Wise vs Revolut (2026): Fees, Exchange Rates & Which Is Better?

Quick verdict: Wise is cheaper for transfers. Revolut is better for travel.

Wise and Revolut are two of the most popular multi-currency accounts available today — but they are built for different types of user. Wise is a specialist in low-cost international transfers, charging a transparent fee on top of the real mid-market rate. Revolut is a feature-rich financial app with budgeting tools, crypto access, and tiered subscription plans.

This guide covers every meaningful difference: fees, exchange rates, cards, travel use, freelancer features, budgeting tools, business accounts, and security. By the end, you will know exactly which one fits your situation.

Jump to a section:

• Quick Comparison Table
• Fees Compared
• Exchange Rates
• Wise vs Revolut for Travel
• Wise vs Revolut for Freelancers
• Budgeting Tools
• Card Features
• Business Accounts
• Security & Regulation
• Which Should You Choose?
• FAQ

Wise vs Revolut: Fee & Features Comparison 2026

We compared Wise and Revolut across fees, exchange rates, card features, ATM limits, and supported currencies. Here’s how they stack up side by side — updated for 2026.

Feature	Wise	Revolut (Free)	Revolut (Premium £7/mo)
Monthly fee	Free	Free	£7/month
FX fee	0.35–2%	0% up to £1,000/mo, then 0.5%	0% unlimited
ATM withdrawals	2 free/mo up to £200	£200/mo free, then 2%	£400/mo free, then 2%
Supported currencies	40+	30+	30+
Local account details	10+ currencies	IBAN only	IBAN only
Card type	Debit (Visa/Mastercard)	Debit (Visa/Mastercard)	Debit + metal card
Send money to	160+ countries	160+ countries	160+ countries
Business account	Yes (Wise Business)	Yes (Revolut Business)	Yes (Revolut Business)
Regulated by	FCA, FinCEN	FCA	FCA

If you are deciding between Wise, Revolut, and other providers, see our full multi-currency account comparison to see how they rank overall.

What Is the Difference Between Wise and Revolut?

Wise was built as an international money transfer specialist. Its core proposition is simple: send and receive money internationally at the real mid-market rate, with a transparent fee shown upfront before you confirm. No subscription, no hidden spread, no surprises.

Revolut started as a travel card and has evolved into a broader financial platform. Alongside multi-currency accounts and transfers, it offers spending analytics, savings vaults, crypto trading, stock investing, and tiered subscription plans with travel perks.

If you are not yet familiar with how these accounts work, our guide to what a multi-currency account is covers the basics before you compare providers.

In short:

• Wise = cost-focused, transparent, built for transfers and cross-border payments
• Revolut = feature-rich, subscription-based, built for everyday financial management

Wise vs Revolut Fees Compared

Fees are where most users notice the most meaningful difference between the two platforms.

Wise Fees

Wise charges a single transparent conversion fee — typically 0.33–1.5% depending on the currency pair — applied on top of the mid-market rate. There is no monthly account fee, no subscription, and no minimum balance. You see the exact cost before you confirm any transfer.

This model benefits anyone who values predictability: freelancers billing overseas clients, remote workers receiving salaries in foreign currencies, and businesses making regular international payments.

Revolut Fees

Revolut’s fee structure depends on your plan:

	Standard (Free)	Premium (£7.99/mo)	Metal (£13.99/mo)
Monthly FX limit	£1,000	£3,000	Unlimited
Over-limit fee	0.5%	0.5%	None
Weekend FX markup	1%	0.5%	0.5%
ATM free limit	£200	£400	£800
Fee above ATM limit	2% (min £1)	2% (min £1)	2% (min £1)

Revolut can appear free at first glance, but costs increase if you convert currency on weekends, exceed your monthly FX limit, or need features that require a paid plan. For light, occasional use within the free tier limits, it can be competitive. For high-volume or regular use, Wise is typically cheaper and easier to predict.

Wise vs Revolut Exchange Rates

Exchange rates are where the real cost difference lives — and it is often larger than users expect.

Wise uses the mid-market rate (the interbank rate you see on Google or XE) on every transfer, every time. There is no markup on the rate itself. The fee is charged separately and shown clearly upfront.

Revolut uses the mid-market rate too, but with conditions. On the free plan, you get the mid-market rate for up to £1,000/month during weekday trading hours. Above that limit, a 0.5% fair usage fee applies. On weekends — when FX markets are closed — Revolut adds a 1% markup to cover volatility risk. Premium and Metal plans raise the free limit and reduce the weekend markup, but it never disappears entirely.

	Wise	Revolut Free	Revolut Premium
Rate used	Mid-market, always	Mid-market (to limit)	Mid-market (higher limit)
Weekday rate	Mid-market + fixed fee	Mid-market (to £1,000/mo)	Mid-market (to £3,000/mo)
Weekend rate	Mid-market + fixed fee	Mid-market + 1% markup	Mid-market + 0.5% markup
Over-limit rate	Same rate, higher fee	Mid-market + 0.5%	Mid-market (wider limit)
Transparency	Fee shown upfront	Markup not always visible	Markup not always visible

For most people sending money internationally, Wise is the cheaper and more predictable option. Revolut can match Wise for small weekday exchanges within the free limit — but for large transfers, weekend sends, or regular use, Wise consistently wins on cost.

Practical tip: If you use Revolut, convert currency during weekday hours and stay within your monthly limit. Those two habits eliminate most of the cost disadvantage.

✅ Verdict: Wise wins on exchange rates. The mid-market rate with no markup, seven days a week, beats Revolut’s conditional free tier.

This pricing advantage is one of the main reasons users choose multi-currency accounts over traditional banks for international transfers — where standard bank FX markups of 2–4% are common.

Real-World Example: Sending $1,000 USD

Scenario	Wise	Revolut (Standard)
Weekday, within free limit	~$4–6 fee, mid-market rate	~$0 fee, mid-market rate
Weekend exchange	~$4–6 fee, mid-market rate	~$10 markup
Above £1,000/mo limit	~$4–6 fee, mid-market rate	~$5 + mid-market rate
Large transfer ($5,000+)	Transparent fee ~$20–30	Markup compounds significantly

On a single $1,000 transfer the difference is small. But for anyone sending $3,000–$10,000+ per month — freelancers, remote workers, small businesses — even a 0.5% rate difference adds up to hundreds per year.

Wise vs Revolut for Travel: Budgeting Tools & Card Usage Abroad

For travel, Revolut is the stronger choice overall. Its budgeting tools — including spending categories, analytics, and real-time notifications — are more developed than Wise’s. Revolut also offers 0% FX fees up to £1,000 per month on its free plan, making it cheaper for everyday card spending abroad. Wise is the better option when you need to send money to a foreign bank account or hold large balances in a specific currency, as its exchange rates are consistently closer to the mid-market rate.

Both cards work globally on the Mastercard or Visa network and can be used at any ATM or merchant abroad. Revolut’s free ATM limit is £200/month; Wise gives you two free withdrawals up to £200/month. For longer trips or digital nomads who spend heavily abroad, Revolut Premium (£7/month) removes the FX fee entirely and raises the ATM limit to £400/month.

Spending Abroad

Revolut’s card is designed with travel in mind. The app lets you switch between currencies instantly, set spending limits per merchant category, freeze the card with a tap, and generate a disposable virtual card number for hotels or one-off bookings.

ATM Withdrawals

	Wise	Revolut Free	Revolut Premium	Revolut Metal
Free ATM limit/month	£200 (2 withdrawals)	£200 (5 withdrawals)	£400	£800
Fee above limit	1.75% + £0.50	2% (min £1)	2% (min £1)	2% (min £1)
ATM network	Any ATM worldwide	Any ATM worldwide	Any ATM worldwide	Any ATM worldwide

For occasional ATM use, both free tiers are comparable. If you rely on cash regularly — common in Southeast Asia, Central America, or Eastern Europe — Revolut Premium or Metal offers meaningfully higher free withdrawal limits.

Travel Insurance and Perks

Revolut Premium and Metal include travel insurance, delayed baggage cover, and priority customer support. Wise offers none of these — it is a payments tool, not a travel lifestyle product.

If you travel frequently and want perks bundled into one app, Revolut Premium at £7.99/month can represent good value. If you travel occasionally and want zero monthly fees with guaranteed mid-market rates, Wise is the stronger default.

✅ Verdict: Revolut Premium is better for frequent travellers who want insurance and perks. Wise is better for occasional travellers who want no monthly fees and consistent rates.

Wise vs Revolut for Freelancers: Which Is Better for Receiving International Payments?

For freelancers receiving international payments, Wise is the better option. Wise gives you local bank account details in 10+ currencies — including USD, EUR, GBP, AUD, and CAD — so clients can pay you as if they were making a local transfer. Revolut offers an IBAN for EUR transfers but does not provide local USD or GBP account details on its free or premium plans. Wise also charges lower fees when converting and withdrawing received funds.

Feature	Wise	Revolut
Receive USD payments	Yes — local US account details	No
Receive EUR payments	Yes — local IBAN	Yes — IBAN
Receive GBP payments	Yes — local UK sort code	No
Receive AUD payments	Yes — local BSB number	No
Conversion fee on receipt	0.35–2%	0–0.5% (up to £1k/mo)
Withdrawal to bank	Free (standard)	Free

Getting Paid from Overseas Clients

This is Wise’s strongest category. Wise gives you local bank account details in 9+ currencies — a UK sort code and account number, a US routing number and account number, a European IBAN, and more. Your US client pays you as if you were a US bank. No SWIFT fees, no intermediary charges, no conversion until you choose to convert.

Revolut also offers local receiving details, but availability depends on plan and region. The free plan covers UK and EU accounts; US ACH details typically require a paid plan.

Freelancer Feature Comparison

Feature	Wise	Revolut Free	Revolut Pro (£7/mo)
Local USD account	Yes (free)	No	Yes
Local GBP account	Yes (free)	Yes	Yes
Local EUR IBAN	Yes (free)	Yes	Yes
Invoicing tools	No	No	Yes (basic)
Multi-currency balance	Yes (50+ currencies)	Yes (30+ currencies)	Yes
Convert at mid-market	Yes, always	Yes (within limits)	Yes (within limits)
Monthly fee	None	None	£7/month

The free US account details alone save most freelancers $15–25 per incoming wire compared to what a traditional bank charges for international receiving.

Converting Your Earnings

Wise charges a transparent conversion fee (typically 0.4–1%) at the mid-market rate. Revolut converts at mid-market within your plan’s monthly limit, after which the 0.5% fair usage fee applies. For most freelancers earning under £5,000/month in foreign currency, both are comparable. Above that threshold, Wise’s flat-fee model typically works out cheaper.

You can also see how Wise compares on business and freelancer use in our Wise vs Payoneer comparison, particularly if you receive payments from US marketplaces.

✅ Verdict: Wise wins for most freelancers. The free local USD, GBP, and EUR account details make cross-border payment receiving cheaper and simpler. Revolut Pro is worth considering if you want invoicing built in.

Wise vs Revolut: Budgeting Tools for Travelling Abroad

If you want to actively manage spending while abroad — track categories, set limits, save automatically — Revolut has a clear edge.

Revolut’s Budgeting Features

Revolut was built with in-app money management at its core:

• Spending analytics: automatic transaction categorisation (restaurants, transport, entertainment) with weekly and monthly breakdowns
• Budgets: set monthly spending caps per category with notifications when you approach the limit
• Vaults: savings pots you can fund manually or via automatic round-ups on every transaction
• Disposable virtual cards: one-time-use card numbers for specific purchases — hotels, car hire, or any merchant you do not fully trust
• Location-based security: auto-freeze if a transaction appears outside the country your phone is in

Wise’s Approach to Budgeting

Wise is not a budgeting app. You can view transaction history and see what currency you spent in — that is essentially it. There are no spending categories, no budget limits, no savings vaults, and no round-up features.

Budgeting Feature Comparison

Feature	Wise	Revolut Free	Revolut Premium
Spending categories	No	Yes	Yes
Monthly budgets	No	Yes	Yes
Savings vaults	No	Yes (1 vault)	Yes (unlimited)
Round-up savings	No	Yes	Yes
Disposable virtual cards	No	Yes (limited)	Yes (unlimited)
Transaction notifications	Yes	Yes	Yes
Multi-currency balances	Yes (50+)	Yes	Yes

✅ Verdict: Revolut wins on budgeting tools. If managing spending while travelling is a priority, Revolut is the better app. Wise does not compete in this area.

Wise vs Revolut: Card Features Compared

Both platforms offer Visa/Mastercard debit cards that work worldwide. Here is how they compare across the key features:

Feature	Wise	Revolut Free	Revolut Premium	Revolut Metal
Physical card	Yes (£7 one-off)	Yes (free)	Yes (free)	Metal card (free)
Virtual card	Yes (1)	Yes (limited)	Yes (unlimited)	Yes (unlimited)
Freeze/unfreeze	Yes (instant)	Yes (instant)	Yes (instant)	Yes (instant)
Apple/Google Pay	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Card for under 18s	No	Yes (Revolut <18)	Yes	Yes
Monthly subscription	None	Free	£7.99/mo	£13.99/mo
Cashback on spending	No	No	No	0.1% (Europe)
Priority support	No	No	Yes	Yes
Airport lounge access	No	No	No	Yes (limited)

Physical Card

Wise charges a one-off £7 delivery fee (varies by country) — no monthly charge after that. Revolut’s free plan includes a free physical card by standard post. Premium and Metal users get faster delivery and upgraded materials.

Virtual Cards

Wise offers a single virtual card at no cost. Revolut’s free plan limits simultaneous active virtual cards; Premium and Metal remove that restriction. If you regularly use multiple virtual cards for separate subscriptions or services, Revolut Premium is more practical.

Card Controls

Both platforms are strong here. Instant freeze/unfreeze, per-transaction-type controls (online, contactless, ATM), and real-time notifications are standard on both. Revolut adds location-based security that Wise does not offer.

Revolut Metal

At £13.99/month, Revolut Metal adds a physical metal card, airport lounge access via a third-party network, 0.1% cashback on European spending, unlimited ATM withdrawals (to higher limits), and concierge access. The value depends entirely on how frequently you travel and whether you would actually use the lounge access.

✅ Verdict: Revolut wins on card perks for paid plan users. Wise wins on value — a full-featured debit card with no monthly fee and mid-market rates, unbeatable if you do not need the extras.

Wise’s card works in 150+ countries and converts at the mid-market rate the moment you spend. There is no subscription required — load the card and go. Conversion happens automatically from whichever currency balance you hold, or from GBP/EUR/USD if you have not pre-loaded local currency.

Business Account Comparison

Wise Business

• Multi-currency balances in 40+ currencies
• Local account details for receiving payments globally
• Batch payment tools (pay multiple recipients at once)
• API access for finance teams
• Transparent FX on every transaction
• No monthly fee on the basic plan

Revolut Business

• Tiered plans (Free, Grow, Scale, Enterprise)
• Expense management and corporate cards
• Team member access with permission controls
• Accounting integrations (Xero, QuickBooks)
• Integrated financial tools (invoicing, payroll in some regions)

Wise Business is typically preferred by companies whose primary need is efficient, low-cost international payments. Revolut Business suits teams that want an all-in-one financial management platform with expense tracking built in.

For a full breakdown of both in a business context, see our guide to the best multi-currency accounts for small business.

Security and Regulation

Both Wise and Revolut are regulated financial institutions — neither is a traditional bank, but both operate under licensed frameworks with real customer protections.

Wise is regulated by the FCA in the UK, FinCEN in the US, and equivalent bodies in the EU, Australia, Singapore, Canada, and other jurisdictions. Customer funds are safeguarded — held separately from Wise’s operational funds in ring-fenced accounts or invested in low-risk liquid assets.

Revolut holds an EU banking licence (issued in Lithuania) and is regulated by the FCA in the UK. In the EU, customer deposits up to €100,000 are protected under the Deposit Guarantee Scheme. UK customers are protected under the FCA’s safeguarding rules (similar to Wise) rather than FSCS, as Revolut’s UK operations use an e-money licence rather than a full banking licence.

Both platforms use 2FA, biometric login, instant card freeze, and real-time transaction alerts. Neither has had major security incidents affecting customer funds at scale.

For a deeper look at Wise’s safety credentials, see our full Wise security and regulation review.

Wise vs Revolut: Which Should You Choose?

Choose Wise if you regularly send money internationally, receive payments from clients abroad, or need local bank account details in multiple currencies. Wise’s fees are more transparent and its exchange rates are closer to the mid-market rate for most currency pairs. Choose Revolut if you travel frequently and want a full neobank experience with budgeting tools, savings vaults, and a premium metal card. Revolut’s free plan is unbeatable for occasional travel spending; its Premium plan is worth it for heavy travellers who want zero FX fees.

Your situation	Better choice
Regular international transfers	Wise
Freelancer receiving overseas payments	Wise
Frequent traveller wanting perks	Revolut Premium
Occasional traveller, no monthly fee	Wise
Budgeting and spending tracking	Revolut
Business with batch payment needs	Wise Business
All-in-one lifestyle banking	Revolut
Large or weekend transfers	Wise
Light use within free FX limits	Either

Choose Wise if you want:

• The mid-market exchange rate, always, no markup
• No monthly fee or subscription
• Free local account details in USD, GBP, EUR and more
• Transparent, predictable transfer costs
• A straightforward multi-currency account without lifestyle extras

👉 Open a Wise account

Choose Revolut if you want:

• Budgeting tools and spending analytics
• Travel insurance and perks bundled into one subscription
• Higher ATM limits on paid plans
• Crypto, stocks, and broader financial features in one app
• An all-in-one digital banking alternative

👉 Open a Revolut account

Final verdict: For pure international transfer and currency conversion efficiency, Wise wins. For users who want a full-featured financial app with lifestyle perks, Revolut is the stronger platform — particularly on paid plans. Many users hold both accounts and use each for what it does best.

Revolut vs Wise FAQ

Last updated: March 2026. Fee and rate information is subject to change — always verify current pricing on the provider’s website before transferring.