Revolut vs Wise for travel — which is better in 2026?

Revolut and Wise are both excellent travel cards and both charge near-zero forex fees. The differences are meaningful: Wise uses the true mid-market rate consistently, Revolut has a weekend surcharge on the free plan. Revolut's paid plans offer more perks. Here's the full breakdown.

Exchange rates: Wise wins on consistency

Wise uses the mid-market rate — what you see on Google — for all currency conversions, 7 days a week. There is a small, transparent conversion fee (typically 0.35–1.5% depending on currency) when you convert between currencies in your account or spend in a currency you haven't pre-loaded. Revolut's free plan uses the mid-market rate on weekdays but adds a 0.5–1% markup on weekends when the forex market is closed. On Revolut's paid plans, the weekend markup is removed.

ATM access: Revolut's paid plans win

Wise gives two free withdrawals per month up to £200 total — after which 1.75% + £0.50 per withdrawal applies. Revolut's free plan gives £200/month free, then 2%. Revolut's Standard Plus gives £400/month free, Premium gives unlimited free withdrawals. For frequent cash travellers, Revolut Premium (£9.99/month) with unlimited free ATM withdrawals may be worth the cost if you're withdrawing more than £400/month.

Multi-currency accounts: Wise wins

Wise holds 40+ currencies simultaneously in one account. You can convert at the mid-market rate and hold balances in different currencies — spending from the right balance means zero conversion at the point of payment. Revolut holds 30+ currencies. Both are excellent for multi-currency holding, but Wise's currency coverage and the true mid-market rate make it slightly better for currency-specific management.

Banking features: Revolut wins

Revolut has evolved into a full financial super-app — savings, crypto, stock trading, international transfers, insurance, and more. For users who want banking features beyond just travel spending, Revolut is more comprehensive. Wise remains focused on its core proposition: multi-currency accounts and international transfers at the best rate. Neither is a full bank in the UK regulatory sense (both are e-money institutions, not deposit-taking banks).

International transfers: Wise wins

Wise was built around international transfers and remains the best pure product for sending money internationally — mid-market rate, transparent fees, fast transfers to 80+ countries. Revolut transfers are good but use a slightly worse rate in some corridors. If you regularly send money internationally (not just spending while travelling), Wise is the stronger platform.

The verdict

Choose Wise if: you want the most consistent exchange rates including weekends, you manage multiple currency balances, you send money internationally. Choose Revolut if: you want a banking super-app with broader financial features, you need higher ATM allowances and are willing to pay for a premium plan, you want insurance and other perks built in. Many frequent travellers use both — Wise for holding currencies and transfers, Revolut for day-to-day travel spending.

The exchange rate model: where they differ

Both Revolut and Wise advertise mid-market exchange rates, but their models differ in the details. Wise charges the mid-market rate plus a transparent, fixed conversion fee (shown upfront) — typically 0.4% for major currencies, higher for exotic ones. This fee applies every time you convert. Revolut on the free plan offers mid-market rates on weekdays but adds a 0.5% markup on weekends when currency markets are closed and rates are set by Revolut internally. On Revolut Metal (£12.99/month), the markup disappears. For frequent weekend travellers, this distinction matters. For weekday business travel, both are functionally similar.

ATM withdrawals: fees and limits

Both cards allow free ATM withdrawals up to a limit. Revolut's free plan includes £200/month in free ATM withdrawals (then 2% fee). The Plus plan (£2.99/month) increases this to £400. Wise's free plan includes two free ATM withdrawals per month up to £200 total (then 1.75% fee above that, minimum £0.50). Heavy cash users will find these limits inadequate and should consider Starling or Monzo, which have more generous policies for everyday banking. For occasional ATM use during a holiday, both Revolut and Wise are adequate on their free tiers.

Multi-currency holding: Wise has an edge

Wise's core product is a multi-currency account. You can hold actual balances in 40+ currencies — not just convert at the point of spending. If you regularly travel to Japan, you can hold JPY and convert when the rate suits you. You can also receive money directly into your Wise account in multiple currencies — useful for freelancers paid in USD or EUR. Revolut also supports multi-currency holdings but with fewer currencies for balance holding on lower tiers. For travellers who want genuine multi-currency treasury management, Wise has a more established and comprehensive offering.

App features and user experience

Both apps are highly rated and feature-rich. Revolut's app feels more like a fintech superapp: it includes stock trading, crypto, savings vaults, bill splitting, hotel booking, and insurance products. This breadth can feel overwhelming if you just want a travel card. Wise's app is more focused: currency conversion, balances, transfers, and card management. It's simpler but does fewer things. Neither app crashes frequently; both have solid track records for reliability. Revolut has a slightly larger UK user base and has been around longer; Wise has the reputation for more transparent fee disclosure.

Customer support and reliability

Both companies are licensed by the FCA and have UK banking licences or e-money institution status. Neither is covered by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS) in the way a traditional bank account is — they're required to safeguard customer funds in segregated accounts, but this is not identical to the £85,000 FSCS deposit protection. For most travel use, this distinction is academic — you're unlikely to hold large balances. Customer support for both is primarily app-based, with phone support available to premium subscribers. Response times vary; urgent card issues (lost or stolen) are handled faster on premium tiers.

Which one should you actually get?

For a UK traveller who wants a single card primarily for holiday use without multi-currency complexity, Wise and Revolut Standard are both adequate — and getting both (both free) gives you the benefits of each. In practice, the choice often comes down to this: if you transfer money internationally (sending USD, EUR, or other currencies to overseas accounts), Wise's transfer service is more established and often cheaper. If you want a general-purpose digital bank with extra features (savings, crypto, stock trading, cashback), Revolut's app offers more. For pure travel spending with a UK salary and trips to common holiday destinations, both work identically for card purchases. Many frequent travellers simply carry both cards and use whichever is more convenient at a given ATM or terminal. The zero fee for obtaining both cards makes this a cost-free approach.

Security and regulatory status

Both Wise and Revolut are regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority as electronic money institutions (EMIs), not as traditional banks. This means customer funds are held in safeguarded accounts (segregated from the company's own funds) rather than under the FSCS deposit protection scheme that covers traditional bank deposits up to £85,000. In practice, for typical travel balances of a few hundred to a few thousand pounds, this distinction is academic — neither company has shown signs of financial distress. Wise plc is listed on the London Stock Exchange (since 2021), which adds a layer of financial transparency. Revolut applied for a UK banking licence and received it in 2024, which when fully operational will provide FSCS protection for Revolut accounts. Wise has not announced plans for a UK banking licence at time of writing.

Customer service: how they compare when things go wrong

Both Revolut and Wise have faced criticism for customer service quality, though in different ways. Revolut's app-based support model means there is no phone number for urgent issues — if your card is lost abroad or an account is frozen, you're dependent on in-app chat, which can have multi-hour response times. Wise has a phone support line for account issues, though it operates on business hours. For immediate card replacement abroad, neither service is as responsive as a traditional bank with a 24-hour card helpline. The practical advice: carry a backup card from a different issuer when travelling extensively. Starling Bank has 24/7 phone support and makes a good primary card for this reason — if something goes wrong, a human answers.

Which to recommend to a friend

If a friend asks which to get, the honest answer for a UK holidaymaker is: get both — both are free to sign up, and having two zero-fee cards is inherently more useful than one. If forced to choose one: Starling Bank is simpler and more robustly designed for travel as a primary account, with unlimited ATM access and full UK current account status. Revolut is more feature-rich if you want the full fintech app experience. Wise is the better choice if you transfer money internationally or hold multiple currencies regularly. For a student going on a gap year: Starling as primary, Wise as secondary multi-currency backup. For a business traveller: Wise for international transfers and multi-currency holding, Revolut Metal for lounge access and travel insurance if the monthly fee is justified by usage.

Key takeaways