Wise vs Revolut: Fees, Exchange Rates and ATM Limits

Both columns use UK pricing, so the figures compare like for like.

With Wise, a payment in a currency you already hold comes from that balance with no conversion. If you do not hold it, Wise converts at the mid-market rate and charges its conversion fee for that currency. You can also convert in the app before the trip.

With Revolut, exchanges are free up to the plan’s allowance: GBP 1,000 per rolling month on UK Standard, then 1%. The 1% weekend fee applies where relevant, so convert money for Saturday and Sunday on a weekday. Paid plans raise the fair-usage allowance.

Example: GBP 1,500 of foreign-currency spending in one rolling month on Revolut UK Standard, all exchanged on weekdays. The first GBP 1,000 is free, and 1% on the remaining GBP 500 is GBP 5.

With either card, decline when a terminal or ATM offers to charge you in your card’s currency. That offer is dynamic currency conversion: the merchant’s provider sets the rate instead of Wise or Revolut.

Wise sets ATM fees by the country that issued your card. A UK card withdraws up to GBP 250 a calendar month free, however many withdrawals that takes, and pays 2.69% only on the amount above (as of 10 Oct 2026). An EEA card priced in euros gets EUR 250, then 2.69% (Wise pricing for Ireland and Germany, as of 10 Oct 2026); a US card gets USD 250, then USD 1.95 + 1.95% per withdrawal (as of 21 Sep 2026).

Revolut UK Standard allows 5 withdrawals or GBP 200 per rolling month without a Revolut fee, whichever comes first, then charges 2% with a GBP 1 minimum (as of 26 Sep 2026). Because the count matters too, five small withdrawals use up the allowance even if they total less than GBP 200. In the EEA, Revolut sets the Standard allowance per country, so compare Wise’s EUR 250 with the figure on your country’s Revolut fee page.

Example with UK cards (Wise as of 10 Oct 2026, Revolut as of 26 Sep 2026): GBP 250 taken as five GBP 50 withdrawals costs nothing on Wise and GBP 1 on Revolut, because the fifth withdrawal falls outside the GBP 200 allowance and pays the GBP 1 minimum. GBP 600 taken as three GBP 200 withdrawals costs GBP 9.42 on Wise (2.69% of GBP 350) and GBP 8 on Revolut (2% of the second and third). The costs meet at roughly GBP 395 a month.

The ATM owner can add its own fee with either card. On a cash-heavy trip, carry both cards and split withdrawals between them to use two allowances.

Transfers between Revolut users are free. Transfers to outside bank accounts are priced by route, currency and plan with Revolut, and by route, currency and payment method with Wise.

To compare, enter the same amount in both apps at the same time and look at what the recipient receives in the same currency after all fees. Check the delivery time as well.

Receiving money is a separate feature. Wise lists which currencies you can hold and which come with account details for receiving payments, so check that the currency you need to receive has account details for your country of residence.

Revolut UK plans: Standard free, Plus GBP 3.99, Premium GBP 7.99, Metal GBP 14.99 and Ultra GBP 55 a month (as of 26 Sep 2026). A paid plan pays off if you regularly go beyond the Standard allowances or use its perks. The first Standard card has no issue charge, but delivery is charged.

Wise UK has no subscription: the card costs GBP 7 to order (as of 10 Oct 2026), and you pay for conversions, for ATM cash above GBP 250 a month and for transfers.

Revolut launched its UK bank on 11 March 2026 and is moving customers over in phases; the app shows which Revolut company holds your account, and bank deposits and e-money are protected in different ways. Wise in the UK safeguards customer money, which is a different protection from FSCS deposit protection.

A practical setup: Wise for holding and converting larger sums and for transfers, Revolut Standard for weekday card spending within its GBP 1,000 allowance. Each card is then the backup for the other.

Check which network each card is on. A Visa and a Mastercard make the best pair: if a terminal refuses one, the other may still work. Keep the two cards in different places.