Wise vs Revolut
Wise wins for transfers and pure FX cost. Revolut wins for daily card spending and in-app perks.
| Wise | Revolut | |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly fee | $0 | $0 |
| Card issue fee | $9 | $0 |
| FX model | interbank | weekend markup |
| FX markup | — | 50 bps |
| Free ATM / month | 2 | unlimited |
| Multi-currency | ||
| Apple Pay | ||
| Google Pay | ||
| Virtual cards | ||
| Crypto | ||
| Joint account | ||
| Availability | 180+ countries | EU, UK, US, AU, JP, SG, NZ + selected |
Wise, best for
- International transfers at the interbank rate, transparent fee
- Holding 50+ currencies in one account
- Receiving USD/EUR/GBP/AUD payouts on local details
Weak for
- Day-to-day spending in a single home currency
- ATM withdrawals over 2/month free
Revolut, best for
- Daily spending on the card during the week
- Stock and crypto trading inside the app
- Splitting bills and group expenses
Weak for
- Weekend FX (1% surcharge applies)
- Large transfers (use Wise instead)
The verdict, in plain words
Wise wins for international money transfers, Revolut for daily spending and trading. It’s that simple.
Consider an EU freelancer paid in USD. They receive their salary in Wise, convert it to Euros at the interbank rate, and pay a transparent fee – often just a fraction of a percent. That’s money saved on every single transaction. Wise holds over 50 currencies, making it a dedicated tool for managing income streams from different countries. Revolut, while good, adds a markup on weekend exchanges and has stricter limits on free ATM withdrawals, which can sting if you're frequently moving money across borders or need cash in a pinch.
Now picture a US founder running a remote team across Europe. They need to pay salaries in EUR, USD, and maybe even BRL. Revolut’s card is fantastic for daily spending in Europe, with unlimited free ATM withdrawals during the week. Plus, the integrated stock and crypto trading is a killer feature. If you’re living out of a suitcase and want to manage your expenses and investments from one app, Revolut shines. You can easily top up your account and spend directly, avoiding the extra step of converting currency for everyday purchases.
The rule of thumb: default to Wise if your primary need is sending or receiving money internationally. Default to Revolut if you’re spending most of your time in one region or want integrated trading. The eligibility filter? Revolut’s premium plans offer unlimited free ATM withdrawals and better exchange rates for larger sums, but they come with a monthly fee, starting around £4.99/month. If that fee is a dealbreaker and you mostly just need to move money, Wise is your go-to.
Affiliate disclosure: we earn a small commission if you sign up via either link. We list both because both are genuinely useful.