BullionVault vs Revolut

BullionVault or Revolut: which one leaves you with more

Deciding between BullionVault and Revolut is less obvious than it looks. The useful question is how much you actually keep once both the visible fee and the hidden margin have been taken into account. That is exactly what this page measures.

On our site, BullionVault belongs to the precious metals dealer category and handles Currencies, Precious metals, while Revolut sits in broker and handles Currencies, Cryptocurrencies, Precious metals. This already says something about which jobs each one is built for.

Under the calculator and the scenario table you can read our method, what each one is good at and which one fits which situation. Rates on this page are live, so today’s result is not set in stone.

Regulation and safety

Before you look at cost, check who is looking after your money. A legitimate provider is licensed or registered with a financial regulator. You can usually find the licence details in the footer or legal section of the provider’s website.

With e-money and transfer services, ask about safeguarding: your balance should be held apart from the firm’s own money. Note that safeguarding differs from a bank deposit guarantee.

Crypto exchanges deserve extra scrutiny: check their registration, how they store customer assets and whether withdrawals to your own wallet are possible. In all cases, enable two-factor authentication (2FA) from day one.

Which one suits you?

For travel spending, look at card fees, cash withdrawal limits and weekend surcharges, not just the transfer price. Whichever of the two offers a usable card for your destination has a head start.

If you send money abroad regularly, the total cost per transfer and the delivery time are what count. For large amounts, such as a house deposit or tuition, even a small margin difference adds up, and limits and verification matter as well.

When buying crypto, check that crypto is supported at all, then compare spreads and withdrawal fees. Businesses should look at business accounts and batch payments, which not every provider offers. This page compares cost, not suitability as an investment.

Does the amount matter?

The cheapest choice for a small amount is not always the cheapest for a large one. On small sums the fixed part of the price dominates, on large sums the percentage does. So look at the row closest to the amount you plan to convert.

If you move larger sums regularly, check whether tiered pricing applies, which is not always visible in our sample amounts. Before a big transfer with BullionVault or Revolut, read the current pricing on their site.

Why not use both?

You do not have to pick just one. It is perfectly normal to keep BullionVault for one task and Revolut for another. Signing up rarely costs anything, but verification is not always instant.

Each time you plan a bigger conversion, run the amount through the calculator, since rates move and the cheaper side can flip. It is a quick check that pays off.

If you switch, make sure no balance or scheduled transfer is left behind and save your statements, as you may need them later for your tax return.

Where the real cost hides

“No fees” is one of the most common claims in money transfer, and one of the most misleading. Often the cost simply moves into the exchange rate, where it is harder to spot. The bigger the amount, the more that margin hurts.

So we never compare fees on their own. One provider may charge a clear fee with a tight rate, another may skip the fee and widen the rate. What counts is what lands in the account at the end.

Also look beyond the conversion: withdrawal and network fees, card costs and fees at intermediary banks. Some of these sit outside what we can measure, so check the provider’s fee page before a big transfer.

Our method

There are two parts to the price of any conversion: a visible fee and a margin hidden in the exchange rate. Our yardstick is the mid-market rate: the midpoint between what the market bids and asks. That gap is the margin, which we add to the fee to get the total cost.

We run this for several sample amounts, from small to large, so the effect of fixed fees and percentages becomes visible. Exchange rates are refreshed every 30 minutes; fees are taken from the published fee schedules. Special offers or paid plans can change the price you actually pay.

GoldexPay is independent. Affiliate links help pay for the site, but the ranking is based on cost alone. The numbers decide, not the commission.

Delivery time and ease of use

BullionVault lists its quickest option as Same day, while Revolut lists Instant. These are best cases, not guarantees. A first transfer often takes longer because of identity checks.

Speed often depends on how you pay. Faster funding options can come with a higher fee, so check the total in the calculator. If the money is not urgent, the slower and cheaper route is often the smart choice.

Convenience counts too: how easy the app is, whether you can track a transfer and how fast support responds. A small test transfer tells you more than any review.

Our verdict

In 3 of 3 scenarios we can test on both sides, Revolut left you with more money after fees and rate margin. On price alone, that makes Revolut the default pick.

Still, BullionVault is not out of the race. Scroll back to the table to find which conversions BullionVault still wins, and if your own transfer matches one of those rows, BullionVault is simply the cheaper option for you.

Cost is one thing, not everything. You may already have a verified account with BullionVault, which saves a sign-up. For small sums, those practical points can outweigh the price difference.