Currensea vs Revolut: which one is better?

Currensea and Revolut are both great cards for international travel, especially in the eurozone. That being said, let's compare the benefits of each card and reach a conclusion on which one you should choose.

What is Revolut and why would I choose it?

Revolut was started in 2015 by Nik Storonsky and Vlad Yatsenko, and has since grown into the largest FinTech neo-bank in the world with over 50 million customers.

There are multiple plans for the Revolut app, but we will compare the free Revolut plan to the free Currensea plan to keep things simple.

What is Currensea app?

Currensea is a newer app aimed at UK residents who need a card to travel and spend abroad, or want to pay on foreign web-shops in a variety of non-pound-sterling currencies. Read our detailed review of the Currensea app.

Conclusion

After looking at all the pros and cons and comparing Currensea vs. Revolut, the best choice really depends on how you manage your money and whether you’re a frequent traveler. Currensea is great if you want something simple that works seamlessly with your existing bank account — it connects directly to it, meaning no top-ups, no headaches, and no switching between multiple apps. It’s ideal for people who travel occasionally and just want to get better foreign exchange rates compared to what their usual bank offers.

Revolut, on the other hand, is on a whole different level — it’s a full-on neo-banking app. Its feature-rich mobile platform will definitely appeal to enthusiasts and more frequent travelers who know how to get the most out of the app. You’re issued an International Bank Account Number (IBAN) for each currency you use, so you can send and receive money just like with any regular bank account. That’s one of the biggest reasons people might prefer Revolut.

If you’re into investing, you can buy stocks — even cryptocurrencies — with a single tap. For the more cautious, risk-averse type of investor, Revolut also lets you create savings vaults for your goals. Another really handy feature is the ability to generate virtual credit cards (VCCs), which are great for sketchy websites or one-off payments where you’re not sure how secure things are. You can disable these VCCs whenever you want — perfect for avoiding those annoying merchants who make it a nightmare to cancel subscriptions. There are even disposable VCCs that vanish after a single use.

So if you prefer simplicity and like sticking with your main bank, Currensea is probably the way to go. But if you’re looking for more control, features, and flexibility — Revolut might be the better fit.

	Currensea	Revolut
Pros	Links directly to your existing bank account – no need to top up a separate wallet. Good for frequent travelers — especially if you want to keep things simple. Offers decent exchange rates with lower fees on premium plans.	Provides you with a brand new bank account- you get your IBAN code. Has more complex and feature- rich mobile app that supports budgeting, savings, and investment features. Access to interbank exchange rates (especially useful for larger transactions).
Cons	Only for UK bank accounts. 0.5% FX (foreign exchange) fee, which can add up when travelling. Doesn't have any budgeting or saving plans — it's a pure travelling card. Some people might prefer this.	You need to top up money to your Revolut account- not as simple as Currensea which does this for you on the go. Weekend exchange rates can get slightly worse. People had issues with support taking time or not fixing the issues.
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