Money & Budgeting
Wise vs Revolut 2026 — Which Money Transfer App Is Best?
Wise vs Revolut compared for international transfers, travel money, and everyday use. We analyse fees, exchange rates, features, and which is best for you.
Two of the most popular apps for international money — but which should you use? Here’s the definitive comparison.
Quick Comparison
| Feature |
Wise |
Revolut |
| Best for |
International transfers |
All-round money management |
| Exchange rate |
Mid-market (always) |
Mid-market (limits apply) |
| Transfer fee |
~0.3-1% (transparent) |
Free (limits) or small fee |
| Monthly plan |
None (pay per use) |
Free, Plus, Premium, Metal |
| UK banking licence |
No (EMI) |
Yes |
| FSCS protection |
No |
Some products |
| Card |
Yes (debit) |
Yes (debit) |
| Best use |
Moving money internationally |
Travel, daily use, investing |
Who Should Use Which?
| Your Need |
Choose |
| Send money abroad (large amounts) |
Wise |
| Travel frequently |
Revolut (with plan) |
| Need multi-currency account |
Either (Revolut more features) |
| Want investing/crypto |
Revolut |
| Transparency is priority |
Wise |
| Want all-in-one app |
Revolut |
| Business international payments |
Wise |
| Everyday spending abroad |
Revolut |
Deep Dive: Exchange Rates
How Rates Work
| Provider |
Weekday Rate |
Weekend Rate |
| Wise |
Mid-market + fee |
Same |
| Revolut Free |
Mid-market (£1k/mo limit) |
+0.5-1% markup |
| Revolut Plus/Premium |
Mid-market (higher limits) |
Better |
| Revolut Metal |
Mid-market (unlimited) |
Best |
Fee Comparison
| Transfer £1,000 to EUR |
Wise |
Revolut Free |
Revolut Premium |
| Exchange rate |
Mid-market |
Mid-market |
Mid-market |
| Fee |
~£4-7 |
£0 (within limit) |
£0 |
| Weekend markup |
None |
~£5-10 |
None |
| Effective cost |
~£4-7 |
£0-10 |
£0 |
When Each Wins
| Situation |
Winner |
| Large transfer (£10,000+) |
Wise — percentage fees lower |
| Small frequent transfers |
Revolut Premium — if within limits |
| Weekend transfers |
Wise — no markup |
| One-off holiday money |
Either — comparable |
| Regular business payments |
Wise — predictable costs |
Features Comparison
Transfer Features
| Feature |
Wise |
Revolut |
| International transfers |
✅ Core focus |
✅ Good |
| Multi-currency account |
✅ 50+ currencies |
✅ 30+ currencies |
| Hold multiple currencies |
✅ |
✅ |
| Currency conversion |
✅ Mid-market + fee |
✅ Free/limits |
| Receive money internationally |
✅ Local account details |
✅ Local details |
| Business transfers |
✅ Wise Business |
✅ Revolut Business |
| Recurring transfers |
✅ |
✅ |
Card Features
| Feature |
Wise |
Revolut |
| Debit card |
✅ |
✅ |
| Virtual cards |
✅ |
✅ |
| Disposable virtual cards |
❌ |
✅ |
| Apple Pay/Google Pay |
✅ |
✅ |
| ATM withdrawals |
Free (limits) |
Free (limits) |
| Card spending abroad |
Mid-market rate |
Free (limits) |
Everyday Banking
| Feature |
Wise |
Revolut |
| UK account number |
✅ |
✅ |
| Direct debits |
✅ |
✅ |
| Standing orders |
✅ |
✅ |
| Salary payments in |
✅ |
✅ |
| Bill splitting |
❌ |
✅ |
| Budgeting tools |
Basic |
✅ Good |
| Savings vaults |
❌ |
✅ |
| Round-ups |
❌ |
✅ |
| Feature |
Wise |
Revolut |
| Stock trading |
❌ |
✅ |
| Crypto |
❌ |
✅ |
| Commodities |
❌ |
✅ |
| Insurance |
❌ |
✅ (with plans) |
| Cashback |
❌ |
✅ (Metal) |
| Airport lounge access |
❌ |
✅ (Metal) |
| Travel insurance |
❌ |
✅ (paid plans) |
Pricing Plans
Wise
| Plan |
Cost |
What You Get |
| Standard |
Pay per use |
Transfer fees only |
Wise has no monthly subscription — you pay transparent fees per transaction.
Revolut
| Plan |
Monthly Cost |
Key Benefits |
| Standard |
Free |
Basic features, £1k exchange limit |
| Plus |
~£3/month |
Higher limits, more features |
| Premium |
~£8/month |
Unlimited exchange, travel insurance |
| Metal |
~£15/month |
Cashback, lounges, best perks |
Safety and Regulation
Wise
| Aspect |
Details |
| Regulation |
FCA authorised (EMI) |
| FSCS protection |
No |
| Safeguarding |
Funds ringfenced |
| Public company |
Yes (LSE listed) |
| Track record |
Since 2011 |
Revolut
| Aspect |
Details |
| Regulation |
UK Banking licence (2024) |
| FSCS protection |
Yes (for banking products) |
| E-money |
Some products EMI still |
| Track record |
Since 2015 |
Important: Revolut’s FSCS protection applies to certain products — check which features are covered.
App Experience
Wise App
| Aspect |
Rating |
| Design |
Clean, focused |
| Ease of use |
Excellent |
| Speed |
Fast |
| Features |
Transfer-focused |
| Reliability |
Very stable |
Revolut App
| Aspect |
Rating |
| Design |
Modern, feature-rich |
| Ease of use |
Good (lots to learn) |
| Speed |
Fast |
| Features |
Extensive |
| Reliability |
Good |
Use Cases Compared
Sending Money to Family Abroad
| Factor |
Wise |
Revolut |
| Best for |
Regular, larger amounts |
Occasional, smaller amounts |
| Cost |
Predictable fee |
Free with limits |
| Recipient experience |
Direct to their bank |
Same |
| Winner |
Wise for regular transfers |
Revolut for occasional |
Travelling Abroad
| Factor |
Wise |
Revolut |
| Card payments |
Mid-market + fee |
Free (limits) |
| ATM withdrawal |
£200/mo free |
Based on plan |
| Travel insurance |
❌ |
✅ (paid plans) |
| Lounge access |
❌ |
✅ (Metal) |
| Winner |
Functional |
Revolut (esp. Premium/Metal) |
Working Abroad / Getting Paid in Foreign Currency
| Factor |
Wise |
Revolut |
| Local account details |
Yes (many countries) |
Yes (fewer) |
| Hold currencies |
Yes |
Yes |
| Convert to GBP |
Mid-market + fee |
Free with limits |
| Winner |
Wise (more countries) |
Good alternative |
Daily UK Banking
| Factor |
Wise |
Revolut |
| Account/sort code |
Yes |
Yes |
| Budgeting |
Basic |
Good |
| Savings features |
No |
Vaults, round-ups |
| Full bank replacement |
Not really |
Closer |
| Winner |
Use traditional bank |
Revolut as supplement |
Cost Comparison: Real Examples
Example 1: Send £5,000 to USA
| Provider |
Fee |
Rate |
Recipient Gets |
| Wise |
~£25 |
Mid-market |
~$6,220 |
| Revolut Free |
£0* |
Mid-market |
~$6,245 |
| Revolut Premium |
£0 |
Mid-market |
~$6,245 |
| Bank transfer |
£25-40 |
Poor rate |
~$5,900 |
*If within limits and on weekday
Example 2: Two Week Holiday Spending €1,000
| Provider |
Cost |
Notes |
| Wise card |
~£5-10 |
Fee on conversion |
| Revolut Free |
~£0-10 |
Depends on weekend use |
| Revolut Premium |
~£0 |
Within limits |
| UK bank card |
£30-50 |
Poor rate + fees |
Example 3: Receive USD Salary £3,000/month
| Provider |
Cost |
Process |
| Wise |
~£15-20/mo |
US account details, convert |
| Revolut |
~£0-15/mo |
US details, convert |
| Bank |
£50-100/mo |
International wire + poor rate |
Pros and Cons Summary
Wise
| Pros |
Cons |
| Transparent, honest pricing |
Not a full bank |
| Best for large transfers |
Fewer everyday features |
| No subscription needed |
No investing/crypto |
| Excellent for business |
Card less generous than Revolut |
| Mid-market rate always |
No travel insurance |
Revolut
| Pros |
Cons |
| Feature-rich |
Can be complex |
| Good for travel |
Limits on free tier |
| Investing and crypto |
Weekend markups (without plan) |
| Insurance options |
Customer service variable |
| Improving banking licence |
Lots of upsells |
Verdict: Which to Choose
| Situation |
Recommendation |
| Primarily sending money abroad |
Wise |
| Frequent traveller |
Revolut Premium |
| Want one app for everything |
Revolut |
| Transparency is key |
Wise |
| Don’t want subscription |
Wise |
| Want investing/crypto too |
Revolut |
| Business international payments |
Wise Business |
Best Strategy: Use Both
Many savvy users have both accounts:
- Wise for international transfers (best rates on large amounts)
- Revolut for travel spending (Premium for frequent travellers)
- Traditional bank for main UK account