2Rank 02 of 8 · Best Travel Money Cards
Revolut Revolut
Interbank exchange rates on weekdays, free ATM withdrawals to a monthly limit, and the strongest card-control features in this ranking.
8.9BPR score
- —Price
- French banking licence since 10 Aug 2026 — protection depends on the entity holding your balanceDeposit protection status
- 2 of 8in Best Travel Money Cards
- 8.9BPR score 0–10
Review
What this product is
Written after the analysis, from the same sources the score is built on: the manufacturer's documentation, available studies and verified owner feedback.
The default recommendation, and it earns it on everyday mechanics rather than on any single headline number.
Weekday exchange happens at the interbank rate with no markup up to a monthly allowance that depends on your plan and country. ATM withdrawals are free up to a monthly limit, again plan- and country-dependent. Currency coverage is the widest here.
The control features are the real differentiator for travel: freeze and unfreeze the card instantly from the phone, generate disposable virtual card numbers for dubious booking sites, set per-category spending limits, and get an instant notification on every transaction. If a card is skimmed at an airport, the response time is seconds.
Revolut obtained a French banking licence on 10 August 2026 and is expanding deposit-protected accounts across the EU. This is the crucial detail: protection depends on which legal entity holds your balance and in which country — a Revolut balance is not automatically deposit-guaranteed simply because Revolut now holds banking licences. Check your own account's status in the app or terms.
The costs you will actually meet. Weekend FX carries a markup — typically around 1% — because the interbank market is closed; exchange on Friday. Exceed the free monthly exchange or ATM allowance and fees apply. Paid tiers exist and are worth it only for frequent travel. And Revolut's customer service is chat-first with no branch and limited phone access, which is the recurring complaint in this category and the reason not to hold your entire financial life here.
Technical data
Specification
Figures from the manufacturer's documentation, verified against available outside sources. Values we could not confirm are marked as declared.
- Licence
- French banking licence, 10 August 2026
- Deposit protection
- Depends on holding entity and country — verify per account
- FX
- Interbank on weekdays to allowance; ~1% weekend markup
- ATM
- Free to a monthly limit, plan and country dependent
- Free plan
- Yes
Component scores
Where the score
comes from.
Four components, equal weight, each on a 0–10 scale and each resting on a named source. The overall score is their mean — the full procedure is in the methodology.
What we liked
- Interbank exchange rate on weekdays with no markup, to a monthly allowance
- Free ATM withdrawals up to a monthly limit
- Instant card freeze and disposable virtual cards
- Widest currency coverage in this ranking
- French banking licence since 10 August 2026
Worth knowing
- Weekend FX markup of around 1%
- Deposit protection depends on the entity and country holding your balance — not automatic
- Allowances differ substantially between EU countries
- Chat-first support, no branches, limited phone access
Comparison
How it compares
within the category
All values come from the same analysis and are comparable only within the category Best Travel Money Cards.
| Product | Score | Deposit protection status | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| WiseTop score | 9.0 | E-money institution — safeguarded, NOT deposit-guaranteed | — |
| RevolutThis product | 8.9 | French banking licence since 10 Aug 2026 — protection depends on the entity holding your balance | — |
| Category average8 products analysed | 7.8 | — | — |
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Is my Revolut money protected up to €100,000?
Not automatically. Revolut holds banking licences, but whether a given balance is a protected deposit depends on which entity holds it and in which country. Check the status shown in your own account terms rather than assuming the licence covers you.
Why is the weekend rate worse?
The interbank currency market closes at the weekend, so providers cannot price at a live rate and add a markup — typically around 1% — to cover the risk of Monday's opening. Exchanging on a Friday avoids it.
From the same ranking
Other products in Best Travel Money Cards.
The same protocol, the same key parameter, the same set of sources.
-
No. 019.0/ 10
Wise
The clearest pricing in this category — the mid-market rate with a stated fee rather than a…
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No. 038.7/ 10
N26
A full German bank account with deposit protection to €100,000 and no foreign-transaction fee…
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No. 048.1/ 10
bunq
A Dutch bank with full deposit protection, unusually flexible sub-accounts, and a subscription…
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No. 057.9/ 10
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