Best Revolut Alternatives When You Move Abroad

Chances are you already carry one money app on your phone and wonder if another would serve your new life better. This page is for people choosing where to keep and spend everyday money abroad, not where to invest it.

Imagine you are a nurse from Kochi. You land in Manchester on a cold Tuesday in March. Your first salary will come in pounds. Your parents still need rupees every month. In the summer you hope to visit a friend in Lisbon. And on day one, before you even have a bill with your new address on it, you need somewhere to put your money.

A friend says "just use Revolut". Another says "get a real bank". A third swears by something else. Who is right?

The short answer: There is no single best app. It depends on where you live now and what you do most. If you mostly send money home and hold several currencies, look at Wise. If you live in the UK and want a full bank with deposit protection, look at Monzo or Starling Bank. If you live in the EU, look at N26 or bunq. Many people keep two: one local bank account for salary and bills, and one app for currencies.

This is a comparison of published features and prices, not a hands-on test. Prices below are as of November 2026, taken from each company's own pricing page. Fees change, so check the live figure in the app before you pay.

Why people look beyond Revolut

Revolut does a lot in one app: several currencies, cards, transfers and paid plans with extras. People who look elsewhere usually have one of these reasons:

• Exchange limits on the free plan. On the UK Standard plan, Revolut lists a monthly amount you can exchange with no fair-usage fee. Above it, a fee applies. There is also a weekend exchange fee on the lower plans. If you convert large sums, check those rules against your own numbers.
• They want a full local bank. Revolut launched its UK bank, Revolut Bank UK Ltd, on 11 March 2026, according to Revolut's own announcement. It says existing customers move over in batches, and that some new customers may still start on an e-money account with Revolut Ltd. E-money is safeguarded, but it is not covered by the deposit guarantee in the same way as a bank deposit. Check which one you have in the app.
• They live somewhere with a different set of features. Plans and prices differ between the UK, the EU and the US. A feature a friend uses in London may not exist where you live.

None of this makes Revolut a bad choice. It may still fit you well. The point is to match the app to your life, not to a friend's.

All six at a glance

The UK deposit guarantee rose from £85,000 to £120,000 on 1 December 2025, as confirmed by the Bank of England.

1. Wise

Wise started as a way to send money abroad. Today it also gives you an account where you can hold many currencies, a debit card and local bank details in several currencies. It uses the mid-market exchange rate and shows its fee before you pay.

Who it suits: people who send money home often, people paid in one currency who spend in another, and freelancers who receive money from clients abroad. If your main job for the app is moving money across borders, Wise is built for that.

Who it does not suit: people who want a full bank. Wise is not a bank. Its account is e-money, so the money is safeguarded but not covered by the UK deposit guarantee (Wise states this on its own card page). It is also not where you get an overdraft or a loan.

Key features:

• Hold and convert many currencies in one account
• Local account details in currencies such as GBP, EUR and USD, so people can pay you like a local
• No monthly plan; you pay per conversion or transfer

Before you open one, check that Wise lets people in your country hold money. Its help centre keeps a list of where you need to live.

2. Monzo

Monzo is a UK bank that runs from an app. It gives you a UK sort code and account number for your salary, all from your phone.

Who it suits: people who now live in the UK and want one main account for salary, rent and bills, with card spending abroad that has no foreign transaction fees.

Who it does not suit: people who do not live in the UK yet. Monzo says you must live in the UK full time with the right to reside here, and show photo ID. It may ask for proof of your UK address. It is also not built for holding many currencies.

Key features:

• A full UK current account with FSCS protection up to £120,000
• No foreign transaction fees on card spending abroad
• A free plan, plus paid plans with extras such as travel insurance

3. Starling Bank

Starling is another UK app bank. It has one personal account with no monthly fee and no paid tiers.

Who it suits: people living in the UK who want a simple, free bank account and travel outside the UK now and then. Starling says it charges no fees of its own on spending or cash withdrawals abroad.

Who it does not suit: anyone under 18 or not yet living in the UK. Like Monzo, Starling is not a multi-currency wallet, so it is a poor fit if you mainly want to hold euros or dollars.

Key features:

• UK current account with FSCS protection up to £120,000
• No Starling fees abroad, at the Mastercard exchange rate
• A daily cash limit abroad, so plan big withdrawals

4. N26

N26 is a German bank that runs from an app. It works in 21 European countries, including Germany, France, Spain, Italy, Ireland and the Netherlands. You get a euro account with an IBAN.

Who it suits: people moving within the EU, or to one of the countries N26 serves, who want a euro bank account fast. Card payments abroad are free on all plans.

Who it does not suit: people outside the countries N26 lists. You must be 18 and resident in one of them. If you withdraw cash in non-euro currencies often, note the fee on the free and lower plans.

Key features:

• A German bank account with an IBAN, covered by the EU deposit guarantee up to €100,000
• Free card payments abroad on every plan
• Paid plans add more free cash withdrawals and extras

Check the list of countries where N26 opens accounts before you apply.

5. bunq

bunq is a Dutch bank that runs from an app. It has a page aimed at people moving to the Netherlands.

Who it suits: people moving to the Netherlands. bunq says you can sign up before you move, and you do not need a BSN (the Dutch citizen service number) at the start. You have 90 days to add it. You will need an original plastic ID, such as a passport, national ID card or residence permit card.

Who it does not suit: people on a tight budget who use cash often. The free plan charges for every cash withdrawal and adds a small fee to foreign-currency card payments.

Key features:

• A Dutch bank licence, with deposits covered up to €100,000
• Several sub-accounts, even on the free plan
• International transfers that use Wise's exchange rate, according to bunq's price list

How to choose

Answer these four questions in order. Most people have their answer by the third.

1. Where do you live now, or in the next month? Monzo and Starling need you to live in the UK. N26 and bunq are for people in Europe. Wise and Revolut work in many countries, but check the list for yours. If an app will not open an account where you live, nothing else matters.
2. Do you need a bank, or a money app? For your salary, rent and a deposit guarantee, a local bank account is the safer base. For holding currencies and sending money home, a money app like Wise can sit next to it.
3. What will you do most? Spend abroad on holidays: look at foreign card fees. Send money home every month: look at the cost of each transfer. Withdraw cash: look at free ATM limits.
4. What does it cost for your real month? Take one normal month. Add up what you would convert, send and withdraw. Then check each app's fees against that, not against an advert.

A simple setup that works for many people: a local bank account for salary and bills, and one money app for currencies and transfers home. If sending money home is your main need, our guides to Wise alternatives and Remitly alternatives compare transfer services. For the bigger picture of costs and traps, read transferring money abroad: remittances, forex and fees.

Frequently asked questions

Is Revolut a bank?

In the UK, Revolut launched Revolut Bank UK Ltd on 11 March 2026. Revolut says existing customers move across in batches, and some new customers may start on an e-money account first. Check in the app which company holds your money. In the US, Revolut's own pricing page says Revolut is not a bank.

Can I open a UK bank account before I arrive?

Monzo and Starling both say you must live in the UK to open an account. Many new arrivals use an app like Wise or Revolut for the first weeks, then open a UK bank account once they have an address.

Is my money safe in Wise?

Wise is not a bank. It is authorised by the FCA as an e-money institution and keeps customer money safeguarded. That is different from the deposit guarantee that covers banks such as Monzo and Starling up to £120,000.

Which app is cheapest for sending money home?

It depends on the route and the amount. Enter the same amount in two or three apps and compare how much your family receives. Ignore the word "free" and look at the exchange rate too.

Do I need a BSN to open a bunq account?

bunq says you can sign up without a BSN and add it within 90 days. You still need an original plastic ID.

Should I keep Revolut and add another app?

Many people do. One local bank account for salary and bills, plus one app for currencies, covers most needs. Just keep track of the fees on each.

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Moving abroad means a hundred small set-ups in the first weeks. Your money app is one of them. Pick the one that fits the country you live in and the thing you do most, and you will not need to think about it again for a long time.