Paying online in a foreign currency from France: how to avoid conversion fees?
How do you pay online in a foreign currency? What are conversion fees and how can you avoid them? What precautions should you take? Let's take a closer look!
Revolut is a 100% online fintech company founded in 2014. It offers financial services such as money transfers, currency exchange, and debit cards. But as convenient as these features are, one question remains: is Revolut reliable in France? Let’s take a closer look.
If you’re looking for an alternative to Revolut for sending, receiving, or converting money, Wise could be a good option. It uses the mid-market exchange rate — with no limits or weekend markups. Wise allows you to send money to 140+ countries, hold 40+ currencies, and get account details in 8+ currencies.
Since its launch in 2014, Revolut has built a solid reputation in fintech. It’s now considered a trustworthy provider, known for its innovative services, competitive fees, and robust security systems designed to protect customer funds.
With Revolut, your money is protected in much the same way as with a traditional bank. Advanced security systems detect suspicious activity and automatically block unauthorised transactions, keeping your account safe. For these reasons, Revolut is generally seen as a reliable service.
Revolut implements multiple security layers to safeguard your funds and account information.
When opening a Revolut account, you must complete an identity verification step — this is mandatory. It helps confirm your identity and prevent fraud. Like other regulated financial service providers, Revolut requires proof of ID before activating an account.
If you open a Revolut account in France, you’ll be asked to upload a valid ID and take a selfie for verification. This process is completed within minutes using automatic security checks.
Every time you make or receive a payment, Revolut sends instant notifications to your smartphone. You’ll also receive alerts for money transfers and card payments.
This real-time tracking helps you monitor your transactions closely. If you ever spot suspicious activity, you can freeze your card or contact Revolut support immediately.
You can also set your own spending limits in the Revolut app. This prevents transactions beyond a set amount, offering extra protection against fraud or overspending.
Here’s what you should know about Revolut:¹
Revolut’s exchange rate system is one of its main advantages. Unlike traditional banks that often add hidden markups, Revolut offers rates that are close to the real mid-market rate (for example, the one shown on Google).
However, depending on your plan, conversion fees may apply:²
Extra charges also apply on weekends:²
Want to avoid these weekend markups? With Wise, you’ll always get the mid-market rate — with no limits or weekend surcharges.
Revolut offers five subscription tiers — Standard, Plus, Premium, Metal, and Ultra — each with different features and benefits.³
For example, Ultra users (€55/month) can withdraw up to €2,000 for free at ATMs and earn cashback of up to 1% through Revolut Pro.³
If you prefer not to pay a subscription, the Standard plan still covers all essential features but with lower limits.
There’s no specific limit to how much you can add via bank transfer to a Revolut account.
Yes. Revolut supports international (SWIFT) transfers and allows you to send money in local currencies to many countries, often reducing fees.
Transfers between Revolut accounts are free and instant.
No. Rumours about Revolut being fraudulent are false. The UK-based company is authorised, regulated, and trusted by more than 65 million customers worldwide.
If Revolut doesn’t fully meet your needs, Wise could be a strong alternative. It offers:
More information
on the Wise account
Sources:
Last verified on October 9, 2025
This article is a translation of the original article published in French and was translated within 365 days of publication. While the content has been translated for accessibility, the data and sources referenced have not been updated since the original publication date.
*Please see terms of use and product availability for your region or visit Wise fees and pricing for the most up to date pricing and fee information.
This publication is provided for general information purposes and does not constitute legal, tax or other professional advice from Wise Payments Limited or its subsidiaries and its affiliates, and it is not intended as a substitute for obtaining advice from a financial advisor or any other professional.
We make no representations, warranties or guarantees, whether expressed or implied, that the content in the publication is accurate, complete or up to date.
How do you pay online in a foreign currency? What are conversion fees and how can you avoid them? What precautions should you take? Let's take a closer look!
What are the spending limits for the cards offered by BNP Paribas? How can I change the payment and withdrawal limits on the app and website?
Everything you need to know about the international option offered by Société Générale: what are the different offers? How much do they cost?
How do you send money with Sendwave and to which countries? What are the fees and charges? Find out everything in this guide!
What is a commission-free currency exchange? Does it really exist? How do you choose the right currency exchange? Investigation!
What are the differences between Mastercard and Visa bank cards for travelers? What criteria should be used to make the choice?