Guides · Updated 20 October 2026 · 2 min read
Revolut vs Wise: which is better for travel and international money?
Revolut and Wise both let you hold and spend many currencies. We compare fees, exchange costs, cash withdrawals and protection to help you choose.
Revolut and Wise are two of the most popular ways to spend and send money in other currencies. They overlap a lot, but they are built differently: Revolut is a bank with subscription plans, while Wise is a money transfer and multi-currency account with no subscription, where you pay per transaction.
At a glance
| Revolut | Wise | |
|---|---|---|
| Type of company | Bank (EEA: Revolut Bank UAB; UK: Revolut Bank UK Ltd) | Payment / e-money company, not a bank |
| Monthly fee | Standard free; paid plans from €3.99 (Ireland) or £3.99 (UK) | No monthly fee |
| Currency exchange | Standard: no extra fee on weekdays up to €1,000/month, then 1%; extra 1% at weekends | From 0.24%, depends on the currency, every day of the week |
| Card | Debit card, physical and virtual | Debit card; one-time order fee (£7 in the UK) |
| Free cash withdrawals | Standard: up to €200 or 5 per month, then 2% (min €1) | Up to a monthly limit (UK: £250), then 2.69% in the UK |
| Money protection | Deposit guarantee (EEA up to €100,000; UK FSCS up to £120,000) | Safeguarded, no deposit guarantee |
Prices from each provider's website in October 2026. Fees vary by country and plan.
Choose Revolut if…
- You want one app for everyday banking, budgeting, card controls and spending abroad.
- You exchange moderate amounts on weekdays: the Standard plan covers up to €1,000 a month without the extra fee.
- You want your balance covered by a deposit guarantee.
- You are happy to pay a monthly plan for higher allowances, insurance or other extras.
Choose Wise if…
- You send money abroad often, or are paid in other currencies. Wise gives you local account details in many major currencies to receive money.
- You exchange larger amounts or at weekends, where Wise's per-transaction fee can work out cheaper than Revolut's fair-usage or weekend fees.
- You prefer no subscription and paying only when you use it.
Many people use both
A common setup is Revolut for daily spending and Wise for larger transfers and receiving foreign payments. Both are free to open, so you can compare real costs on your own transactions.
Before you open an account
- Check that the provider accepts customers in your country: use the country selector on our comparison.
- Compare the exchange cost on the exact amount and currency you need. Both apps show the price before you confirm.
- Read our guide Is my money safe in a neo bank? to understand bank versus e-money protection.
This guide is general information, not financial advice. Fees, features and availability change, so check the provider's own website before you apply. Read how we compare providers and our affiliate disclosure.
