Revolut vs Wise: which multi-currency app is cheaper for travel?

Revolut and Wise both let you hold multiple currencies, receive money and spend on a card, so they look similar — but their philosophies differ. Wise is built around one thing done well: converting and moving money at the mid-market rate with a clear, stated fee, and giving you local account details to receive in many currencies. It is the low-cost currency engine.

Revolut is built as a financial app: tiered plans (free up to premium), budgeting and analytics, perks like lounge passes or insurance on higher tiers, and FX that is free up to a monthly limit before a markup applies. It does conversion too, but its value is the surrounding experience and features. Knowing which problem you are solving — cheapest FX, or a feature-rich app — points you to the right one.

The core money difference is the fee model. Wise converts at the mid-market rate and charges a transparent percentage every time, with no free allowance and no weekend surprise — what you see is what you pay. That makes it predictable and usually cheapest for larger or frequent conversions.

Revolut gives a monthly FX allowance that is free on your plan, after which a markup applies, plus a markup on weekends (when markets are closed) and higher markups on some exotic or crypto conversions. If your conversions are small and within the allowance, Revolut can be free; if they are large, frequent, or on weekends, the markups can exceed Wise’s flat fee. Match the model to your actual conversion pattern.

For everyday spending abroad both are strong: a Visa or Mastercard, contactless and mobile-wallet ready, converting at good rates within their respective models. For tap-to-pay purchases you will rarely notice a meaningful difference if you stay within Revolut’s free allowance or accept Wise’s transparent fee.

ATMs are where plan tier matters. Each gives a monthly fee-free withdrawal amount that scales with your plan, then charges a percentage beyond it. So the cheaper card for cash depends on your tier and how much you withdraw. Whichever you use, withdraw larger amounts less often to stay within the allowance, use bank ATMs, and always decline the machine’s currency-conversion offer.

Both let you hold balances in many currencies and give you account details to receive money. This is central for nomads and freelancers receiving from abroad: getting paid into local details in the sender’s country avoids forced conversion and incoming fees. Wise has long focused here and tends to offer local receiving details in more currencies; Revolut’s receiving capability varies by plan and region.

If receiving international income cheaply is a priority, check exactly which local account details each gives you for the currencies you are paid in. The right choice is the one that lets your clients or platforms pay you like a local, so the money lands without an avoidable conversion on the way in.

Revolut’s extra value is software: spending analytics, budgets, sub-accounts, disposable virtual cards, and plan perks such as insurance or lounge access on higher tiers. Wise is deliberately simpler — a clean multi-currency account and card without the lifestyle features. If you want budgeting and perks bundled in, Revolut leads; if you want a focused money tool, Wise does.

On safety, treat both the same way: they are regulated e-money or payment institutions, your funds are safeguarded (held separately from company money), but that is generally not the same as bank deposit insurance. Both are well-suited as spending and conversion tools; neither is the place to park long-term savings. Keep your savings in an insured account and use these for moving and spending.

If you want the cheapest, most transparent currency conversion and the broadest receiving details, choose Wise. If you want a feature-rich app with budgeting, perks and free FX within a monthly allowance, choose Revolut. Many travelers do not choose at all: they keep Wise as the dependable low-cost backbone and Revolut for the app experience and as a second card on a different provider.

That two-app setup is also resilient: if one account is frozen for a review, the other keeps you spending. Whichever you pick, pair it with a regulated bank backup and a little cash, and you have a money stack that is cheap, flexible and hard to fully knock out.