Revolut vs. BoursoBank: Which is the best online bank in France?

You need an online bank account in France, but you're hesitating between Revolut and BoursoBank (formerly Boursorama)? Here’s a detailed comparison of their offers, as well as their rates for common transactions such as withdrawals, transfers, and payments.

If you're looking for a flexible way to manage your money in multiple currencies, consider a Wise account: you’ll benefit from the mid-market exchange rate on all foreign currency transactions, with no subscription required.

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Revolut vs. BoursoBank: an overview of their offers

BoursoBank is an online bank that’s part of the Société Générale group. It allows you to open a digital bank account with a card and also offers products typically found with traditional banks: insurance, savings plans, stock market investments, and more.

Revolut is a neobank focused on foreign currency transactions. It has several strengths: flexible subscription plans, currency conversions at a rate very close to the mid-market rate, and the ability to invest in financial markets (stocks, cryptocurrencies, commodities).

Revolut offers a free “Standard” plan with a number of benefits. At BoursoBank, opening an account is also free.

Here’s a quick overview of their basic services:

Revolut vs. BoursoBank: comparison of withdrawal and payment fees

Withdrawals in the Eurozone

With Revolut, euro withdrawals are free up to €200 per month (or 5 withdrawals) with the Standard plan and €200 with the Plus plan. The limit increases to €400 with the Premium plan, €800 with Metal, and €2,000 with Ultra.³

Beyond these amounts, a fee of 2% of the withdrawal amount or €1 applies (whichever is higher).³

With BoursoBank, there are no fees, regardless of the ATM you use.²

If you're living in France, BoursoBank is more competitive than Revolut for euro withdrawals.

Foreign currency withdrawals: Revolut or BoursoBank?

With Revolut, foreign currency withdrawals are free up to a certain limit depending on your plan:³

• Standard: €200 (or 5 withdrawals, whichever limit is reached first)
• Plus: €200
• Premium: €400
• Metal: €800
• Ultra: €2,000

Beyond these amounts, a fee of 2% of the withdrawal amount or €1 applies (whichever is higher).³

Currency exchange is done at the Revolut exchange rate (close to the mid-market rate), up to a limit of €1,000 per month with the Standard plan and €3,000 with the Plus plan (unlimited for Premium, Metal, and Ultra subscriptions). Beyond these limits, a surcharge applies:³

• 1% with the Standard plan
• 0.5% with the Plus plan

Weekend exchange fees also apply:³

• Standard: 1%
• Plus: 0.5%
• Premium, Metal, and Ultra: no fees

BoursoBank’s foreign currency withdrawal fees are:²

• Freedom card: 1.69%
• Ultim card: 3 free withdrawals per month, then 1.69%
• Welcome card: 1 free withdrawal per month, then 1.69%
• Metal card: Free

Both banks are fairly competitive for foreign currency withdrawals, but Revolut tends to be more advantageous, especially if you travel frequently. The free limits are higher, and the exchange rate is more transparent.

BoursoBank remains interesting only for occasional withdrawals or if you hold the Metal card.

Payments in euros and foreign currencies: which bank to choose?

Payments on Revolut can be made in over 150 currencies. For conversions, you’re exempt from fees up to €1,000 with the Standard plan (beyond that, a 1% fee applies) and €3,000 with the Plus plan (beyond that, a 0.5% fee applies).³

Weekend exchange fees also apply for Standard (1%) and Plus (0.5%) customers.³

With BoursoBank, card payments in foreign currencies are free; only the exchange rate applies.

In short, for payments outside the euro zone, Revolut is slightly more advantageous than BoursoBank due to lower exchange rate markups. If you have a Premium, Metal, or Ultra subscription, you won’t pay any fees.

BoursoBank vs. Revolut: who’s better for transfers?

With Revolut, local transfers are free, as are transfers in euros within the SEPA zone.³

Revolut transfer fees for non-SEPA transfers depend on the currency and destination. Customers with the Ultra plan can make international transfers without additional fees.³

However, if you exceed your exchange limit, extra charges apply for currency conversion.

With BoursoBank, SEPA transfers are free. Transfers in foreign currencies are also free, but the exchange rate used may include a hidden markup.²

It’s difficult to make a precise comparison for international transfers since Revolut’s foreign exchange fees depend on several factors.

Revolut or BoursoBank: which online bank is better in France?

BoursoBank offers not only current accounts but also savings and insurance products, making it a fully-fledged bank.

While it’s flexible, it can be less transparent on exchange rates. However, for everyday use in France, it remains affordable since there are no account maintenance or subscription fees (except for the Metal card).

Revolut, on the other hand, focuses on foreign currency transactions. Thanks to its exchange rate close to the mid-market rate, its withdrawal, payment, and transfer fees outside the euro zone are competitive.¹

Another advantage is its wide range of plans — 5 in total — so you only pay for the services you actually use. It’s also entirely possible to use Revolut for free.

Generally, BoursoBank is more advantageous if you mainly spend within the SEPA zone, since withdrawals are free from any ATM.

As soon as you start making transactions in foreign currencies, Revolut becomes more competitive — especially if you choose a higher-tier subscription.

Wise: an economical alternative for foreign currency transactions from France

Wise is a payment service that lets you make transfers, withdrawals, and payments in foreign currencies at the mid-market exchange rate — without limits, and even on weekends.

There are no subscriptions: opening and maintaining an account are free. The only cost is a €7 delivery fee for your card.

With Wise, you get a flexible and economical solution for managing your money abroad from France.

Open your Wise account

This article is a translation of the original article published in French and was translated within 365 days of publication. While the content has been translated for accessibility, the data and sources referenced have not been updated since the original publication date.