Business

Revolut Business Account: Top 4 Alternatives for UK

Rachel Abraham

27.03.26 (last updated)

Read time 12 minutes

Revolut is known for its flexible debit card attached to a multi-currency account. Personal customers from the UK use it as a travel card as it’s cheaper and more convenient compared to going to the bank or currency exchange points to get cash before travelling. The service also facilitates local and international transfers and conversion in 30 currencies.

Business customers can take advantage of the same benefits but with extra features like recurring and bulk payments which could come in handy if you’re running payroll to overseas contractors or paying multiple suppliers.

Revolut offers a lot of good features, however there are great alternatives available, Wise Business is one of them, but we gathered other 3 options you can choose when doing business internationally and moving your money across borders.

Key Comparison Points

In order to analyse all the alternatives available let's set a couple of comparison points that are important for UK businesses to evaluate each one of the providers:

Cost

Since international transactions usually have different fees and costs attached to them, with businesses moving higher amounts of money or proceeding a larger number of transactions, choosing a cost effective provider can be essential in order to keep administrative expenses under control.

Speed and convenience

Businesses usually request fast and effective services. The time to process a financial transaction can impact the company in various ways. Being able to manage your business' money through automations, integrations and convenient tools is crucial in order to save time and money.

Security and reliability

Two relevant aspects for any financial provider, but even more important for business accounts, managing high figures and running large volumes of transactions.

Business card

Having a debit or credit card in hand, connected to your account and available to spend abroad is a great convenience for business owners and employees.

Revolut Business overview

Before diving into each one of the alternatives, let's have a look at how Revolut Business meets the key comparison points presented above:

Cost
Revolut's business pricing structure is based on monthly subscription plans with limits on the number of local and international transfers you can make per month.

Here’s a comparison for Revolut Business Plans¹:

Services	Revolut Basic	Revolut Grow	Revolut Scale	Revolut Enterprise
Monthly subscription	£10	£30	£90	Custom
Foreign exchange rate	Interbank rate up to £1,000, then 0.6% fee	Interbank rate up to £15,000, then 0.6% fee	Interbank rate up to £60,000, then 0.6% fee	Custom
International transfers	£5 per transfer	5 free, then £5 per transfer	25 free, then £5 per transfer	Custom
Local transfers	10 free, then £0.20 per transfer	100 free, then £0.20 per transfer	1,000 free, then £0.20 per transfer	Custom

Note: Revolut processes international transfers through SWIFT (outside EUR, non-SEPA), where intermediary banks can deduct fees, typically $15–$50 (£12–£40), before the money reaches the recipient. To avoid this, Revolut offers a “Pay All Fees” (Guaranteed SWIFT) option. You pay a fixed upfront fee (based on your plan and currency), and the recipient receives the full amount. This option isn’t available for all transfers, and some banks don’t charge intermediary fees at all.

Speed and convenience

The speed of transfer depends on the currency and payment method. For GBP, you can receive Faster Payments in a few hours/1 business day, BACS (for example for salaries) is usually 2-3 business days and CHAPS are up to 1 business day. EUR SEPA transfers are up to 2 business days, but SEPA Instant should arrive in minutes. International transfers via SWIFT can take up to 2 days to arrive.² However, sending to another Revolut account is instantaneous.

On the integration side, Revolut Business connects with popular accounting and e-commerce platforms such as Xero, Sage, QuickBooks, WooCommerce, and Shopify³. It has also expanded its ecosystem with Revolut People, a built-in HR and payroll tool designed to support growing teams.

Security and reliability

Revolut keeps customer funds in dedicated accounts with major global banks or invests them in low-risk assets. It also uses strong security measures to protect your money. Revolut has also just announced that it has received a UK banking licence, switch deposit accounts now protected by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS).⁴

Revolut Business offers 24/7 customer support through in-app chat on both web and mobile. Businesses on Enterprise plans also get access to account management advice on more complex issues.

Business Card

Revolut Business provides debit cards linked directly to your account, issued by Visa or Mastercard. Cards are available in both virtual and physical formats. You can issue cards to employees, set spending limits, and automate expense tracking.

Each user on the Basic plan gets one free physical card, though delivery fees apply . Card purchases are free, but ATM withdrawals incur a 2% fee across all business plans.

💡 See: how Revolut Business compares to Wise Business

Wise Business overview

Wise is a UK-based global fintech that provides financial services for both personal and business users. Wise is regulated as an Electronic Money Institution and offers a multi-currency account built around transparency and ease of use.

Wise Business is two-tier model, Essential and Advanced, to support businesses at different stages. It allows companies to hold and exchange 40+ currencies at the mid-market rate, helping them avoid the hidden FX markups common with high-street banks.

Let’s take a closer look at Wise Business in 2026 using the key comparison points below.

Cost
Wise Business pricing and fees are straightforward, there are not any allowances restricted by subscriptions. For every transfer you make, there’s a small, transparent fee which is displayed on the transfer page before proceeding. And for all international transactions you will always get the mid-market exchange rate.

Services	Wise Business
Subscription fee	£0 (Essential plan) or a one-time fee of £50 (Advanced plan). No monthly subscription fees.
Foreign exchange rate	Mid-market rate (no markups). Conversion fees start from 0.33% (varies by currency).
International transfers	Variable fee from 0.33%
Local transfers	£0.32 per transfer

Speed and convenience

To simplify international operations, Wise Business has a suite of tools designed for efficiency:

Batch Payments: Pay up to 1,000 recipients in one click via a simple CSV or .XLSX upload.
Global Reach: Hold and convert funds in 40+ currencies and send money to 160+ countries.
Local Account Details: Receive payments like a local in 9+ currencies (including GBP, USD, EUR, AUD, and CAD).
Smart Integrations: Sync directly with Xero, QuickBooks, Sage, and FreeAgent to automate your bookkeeping and reconciliation.
Invoicing: Create and send professional invoices directly from your account, often with "Quick Pay" links for faster settlement.

For a one-time set up fee of £50 (no monthly rolling costs), with Wise Business local account details, you can use these to receive money from customers and clients as if you were a locally-based business with IBANS, BICs or routing numbers specific to that currency. Providing you’ve local account details in the currency they are sending in, this is faster than sending via SWIFT - meaning less chance of delayed payments and quicker reconciliation.

Transaction speeds depend on individual circumstances and may not be available for all transactions. Keep in mind the destination country and currency involved in your transfer (from your account and the account you are sending/receiving the payment to/from).

Security and reliability

Wise protects customer funds through safeguarding. This means your money is kept fully separate from Wise’s own operating funds and held in high-quality liquid assets, such as government bonds, or in dedicated accounts with major global banks like Barclays and J.P. Morgan.

Unlike traditional banks, Wise does not lend out customer funds.

Note: Standard account balances are not covered by the FSCS. However, funds used in Wise’s Interest or Stocks features may be eligible for FSCS protection up to £85,000.

Business card

Wise provides business customers with two types of cards:

Wise Business offers a simple and flexible card setup. Your first physical debit card is included in the account setup fee, and extra cards for team members cost £3 each. If you pay in a currency you don’t hold, Wise automatically converts the amount using the lowest available fee.

You can issue physical or digital cards to employees, set spending limits, and track expenses in real time from the app. Wise also lets you create up to three digital cards for secure online payments, making it easier to organise spending by category.

UK-based businesses earn 0.5% cashback on eligible card spending. For example, if your team spends £10,000 in a month, you’ll receive £50 back in your account at the start of the next month.

Wise Business employee expense card

The employee expense card is a flexible debit tool designed to help staff manage company purchases safely and efficiently. By issuing these cards, you can apply precise spending controls and track all outgoing transactions in real time through your main Wise Business account.

Payoneer overview

Payoneer is built for businesses that operate across borders. Founded in 2005, it helps companies navigate the global digital economy by offering a multi-currency account along with tools designed for international payments and cross-border commerce.

Cost

There’s no monthly fee to maintain a Payoneer multi-currency account as long as it stays active. However, Payoneer charges a $29.95 annual fee if the account has no activity for 12 months or if total incoming payments fall below $2,000 (or $6,000 for certain new account tiers introduced in 2026).⁵

Services	Payoneer^5,6
Subscription fee	$0 (No monthly fee if activity criteria met)
Foreign exchange rate	Mid-market rate + Markup of up to 3.5%
International payments with card	Up to 3.5% for currency conversion plus a 1.8% cross-border fee for transactions made outside your local region.
Local transfers	Free to other Payoneer accounts. For external bank accounts, fees range from fixed rates ($1.50) up to 4% of the total amount.

Speed and convenience

Payoneer integrates seamlessly with major marketplaces and freelance platforms like Fiverr, Upwork, Airbnb, and Shopee, allowing automated withdrawals.

Transfers to other Payoneer customers receive money typically within 2 hours, if using the app you’ll get a push notification when it’s been confirmed. For non-Payoneer customers, Payoneer sends the funds in 1-2 business days and after this, you’ll get a notification on how long it is estimated to take to reach the receipient.⁷

Security and reliability

Payoneer is a regulated global entity, licensed in the USA, EU, UK, Hong Kong, Japan, and India. Funds are safeguarded in low-risk, high-liquidity institutions, ensuring your business capital is never used for operational lending.

Business Card

Payoneer’s Commercial Mastercard® is available as a physical or digital card. The first physical card carries a $29.95 annual fee, while some high-volume tiers may get additional virtual cards for free. Spending in the card’s currency is fee-free; cross-currency transactions incur up to 3.5% conversion and up to 1.8% cross-border fees⁵.

💡 Find out: how Payoneer compares to Wise Business

Skrill Business Overview

Launched in 2001, Skrill Business is a digital wallet and payment provider that offers checkout solutions and money transfer services for businesses operating globally. It has online payments, prepaid cards and crypto capabilities. Skrill helps you manage international payments, with custom rate alert features.¹⁰

Cost

Opening a Skrill Business account is free for UK users who make at least one transaction every six months. If the account remains inactive, a monthly fee of €5 applies.⁸

Services⁸	Skrill Business
Subscription fee	£0 (No startup or monthly fee, if criteria met).
Foreign exchange rate	Mid-market rate plus a mark-up for each transaction of up to 4.99%
International transfers	No additional flat fee for sending to an international bank account (via Skrill Money Transfer). Plus conversion fees.
Local transfers	Transaction fee is up to 2% (within the same country)

💡 Explore our guide: Skill vs Payoneer for businesses

Speed and convenience

Skrill Business offers a Quick Checkout solution for global e-commerce. It lets businesses accept credit/debit cards, instant bank transfers, and local payment methods in 40+ currencies.

The 2026 “Trusted Merchant” feature allows repeat customers to pay in a single tap without leaving your site.

Transfers between Skrill accounts and integrated platforms are usually instant, while withdrawals and transactions to and from external banks or merchants not using Skrill may take longer, depending on the method.⁹

Security and reliability

Skrill, managed by Paysafe, is regulated by the FCA in the UK and the Central Bank of Ireland for the EEA.

Skrill safeguards business funds in segregated accounts, keeping them separate from operational capital to ensure they remain secure even in case of insolvency.

Business cards

Skrill does not offer a business debit card. Personal users can access a Prepaid Mastercard®, which has cashback and reward capabilities. Nonetheless, businesses typically use Skrill payouts to transfer funds to employees’ personal wallets or external accounts.¹¹

💡 Explore our guide: Skill vs Payoneer for businesses

Starling Bank Business Overview

Starling is a fully licensed and regulated UK digital bank offering comprehensive financial solutions for limited companies and sole traders.

Contrary to many fintech competitors, Starling operates as a traditional bank, just without branches, so eligible deposits are protected by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS).

Cost Structure

The standard Starling business account is freeto open and use, with no monthly fees for GBP accounts. Businesses can also enhance their account with optional paid add-ons and multi-currency features to suit their specific needs.¹²

Here’s a breakdown of Starling Business main fees:^12,13

Services	Starling Bank Business
The Business Toolkit (add-on)	£7 per month (Includes bookkeeping, invoicing, and tax estimation tools).
Bulk payments (add-on)	£7 per month (Allows up to 250 Faster Payments per month; not available to sole traders).
Euro account	£2 per month (Provides a unique IBAN for SEPA payments).
USD account	£5 per month (Provides local US account details and ACH routing number).
Foreign exchange rate	0.4% conversion fee (Added to the mid-market exchange rate)
International transfers	0.4% fee + a delivery fee: £0.30 (Low-cost local network) or £5.50 (Priority SWIFT).
Local transfers	Free (Unlimited UK Faster Payments up to £250,000 per transaction).

Speed and convenience

Starling Bank is known for its digital-first efficiency. Most UK Faster Payments (up to £250,000) clear instantly, 24/7.

The time of transfer depends on the currency and payment method. Local transfers in the UK with Faster Payments are usually instant, but can sometimes take up to 2 hours. You can send money to 34 countries internationally, businesses can choose from:

Priority (SWIFT): usually up to 3 working days, traceable, ideal for time-sensitive invoices¹⁴.
EUR transfers (SEPA): processed same-day before 2.15pm on working days only¹⁵.

Starling’s Marketplace syncs in real time with Xero, QuickBooks, and FreeAgent. In 2026, they deepened Sage integration and added Ember-powered tools for automated self-assessment and VAT filing.

Security and reliability

As a fully licensed UK bank, Starling protects eligible deposits under the FSCS, which is up to £85,000, or £120,000 for certain accounts in 2026. Secondly, their AI Scam Intelligence lets users upload suspicious invoices or websites for fraud checks before sending payments.¹²

The app also features a Live Call indicator to confirm you’re speaking to a verified Starling representative.

Business cards

Every Starling Business account includes a Mastercard debit card. The first physical card is free, with unlimited ATM withdrawals and fee-free spending worldwide.

You can also create multiple virtual cards to separate budgets for departments or subscriptions. Team Spending allows employees to use sub-balances while you retain oversight. Card controls in the app let you lock cards, disable contactless payments, or block specific transaction types instantly.

💡 See how Starling Business compares to Wise Business

As you can see, if your business needs an alternative to Revolut, there are plenty of options available. It's now up to you to evaluate the pros and cons of each option we gathered here, considering your business model and specific needs.

If you need a global multi-currency account with low and transparent fees, Wise Business can be a more suitable choice. It’s also a great tool for everyday payments, bill and expense management and operations such as payroll. You can get 0.5% cashback when you spend with your Wise card and save time through integrations with your accounting software.

With Wise Business, you can:

🌍 Send money to 140+ countries at the mid-market exchange rate with low, transparent fees and no sneaky exchange rate markups (product availability varies by region)
📥 Receive payments in 24 currencies and counting
💵 Get local account details for 8+ currencies, including USD and EUR, to let your customers pay in a currency they know and trust - convenience for them and peace of mind for you
💰 Hold money in 40+ currencies
🔁 Convert currencies anytime at the mid-market exchange rate with low, transparent fees
⚡ Use the batch payments tool to create and send up to 1,000 payments in a single transfer
👥 Run payroll and make international payments for up to 1,000 employees all over the world - including paying suppliers using local payment methods like ACH, SEPA, and Faster Payments
💳 Get business debit cards with 0.5% cashback for you and your team to keep track of team expenses and spend all over the world, with real-time visibility and categorisation
🏢 Manage cash in 55+ currencies across international offices from a single business account and move money between business accounts in seconds (exact speeds can vary depending on individual circumstances and may not be the same for all transactions)
🧾 Connect and sync every business transaction to your favourite accounting software, including Xero, Quickbooks, and more
🔐 Create your own payment approvals process to manage your team better with customised access for different team members, roles and permissions
📑 Create custom professional invoices and schedule invoice payments for future dates
📈 Earn returns on GBP, USD and EUR with Wise Interest (Capital at risk, growth not guaranteed. Your money is at risk if governments default or interest rates go negative. Visit https://payout-surge.live/gb/interest/%3C/a%3E to find out more)

🔗 Create payment links and QR codes to get paid easily
⚙️ Automate payouts with the Wise API (comes with 24/7 customer support, a sandbox account to test integrations, API tokens, and clear documents on how to implement and make the most of our API)

Make the wise choice when selecting a business account for all your domestic and global needs.

Be Smart, Get Wise.

Investments can fluctuate, and your capital is at risk. Interest is offered by Wise Assets UK Ltd, a subsidiary of Wise Payments Ltd. Wise Assets UK Ltd is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority with registration number 839689. When facilitating access to Wise investment products, Wise Payments Ltd acts as an Introducer Appointed Representative of Wise Assets UK Ltd. Please be aware that we do not offer investment advice, and you may be liable for taxes on any earnings. If you're uncertain, we urge you to seek professional advice. To find out more about the Funds, visit our website.

*Disclaimer: The UK Wise Business pricing structure is changing with effect from 26/11/2025 date. Receiving money, direct debits and getting paid features are not available with the Essential Plan which you can open for free. Pay a one-time set up fee of £50 to unlock Advanced features including account details to receive payments in 22+ currencies or 8+ currencies for non-swift payments. You’ll also get access to our invoice generating tool, payment links, QuickPay QR codes and the ability to set up direct debits all within one account. Please check our website for the latest pricing information.

Sources used:

Sources last checked: 27-Mar-2026.

*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.