Revolut vs Wise

Revolut vs Wise: a side-by-side cost check

Deciding between Revolut and Wise comes down to more than the brand name. What matters is how much of your money arrives once every fee and the exchange rate are counted. That is the gap we measure here.

In our comparison, Revolut falls into the broker category and handles Currencies, Cryptocurrencies, Precious metals, while Wise is filed under money transfer service and handles Currencies. Those two labels say a fair bit about which jobs each one is built for.

Below the calculator you can read how we work out the cost, what each one is good at, and who should pick which. Rates on this page are live, so the numbers may differ slightly from yesterday.

Does the amount matter?

Who comes out ahead can flip as the amount grows. Fixed fees hit small transfers hardest; percentage margins hit large ones hardest. Our scenario table reflects this by testing several amounts.

Some providers lower their percentage above certain thresholds, and your own price may then be better than the one shown. Before a big transfer with Revolut or Wise, read the current pricing on their site.

Regulation and safety

Price matters, but so does knowing your money is handled properly. A legitimate provider is licensed or registered with a financial regulator. The supervisor’s public register lets you check this yourself.

For money services, the key word is safeguarding: your balance should be ring-fenced from the business’s own accounts. Note that safeguarding differs from a bank deposit guarantee.

With crypto platforms, look a little further: check their registration, how they store customer assets and whether withdrawals to your own wallet are possible. And on any platform: turn on 2FA and never reuse passwords.

Fees vs exchange-rate margin

A low or zero fee looks attractive, but it says little about the total cost. A provider can still earn its money on the rate. On a large amount, a small margin can add up to more than a fixed fee would.

For this reason our comparison combines the fee and the rate margin into one number. Revolut and Wise may structure their pricing differently, one with a visible fee and a tight rate, the other with no fee and a wider spread. Only the amount that arrives tells you who is really cheaper.

Other costs can matter too: card payment fees, surcharges for weekends or rare currencies, and costs on the receiving side. Not all of these show up in our scenarios, so read the fee page before you send a large amount.

Which one is cheaper?: Wise is cheaper more often

For 5 out of 7 comparisons we can test on both sides, Wise delivered the better result once fees and exchange rate were counted. That gives Wise the edge for most typical transfers.

That does not make Revolut the wrong choice. Check the table above to see where Revolut comes out ahead, and if your own transfer matches one of those rows, the overall tally matters a lot less.

There is more to it than price. You may already have a verified account with Revolut, which saves a sign-up. For small sums, those practical points can outweigh the price difference.

How we compare Revolut and Wise

The cost of a conversion has two parts: a fee and an exchange-rate margin. Our yardstick is the mid-market rate: the midpoint between what the market bids and asks. The gap is the margin, and we add it to the fee.

We test a range of sample amounts, small, medium and large, so the effect of fixed fees and percentages becomes visible. Rates refresh every 30 minutes and fees come from the providers’ published fee schedules. Promotions, account tiers and personal discounts are not always included, so your own offer may differ.

We are not owned by any provider. We may earn a commission through some links; that never affects which provider comes out cheaper. The cheaper option is shown as cheaper, full stop.

Speed and convenience

Revolut lists its quickest option as Instant, while Wise lists Same day. That is the quickest route, not the usual one for every transfer. Bank holidays, verification checks and the receiving bank can all add time.

The payment method matters as much as the provider. Paying by card tends to be faster, and sometimes more expensive, than a standard bank transfer. If the money is not urgent, the slower and cheaper route is often the smart choice.

Then there is everyday use: how easy the app is, whether you can track a transfer and how fast support responds. Try the app before you move a large amount.

The right choice depends on what you do

If you mainly spend abroad on holiday, focus on card payments and cash withdrawals rather than bank transfers. Holding a balance in the local currency avoids converting at every purchase.

To send money to a bank account abroad, 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.

If you want to buy 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. We compare costs only; this is not investment advice.

Can you use Revolut and Wise together?

Using two providers side by side is common. Plenty of users keep an account with both and choose per transfer. Signing up rarely costs anything, but verification is not always instant.

Before every larger transfer, compare live quotes here first, because the cheapest option can change with the rate and the amount. It takes a minute and can save real money.

When you move away from one provider, make sure no balance or scheduled transfer is left behind and download your statements for your records.