Revolut vs Remitly
Compare Revolut vs Remitly: fees, exchange rates, cash pickup, mobile money, multi-currency accounts, and which is best for travelers vs remittance senders.
Quick Answer
Revolut wins for travelers and multi-currency lifestyle — 36+ currencies at interbank rates, budgeting tools, and travel insurance on premium plans. Remitly wins for remittances to developing countries — cash pickup, mobile wallet delivery (M-Pesa, GCash, UPI), and Express transfers. Choose Revolut as your travel finance app. Choose Remitly for sending money to family in emerging markets.
Revolut
Multi-currency account and super-app with 36+ currencies, trading, crypto, and transfers. Best for travelers.
Pricing
$9.99/mo
Key Features
- ✓Hold and exchange 36+ currencies at interbank rates directly from your phone
- ✓Built-in stock trading, cryptocurrency exchange, and commodities — all in one app
- ✓Disposable virtual cards for secure online shopping — one-time use card numbers
- ✓Spending analytics and budgeting tools with real-time transaction categorization
- ✓International transfers to 160+ countries with competitive exchange rates
- ✓Premium/Metal/Ultra plans add travel insurance, lounge access, and higher exchange limits
Pros
- +Most versatile financial super-app — combines banking, investing, crypto, and budgeting in one place
- +Excellent multi-currency support — 36+ currencies at interbank rates with fair usage limits on free tier
- +Disposable virtual cards are a genuine security feature unmatched by most competitors
- +Premium plans offer strong travel benefits — insurance, lounge access, cashback at competitive pricing
- +Business accounts with Xero and Slack integration are valuable for freelancers and small teams
- +Strong regulatory standing — licensed as a bank in the EU (Lithuania) and EMI in the UK (FCA)
Cons
- −Free plan has fair usage limits on fee-free exchange — 0.5% weekday / 1% weekend fee applies beyond limit
- −Not a full replacement for a traditional bank — no physical checks, limited cash deposit options
- −Customer support is primarily in-app chat — phone support limited to Premium plans and above
- −Some features (stock trading, crypto) are not available in all regions due to local regulations
Platforms
Web, iOS, Android
Learn more →Remitly
Personal remittance platform with 170+ destination countries, multiple delivery methods (bank deposit, cash pickup, mobile wallet, home delivery), and both Economy and Express transfer options.
Pricing
Free
Key Features
- ✓170+ destination countries — one of the broadest reach in the category
- ✓Multiple delivery methods: bank deposit, cash pickup, mobile wallet, home delivery (select countries)
- ✓Express transfers — debit/credit card funded, often arrive within minutes
- ✓Remitly One — subscription membership with reduced fees and better rates for frequent senders
- ✓On-time delivery guarantee — fee refund if transfer doesn't arrive on time
- ✓Supports UPI deposits in India, GCash in Philippines, M-Pesa in Kenya, Orange Money in Morocco
Pros
- +Best for personal remittances with cash pickup needs — thousands of cash pickup locations in countries where bank account access is limited
- +170+ destination countries — broadest reach for sending to developing markets in Asia, Africa, and Latin America
- +Multiple delivery options match recipient's situation — bank account, mobile wallet, or cash pickup
- +On-time delivery guarantee provides peace of mind — fee refund if transfer doesn't arrive on schedule
- +Express option for urgent transfers — debit/credit card funded with delivery often in minutes
- +Strong remittance corridors: Philippines, India, Mexico, Colombia, Vietnam — among the most competitive for these routes
- +Remitly One subscription can reduce costs for frequent monthly senders
Cons
- −Exchange rate markup is the primary hidden cost — advertises 'zero fee' for bank-funded transfers but makes money through rate markup of 0.5-3.0%
- −Total cost requires checking the live rate — comparing against Wise mid-market rate reveals the actual cost of the markup
- −First-transfer promotional rate misleads comparison — promotional rate for first $1,000 does not reflect ongoing transfer costs
- −Express fees on top of rate markup — urgency adds a flat fee plus the markup
- −Not suitable for business transfers — focused entirely on personal/family remittances
- −Sending limits vary by corridor and verification level
Platforms
Web, iOS, Android
Learn more →Real-World Scenarios
You travel frequently and need a multi-currency spending account
You visit multiple countries, want to hold several currencies, and need a single card for international spending without high fees.
You send money regularly to family in an emerging market
You send $200-500 monthly to family in a country where bank access is limited. Your recipient needs cash pickup or mobile wallet delivery.