Revolut vs HSBC: Fees, Rates & Speed Compared
Revolut ahead on GBP → PKR; HSBC on GBP → EUR.
Revolut
Won 1 of 2 routes here
4.7
HSBC
Won 1 of 2 routes here
3.8Revolut is a digital-first account with a 0% weekday markup; HSBC is a full-service bank whose markup ranges from 0% for Premier customers to 2.5% for standard accounts. On a weekday, within Revolut's free allowance, it's hard for a standard-tier HSBC transfer to compete. The comparison narrows sharply for an HSBC Premier customer, or for an HSBC-to-HSBC transfer, which is free with no markup at all.
Live comparison: Revolut vs HSBC across popular corridors
Recipient payout route by route, Revolut against HSBC, from collected quotes (not guaranteed).
| Corridor | Revolut | HSBC | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| USD → INR($1,000) | ₹94,994.91 | — | N/A |
| GBP → EUR(£1,000) | €1,149.54 | €1,150.78 | HSBC (+€1.24) |
| USD → PHP($500) | ₱30,743.32 | — | N/A |
| USD → MXN($1,000) | MX$17,835.60 | — | N/A |
| GBP → PKR(£500) | ₨180,425.66 | ₨169,965.13 | Revolut (+₨10460.53) |
| USD → NGN($200) | — | — | N/A |
Key differences between Revolut and HSBC
Revolut vs HSBC: Feature comparison
| Feature | Revolut | HSBC |
|---|---|---|
| Overall rating | 4.7/5 (Excellent) | 3.8/5 (Good) |
| Fee structure | Free up to £1,000/month, then 0.5% | Free HSBC-to-HSBC, £4-£9 otherwise |
| Exchange rate markup | 0% weekdays, 0.5-1% weekends | 0% (Premier) to 2.5% (standard) |
| Transfer speed | Instant to 3 days | Same day to 3 business days |
| Supported countries | 150+ | 200+ |
| Supported currencies | 36+ | 60+ |
| Max transfer | No limit | No limit |
| Delivery methods | Bank Deposit, Revolut Account | Bank Deposit |
| Regulators | FCA, ECB, FinCEN | FCA, PRA, HKMA |
What we measured: Revolut vs HSBC
Revolut led on 2 of 41 of the corridors we price against 1 of 21 for HSBC. HSBC's average shortfall when it isn't cheapest is 6.08%, against 2.11% for Revolut — a gap that reflects standard-tier HSBC pricing rather than the Premier rate.
A worked example: £1,000 to euros
On £1,000 GBP→EUR the gap is €1.24, with HSBC delivering more — 2.27% all-in for Revolut against 2.16% for HSBC. This reflects Revolut's weekday rate and HSBC's standard tier; either variable moving — a weekend transfer, or an HSBC Premier account — changes the result.
When to choose Revolut vs HSBC
Pick HSBC if you're a Premier customer or sending HSBC-to-HSBC
HSBC's case depends entirely on account tier: free and markup-free between two HSBC accounts, or the mid-market rate for Premier customers on any transfer. It's regulated by the FCA, the PRA and the HKMA, and has operated since 1865.
Pick Revolut for weekday transfers and app-based convenience
Revolut is the better instrument for most standard-tier senders: free up to £1,000 a month at the interbank rate on weekdays, then 0.5%. Revolut-to-Revolut transfers are instant and free. The constraint is the weekend markup and the requirement that the recipient hold a Revolut account for the fastest route.
What the Revolut and HSBC figures don’t settle
HSBC's markup depends heavily on account tier in a way our quotes cannot fully capture, and Revolut's free allowance and weekend markup depend on plan tier. Confirm your own account terms before relying on either figure.
Verdict: Revolut or HSBC?
Cost: Too close to call
Revolut led 2 of 41 of the corridors we price against 1 of 21 for HSBC, with average shortfalls of 2.11% and 6.08%. HSBC's result reflects standard retail pricing — Premier customers pay no markup at all.
Faster: Revolut
Revolut-to-Revolut transfers are instant; HSBC settles same-day to three business days. For a transfer to an external account, both depend on the receiving bank's own processing time.
Wider coverage: HSBC
HSBC's 200 countries and 60 currencies run through its own branch network; Revolut's 150 countries and 36 currencies run through the app, with no upper transfer limit against HSBC's similarly unlimited standard.
Bottom line
Account tier and day of the week decide more of this page than either company's general reputation does. A weekday Revolut transfer within the free allowance is hard to beat for a standard-tier sender; an HSBC Premier customer, or an HSBC-to-HSBC transfer, changes the comparison entirely.
Revolut vs HSBC: your questions
Does HSBC Premier change this comparison?
Substantially — Premier customers pay no markup on any transfer, which would move HSBC from behind Revolut to competitive with it. Our figures reflect standard retail pricing, since that's what most senders actually pay.
Why does the day of the week matter for Revolut but not HSBC?
Revolut's markup is 0% on weekdays and 0.5-1% on weekends, because the underlying interbank FX market is closed then. HSBC's pricing doesn't have an equivalent weekend effect — its markup depends on account tier, not the day you send.
Is HSBC-to-HSBC really free?
Yes, with no markup, regardless of account tier. If both you and the recipient bank with HSBC, that's typically the cheapest route on this page, ahead of even Revolut's free weekday allowance.
What happens after Revolut's free monthly allowance?
Transfers above £1,000 a month are charged at 0.5%, still competitive against standard-tier HSBC pricing. Compare both for your specific amount rather than assuming the free-allowance figure applies indefinitely.