Wise vs Revolut: Which Is Cheaper in 2026?
Both are fintech favorites, but they're built for different jobs: Wise is a money-transfer specialist on the mid-market rate; Revolut is an all-in-one banking and spending app with a free FX allowance.
The Short Answer
Wise converts at the mid-market rate, the same rate you see on Google, and shows its whole cost as a fee. There are no plan tiers and no weekend surcharge. Revolut is close to the interbank rate while you stay within your plan's monthly exchange allowance.
On a $100 transfer from the US to a UK bank account, Revolut's own quote came to $1.08 all-in, against $7.33 for Wise. Those are each provider's own quotes, in quotes collected October 13, 2026.
There's also a structural difference worth knowing upfront: Revolut is primarily a spending and banking app that happens to do FX. Wise is a money-transfer specialist first. That shapes everything about how they price.
Wise vs Revolut: The Fee Table
Each provider's own current quote, from the US to a UK bank account, paid from a bank account. Revolut's quotes are for its free Standard plan; paid tiers (Premium, Metal, Ultra) reduce or remove some charges.
| Service | $100 | $1,000 | $5,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wisepaying from a bank account, delivered to a bank account | $7.33rate ref differs | $10.26rate ref differs | $23.30rate ref differs |
| Revolutdelivered to a bank account | $1.08 | $4.09 | $35.44 |
All-in cost (fee plus the margin in the exchange rate) from each provider's own quote for a transfer from the US to a UK bank account, in quotes collected October 13, 2026. Where a provider prices by payment or delivery method, the method its quote is for is named under it; a provider without one prices the same however you pay or receive. Green marks the cheapest standing price where two or more providers answer the same question.
How each one prices, in words:
Run your own transfer amount through both calculators to see the exact cost:
What Wise Does Well
- Always the true mid-market rate.
- Every transfer, every day of the week, with no hidden markup. The rate you see on Google Finance is the rate you get. Revolut only matches this up to its monthly allowance on weekdays.
- Transparent, predictable pricing.
- You see the exact fee, in dollars and cents, before you confirm any transfer. No plan tiers, no weekend gotchas.
- Better for bank-to-bank international transfers.
- Wise is purpose-built to move money between bank accounts in different countries, often arriving same-day or next-day for major corridors.
- 40+ currency account.
- Wise lets you hold and receive money in more than 40 currencies with local bank details, making it a genuine multi-currency account for freelancers and remote workers.
What Revolut Does Well
- A monthly exchange allowance makes small exchanges cheap.
- Within your plan's monthly allowance, Revolut exchanges close to the interbank rate. For someone exchanging a small amount to cover a foreign trip, the effective cost can be close to zero.
- Cheaper on a small transfer.
- On a $100 transfer from the US to a UK bank account, Revolut's own quote came to $1.08 all-in, against $7.33 for Wise. That gap matters if you're splitting bills or sending small amounts regularly.
- All-in-one app.
- Revolut combines spending, budgeting, a debit card, crypto, stocks, and international transfers in one place. If you want a full digital banking experience, it does far more than Wise.
- Great for everyday spending abroad.
- The Revolut card uses its competitive rate at point of sale, making it practical for travel and foreign card payments within the free allowance.
The free Standard plan adds a surcharge on currency exchanges over the weekend, which you don't pay Monday through Friday. Revolut's fee page states the current rate and hours. Schedule large transfers for a weekday if you can.
Which Should You Choose?
- Choose Wise if
- you send larger amounts, want the guaranteed mid-market rate every single time, or mainly do bank-to-bank international transfers. It's the specialist tool built for exactly that job.
- Choose Revolut if
- you exchange small amounts often, reliably stay within your plan's monthly exchange allowance, or want a full spending and banking app alongside your FX needs. Just avoid exchanging on weekends on the free plan.
- Use both if
- you want the best of each. Many people keep Revolut as their everyday spending and small-FX app, and reach for Wise when they need to move serious money internationally. There's no cost to having both open.
Want to understand how exchange rate markups work in more detail, and what "mid-market rate" actually means? Read the explainers:
Going with Wise?
Check Wise’s live rate for your amount and route: the real mid-market rate, with the full fee shown before you confirm.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Wise or Revolut cheaper?
On a $100 transfer from the US to a UK bank account, Revolut's own quote came to $1.08 all-in, against $7.33 for Wise. Those are each provider's own quotes, in quotes collected October 13, 2026. Run your own amount through both calculators to see the price for your transfer.
Does Revolut use the mid-market rate?
Close to it, within your plan's monthly exchange allowance and on weekdays. Beyond the allowance Revolut adds a fair-usage fee, and the free Standard plan adds a surcharge on weekend exchanges. Wise converts at the mid-market rate every time and shows its cost as a fee.
What is Revolut's free exchange allowance?
Every Revolut plan includes a monthly amount of currency exchange near the interbank rate; above it Revolut adds a fair-usage fee, and the paid plans raise the allowance. Revolut's fee page and app show the current figures for your plan.
Is Wise better for large transfers?
It depends on the amount. Wise converts at the mid-market rate with no plan allowance to run out; Revolut is close to the interbank rate within its allowance. Price your own amount in both calculators.
Can I use both Wise and Revolut?
Absolutely. Many people keep Revolut as a spending and banking app for small everyday FX and use Wise for larger international transfers at the mid-market rate. Both accounts are free to open and there's no reason to pick just one.
Key Takeaways
- Wise always uses the mid-market rate, with no markup, no weekend surcharge, no plan tiers.
- Revolut Standard includes a monthly exchange allowance, great for small exchanges, with a surcharge on weekends.
- On a $100 transfer from the US to a UK bank account, Revolut's own quote came to $1.08 all-in, against $7.33 for Wise.
- Using both apps is a perfectly sensible strategy, and most frequent travelers do exactly that.
Compare on Your Own Numbers
The right answer depends on your transfer size and how often you exchange. Drop your real amounts into both calculators, and remember that using both apps together is often the smartest move of all.
Compare Wise and Revolut Fees
See exactly what each one charges on your transfer amount.
Related Calculators & Guides
Every fee on an international transfer, from the exchange-rate markup to card, cash pickup and bank wire charges, and how to see the real price.
The two biggest cash-transfer networks compared for 2026: fees and exchange rates, cash-pickup reach, speed, and which to pick (plus how digital apps compare).
The digital app vs the giant agent network, compared for 2026: real cost by country, cash-pickup reach, speed, the free first transfer, and which to pick.
Calculate the exact Wise fee on any transfer amount and currency pair.
Calculate Revolut's fee on any transfer amount, including allowance and weekend markup.
How Revolut Business stacks up against Wise, Airwallex, OFX and Payoneer.
Sources & References
- Wise: Send money pricing
- Revolut: Personal fees (Standard plan)
- Federal Reserve: H.10 Foreign Exchange Rates
Provider pricing and exchange rates are set by the companies named and can change. Figures in this guide are checked against these official sources. Always confirm the live rate before you transact.