Revolut Review [2024] Pros and Cons

These days, 85% of Americans own a smartphone. And these magical devices are changing almost everything, including the way we bank. 

For proof, just look at Revolut. 

This “all-in-one” digital banking app lets you manage your finances from the palm of your hand, and it can also make real financial sense.

In this complete Revolut Review, I’ll explain exactly how the platform works. 

I’ll also provide a Revolut Vault Review, so you can decide whether this modern banking solution is the best way to grow your savings. 

What is Revolut?

Revolut is a digital banking platform designed for everyday convenience and hassle-free international travel. 

On its official website, Revolut calls itself a single app “for all things money,” and that’s actually a pretty good description of what this platform has become. 

Revolut offers a wide variety of services, including:

• Digital payments
• Currency exchange 
• International money transfers
• Debit cards (with ATM access)
• Early access to paychecks
• Stock trading
• “Savings Vaults,” which currently earn up to 4.25% annual percentage yield (APY)

Thanks to those “Saving Vaults” and the easy access to funds, a Revolut plan basically acts as a savings account and a checking account rolled into a single package and managed through a user-friendly app.

Welcome to 21st-century banking! 

How Does Revolut Work?

An all-in-one money app sounds like an amazing idea, but it’s important to understand the nuts and bolts before signing up. 

First of all, it’s important to understand that Revolut offers “plans,” not accounts.

There are three plans to choose from:

• Standard (free)
• Premium ($9.99/month)
• Metal ($16.99/month)

Each plan gives you a different level of access to Revolut’s central features.

With the Standard Plan, you’ll get:

• A debit card with access to over 55,000 fee-free ATMs
• Fee-free currency exchange for over 25 currencies (up to $1,000 a month)
• 3.25% APY on savings (rate active at the time of this publication)
• 24/7 customer service

That’s pretty solid. The paid plans allow you to:

• Exchange even more money for free (up to $10,000 a month for Premium Plan; unlimited with the Metal Plan) 
• Earn 4.25% APY on savings (rate active at the time of this publication)

The higher-level plans also give you increased access to a wide range of travel perks, including:

• Ticket protection
• Purchase protection
• Trip cancellation protection
• Trip delay protection
• Medical insurance
• Discounted access to airport lounges
• Lost/delayed baggage protection
• Priority customer service support

Once you’ve chosen your plan and signed up, you can deposit money and then begin using the platform features. 

And one option is to put money into a “Savings Vault,” which is how you can grow your savings and keep your money FDIC-insured.

Read more in the Revolut Vault review below!

How Does The Vault Work in Revolut?

The “Vault” is an important feature of Revolut, so I’ve included a mini-section with a specific Revolut Vault review.

In the Revolut App, a “Vault” is basically a savings account. The main difference is that a Vault doesn’t exist as a separate account but as a feature within your Revolut “plan.”

Once you sign up for Revolut and choose a plan (Standard, Premium, or Metal), you can then open a Vault where you stash your savings.

And there’s something this Revolut Vault review should make clear: A Vault has some real advantages over standard savings accounts.

For one thing, the Revolut app allows you to enable automatic saving mechanisms. One option is to round up the spare change when you make a purchase and deposit it into the Vault. You can also set up recurring payments, which means a set amount of money is automatically transferred to the Vault on a regular basis.

While the money sits in the Vault, it will earn some serious interest (up to 4.25% APY for paid plans). 

Another perk of the Revolut Vault is that the first $250,000 deposited is FDIC-insured, just like with a traditional bank!

Is Revolut Legit? 

Revolut is absolutely a legitimate platform. It has more than 30 million personal users and over 500,000 business clients. This means a lot of people trust Revolut to meet their banking needs.

And those users often have good things to say about the platform. Revolut currently has an excellent 4.3-star rating on Trustpilot, which is pretty amazing for a financial institution. After all, people often get frustrated when dealing with a bank!

Is Revolut Safe?

Depositing money with Revolut is safe, especially if you put your money in a Savings Vault. 

Here’s why:

Revolut’s Saving Vaults are insured up to $250,000 by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC). That means that if Revolut were to somehow lose your money, Uncle Sam would step in to pay you back.

Interested in the technical details? Revolut itself isn’t FDIC-insured, but it partners with Sutton Bank to provide its Saving Vault services. And Sutton Bank is FDIC-insured, which means your money (up to $250,000) is government-protected. 

Pros and Cons of Revolut

This wouldn’t be a full Revolut review without a careful look at the pros and cons of the platform. 

Here are the details:

Pros

• The Standard Plan is free. It also gives you access to most (not all) of the most important features.

• You can earn up to 4.25% APY with paid plans. And even the free Standard Plan earns you 3.25% APY on savings (at the time of this publication). 

• The convenience of an app, but with a real-world presence. You can handle your finances right on your smartphone, then use your physical debit card to withdraw cash from over 55,000 fee-free ATMs. 

Cons

• You need to pay for full access to features. The Premium and Metal Plans really are better, but they cost $9.99/month and $16.99/month. 

• There are no physical branches. When you bank with Revolut, you’re going fully digital. 

• Not-so-great customer support. Several online reviewers say it can be tough to get help when issues come up.

Revolut Reviews

Revolut gets a lot of online reviews, and many of them are super positive. 

I found one Revolut review from a customer who successfully used the app in multiple countries. 

Of course, not every Revolut review is positive. One user complained that their money was frozen, but they also acknowledged that the issue was at least dealt with quickly.

And another negative review went so far as to call Revolut “the worst so-called banking system ever.”

Now, this last Revolut review needs some unpacking because it reveals something important about the platform. 

In the U.S., the first $250,000 you deposit in Revolut is insured by the FDIC, but only if you put it in a Savings Vault. So make sure you take that essential step to keep your money safe!

Revolut Reviews Reddit

Over on Reddit, a user started a thread by asking, “Is Revolut really as bad as people say it is?” Apparently, they’d noticed a lot of Redditors saying bad things about the app.

The responses showed that Revolut isn’t bad at all. In fact, a lot of people reported positive experiences.

One user praised the convenience of being able to use different currencies. 

Another person said they’ve personally had no issues, but mentioned that other people have had their accounts suddenly banned.

And I really like how one user summed up Revolut by calling it “a good introduction to lots of things but not the best at any one particular thing.” 

Just one note on that last Revolut review: The user talks about using Revolut for crypto, which is an option in the U.K., but it does not seem to be available for American users just yet.

Is Revolut Worth It?

Revolut is definitely worth considering, especially if you’re a world traveler.

Imagine taking an international trip as a Revolut user. Thanks to a single app, you’d be able to:

• Easily exchange currencies,
• Transfer money from one country to another,
• Protect your money in case of cancellations (with a paid plan), and
• Hang out in airport lounges at a discounted price (with a paid plan). 

And that’s all on top of the basic banking services. You know, the debit card, ATM access, and interest earned on savings.

Now, Revolut does have its drawbacks. There are no physical branches, and you can’t just call up a local company representative when you have an issue.

But if you’re a tech-savvy person and you like the idea of app-based banking, Revolut is a game-changer! 

Commonly Asked Questions About Revolut

What are Alternatives to Revolut?

Revolut isn’t the only app-based banking platform. Other options include: 

• Fierce (read full Fierce Finance review here)
• Current (read full Current Bank review here)
• SoFi Relay 
• Unifimoney
• Chime (read full Chime review here)
• Bright Money (read full Bright Money review here)
• Raisin (read Raisin review here)

You can also check out this list of the best banks in America. 

And if you’re looking ot boost your new bank account fast, check out these banks with immediate sign-up bonus.

Is Revolut a Scam?

Revolut isn’t a scam. It has a 4.3-star on Trustpilot, and it partners with Sutton Bank to provide “Saving Vaults” that are insured by the FDIC. 

What is the Catch with Revolut?

There is no “catch” with Revolut. The platform makes money through its paid “Premium” and “Metal” plans, not through some sneaky, backhanded scheme. That said, Revolut does have drawbacks, including the lack of physical branches. 

Revolut Card Review?

Revolut cards are basically debit cards, allowing you to make purchases and withdraw cash from over 55,000 fee-free ATMs. They’re solid cards overall, but they’re especially great for international travel because you can use them abroad in over 150 currencies.

See how much you could save by learning how to cancel all subscriptions on your debit card or credit card. 

Revolut Travel Card Review?

All Revolut cards are “travel cards” because they let you spend money abroad in over 150 currencies. This feature makes them an excellent choice for international travelers. And for domestic travel, you’ll have access to a network of 55,000 fee-free ATMs, so cash will likely be within reach!

What is the Downside of Revolut?

The major downside of Revolut is that you have to purchase a paid plan to get some of the best features, including unlimited currency exchange, travel expense protection, and the highest APY on savings – which is currently 4.25%.  

If you’d like to learn which budgeting app could best help you manage your finances, check out these comparisons:

• Rocket Money vs YNAB
• Rocket Money vs Simplifi
• Rocket Money vs Copilot

Then use a net worth tracker to see how your new financial strategies are paying off. 

Does Revolut Charge Fees?

Revolut does charge some fees, including:

• Currency exchange fees (If you’ve reached your monthly limit or you make a weekend exchange, varies based on plan)
• Stock trading fees
• Monthly fees (only for the Premium and Metal plans)