Revolut vs Wise, Thoroughly Compared: Fees, FX, and Usability — From “Who It Suits” to “Should You Hold Both?” Complete Guide

Key Takeaways

• Exchange rates: Wise always uses the mid-market rate (real-time midpoint) plus a clearly itemized fee. Revolut charges no extra fee on weekdays within your plan’s monthly allowance, but adds a percentage fee on weekends, when you exceed allowances, or in certain cases.
• ATMs: In Japan, Revolut’s Standard plan lets you withdraw up to ¥25,000 equivalent per month free, then 2% thereafter. Wise card offers 2 free withdrawals per month, totaling up to ~USD 100 equivalent (beyond that: a fixed + percentage fee).
• Domestic / international transfers: In Japan, Revolut offers 1 domestic transfer/month free (¥220 thereafter); international transfers show fees in-app (intermediary bank fees may apply). Wise shows mid-market + explicit fees and excels at total landed-cost transparency for cross-border transfers.
• Who is it for? Revolut fits travelers and everyday overseas spending with smaller amounts; Wise tends to win for larger / ongoing sends and exchanges. Using both can optimize costs.
• TL;DR: Primary need = cross-border sending & multi-currency management → Wise / Travel, daily foreign currency payments, and ATM access → Revolut / Use both → often the best in more situations.

Who is this guide for? How will it help?

This is for frequent travelers, people with foreign income (expats, freelancers), students on study abroad or working holiday, corporate staff in foreign firms, cross-border e-commerce owners/accountants, and families sending money overseas. The goal is to help you understand FX and fees correctly and choose the cheapest near-optimal method based on your usage pattern. We map specific scenarios (“occasional travel and exchanging only a few tens of thousands of yen,” “sending several hundred thousand yen monthly,” “keeping overseas subscriptions cheap”), so you can decide quickly which wins. We also cover Japan-specific caveats (ATM, domestic transfers, weekend rates) using up-to-date info.

First principles: the core difference in FX rates and fees

Wise applies the mid-market rate to both transfers and exchanges, adding a transparent external fee. With no hidden markup in the rate, your total cost is easy to read. Rates update in real time while markets are open; on weekends Friday’s last rate is held.

Revolut (Japan Standard / free plan) charges 0% FX fee on weekdays (market hours) within the plan’s allowance, but applies an extra 1% on weekends and set percentage fees (e.g., 0.5% in some high-volume patterns). Some paid plan tiers reduce or waive weekend add-ons depending on region/plan. See Revolut Japan’s official pricing page for the exact rates and thresholds on the Standard plan.

Tip

• Compare “amount received” or total cost. If the rate includes a markup, “zero fee” can still be expensive. Wise is designed for total-cost clarity. Revolut also shows the applied rate and fee in-app.

In Japan: Cash (ATMs) and domestic bank transfers

ATM withdrawals (Japan)

• Revolut (Standard): Up to ¥25,000/month free, then 2%. ATM operator surcharges may still apply.
• Wise card: Two free withdrawals/month, totaling ~USD 100 equivalent, then percentage + fixed fees (local display currency varies by region; structure similar). Wise publishes how to use Japanese ATMs guides, too.

Domestic transfers (JPY)

• Revolut (Japan): 1 domestic transfer/month free, then ¥220 per transfer. International transfer fees are quoted in-app, but correspondent/intermediary charges may apply; a “Pay All Fees / recipient-gets-full-amount” option is available.

International transfers

• Wise: Mid-market + explicit fee, with side-by-side total cost / receive-amount comparisons for common routes (JP↔US, etc.), updated regularly.

Plans & monthly fees: How far can you go for free? What changes on paid tiers?

Revolut (Japan) offers Standard (free) / Premium (~¥980/mo) / Metal (~¥1,980/mo) and more, with weekday FX fee handling, weekend add-ons, and allowances varying by plan. The Standard plan suffices for routine use, but if you often exchange on weekends or want higher ATM allowances in travel seasons, consider paid tiers (check each plan for details).

Wise has no monthly fee; you pay only for what you use. Its multi-currency account supports receive/hold/convert/send across currencies, with a debit card for payments/ATMs. Its single principle—always mid-market + fee—makes cost forecasting straightforward.

Business use & multi-currency ops: statements and receiving flexibility

Wise multi-currency supports 50+ balances, with local receiving details (e.g., IBAN/sort codes) for some currencies. You can receive in multiple currencies → convert when you wish → send or spend by card, end-to-end. Docs clarify supported currencies and local details; it’s well-suited to SMBs/freelancers collecting foreign revenue. In 2024 Wise also announced direct connection to Japan’s Zengin (clearing) network, improving domestic settlement cost/time.

Revolut (Japan) supports domestic & international transfers, with 1 domestic free/month (¥220 after)—pragmatic costs. It shines for holding multiple currencies and easy in-app conversion, plus traveler-friendly features (budgets/analytics, security controls, virtual cards). ATM/FX/transfer rules on Japan’s Standard plan are clearly documented above.

Scenario comparisons: which is actually cheaper?

The decision method below is illustrative (always check the live in-app rate/fee for your moment).

Example 1: Weekend airport, quick JPY→EUR exchange to pay by card

• Revolut: +1% weekend FX add-on on Japan’s Standard plan. Pre-exchange on a weekday avoids this and makes travel spending smoother.
• Wise: Always mid-market + fee. On weekends, Friday’s close is held (limits sudden moves; Monday reflects changes).
  Pattern: Weekend ad-hoc FX favors Wise for predictability; if you can prep on weekdays, Revolut is very competitive.

Example 2: Withdraw ¥30–50k via Japan ATMs a few times per month

• Revolut (Standard): Free up to ¥25,000/month, then 2%; heavy months cost more.
• Wise: 2 free withdrawals/month up to ~USD 100 total, then fixed + percentage fees. Two small withdrawals can fit within the free tier.
  Pattern: Few, small ATM pulls → Wise; larger, consolidated withdrawals + card usage → Revolut.

Example 3: Send ¥200–300k monthly from Japan to an overseas freelancer

• Wise: Shows total cost (fee + mid-rate) and precise receive-amount; some months have tiered fee discounts.
• Revolut (Japan): The app shows route & estimated fees; choosing “Pay All Fees” reduces intermediary fee surprises.
  Pattern: If receive-amount certainty is paramount → Wise. If the in-app quote is acceptable and Revolut is already your main card → Revolut.

Security & day-to-day usability

Both offer app-level card lock/unlock, e-commerce toggles, and virtual cards—modern card security. Wise stands out for cost predictability; Revolut for a smooth traveler experience (instant FX, budgeting, extra cards). Knowing weekend/market-hours rules and ATM limits/fees helps you avoid surprise costs. In Japan, beware ATM operator surcharges and DCC. Always settle in local currency (JPY); avoid “bill in your home currency.”

“Which should I pick?” Best fits by persona

Travel fans / a few business trips per year

• Revolut: Weekday pre-exchange + small ATM during trips is strong. Make weekday pre-exchange a habit to avoid weekend add-ons.
• Wise: Predictable total costs help for non-travel international payments (tuition, overseas rent, etc.).

Regular cross-border payments / foreign revenue (freelancers, creators, import/export)

• Wise: Use local receiving details, hold FX, and JPY conversion when favorable. API/batch also help integrate into ops.
• Revolut: If you want send/exchange/card spending all in one app, plus 1 domestic free transfer, it’s compelling.

Study abroad / working holiday / long stays

• Revolut: Daily spend, bill splits, instant card controls are convenient.
• Wise: Large transfers (tuition/rent) remain cost-stable. Using both is the least error-prone.

Why hold both? A smart split-use recipe

The biggest gain is auto-routing your behaviors to the “stronger” tool.

• With Revolut: Weekday pre-exchange → card spending / ATMs while traveling. Handy 1 domestic free transfer.
• With Wise: Handle international transfers, receiving, and large FX, optimizing total cost transparency and receive-amount certainty. Template recurring payments (freelance payouts, tuition, rent).

Quick flowchart (text)

1. Is it sending or daily spending? → Sending = Wise / Daily spend = Revolut
2. Do you exchange mostly on weekends? → Yes = favor Wise / No (can prep weekdays) = Revolut pre-exchange
3. How often/how much for ATMs monthly? → Few/small = Wise / Larger consolidated + card use = Revolut
4. Need a guaranteed receive-amount? → Yes = Wise

Practical notes for Japan residents (bookmark)

• Weekends: Revolut +1% weekend add-on (Standard JP); Wise holds Friday’s rate. Large weekend exchanges → Wise; planned weekday exchanges → Revolut.
• ATM free tiers: Revolut (Standard) ¥25,000/mo free → 2% after; Wise 2 withdrawals & ~USD 100 total free. Plan monthly withdrawals.
• Domestic transfers: Revolut (Japan) 1 free/month → ¥220 thereafter; handy for occasional small JPY transfers.
• Receiving rails: Wise’s local receiving details + direct Zengin access make receiving & domestic payouts efficient.
• DCC avoidance: In Japan, choose JPY at POS/ATM. Avoid “charge in your home currency.”

Reading the pricing UI: comparison tips

1. Compare total cost: Rate + fee → compare receive-amounts. Wise provides comparison pages/quotes.
2. Rate source: Wise = independent mid-market source; Revolut = its quoted rate + plan-conditioned fees. Verify justifications in-app.
3. Time window: Weekday market hours vs weekends changes terms (Revolut). In sharp FX moves, check Wise’s guaranteed-rate window.
4. ATM strategy: Know free tiers / counts / percentages; decide “one-off larger” vs “multiple small” withdrawals to save fees.

Still unsure? Decision templates (ready-to-use answers)

Q1. I travel 1–2 times/year and pay mostly cashless. Which?
→ Revolut Standard with weekday pre-exchange, then card on trip. For small cash, stay within free ATM tiers. A smooth experience.

Q2. I send/receive ¥100k–¥300k overseas monthly. Which?
→ Wise. Prioritize receive-amount certainty and total-cost clarity. Leverage multi-currency receiving and possible monthly tier discounts.

Q3. On assignment abroad, I need some salary in local currency and JPY to family. How to run it?
→ Wise as the send/receive hub; Revolut for daily spending. Dual-wield for optimization.

Common pitfalls & how to avoid them

• Bulk exchanging on weekends (Revolut): Use weekday scheduled/auto FX. If urgent on weekends, quote Wise’s total cost.
• Blowing past ATM free tiers: Plan at month start—two small pulls (Wise) or one consolidated within ¥25k (Revolut).
• DCC overcharge: At POS/ATM, choose JPY (local currency). Decline “bill me in my home currency.”

Wrap-up: the shortest path and action steps

• If your main need is remitting/receiving FX, choose Wise. Mid-market + explicit fee gives receive-amount certainty and transparency.
• For travel & daily spend, Revolut is strong. Weekday pre-exchange + card/ATM feels effortless (mind the +1% on weekends on Japan Standard).
• Holding both enables the two-sword style—Revolut for travel, Wise for sending—with fewer missteps.

3 steps you can do today

1. Install both apps and verify identity (≈5–10 min).
2. List your next 3 months of use (travel / transfers / ATMs) → estimate which free tiers / weekend rules you’ll hit.
3. Build a Revolut weekday pre-exchange routine + Wise transfer templates (save recipients) and confirm total cost in-app every time.

Use a Revolut referral code for perks

References (primary sources)

• Revolut Japan: Personal (Standard) fees & terms
• Revolut Travel: JPY guidance & avoiding DCC
• Wise: Pricing & fees (overall)
• Wise: Card ATM fees & free tier
• Wise: Weekend rate / guaranteed-rate policy
• Wise: Multi-currency account (API / overview of supported currencies)
• Wise: Which currencies you can add/hold/receive
• Wise: Using ATMs in Japan (blog)
• Wise: Compare sending JP→US / to Japan / to Japan
• Wise: Direct Zengin connection (news)

Commercial-use images (examples)

• Mobile payments: Unsplash (payment imagery)
• Trip prep / boarding pass: Unsplash (boarding pass & passport)
• ATM: Pexels (ATM usage)
• Contactless: Unsplash (tap-to-pay imagery)

Fees and conditions vary by residency, plan, currency, amount, and time. Always rely on the live in-app quote. Figures here reflect public official info consolidated for general conditions (as of Oct 2025).