Revolut vs PayPal - how do they compare?

Looking for a new way to manage your money? You might be looking for a new current account, and want a change from a traditional bank. If so, there are lots of options available, including digital banks and online money services.

In this guide, we’ll be comparing two of these solutions - Revolut and PayPal. Both are apps that aim to bring you almost the entire financial world right on your smartphone.

To help you choose the right option for your needs, we’ll be comparing costs, features, security, customer support and international payment services.

If you’re interested in sending money overseas or shopping abroad, it’s also worth checking out money services provider, Wise. With the Wise account, you can send, spend and convert money in 40+ currencies, for low fees* and the mid-market exchange rate.

But for now, let’s get back to Revolut vs. PayPal.

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Revolut vs. PayPal - an overview

PayPal has been at the forefront of the digital payment sector for over 20 years, playing a major role in the online shopping revolution.

Its services have evolved over this time, and it now offers everything from fast online transfers to a full range of merchant services. You can use it to pay friends and family, shop online at millions of websites, and as a digital wallet.

Revolut was launched in 2015 as a way to create a frictionless economy. It offers convenient digital access to a current account, along with a wide range of payment, savings and investment services for users.

With millions of users registered with the service since then, Revolut is moving towards the goal of making money work better for people. Revolut is also in the process of becoming a licenced UK bank.¹

PayPal vs. Revolut - main features and services compared

Revolut and PayPal differ in the services they offer, but they also have several features in common.

Here’s a quick comparison of all the main features and services you need to know about with each provider:

Revolut features

Revolut offers an impressively long list of features, including:

• Multi-currency account - letting you hold and exchange currencies
• In-balance interest
• Physical and virtual debit cards
• International transfers
• Earn RevPoints on eligible spending - these can be put towards travel perks
• Budgeting and spending insights
• Savings pockets for easier budgeting
• Crypto and stock market investing
• Travel features ( such as travel insurance on higher tier plans)
• Strong in-app security controls (such as card freeze, 2FA)
• Business accounts available, along with a Pro account for freelancers
• Kids and teens accounts.

Upgrade to a higher tier plan and there are even more perks on offer. These include travel insurance, brand subscriptions, discounted airport lounge access, personalised debit cards and much more.

PayPal features

PayPal offers many features you may already be aware of, including:

• Easy online payments and checkout with your PayPal digital wallet
• Send and receive money within the UK and internationally
• Multi-currency balances
• Pay in 3 - a Buy Now, Pay Later scheme letting you pay for purchases in instalments
• PayPal Credit - offering 0% interest over 4 months every time you spend £99 or more⁴
• Buyer Protection for purchases
• Loyalty rewards with PayPal+ - letting you earn points when you shop and spend, to be redeemed with a wide range of merchants worldwide
• App with transaction management and security controls.

However, there’s a brand new feature which you may not be aware of - a new PayPal debit card for UK customers which launched in November 2025.⁵

This can be used worldwide with no PayPal transaction fees, and users will collect PayPal+ points when they spend. PayPal has also launched a new credit card at the same time.⁵

Accounts

PayPal only offers one, free account for personal customers. Most people who shop online likely already have one. It allows you to pay for goods anywhere in the world, as well as getting paid by people and businesses in other countries.

You can also use your PayPal account for easy online shopping, as PayPal is a widely accepted payment method on online checkouts.

You’ll need to link a bank account, debit or credit card to your PayPal account in order to fund your payments and purchases.

Revolut, by contrast, has five account tiers, each of which has far more to offer than PayPal. However, you’ll need to pay monthly fees to unlock all of the features and benefits.

Revolut’s accounts include:⁶

• Standard - a free account with minimal perks and a number of limits
• Plus - £3.99 per month, but gives you purchase protections and higher limits for spending abroad
• Premium - £7.99 per month, but unlocks access to exclusive subscriptions and the freedom to exchange unlimited amounts of money.
• Metal - £14.99 per month, but comes with travel insurance, enhanced limits, and subscriptions worth £2,100 a year.
• Ultra - £55 per month, but offers a full range of features, perks and limits. This includes up to 4.00% AER (variable) on savings, and over £5,000 in annual benefits such as unlimited airport lounge access and monthly global data.

Fees - PayPal vs. Revolut

Now, how much does it cost to use PayPal and Revolut? This is bound to be one of the most crucial factors you’ll consider when choosing a provider and opening an account.

Here’s a roundup of the main fees you need to know about with Revolut and PayPal:

Protection, security and support

Neither Revolut nor PayPal are banks, although Revolut is in the process of becoming a UK bank.¹

This means they don’t provide FSCS protection for your money. However, both are authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) in the UK and as such, are required to meet very high standards when it comes to security and safeguarding.

Both offer extensive fraud prevention protection, including encryption, 24/7 monitoring, and biometric and 2FA login controls to safeguard your account.

Wise - a non-bank alternative for managing your money internationally

Of course, Revolut and PayPal aren’t the only options out there for sending and receiving money, making card payments and shopping online.

While you’re comparing providers, you should also check out the money services provider, Wise.

Open a Wise account and you can manage your money in 40+ currencies. It’s straightforward to send money worldwide, at mid-market exchange rates and with low, transparent fees*.

There’s even a Wise card for shopping online, in person and with your mobile wallet. Get it for a one-time fee of just £7. It works in 160+ countries worldwide.

You can manage everything in the Wise app, including tracking your transfers and managing your card.

After reading this, you should have a better idea of what both PayPal and Revolut have to offer. This should help you choose the right solution for your needs.

PayPal is great at what it was made to do - facilitating online shopping and making secure transfers. There are also new products like the PayPal debit and credit card launching, which can give you new ways to use your PayPal account in real-world shops.

Revolut, meanwhile, is a good option if you’re looking for a digital account, along with access to other financial services such as investing and cryptocurrency.

Sources used for this article:

Sources checked on 12-Dec-2025.