Last Updated: July 1, 2026
Revolut is a feature-packed money app with five pricing plans from free to £45/month, spending in 150+ currencies, international transfers to 160+ countries, and a growing set of extras including stocks, crypto, and travel cover on higher tiers. It is best for people who travel, spend in multiple currencies, or want more than a basic current account.
Quick take: Revolut makes the most sense if you have a reason to use the international features. If you only need a UK current account with no overseas angle, a simpler banking app may suit you better.
This Revolut review UK for 2026 walks through the plans, the pricing, and whether the app earns its place on your phone. Revolut has grown from a travel card into a broad money platform. The feature list is long. The plan ladder runs from free to £45 a month. Deciding whether it fits comes down to how many of those features you actually use.
Quick Verdict: This Revolut Review UK in One Minute
Revolut is worth it if you travel, spend abroad, send money internationally, or want a broad money app that covers more ground than a standard UK current account. It is not the best fit if all you want is a simple bank account for day-to-day UK spending and you have no interest in currency features, trading, or paid plan perks.
The free Standard plan covers the basics well. The paid tiers add insurance, higher limits, cashback, and trading access. Whether those are worth the monthly fee depends entirely on whether you use them.
Revolut Plans and Pricing at a Glance
| Plan | Monthly Fee | Key Features |
|---|---|---|
| Standard | Free | Fee-free spending abroad (fair usage limits apply), budget tools, spare change round-ups, 1 Junior account |
| Plus | £3.99 | Purchase protection, refund protection, priority support, exclusive card designs, 2 Junior accounts |
| Premium | £7.99 | Overseas medical insurance, global express delivery, 3 commission-free trades/month, lounge pass discounts, 2 Junior accounts |
| Metal | £14.99 | Metal card, up to 1% cashback (UK/EEA), travel insurance, 10 commission-free trades/month, fee-free FX up to £1,000/month, car rental excess cover, 3 Junior accounts |
| Ultra | £45 | Platinum-plated card, up to 1.5% cashback, unlimited commission-free trades, unlimited airport lounge access, global travel insurance, partner subscriptions, 5 Junior accounts |
The jump from Standard to Plus is modest but gets you purchase protection and better support. The jump from Metal to Ultra is steep at £45/month and only makes sense if the lounge access and partner subscriptions are things you would pay for anyway.
Spending and Currency Abroad
Currency handling is Revolut's strongest feature by some distance. You can hold, exchange, and spend in over 30 currencies in the app, with spending supported in 150+ currencies. The exchange rate uses the same interbank rate you see on Google, with no Revolut markup on weekdays.
There is a catch. On weekends, Revolut adds a small markup of around 0.5% to 1% to protect against currency market movements when markets are closed. Free plan users also have a fair usage limit on currency exchange, typically £1,000 per month. After that, a fee kicks in.
Compared to a high street bank charging 2.75% on every foreign transaction, Revolut saves you money from the first purchase. Even the free Standard plan beats most bank-issued debit cards for overseas spending.
International Transfers
Revolut supports money transfers to 160+ countries. Transfers within the SEPA zone are typically free. Transfers outside SEPA use the interbank rate with a small fee depending on the destination and amount.
If you regularly send money abroad, this alone can justify keeping Revolut on your phone. The exchange rate transparency is better than most bank transfer services, which often bury the cost in a worse rate rather than showing a separate fee.
What Revolut Is Not
Revolut has a UK banking licence but is still operating under restrictions during its mobilisation period. This means your money is not yet protected by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS) in the same way as a UK bank account. Revolut safeguards customer funds through ring-fenced accounts, but the FSCS safety net that covers Monzo or Starling deposits up to £85,000 does not yet apply.
If FSCS protection is important to you for your main balance, Revolut is better used as a spending and travel companion than as the place your salary lands.
Stocks, Crypto, and the Extras
Revolut lets you trade stocks and crypto from within the app. The trading experience is simpler than a dedicated investment platform and is aimed at people who want exposure without opening a separate brokerage account.
The free Standard plan does not include commission-free trades. You get a set number of free trades on Premium (3/month), Metal (10/month), and Ultra (unlimited). After your free trades, a fee applies per trade.
The crypto offering is worth a mention because it is there, but Revolut's crypto fees are not the cheapest in the market. If crypto is a serious part of your portfolio, a dedicated exchange will give you better rates and more control. If you just want to buy a small amount of Bitcoin without leaving your banking app, Revolut handles it.
Who Revolut Is Best For
Revolut fits people who:
– Travel abroad regularly and want fee-free spending in local currencies
– Send money internationally to family, friends, or businesses
– Hold balances in multiple currencies and switch between them
– Want stocks, crypto, and budgeting tools in one app
– Are willing to pay for a higher plan to unlock insurance and cashback
Revolut is less suited to people who:
– Only spend in GBP within the UK
– Want FSCS protection on their main balance
– Prefer a simpler app with fewer features and notifications
– Would not use the paid plan extras enough to justify the monthly fee
Common Questions
Is Revolut a proper bank in the UK?
Revolut has a UK banking licence but is in its mobilisation period. This means it can operate as a bank with certain restrictions while it completes the regulatory requirements for full operation. During mobilisation, deposits are not covered by FSCS protection. Revolut safeguards customer money through separate ring-fenced accounts, which is not the same thing as FSCS coverage. Use it as a spending account rather than your main deposit account if FSCS protection matters to you.
Which Revolut plan is best value?
For most people, the free Standard plan covers the essentials: fee-free spending abroad within limits, currency exchange at interbank rates on weekdays, and basic budgeting tools. Premium at £7.99/month adds the first layer of valuable extras including overseas medical insurance and a few commission-free trades. Metal at £14.99/month is good value if you spend enough abroad to earn meaningful cashback and would buy travel insurance anyway. Ultra at £45/month is only worth considering if the lounge access and bundled subscriptions are things you would pay for separately.
Does Revolut charge for foreign spending?
No, on weekdays. Revolut uses the interbank exchange rate with no added markup from Monday to Friday. On weekends, a small markup of 0.5% to 1% is added to protect against currency fluctuations. The free Standard plan has a fair usage limit of £1,000 per month for currency exchange. Higher plans raise or remove this limit. Compared to a high street bank charging 2.75% per transaction, Revolut is significantly cheaper even with the weekend markup.
Can I get my salary paid into Revolut?
Yes, Revolut provides UK account details and sort code. You can receive your salary, pay direct debits, and set up standing orders. However, without full FSCS protection during the mobilisation period, it is worth thinking about whether you want your entire salary landing somewhere without the £85,000 deposit guarantee. Many people use a protected UK bank account for salary and standing orders, then move spending money to Revolut for day-to-day use and travel.
Is Revolut better than Monzo or Starling?
It depends on what you need. Revolut is stronger on multi-currency features, international transfers, and the sheer breadth of what it can do. Monzo and Starling are stronger as straightforward UK current accounts with full FSCS protection, cleaner apps, and less upselling of paid plans. If you travel or send money abroad regularly, Revolut has an edge. If you stay in the UK and want a simple bank account, Monzo or Starling probably fit better.
Does Revolut Junior work for kids?
Revolut Junior, now called Revolut <18, is a free add-on account for children. Parents can set spending limits, receive notifications, and kids get their own card. The number of Junior accounts you can open depends on your plan: 1 on Standard, 2 on Plus and Premium, 3 on Metal, and 5 on Ultra. It is a solid alternative to GoHenry if you are already using Revolut yourself and want something simpler, though it has fewer chore and savings-goal features than dedicated kids' banking apps.
I have used Revolut on and off for years, mostly for foreign spending and currency exchange when travelling. It does those things well and at a better rate than any high street bank I have used.
The thing I would flag is the plan upsells. Revolut wants you on Metal or Ultra, and the app will remind you of this regularly. The free plan is genuinely good, and most people do not need to pay for more. If you travel a lot, Premium or Metal might earn their keep through the travel insurance and cashback. But sign up for free first and upgrade later if you actually use the features. Do not upgrade because the app tells you to.
The other thing worth knowing: I keep my Revolut balance topped up with what I need for spending and travel, not my full salary. The FSCS situation matters less when you are holding a few hundred pounds for spending rather than your entire savings pot.
I’m Steven, founder of MoneyAppReviews. I test money apps, referral programs, and EV tools in real life before I write about them. I drive a 2021 Tesla Model 3 Long Range, use Octopus Intelligent Go for home charging, and regularly track costs, savings, and app performance over time. I focus on practical, evidence-based reviews that help people decide what is actually worth using, not just what pays the highest commission.