Does Revolut auto-convert currency?

Gone are the days when you’d exchange your travel money for another currency before leaving the country. Now, you just need the right account, and conversions are taken care of for you.

Being able to spend your money overseas, even if you don’t have the currency in your account, is super convenient. And now this option is readily available, through certain banks and money service providers. But, does Revolut automatically convert currency?

Here, we look at Revolut’s currency conversion options, and whether it’s worth converting your cash manually instead.

Does Revolut automatically convert currency for you?

In short, yes. When you need to pay in a different currency to the one you hold in your account, Revolut automatically converts the money so you can complete the transaction.

This means you can take your Revolut card abroad and spend in a range of countries and currencies, without actually holding the specific currencies in your account. So, if you’re travelling between countries and don’t plan on holding several currencies at once, Revolut is a convenient option.

What exchange rate does Revolut use?

Revolut uses its own, variable exchange rate. This rate is always changing, but you can check the live one in the app, and on Revolut’s currency converter page. Revolut doesn’t use the mid-market exchange rate, which is usually fairer, though not always.

If you decide to manually convert currencies – let’s say, you want to hold GBP and EUR in your Revolut account – you should note the additional weekend fees.

For Standard plan users, Revolut charges a 1% fee for currency exchanges on the weekend, and exchanges made above the limit of £1,000. Revolut Plus users get an increased exchange limit of £3,000, and pay 0.5% on additional exchanges and weekend exchanges. Premium, Metal, and Ultra customers pay no additional exchange or weekend fees.¹

If you’re a frequent traveller who regularly converts currencies, Revolut’s paid plans may give you more flexibility than the standard one.

Should you convert currency manually or auto-convert?

Auto-convert and manually converting currency both have their pros and cons. With Revolut, manually converting currencies could help you avoid weekend fees if you’re on Revolut’s Standard or Plus plan. You could convert currencies during the week, ready to spend at the weekend.

You also get control of when the currency converts, meaning you may be able to exchange when the rate is more favourable. To do this, you’ll need to keep an eye on Revolut’s live fees either online or in the app. And, depending on your Revolut plan, you need to be considerate of the conversion limit.

Another thing to note is that you can manually convert in fewer currencies ith Revolut. Manual conversion supports 35 currencies, far fewer than the 150+ currencies you can spend in with Revolut.²

So auto-conversion gives you more options for local spending, but you have less control over the exchange rate.³

Auto-conversion offers convenience. But it may not be the cheapest way to exchange currency.

If you’d like to avoid weekend fees altogether, there are alternatives, including Starling, Monzo, and Wise. All three offer auto-conversion, minus the weekend fees (depending on your Revolut plan). Starling and Monzo both use the Mastercard exchange rate. Wise uses the mid-market exchange rate, which is what banks use to trade.

How Wise Auto Conversion works

Auto conversion is convenient when you’re spending abroad, but manual conversion can give you a bit more control over exchange rates. With Wise, you can get the best of both worlds. Wise combines the convenience of auto-converting currencies with the benefits of manually converting at your desired rate.

Wise Auto Conversion, lets you select your desired rate for a currency exchange. We’ll monitor the exchange rates for you, and convert the currency automatically when your desired rate, or an even better one, is met by the market. You’ll get a notification when the money is converted and ready to spend.⁴

Revolut also allows you to choose your desired rate but only if you have a Business account with them.

With Wise you choose the currencies you convert, the exchange rate you convert at, and the amount you convert. It’s a set-it-and-forget-it feature, which means Wise can convert currencies at your desired rate in the background. And you always get the mid-market exchange rate.

How Wise Auto Conversion works

When you’re spending abroad, Wise will also automatically convert your money to the local currency, at a small conversion fee*. With a Wise account, you can hold 40+ currencies. And, a Wise card lets you pay directly from your currency account with no conversion fee, or have your money converted automatically for a low fee* at the mid-market rate for spending in 40+ currencies.

Join Wise today

Sources used in this article:

1. Revolut - currency exchange fees
2. Revolut - how to exchange currencies
3. Revolut - travel money card
4. Wise - how to set up auto conversions

Sources last checked: 11 Jun 2025