Wise vs Revolut for Sending Money Abroad (2026) — Which Is Actually Cheaper?
Wise wins · 3 of 3 corridors
Cheaper than Revolut on the transfers we sampled below.
Wise
4.7Wise (formerly TransferWise) offers transparent, low-cost international money transfers using the real mid-market exchange rate with no hidden markups.
Revolut
4.4Revolut is a digital banking app offering international money transfers at interbank rates during market hours, along with a full suite of financial services.
Wise and Revolut are the two most popular fintech alternatives to bank transfers. Both offer multi-currency accounts, competitive exchange rates, and slick mobile apps. But they price international transfers very differently — and the 'cheaper' option depends on how much you send, when you send, and which currencies you use. This comparison breaks down exactly where each wins.
Quick answer: Wise and Revolut both use the mid-market rate for transfers, but they differ sharply on fees and limits. Wise charges a flat transparent fee (typically 0.3–0.6% of the amount) and has no monthly caps. Revolut is free for Standard account holders up to £1,000/month (or equivalent) and then charges 0.5% — but paid tiers (Premium £6.99/month, Metal £12.99/month) raise the free allowance to £10,000–£20,000 and skip conversion fees on weekends. Revolut only converts during market hours by default (1% weekend markup); Wise converts 24/7 at the locked rate.
In this article
Live comparison: Wise vs Revolut across popular corridors
| Corridor | Wise | Revolut | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| USD → INR($1,000) | ₹93,900.31 | ₹92,841.83 | Wise |
| GBP → EUR(£1,000) | €1,149.60 | €1,126.24 | Wise |
| USD → PHP($500) | — | — | N/A |
| USD → MXN($1,000) | MX$17,245.70 | MX$17,067.83 | Wise |
Amounts shown are what the recipient receives. Based on current scraped data, updated every 6 hours.
Overview: Wise vs Revolut at a glance
| Feature | Wise | Revolut |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 2011 (London, UK) | 2015 (London, UK) |
| Best for | International transfers, transparency | Multi-currency spending, travel |
| Fee model | Variable % (0.41%–1.5%) | Free tier + paid plans (Plus/Premium/Metal) |
| Exchange rate | Mid-market (0% markup) | Interbank (0% weekday, 1% weekend) |
| Transfer speed | 1–2 business days (55% under 1hr) | Instant (Revolut-to-Revolut), 1–5 days (external) |
| Currencies | 50+ | 36+ |
| Multi-currency account | Yes (40+ currencies) | Yes (36+ currencies) |
| Debit card | Yes | Yes (virtual + physical) |
| Monthly free FX allowance | Unlimited (always pay the fee) | £1,000/month on free plan |
| Weekend markup | None | 1% on major, 2% on exotic |
| Regulated by | FCA, FinCEN, ASIC | FCA, ECB (EU banking licence) |
Key takeaway: Wise is more predictable — you always pay a transparent fee on the mid-market rate, any day, any amount. Revolut can be cheaper for small amounts on weekdays (within the free tier) but becomes more expensive on weekends and for amounts above the free FX allowance.
Fees comparison: It depends on the amount
This is where it gets nuanced. Both can be cheapest depending on your situation:
Wise: Always transparent, always a fee
Wise charges 0.41%–1.5% of the transfer amount (varies by currency pair). There is no exchange rate markup — you always get the mid-market rate. On a £1,000 transfer to EUR, you'll pay roughly £4–£7.
Revolut: Free tier with limits
Revolut's free plan includes £1,000/month of fee-free FX conversion at the interbank rate (essentially mid-market). Above that, you pay 0.5% per conversion. Paid plans (Plus £3.99/mo, Premium £7.99/mo, Metal £13.99/mo) increase the free allowance.
Cost comparison on £1,000 transfer to EUR
| Scenario | Wise | Revolut (free plan) |
|---|---|---|
| Weekday, within £1K allowance | ~£5 | £0 |
| Weekday, above allowance | ~£5 | ~£5 (0.5%) |
| Weekend | ~£5 | ~£10 (1% markup) |
| Exotic currency (weekday) | ~£10–£15 | ~£10–£20 |
Bottom line: If you send under £1,000/month on weekdays, Revolut's free plan wins. For larger amounts, regular transfers, weekend transfers, or exotic currencies, Wise is consistently cheaper and more predictable.
Exchange rates: Mid-market vs interbank
Both Wise and Revolut claim to use the "real" exchange rate — but there's a subtle difference.
Wise uses the mid-market rate — the midpoint between buy and sell rates, with 0% markup. This rate is the same 24/7, weekdays and weekends.
Revolut uses the interbank rate during market hours (Mon–Fri). On weekends and bank holidays, Revolut adds a 1% markup on major currencies (EUR, USD, GBP) and 2% on exotic currencies to protect against Monday gap risk.
Why weekends matter: Currency markets close on Friday evening and reopen Monday morning. Prices can gap up or down. Revolut's weekend markup compensates for this risk. Wise absorbs this risk into their regular fee structure.
If you regularly send money on weekends (many people do — Friday evening after payday), Wise is significantly cheaper. If you always send on weekdays, the rates are essentially identical.
Multi-currency accounts
Both offer excellent multi-currency accounts, but with different strengths:
Wise multi-currency account
- Hold 40+ currencies
- Get local account details in USD, EUR, GBP, AUD, NZD, SGD, CAD, HUF, TRY, RON
- Receive payments like a local (US routing number, UK sort code, EUR IBAN)
- Wise debit card: spend in any currency at mid-market rate
Revolut multi-currency account
- Hold 36+ currencies
- Get local account details in USD, EUR, GBP
- Revolut card: spend at interbank rate (weekday) or with markup (weekend)
- Additional features: budgeting, savings vaults, crypto trading, stock trading
For receiving payments from abroad: Wise wins — more local account details in more currencies. If a US client needs to pay you, Wise gives you a real US routing number. Revolut's local details are more limited.
For everyday spending: Revolut wins — more features (budgeting, vaults, crypto) and a better app experience for day-to-day banking.
Transfer speed
| Transfer type | Wise | Revolut |
|---|---|---|
| To same platform | Instant | Instant |
| To EU bank (SEPA) | Hours to 1 day | Hours to 1 day |
| To UK bank (FPS) | Seconds | Seconds |
| To US bank (ACH) | 1–2 days | 1–3 days |
| To India (UPI) | Minutes | 1–3 days (SWIFT) |
| To other countries | 1–2 days (55% under 1hr) | 1–5 days |
Wise is faster for international transfers because it uses local payment rails (UPI in India, FPS in UK, SEPA in Europe) rather than SWIFT. Revolut often routes through SWIFT for non-SEPA, non-UK transfers, which is slower.
Revolut is faster for Revolut-to-Revolut — instant and free. If both sender and recipient have Revolut, it's unbeatable.
Verdict: Which should you use?
Choose Wise if:
- You send large amounts (£1,000+) regularly
- You send on weekends
- You need to receive payments from abroad (freelancers, businesses)
- You send to non-European countries (India, Philippines, Pakistan, Nigeria)
- You value transparent, predictable pricing
Choose Revolut if:
- You send small amounts (<£1,000/month) on weekdays
- Both you and your recipient have Revolut (free instant transfers)
- You want an all-in-one banking app (spending, budgeting, crypto)
- You travel frequently and need a multi-currency travel card
- You mostly send within Europe (SEPA)
Many people use both: Revolut as a daily spending card and Wise for international transfers above £1,000. The two aren't mutually exclusive — and having both gives you the cheapest option in every scenario.
Compare live rates for your specific transfer: use our comparison tool to see Wise and Revolut side-by-side for your exact amount and currency pair.
Wise vs Revolut: Summary table
| Feature | Wise | Revolut |
|---|---|---|
| Overall rating | 4.7/5 (Excellent) | 4.4/5 (Excellent) |
| Fee structure | Variable fee from 0.41% | Free up to £1,000/month, then 0.5% |
| Exchange rate markup | 0% (mid-market rate) | 0% weekdays, 0.5-1% weekends |
| Transfer speed | Instant to 2 days | Instant to 3 days |
| Supported countries | 80+ | 150+ |
| Supported currencies | 50+ | 36+ |
| Max transfer | $1,000,000 | No limit |
| Payment methods | Bank Transfer, Debit Card, Credit Card, Apple Pay | Bank Transfer, Debit Card, Revolut Balance |
| Delivery methods | Bank Deposit, Wise Account | Bank Deposit, Revolut Account |
| Regulators | FCA, FinCEN, ASIC | FCA, ECB, FinCEN |
| Founded | 2011 | 2015 |
| Best for | Large transfers, transparency, business | Small remittances, speed, cash pickup |
Wise
Pros
- Uses real mid-market exchange rate
- Transparent fee structure shown upfront
- Multi-currency account available
- Fast transfers to many countries
- Regulated in multiple jurisdictions
Cons
- Credit card payments have higher fees
- No cash pickup option
- Transfer limits may apply for new accounts
Revolut
Pros
- Interbank rates during market hours
- Free transfers between Revolut users
- Multi-currency account
- Virtual and physical cards
- Crypto and stock trading available
Cons
- Weekend markup of 0.5-1%
- Free tier has monthly limits
- Customer support can be slow