Part of our Revolut UK — Complete Guide 2026 hub.
Revolut is one of the most downloaded financial apps in Europe. It offers an enormous range of features — from currency exchange to crypto trading to travel insurance to hotel booking. But “enormous features” also means complexity, and Revolut’s history has been more turbulent than Monzo’s or Starling’s.
With its UK banking licence granted in 2024, the question for 2026 is: is Revolut now ready to be your main bank?
The Short Answer
Revolut is an excellent travel and international finance tool and has become a credible primary bank following the UK banking licence. But its customer service reputation and the complexity of its product range mean it rewards users who understand it fully — and can frustrate those who don’t.
Account Plans (2026)
| Plan | Monthly cost | Key features |
|---|---|---|
| Standard | Free | Basic account, £1,000/month fee-free currency exchange (weekdays only), 5 free international transfers/month, 1 virtual card, limited crypto trading |
| Plus | £3.99 | Higher FX limit, priority customer service (faster), 3 disposable virtual cards, enhanced budgeting, delayed flight insurance |
| Premium | £9.99 | Unlimited FX (weekdays), comprehensive travel insurance, overseas medical, priority customer service, unlimited ATM withdrawals (fair use), commodities trading |
| Metal | £15.99 | Everything in Premium + cashback, dedicated account manager (limited), metal card, higher crypto limits |
| Ultra | £45.00 | Airport lounge access (unlimited), highest-tier travel insurance, dedicated concierge, premium metal card, highest ATM limits |
Foreign Exchange and International Transfers
This is Revolut’s strongest suit. For currency exchange:
- Interbank exchange rate on weekdays (the real mid-market rate, not a marked-up rate)
- 0.5% fee applies at weekends (when FX markets are closed)
- Free plan: £1,000/month at the interbank rate, then 0.5% fee applies
- Premium plan: unlimited at interbank rate on weekdays
For international transfers (SWIFT/SEPA):
- Free plan: 5 free local transfers per month; SWIFT transfers charged at £5–£10+
- Premium plan: more competitive rates on SWIFT
- Wise (a competitor) is often still cheaper for large SWIFT transfers
For a direct comparison, see Wise vs Revolut 2026 — Which Money Transfer App Is Best?. If you regularly exchange currency or make international transfers, Revolut typically beats banks and even Starling (which uses Wise for its international transfers at Wise’s fees).
Interest Rates (May 2026)
Following the UK banking licence, Revolut now offers interest on Revolut Savings Vaults:
| Plan | Savings Vault interest rate |
|---|---|
| Standard | 3.00% AER (gross) |
| Plus | 3.25% AER |
| Premium | 4.00% AER |
| Metal | 4.25% AER |
| Ultra | 4.75% AER |
Rates are variable and subject to change. The Premium-tier rate at 4% is competitive but not market-leading for 2026 — comparable to Chase UK or dedicated savings accounts.
Features Beyond Banking
Revolut has expanded far beyond banking:
| Feature | Plans available | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Crypto trading | All (limited on Standard) | 170+ cryptocurrencies; spreads and fees vary |
| Stock trading | All plans | Commission-free for some trades; limited UK stock options |
| Commodities | Premium+ | Gold and silver exposure |
| Travel insurance | Premium+ | Medical, cancellation, baggage; pre-existing conditions excluded |
| Hotel booking | All | Booking.com integration; some cashback for Metal/Ultra |
| Junior accounts | All | Revolut <18 app, parental controls |
| Business accounts | Available separately | Revolut Business — see below |
These extras are genuinely useful for some users — particularly crypto and stock trading in one app alongside banking. But if you don’t need them, they’re noise.
Security and Safety
Post-licence FSCS protection: Since July 2024, Revolut UK deposits are FSCS-protected up to £85,000. For full details on what changed and how to confirm your account is covered, see Is Revolut FSCS Protected?
Security features:
- Freeze/unfreeze card instantly
- Single-use virtual cards for online shopping
- Location-based security (block overseas transactions)
- Spending notifications
- Disposable virtual card number (changes after each use) on paid plans
Historical concerns:
- Revolut has faced criticism for account freezes without explanation. This remains more common on Revolut than on Monzo or Starling.
- Customer service has historically been slow (chatbot-heavy). The post-licence entity must now meet FCA standards, which has improved this.
- The FCA required Revolut to improve its anti-money laundering controls significantly before granting the licence — these improvements are now in place.
Customer Service
Revolut offers:
- In-app chat (chatbot first, then human agent)
- Phone support for Premium+ subscribers
- No branches
Customer service reputation has improved post-licence but is still rated below Monzo and Starling by consumer research. The Plus plan “priority support” does meaningfully reduce response times.
Who Is Revolut Best For?
| Profile | Verdict |
|---|---|
| Frequent international travellers / expats | Excellent — best FX rates, multi-currency accounts |
| People who want crypto and stocks in one app | Excellent |
| UK-only users who don’t travel | Overkill — Starling/Monzo simpler and better UX |
| People wanting a sole primary bank | Adequate post-licence, but Starling/Monzo safer choice |
| Business users needing multi-currency | Excellent for the business product |
Revolut vs Monzo vs Starling
| Feature | Revolut Standard (free) | Monzo (free) | Starling (free) |
|---|---|---|---|
| FX rate on spending | Interbank (weekday) | 1.5% above limit | None |
| International ATM | Free (limits apply) | 3% above first | Free |
| Savings interest | 3% AER | 0% (pots: 4.65%) | 0% (Spaces: 4.5%) |
| Crypto trading | Yes | No | No |
| Multi-currency accounts | Yes | No | EUR + USD |
| FSCS protection | Yes (post-2024) | Yes | Yes |
| Customer service reputation | Fair | Good | Good |
| App quality | Good | Excellent | Excellent |
For a full head-to-head, see Monzo vs Starling vs Revolut — Which Digital Bank Is Best in 2026?
Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Best-in-class currency exchange — genuinely saves money for international users
- Multi-currency accounts (30+ currencies)
- Crypto and stock trading integrated
- FSCS protection now in place
- Excellent travel insurance on Premium and above
- Highly competitive savings vault interest for paid tiers
Cons:
- Customer service historically poor; still trails Monzo/Starling
- Account freezes more common than competitors
- Free account FX limits (£1,000/month) can catch travellers out
- Complex product range — easy to misunderstand your limits
- Weekend FX markup (0.5%) — often surprises users
Overall Verdict
Revolut is the best tool for international finance and a credible primary bank post-2024 UK licence. If you regularly travel, make international transfers, or want crypto/investment features in one app, it’s hard to beat.
For domestic-only UK banking, Starling (free, no foreign use) or Monzo (better UI) are more straightforward and better supported.
Rating: 4.0/5
Best for: International travellers, expats, users wanting multi-currency features or crypto.
Consider instead: Starling Bank Review 2026 or Monzo Review 2026 for simpler, better-supported domestic banking.
Related Guides
- Revolut UK — Complete Guide 2026
- Is Revolut FSCS Protected? UK Deposit Safety Explained
- Revolut Savings Account UK 2026 — Savings Vaults Explained
- Revolut Fees UK
- Monzo vs Starling vs Revolut — Which Digital Bank Is Best in 2026?
- Wise vs Revolut 2026 — Which Money Transfer App Is Best?
- How to Send Money Abroad Cheaply — UK International Transfers