Revolut Ultra vs Amex Platinum in the UK: Compared

Looking for a travel-friendly way to spend overseas? You might want to check out a premium credit card like the American Express Platinum card, which comes with travel perks like hotel upgrades and car hire discounts.

But if you need a way to send and receive money, exchange currencies and spend abroad, a better fit may be a premium current account like Revolut Ultra.

In this essential guide, we’ll be comparing Revolut Ultra and Amex Platinum on features, travel perks, fees and much more available in the UK. This should help you choose the right option for you.

We’ll also quickly touch on an alternative to both Revolut and Amex - the Wise card. This clever debit card automatically converts your pounds to the local currency in 150+ countries at the mid-market exchange rate (close to what you can see on Google), with only a tiny, transparent conversion fee*.

Join over 14.8 million people worldwide using Wise with their foreign currency transactions.

💳 Learn more about the Wise card

Revolut Ultra vs. Amex Platinum - a quick overview

Before we dive into the details of each provider, here’s a quick at-a-glance comparison of Revolut Ultra and Amex Platinum:

Revolut Ultra: Best for frequent travellers looking for a current account with global perks and no FX fees

Revolut Ultra is the highest level premium plan offered by Revolut. It’s a current account which comes with a platinum-plated Ultra debit card, along with a long list of features and perks.

It’s a great option for travellers and anyone who sends/receives money between countries, as it offers free international transfers and unlimited currency exchange.

You’ll get access to lifestyle, insurance and travel perks worth a whopping £4,290 a year with Revolut Ultra,³ plus priority customer service.

The full list of Revolut Ultra features includes:²

• Platinum-plated Ultra debit card, with which you can earn 1 RevPoint per £1 spend - these can be redeemed on travel perks such as Airline Miles or discounts on holiday accommodation
• Fee-free ATM withdrawals worldwide up to £2,000/month - a 2% fee applies above this
• Free international transfers with no Revolut fees
• 3GB global mobile (eSIM) data a month included
• Up to 4.5% AER (variable) savings interest
• Travel insurance - including global medical, trip and event cancellation, car hire excess, winter sports insurance, delayed flight, lost luggage and personal liability insurance (limits apply)
• Link up to 5 full-access Kids and Teens accounts
• Comprehensive purchase insurance cover (when you pay with your Revolut account)
• Unlimited access to 1,000+ airport lounges worldwide, with complimentary food and drinks
• 10 commission-free stock trades per month
• Partner subscriptions worth £4,290 a year - including premium or full access to Financial Times, WeWork, Uber One, The Athletic, MasterClass, Picsart Gold, NordVPN Plus, Headspace and Tinder Gold.³
• 24/7 priority customer support

All of this is in exchange for a monthly fee of £55 or a discounted rate of £540 a year (normally £660 if you pay monthly) if you pay for the year upfront.¹

So is Revolut Ultra worth it, compared to cheaper Revolut plans as well as travel perk-packed credit cards like Amex Platinum?

The Ultra plan does have a reasonably high monthly fee, although it works out cheaper than Amex Platinum if you can commit to a year. It could be worthwhile for you - and even represent good value - if you’ll use all of the perks and extras, especially if they save you money on things you’d buy anyway.

You’ll need to sit down and do the sums, totting up how much you’d normally spend on things like subscriptions and insurance. Or if budget isn’t a concern and you’re looking for an unlimited current account with no FX fees and lots of extras, you could just go for it.

American Express (Amex) Platinum: Best for premium travellers looking for a credit card offering luxury benefits and hotel upgrades.

Amex Platinum is quite different to Revolut Ultra, as it’s a credit card rather than a current account. However, in terms of travel benefits and lifestyle perks, there are similarities between the two.

The full list of Amex Platinum features includes:⁴

• Up to 5 supplementary cards
• Earn 1 Membership Rewards point per £1 spent, with extra points for Amex Travel spending. Plus, bonus points for new cardmembers and referrals. Points are redeemable for flights, hotels, gift cards or statement credit.
• Limited access to 1,400+ airport lounges worldwide via Priority Pass
• Global dining credits - including £200 in the UK and £200 abroad each year (enrolment required)
• Hotel room upgrades, breakfast and late checkout with Fine Hotels & Resorts and The Hotel Collection
• Elite Status with major travel brands including Hilton Honors Gold, Marriott Bonvoy Gold and Radisson Rewards Premium
• Comprehensive worldwide travel insurance for the whole family
• Car hire discounts with Avis Preferred and Hertz Gold Plus Rewards
• Purchase and refund protection
• Access to Amex Experiences - including presale tickets, dining events and private sales
• 24/7 Global Assist.

According to American Express, the benefits which come with its Platinum card are worth more than £3,000 a year.⁶

The credit card has an annual fee of £650 and a representative interest rate of 691.7% APR (variable). The rate for purchases is 29.7% p.a. variable.⁴

There are some other fees you need to know about too. These include a 2.99% foreign transaction fee for spending in other currencies abroad, plus a 3% cash advance fee for all ATM withdrawals.⁵ If you withdraw cash in another currency, you’ll have to pay both the cash advance fee and the foreign transaction fee.

Which is best for you - Revolut Ultra or Amex Platinum?

The right option for you all depends on what you’re looking for. If you simply want a premium credit card which can unlock travel benefits and other luxury perks, the Amex Platinum card is a decent choice.

However, it doesn’t offer any current account features and you can’t make international transfers. And like with other credit cards, it has fees for spending in other currencies and for withdrawing cash.

If you’re looking for these kinds of features and to avoid overseas fees, Revolut Ultra could be the better option for you - especially considering it has a lower fee when you pay yearly.

It offers all the features of a current account, as well as giving you free international transfers, unlimited currency exchange, no foreign transaction fees and free ATM withdrawals up to £2,000 a month.²

An alternative way to spend worldwide - the Wise card

If you want a card for international spending as well as the features of a current account, you might want to check out Wise.

Open a Wise account and you can order a Wise card for a one-time fee of just £7 and use it to spend in the UK and 150+ countries worldwide. There are no hidden fees or monthly subscription costs, and you can even connect your Wise card to mobile wallets like Google Pay or Apple Pay.

✅ Sign up with Wise for free

**Investments in funds are never guaranteed and your capital can be at risk. In the UK, Interest and Stocks are provided by Wise Assets — this is the trading name of Wise Assets UK Ltd, a subsidiary of Wise. Wise Assets UK Ltd is authorised as an investment firm and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). Our FCA number is 839689. We do not give investment advice, and you may be subject to pay tax. If you're not sure, seek qualified advice. You can find more information about the funds on our website.

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Sources last checked: 10-Oct-2025