Revolut vs Xoom (PayPal): Fees, Rates & Speed Compared
Revolut ahead on USD → INR, GBP → EUR, GBP → PKR; Xoom (PayPal) on USD → PHP, USD → MXN.
Revolut
Won 3 of 5 routes here
4.7
Xoom (PayPal)
Won 2 of 5 routes here
4.6An existing Revolut customer may already hold the currency they want to send. Xoom presents a separate remittance checkout. Comparing the exchange rate alone misses whether another conversion or funding step is necessary to reach that checkout.
Live comparison: Revolut vs Xoom (PayPal) across popular corridors
Recipient payout route by route, Revolut against Xoom (PayPal), from collected quotes (not guaranteed).
| Corridor | Revolut | Xoom (PayPal) | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| USD → INR($1,000) | ₹94,811.38 | ₹94,763.73 | Revolut (+₹47.65) |
| GBP → EUR(£1,000) | €1,169.89 | €1,149.84 | Revolut (+€20.05) |
| USD → PHP($500) | ₱31,799.39 | ₱32,087.19 | Xoom (PayPal) (+₱287.80) |
| USD → MXN($1,000) | MX$18,561.06 | MX$18,654.31 | Xoom (PayPal) (+MX$93.25) |
| GBP → PKR(£500) | ₨183,213.12 | ₨180,402.64 | Revolut (+₨2810.48) |
| USD → NGN($200) | — | ₦268,133.32 | N/A |
Revolut vs Xoom (PayPal): Feature comparison
| Feature | Revolut | Xoom (PayPal) |
|---|---|---|
| Overall rating | 4.7/5 (Excellent) | 4.6/5 (Excellent) |
| Fee structure | £1,000/month, then 1% (Standard) | From $0 to $4.99 |
| Exchange rate markup | Own rate; weekend fee | 1% - 3% above mid-market |
| Transfer speed | Instant to 3 days | Minutes to 3 days |
| Supported countries | 150+ | 130+ |
| Supported currencies | 36+ | 50+ |
| Max transfer | No limit | $50,000 |
| Delivery methods | Bank Deposit, Revolut Account | Bank Deposit, Cash Pickup, Mobile Reload |
| Regulators | FCA, ECB, FinCEN | FinCEN |
Account balance or a separate remittance?
Write down the starting balance currency and the currency of the final debit. If the money has already been converted, compare the remaining transfer cost. If a new conversion is required, include it once. For collection rather than a bank credit, check the destination options in each service before selecting a rate.
Xoom opens no payment account; Revolut pays out of one
For senders in the UK and the European Economic Area, Xoom's user agreement describes it as a money remittance service that does not create a payment account and is provided transaction by transaction. UK residents contract with PayPal UK Ltd. The agreement notes that its Luxembourg affiliate, PayPal (Europe) S.à r.l. et Cie, S.C.A., provided the service to UK customers before 1 November 2023. That affiliate still serves EEA residents as a credit institution authorised and supervised by Luxembourg's financial regulator, the Commission de Surveillance du Secteur Financier, whose register lists it as number B00000351.
Revolut starts from a balance. Its UK personal terms, in their version of 11 December 2025, describe the Revolut Personal account as a "virtual" account that holds e-money and may hold it in several currencies. Payments leave that balance by bank transfer, using a sort code and account number or, abroad, an IBAN. Revolut can also send money to a card through the card schemes, identifying the recipient by card number alone; the terms say only the card number is needed, never the expiry date or security code, and that a card transfer cannot be cancelled once sent.
Changing your mind works differently too. Revolut's terms say a payment cannot be cancelled after it is made, which covers instant transfers and currency exchanges; a payment scheduled for later, such as a recurring one, can still be stopped in the app up to the end of the business day before its due date. Xoom's UK terms say PayPal may delay or cancel a transaction before completion if you breach the agreement or the law requires it, citing identity verification, checks on payment instruments and fraud or anti-money laundering reviews. For a mistaken or unauthorised payment, Xoom gives UK senders 13 months from the date the money was promised to the recipient; Revolut gives 13 months after payment where the other party is in the EEA.
Revolut vs Xoom (PayPal): your questions
How do I complain about a Xoom transfer sent from the UK?
Start with Xoom's customer service. Its user agreement says PayPal may take up to 15 business days to answer complaints about payments and up to 8 weeks for other complaints, and will update you on any delay. If you are still unhappy, you can refer it to the Financial Ombudsman Service, which is free and independent, within 6 months of PayPal's response, and you can also complain to the FCA. Complaints about the service before 1 November 2023 can go to Luxembourg's CSSF.
When does Revolut start safeguarding money I add by card?
Revolut's UK personal terms say it credits e-money to your account as soon as you add money by stored card, Apple Pay or Google Pay, because it knows the payment is coming, but it only safeguards that money once it actually receives it. If five business days pass after crediting you and the payment still has not arrived, Revolut safeguards the amount with its own money. Safeguarded money sits in client money accounts at large commercial or central banks, or in low-risk assets its regulator has approved.
Can I pay someone through Revolut without knowing their bank details?
Yes, with a payment link. Revolut's UK personal terms let you set an amount and share a link; your friend then types in their own bank details, and the payment goes out as if you had entered them. Each link expires after a time limit shown in the app. Because the money goes to whatever details are entered, Revolut warns against posting a link where strangers can see it, and you can cancel a link that has not been completed from your transaction history. Some recipients may first be asked to open a Revolut account.