Revolut

What is Revolut?

Revolut is a mobile-first financial app that combines everyday banking features with multi-currency accounts and cards, all managed from a phone. Instead of visiting a bank branch or calling a call centre, you open the app to exchange currency, freeze a card, set a budget or check a transaction the moment it happens. For freelancers and small business owners who deal with more than one currency, whether through travel, international clients or overseas suppliers, Revolut’s appeal is combining that flexibility with an app built more like a modern consumer product than a traditional bank.

Key features

• Multi-currency accounts and cards. Hold and spend in several currencies from one card, exchanging between them inside the app.
• Instant notifications and controls. Get a notification for every transaction, and freeze or unfreeze your card instantly if it’s lost.
• Budgeting tools. Categorise spending automatically and set budgets by category to track where money goes.
• Business accounts. A separate account type for invoicing, expense cards and managing team spending, alongside personal accounts.
• In-app currency exchange. Convert between held currencies without visiting a bank or waiting on a wire transfer.
• Tiered plans. Higher tiers add features such as more frequent fee-free exchanges or travel-related perks, depending on your country.

How to get started

1. Download the Revolut app and sign up with your phone number and email.
2. Verify your identity, a standard step for any regulated financial app.
3. Order your card and top up your account from an existing bank.
4. Add and exchange currencies you use regularly from within the app.
5. If you run a business, apply separately for a Revolut business account rather than using a personal one for work transactions.

Who Revolut is for

Freelancers and small business owners who travel or spend across several currencies and want one card and app to manage it, rather than juggling multiple bank cards. People who prefer managing money entirely from a phone, including instant transaction alerts and in-app budgeting. And small businesses that want a mobile-first business account with expense cards for a small team, alongside their existing bank relationship.

It also appeals to anyone who wants day-to-day money management and occasional currency exchange handled by the same app, rather than keeping a separate transfer service purely for international payments.

Tips for multi-currency spending

• Check your plan’s exchange terms before a big trip or purchase, since limits and rates can depend on your tier and the day of the week.
• Use the app’s spending categories to see where business and personal expenses actually go each month.
• Share payment details via QR code for in-person client payments using the free QR code generator, handy at markets, events or pop-up sales.
• Secure the app with a strong, unique password. Create one with the free password generator since this account touches your daily spending.

Revolut vs alternatives

Wise is more narrowly focused on transparent, mid-market-rate international transfers and multi-currency accounts for freelancers and businesses, without Revolut’s consumer banking and budgeting features. Payoneer is built more specifically around receiving marketplace and client payments from abroad, with stronger integration into platforms like Upwork or Amazon. Revolut’s strength against both is the everyday banking experience: budgeting, instant notifications and a card built for daily spending rather than primarily for receiving and moving business income.

Is Revolut worth it?

For someone who wants one mobile app to handle everyday spending, travel and occasional currency exchange, Revolut’s free tier is enough to try it without commitment, and the paid tiers make sense once you rely on it heavily for multi-currency spending. If your main need is specifically getting paid by international clients or marketplaces, it’s worth comparing against options built more directly for that. Browse the rest of the freelancer finance options in the deals catalog.