Travel Tips Travelling to the UK

Can I use Revolut in the UK?

Zorica Lončar

05.12.22 (updated more than 1 year ago)

Read time 2 minutes

If you’re visiting the UK from another country, you’ll need to work out the best and cheapest way to spend in British pounds during your trip.

One option is Revolut, but does it work in different countries? If you’ve signed up for Revolut in the US, Europe or Australia for example, will your account and card work when you travel to the UK?

In this guide, we’ll answer these questions and more, covering everything you need to know about using Revolut in the UK.

We’ll even show you an alternative, the Wise card. This clever contactless card automatically converts your money to the local currency whenever you spend, and at a fair exchange rate. It can be used in 175 countries worldwide, including the UK.

But more on that later. For now, let’s focus on whether you can use Revolut in the UK.

Can I use Revolut in the UK?

Yes, you can absolutely use both your Revolut app and card in the UK. The company was founded in London in 2015¹, so the UK has always been one of its key customer bases.

The Revolut card can be used pretty much anywhere that Visa and Mastercard payments are accepted². So, you can spend at shops, bars and restaurants, and pay for transport, car hire and hotels. You can even use it for shopping online.

Is GBP supported for spending?

British pounds (GBP) are supported for spending on your Revolut card. If this isn’t your home currency, you have two options for spending in GBP while in the UK.

You can either convert money to GBP in your Revolut balance before you travel, or simply start spending and let the Revolut card automatically convert the currency whenever you make a transaction³.

Revolut also lets you hold and exchange between GBP and other currencies, and back again. You can manage all of this through the Revolut mobile app.

How much does it cost to use Revolut in the UK?

Before you can start using Revolut, you’ll need to sign up to a plan. Some have monthly fees. There are three to choose from⁴:

Standard - Free
Plus - £2.99 a month
Premium - £6.99 a month
Metal - £12.99 a month

There may also be additional fees related to using your card or converting currency. Let’s take a look at a few you need to know about:

Transaction	Revolut fee⁵
Additional merchant surcharge fees (for paying by card)	Set by the merchant (if applicable)
Currency exchange transactions above £1,000	0.5%
Currency exchanges on weekends	1%
ATM withdrawals over £200 (or more than 5 withdrawals)	2%⁶

When comparing options for spending abroad, it’s important to factor in the exchange rate as well as the fees.

Revolut uses the mid-market exchange rate for currency conversion, but crucially - not all the time. If you want to convert currency (or spend in a currency not in your Revolut balance) on weekends, there’s a fee of 1% to pay.

Similarly, if you convert or spend over £1,000 in a different currency, there’s a fee of 0.5% on top.

A great alternative for low-cost spending in the UK - the Wise card

Get a Wise card and you can shop, spend and convert in multiple currencies in 175 countries. You’re guaranteed the mid-market exchange rate all the time, with no extra charges for carrying out transactions on weekends or spending over a certain amount.

The Wise card automatically converts your money to the local currency (i.e. GBP) when you spend. There’s only a small conversion fee⁷ to pay, or it’s free if you already have the currency in your Wise account.

Plus, you can withdraw up to £200 a month from UK ATMs with no charge (although ATM providers may charge their own fee).

You can manage 50+ currencies, convert money and track your transactions through the handy Wise app.

Join Wise today

⁷ Please see Terms of Use for your region or visit Wise Fees & Pricing: Only Pay for What You Use for the most up-to-date pricing and fee information.

Sources used:

Sources last checked on date: 30-Nov-2022

*Please see terms of use and product availability for your region or visit Wise fees and pricing for the most up to date pricing and fee information.

This publication is provided for general information purposes and does not constitute legal, tax or other professional advice from Wise Payments Limited or its subsidiaries and its affiliates, and it is not intended as a substitute for obtaining advice from a financial advisor or any other professional.

We make no representations, warranties or guarantees, whether expressed or implied, that the content in the publication is accurate, complete or up to date.