Last updated: November 2026
Quick answer: Choose Wise if you want one simple price for every transfer, the mid-market rate any day of the week, and the widest list of destination currencies. Choose Revolut if you want an all-in-one app with budgeting, cards and perks, you mostly exchange on weekdays within your plan’s allowance, or you are willing to pay for a higher plan to remove limits and weekend markups.
Both are fintech accounts that let you hold many currencies, spend abroad with a card and send money internationally. The difference is in how they price currency exchange.
| Feature | Wise | Revolut |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Pay per use, no subscription | Free and paid plans with different allowances |
| Exchange rate | Mid-market, every day | Revolut rate; markups apply outside plan limits and at weekends on lower plans |
| Weekend exchange | Same pricing as weekdays | Extra markup on Standard and Plus plans |
| Fair usage limits | None for exchange | Monthly fee-free allowance on Standard and Plus |
| Sending to non-users | Bank accounts in many countries | Bank accounts in many countries |
| Best for | Predictable transfers, larger amounts | Everyday banking app with travel perks |
Revolut uses its own exchange rate and adds conditions by plan. On the Standard and Plus plans, there is a monthly allowance for fee-free exchange, and a fair usage fee applies above it. At weekends, when currency markets are closed, Revolut adds a markup on lower plans: Revolut itself describes the weekend window as running from Friday 5pm to Sunday 6pm US Eastern time. Higher plans such as Premium, Metal and Ultra remove the weekend fee and the fair usage limit, and they discount international transfer fees.
That makes Revolut cheap if you stay inside your plan’s rules and potentially expensive if you exchange a large amount on a Saturday on the free plan.
Wise has no plans. Every transfer shows a fee upfront and converts at the mid-market rate, whether it is Tuesday or Sunday. Larger transfers get lower percentage fees. The recipient does not need a Wise account; see how to send money with Wise to someone without a Wise account.
Both services pay out through local rails where they can, and through Swift where they cannot. Wise generally supports a longer list of destination currencies and routes for sending to non-users. Revolut is strong for transfers between Revolut users, which are instant.
Revolut is the fuller banking app: budgeting tools, savings features, subscriptions with travel insurance and lounge perks, and stock or crypto trading in some markets. Wise is more focused: a multi-currency account, a debit card that spends at the mid-market rate, and account details in several currencies for getting paid.
We compared each provider’s pricing model, plan limits, weekend rules, destination coverage and app features using their published fee pages and independent reviews. Plan prices and allowances vary by country, so check the version for where you live.
It depends on your plan and timing. Revolut can match or beat Wise on weekday exchanges within plan limits; Wise is usually cheaper for large amounts, weekend transfers and users on Revolut’s free plan who exceed the allowance.
Yes, on lower plans. Revolut applies a markup on currency exchange during the weekend window when markets are closed. Higher plans remove it.
Yes, to bank accounts in supported countries. Transfers to other Revolut users are instant.
Many people do: Revolut for daily spending and perks, Wise for larger international transfers.
Wise is the simpler, more predictable tool for moving money abroad. Revolut is the broader banking app that can be very cheap if you play by its plan rules. Pick based on whether you want a transfer tool or a daily account.