Quick Verdict — Revolut vs Wise for Phuket
Both Revolut and Wise are genuinely useful for Phuket expats — much better than using your home bank card abroad. But they work differently and are better suited to different use cases. Having used both extensively in Phuket for several years, here's the honest breakdown.
Revolut vs Wise — Direct Comparison
Wise wins for Phuket expats primarily because it can hold Thai baht directly and transfer to Thai bank accounts (KBank, Bangkok Bank, SCB) at the mid-market rate with only a small fee. This is how most Phuket expats receive their salaries and top up their Thai bank accounts cost-effectively.
Revolut is excellent for travel across multiple countries and as an everyday spending card in Thailand. The weekend surcharge catches people out. Revolut cannot hold THB or transfer directly to Thai bank accounts — a significant limitation for Phuket expats who need to fund their Thai account for visa requirements or large purchases.
Category by Category — Thailand Use Cases
| Feature | Wise | Revolut Standard | Revolut Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hold Thai baht (THB) | ✓ Yes | ✗ No | ✗ No |
| Transfer to KBank/Bangkok Bank | ✓ Direct | ✗ Not supported | ✗ Not supported |
| Exchange rate basis | Mid-market always | Mid-market (weekday) | Mid-market (weekday) |
| Weekend rate | Mid-market (no surcharge) | +1% surcharge | +0.5% surcharge |
| ATM withdrawals (free) | 2 × £200/mo | ฿5,000/mo | ฿10,000/mo |
| Thai ATM ฿220 fee refund | Depends on plan | No | No |
| Monthly fee | Free (basic) | Free | ~฿600/mo |
| Physical debit card | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Multi-currency | 40+ currencies | 25+ currencies | 25+ currencies |
| Large transfer (฿800k+) | ✓ Best option | ✗ Not for Thai bank | ✗ Not for Thai bank |
| UK bank blocking | Usually fine | VPN may help UK banks | VPN may help UK banks |
Most Phuket expats use both: Wise for receiving salary/income and transferring to their Thai KBank account (especially important if maintaining ฿800k for a Non-OA visa). Revolut or Wise card for everyday spending at shops and restaurants where you pay by card. Home bank wire → Wise → KBank is the standard pipeline. The key is avoiding your home bank's international transfer fee (฿500–1,500 and terrible exchange rates).
Thai ATMs — What Both Cards Actually Cost
Every Thai bank ATM charges a ฿220 fee to foreign cards — this is unavoidable regardless of which card you use. AEON ATMs inside Big C and Makro are an exception — they don't charge the ฿220 fee for some cards, but have lower withdrawal limits.
With Wise's free ATM allowance (2 withdrawals up to £200/month), you're still paying the Thai ATM ฿220 flat fee. Beyond the allowance, Wise charges 1.75% on the amount. For a ฿5,000 withdrawal: ฿220 Thai fee + nothing if within limits = ฿220 total cost.
With Revolut Standard: ฿5,000 free per month, then 2%. The ฿220 Thai ATM fee still applies on every withdrawal. If you withdraw ฿5,000 once: ฿220 total. If you withdraw ฿3,000 twice: ฿440 in Thai bank fees.
Practical advice: Withdraw larger amounts less frequently to minimise the ฿220 flat fee impact. If you're withdrawing ฿10,000+ regularly, the ฿220 fee is proportionally small.
The Verdict — Which to Use When
Use Wise when:
Sending money to your Thai bank account · Receiving salary into THB · Funding your ฿800k Non-OA requirement · Large one-off transfers · You want no weekend surcharge
Use Revolut when:
Everyday spending in Thailand (weekdays) · Travelling across multiple countries · You already have Revolut Premium for other European travel · Quick top-ups for small amounts
Use both when:
Keep Wise as your main money transfer tool for Thailand · Use Revolut card for day-to-day convenience · Get a KBank Thai account for local payments (PromptPay, QR codes)
Avoid both when:
You need to put ฿800k in a Thai bank — must use Thai bank wire · 90-day reporting requires Thai address proof (not needed from Wise/Revolut) · Legal documents requiring Thai bank account