest on-ramp there is.

GStocks PH — buying real PSE shares, with no minimum

GStocks PH lets you buy and sell actual shares of Philippine listed companies — Ayala, BDO, Jollibee, SM and hundreds of others — from within GCash. It is operated by AB Capital Securities, a licensed PSE broker with decades of history, so it is a legitimate, regulated way to trade, not a novelty feature. There is no minimum deposit to begin.

From the Grow tab you select GStocks PH and register with AB Capital Securities; your details are largely pre-filled from your GCash profile. You then cash in from your GCash wallet — the transfer is free — and once the funds settle on the next banking day you can search for a company, choose your order, and buy. Trades happen during Philippine Stock Exchange hours, on weekdays between mid-morning and mid-afternoon, and the usual PSE fees and taxes apply. We break those down in what trading on the PSE really costs.

GFunds or GStocks PH — where to begin

A simple rule: if you are brand new and want as little effort as possible, start with GFunds — a small amount, managed for you. When you want to own specific companies and make your own choices, add GStocks PH. Many Filipinos end up using both, one for a managed core and one for the handful of companies they want to hold directly.

Whichever you choose, the rules that matter most are the same as for any investor: only put in money you will not need for the next three to five years, start small, add to it regularly, and do not panic and sell during the inevitable dips.

Where to go from here

If you would rather use a dedicated broker, or want to compare your options, see the best PSE brokers for beginners, compared and how to open your first stock brokerage account. New to the market entirely? Start with how the Philippine Stock Exchange works.

This article is educational and is not investment advice. GStocks PH is operated by AB Capital Securities, a licensed PSE broker; GFunds uses licensed fund providers. Confirm current features, fees and risk disclosures in the GCash app before investing.