Quick Answer
Wise is better for: international transfers (real mid-market rate, no markup), receiving foreign currency salary, and transparency. Revolut is better for: daily spending abroad (no foreign transaction fees up to monthly limit), budgeting features, and multi-currency accounts under one app. For most expats, use Wise for sending/receiving money and Revolut for day-to-day spending abroad. On a $1,000 transfer, Wise saves $8–25 vs Revolut's weekend rate markup.
After using both for 18 months across 7 countries, here's our honest breakdown — real fee comparisons, weekend rate traps, limits, and the one situation where each wins.
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Your Questions Answered
Is Wise or Revolut better for expats?
Both are excellent — they serve different use cases. Wise is better for international money transfers (it uses the real mid-market exchange rate with a transparent fee of 0.4–1.5% vs Revolut's weekend rate markups). Revolut is better for daily spending in foreign countries, with no transaction fees up to your monthly limit (€1,000 on free, unlimited on Premium). Most experienced expats use both: Wise for transfers, Revolut for spending.
Does Wise charge hidden fees?
Wise is the most transparent fee structure in the industry — no hidden fees. You see the exact fee and exchange rate before confirming any transfer. On a typical $1,000 international transfer, Wise charges $4–15 (0.4–1.5% depending on currency corridor). The only gotcha: holding non-GBP/EUR/USD currencies in your Wise account has a small monthly fee (0.4–0.6%). Check the fee calculator on wise.com before each transfer.
What are Revolut's weekend exchange rate fees?
Revolut applies a 1% markup on exchange rates during weekends (Saturday 00:01 UTC to Sunday 23:59 UTC) for most currencies. On a £1,000 transfer, that's £10 extra. The Revolut Metal plan reduces this to 0.5%. This is Revolut's biggest gotcha — it's not advertised prominently. If you're making a large transfer, do it during the week. Wise doesn't charge weekend markups — it's one of Wise's key advantages.
Can I use Revolut as my main bank account abroad?
Revolut can serve as your primary account abroad — it offers an IBAN (in the EU), a debit card, direct debits, and salary payments. Limitations: customer support is slow (email only on free plan), account freezes are reported more than traditional banks, and some countries don't accept Revolut IBANs for salary. For stability, use Revolut as your spending/savings account and keep a local bank or Charles Schwab as your backup.
How long does a Wise transfer take?
Wise transfer times by currency: USD, GBP, EUR, AUD — same day or next business day for 50%+ of transfers. Less common currencies (MAD, TND, ZAR) — 1–3 business days. Transfers in local time zones (Asian currencies sent during business hours) are faster. Bank-to-bank transfers (SWIFT) are slower than local delivery. Use the Wise app's tracker to monitor in real time. Delays almost always relate to the recipient's bank, not Wise.