Wise vs Revolut 2026: Best International Debit Card for Digital Nomads

Wise and Revolut cards side by side comparison for digital nomads

Peter Schneider

January 20, 2026

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Wise and Revolut are the two dominant multi-currency accounts for digital nomads. Both eliminate most traditional banking fees for international use, but they excel in different areas.

This head-to-head comparison breaks down exactly when to use each—and why most serious nomads carry both.

This comparison is part of our Digital Nomad Banking Guide. For comprehensive finance strategies, see our finance resources hub.

Quick Verdict

Wise vs Revolut Summary

Best Exchange RatesWise

Best Free PlanWise

Best Premium FeaturesRevolut

Best for US UsersWise

Best for EU UsersRevolut

Best for CryptoRevolut

Wise for primary banking, Revolut as backup with Premium if you value extras

Bottom line: Wise provides the most transparent pricing and best exchange rates for most transactions. Revolut offers more features in its premium tiers and better crypto integration. Most nomads benefit from having both.

Company Overview

Wise (formerly TransferWise)

Founded in 2011 by Taavet Hinrikus and Kristo Käärmann, Wise started as an international transfer service and expanded into multi-currency accounts. They're known for radical transparency—publicly displaying their fees and using mid-market exchange rates.

Key facts:

Headquarters: London (offices globally)
Customers: 16 million+
Licensed: FCA (UK), FinCEN (US), and regulators worldwide
Primary focus: Transparent international money movement

Revolut

Founded in 2015 by Nikolay Storonsky and Vlad Yatsenko, Revolut positioned itself as a "financial super-app" with banking, crypto, trading, and lifestyle features. They've grown aggressively with feature-rich premium tiers.

Key facts:

Headquarters: London
Customers: 35 million+
Licensed: Banking license in UK, Lithuania; various licenses globally
Primary focus: All-in-one financial app

Feature Comparison

Multi-Currency Accounts

| Feature | Wise | Revolut | |---------|------|---------| | Currencies held | 50+ | 30+ | | Local bank details | US, UK, EU, AU, NZ, SG, CA | UK, EU, US (limited) | | Balance interest | Yes (some currencies) | Yes (paid tiers) | | Account opening | 1-2 days | Instant |

Winner: Wise (more currencies, better local bank details coverage)

Exchange Rates & Fees

| Feature | Wise | Revolut Standard | Revolut Premium | |---------|------|------------------|-----------------| | Exchange rate | Mid-market | Mid-market | Mid-market | | Conversion fee | 0.35-1% | Free to limit, then 0.5-1% | Higher limits | | Weekend markup | No | Yes (1%) | Yes (1%) | | Transparency | Fully disclosed | Less clear | Less clear |

Wise exchange approach:

Always mid-market rate
Small, transparent conversion fee (0.35-1% depending on currency pair)
No hidden markups
Same rates 24/7

Revolut exchange approach:

Mid-market during market hours
Weekend/off-hours markup (1%)
Free exchanges up to monthly limit (varies by tier)
Over limit: 0.5-1% fee

Winner: Wise (transparent, no weekend markups, predictable costs)

Card & Spending

| Feature | Wise | Revolut Standard | Revolut Premium | |---------|------|------------------|-----------------| | Physical card | $9 one-time | Free | Free | | Virtual cards | Yes | 1 | 5 | | Card freeze | Yes | Yes | Yes | | Apple/Google Pay | Yes | Yes | Yes | | ATM free limit | ~$200/month | $200/month | $400+/month | | ATM fee after | 1.75% | 2% | 2% | | Foreign transaction fee | None | None | None |

Winner: Tie (both work well for daily spending)

International Transfers

| Feature | Wise | Revolut | |---------|------|---------| | Transfer speed | 1-2 days typical | 1-3 days | | Fee transparency | Upfront, clear | Less clear | | Fee structure | % based, varies by route | Varies | | Recipient types | Bank accounts, mobile wallets | Bank accounts, Revolut users |

Typical transfer costs (sending $1,000 USD to EUR):

Wise: ~$4-6 + mid-market rate
Revolut: Free to other Revolut users, varies for external

Winner: Wise (better for regular international transfers, more transparent)

Local Bank Details

One of the most useful features for freelancers—receiving payments as "local" transfers.

Wise provides:

US: ACH routing + account number
UK: Sort code + account number
EU: Belgian IBAN (SEPA)
Australia: BSB + account number
New Zealand: Bank details
Singapore: Bank details
Canada: Transit + account number

Revolut provides:

UK: Sort code + account number
EU: Lithuanian IBAN (SEPA)
US: Routing + account (more limited)

Winner: Wise (significantly more countries, especially important for US freelancers)

Pricing Tiers

Wise Pricing

Wise keeps it simple—one tier with transparent fees:

| Feature | Cost | |---------|------| | Account | Free | | Physical card | $9 one-time | | Currency conversion | 0.35-1% | | ATM withdrawals | ~$200/month free | | International transfers | Varies by route | | Monthly fee | $0 |

Revolut Pricing

Revolut offers tiered plans with increasing benefits:

Standard (Free) | Feature | Included | |---------|----------| | Account | Free | | Card | Free | | Exchange limit | €1,000/month free | | ATM limit | €200/month | | Crypto trading | Yes (fees apply) |

Plus (€3.99/month) | Feature | Included | |---------|----------| | All Standard features | Yes | | Better support | Yes | | Some extra perks | Yes |

Premium (€8.99/month) | Feature | Included | |---------|----------| | Unlimited exchange | Except weekends | | ATM limit | €400/month | | Insurance | Travel, medical | | Lounge access | LoungeKey | | Virtual cards | 5 | | Concierge | Yes |

Metal (€15.99/month) | Feature | Included | |---------|----------| | Everything in Premium | Yes | | ATM limit | €800/month | | Metal card | Yes | | Cashback | 0.1-1% | | Better insurance | Yes |

Real-World Usage Scenarios

Scenario 1: US Freelancer Receiving International Payments

Situation: Receiving EUR payments from European clients.

Wise approach:

Give client your Wise Belgian IBAN
Client sends SEPA transfer (free/cheap for them)
EUR arrives in your Wise balance
Convert to USD when you want (0.35-0.5% fee)
Transfer to US bank or spend directly

Revolut approach:

Give client your Revolut Lithuanian IBAN
Client sends SEPA transfer
EUR arrives in Revolut
Free conversion to USD up to monthly limit
Transfer out or spend

Winner: Wise (better US bank detail integration, clearer fees)

Scenario 2: European Nomad Daily Spending in Asia

Situation: Living in Thailand, spending in THB daily.

Wise approach:

Spend directly with Wise card
Auto-conversion from EUR at mid-market + small fee
Predictable, consistent pricing

Revolut approach:

Spend with Revolut card
Free conversion up to monthly limit
After limit, 0.5-1% fee
Watch out for weekend markups

Winner: Revolut (with Premium) if under exchange limits and avoiding weekends. Wise for simplicity and predictability.

Scenario 3: Emergency Cash Access

Situation: Need cash from ATM in rural area.

Wise:

Up to ~$200/month fee-free
After: 1.75% fee
Works at most ATMs globally

Revolut:

$200/month free (Standard), more on Premium
After: 2% fee
Works at most ATMs globally

Winner: Tie (both adequate; Charles Schwab beats both for ATM access)

Scenario 4: Crypto Integration

Situation: Want to buy/sell crypto and use proceeds for travel.

Wise: No crypto features

Revolut:

Buy/sell major cryptocurrencies
Convert to/from fiat
Spend directly (converts when spending)
Fees competitive with exchanges

Winner: Revolut (only option with crypto)

Regional Considerations

For US-Based Nomads

Wise is better because:

Full US ACH bank details
Easier integration with US financial system
Better for receiving USD payments
No geographic restrictions on features

Revolut limitations:

US Revolut is different product from European version
Fewer features than European Revolut
FDIC insured (which is good) but different feature set

Recommendation: Wise as primary, Revolut as backup

For European Nomads

Revolut advantages:

Full banking license in EU
Better integration with European systems
More features available in Europe
Premium lounges more useful in Europe

Wise advantages:

Still offers excellent exchange rates
More currencies
Better for non-EU transfers

Recommendation: Revolut Premium as primary, Wise for specific transfers

For UK Nomads

Both work well:

Full features available
Strong local banking integration
Revolut and Wise both licensed

Recommendation: Revolut for ecosystem, Wise for transfers—have both

Premium Features Worth Paying For

Revolut Premium (€8.99/month) Value Analysis

| Feature | Standalone Value | Worth It? | |---------|------------------|-----------| | Unlimited exchange | Saves €10-20/month if heavy user | Yes for active traders | | Travel insurance | €50-100/year if purchased separately | Yes if you don't have coverage | | Lounge access (LoungeKey) | €20-30/visit | Yes if you fly frequently | | Priority support | Peace of mind | Moderate value | | Higher ATM limits | €4-8 saved per additional €200 | Minimal value |

Premium makes sense if: You exchange more than €1,000/month, fly frequently (lounges), or want travel insurance.

Premium ROI calculation:

Cost: €8.99/month = €108/year
Lounge visits (6/year × €25): €150
Exchange savings (€2,000/month × 0.5%): €120/year
Insurance replacement: €80/year
Total value: €350+ for active users

Wise: No Premium Tier

Wise's model is pay-per-use with no subscription. For most users, this is actually cheaper despite paying per conversion.

Wise annual cost for typical nomad:

Card: $9 (one-time)
Exchange fees (€30,000/year × 0.4%): $120
Total: ~$130/year

Security Comparison

Account Protection

| Feature | Wise | Revolut | |---------|------|---------| | 2FA | Yes | Yes | | Biometric login | Yes | Yes | | Card freeze | Yes | Yes | | Transaction alerts | Yes | Yes | | Disposable virtual cards | Limited | Yes (Premium) | | Regulatory protection | FCA, various | Banking licenses |

Deposit Protection

Wise: Holds funds in segregated accounts at partner banks. Protected under various schemes depending on currency.

Revolut (EU): Full banking license means €100,000 deposit protection under European Deposit Insurance Scheme.

Revolut (UK): UK banking license, FSCS protection up to £85,000.

Winner: Revolut (EU/UK) for regulatory protection due to banking license.

Pros and Cons Summary

Pros

Most transparent pricing—no hidden fees ever
Best exchange rates (true mid-market)
More local bank details (US, UK, EU, AU, NZ, SG, CA)
No monthly fees
No weekend markups
Simple, focused product

Cons

Fewer features than Revolut
No crypto integration
No premium tier perks (lounges, insurance)
ATM limits lower without fee
No cashback or rewards

Pros

More features (crypto, trading, budgeting)
Premium tiers with real value (lounges, insurance)
Free exchanges up to monthly limits
Full banking license in EU/UK
Better app with more tools
Cashback on Metal tier

Cons

Weekend exchange markups (1%)
Limits on free exchanges
Premium required for best features
Less transparent fee structure
US version has fewer features
Over-limit fees can add up

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Get both—they're both free to open. Use Wise as your primary for the best exchange rates and transparent fees. Use Revolut as a backup and for premium features if you subscribe. Having two multi-currency accounts also provides redundancy.

Wise uses the mid-market rate with a small transparent fee (0.35-1%). Revolut uses mid-market during business hours but adds 1% on weekends. For most situations, Wise works out slightly cheaper and more predictable.

If you exchange more than €1,000/month, use airport lounges regularly, or need travel insurance, Premium pays for itself. The unlimited weekday exchanges alone can save €10+/month for heavy users. If you barely use these features, stick with free tiers on both.

Yes, both can receive salary via their local bank details. Wise has better coverage (US ACH, UK sort code, EU IBAN, etc.). Revolut works well for UK and EU salaries. Neither is a full replacement for a traditional bank for US salary direct deposit.

Both are regulated financial institutions. Revolut has full banking licenses in EU and UK with deposit protection. Wise holds funds in segregated accounts at partner banks with various protections. Both are safer than keeping cash, but for large amounts, consider spreading across multiple institutions.

Both are adequate but not great for ATMs. Each offers ~€200/month free, then fees apply. Charles Schwab (US) with unlimited ATM rebates is better for heavy ATM users. Use Wise/Revolut for card payments, Schwab for cash.

Absolutely. Many nomads carry both cards. Use Wise for most transactions (better rates), Revolut for crypto or when you've used Wise's ATM limit. Having both also means backup if one is declined.

Both let you hold foreign currency balances. Convert a batch to local currency (e.g., EUR) and spend directly without per-transaction conversion. Wise is better for this due to consistent fees; Revolut's free limits may not cover your spending.

Final Recommendation

The Optimal Setup

For most digital nomads:

Wise (Primary): Best exchange rates, local bank details, transparent fees
Revolut (Secondary): Backup card, crypto access, Premium if features justify cost
Charles Schwab (US citizens): Traditional bank with unlimited ATM rebates

Total cost: $0/month (or €9/month with Revolut Premium)

Decision Matrix

| If You... | Choose | |-----------|--------| | Want simplest, cheapest option | Wise only | | Are US-based | Wise + Schwab | | Are EU-based and want full features | Revolut Premium + Wise | | Trade crypto regularly | Revolut + Wise | | Value lounge access | Revolut Premium | | Send lots of international transfers | Wise | | Don't want to track limits | Wise (no limits, just fees) |