Quick Verdict — Revolut vs Wise for Phuket
Best overall for ThailandWise — better THB support
Best for travelRevolut — multi-currency flexibility
Best for large transfersWise — direct to Thai bank
Wise THB fee~0.4–0.6% + small fixed fee
Revolut weekend surcharge+1% on weekend exchanges
Thai ATM flat fee฿220 (charged by Thai ATMs)
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.
Head to Head
Revolut vs Wise — Direct Comparison
THB account✓ Yes — hold THB
Transfer to Thai bank✓ Direct — same day
Exchange rateMid-market rate
THB fee~0.4–0.6%
Free ATM/month2 withdrawals, £200
Weekend surchargeNone
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.
THB account✗ No — converts at use
Transfer to Thai bankLimited — not direct
Exchange rateMid-market (weekdays)
Weekend surcharge+1% Sat–Sun
Free ATM/month฿5,000 (Standard plan)
Premium plan฿10,000 free ATM
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.
Detailed Comparison
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Wise (formerly TransferWise)
Mid-market exchange rate. Typical fee 0.4–1.5%. Thai bank transfers usually arrive same day. The Wise debit card skips the 220 THB ATM fee at many machines. Used by the majority of Phuket expats.
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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 |
The Phuket Expat Setup That Actually Works
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).
The ATM Question
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.
⚠ Revolut Weekend Surcharge
Revolut's 1% weekend surcharge on currency exchange catches many people off guard. If you convert large amounts on Saturday or Sunday (or pay at Thai businesses that process transactions on weekends), you pay 1% above the mid-market rate. Wise has no weekend surcharge — it uses the mid-market rate 24/7. For a ฿50,000 transaction, that's ฿500 difference.
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
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Revolut or Wise better for Thailand?
For most Phuket expats, Wise is the better choice. It holds Thai baht directly, transfers to Thai bank accounts at the mid-market rate, and has no weekend surcharge. Revolut is better if you also travel heavily in Europe and want multi-currency flexibility.
Does Revolut work in Thailand?
Yes, Revolut works in Thailand for card payments and ATM withdrawals. However, it doesn't hold Thai baht as a balance and cannot transfer directly to Thai bank accounts. Weekend transactions include a 1% surcharge on exchange rates.
Can I send money to a Thai bank account with Wise?
Yes. Wise allows direct transfers to Thai bank accounts (KBank, Bangkok Bank, SCB) in Thai baht. Transfer times are typically same-day to next day. Fees are approximately 0.4–0.6% plus a small fixed amount — much cheaper than bank wire transfers.
Which is better for the Thai retirement visa ฿800k requirement?
Neither Wise nor Revolut can hold the ฿800k — that must be in a Thai bank account (KBank, Bangkok Bank, SCB). Both Wise and Revolut are useful for transferring money into your Thai bank account, with Wise offering better rates than bank wire transfers for large transfers.
Does Wise have ATMs in Thailand?
Wise doesn't have its own ATMs but the Wise debit card works at all standard Thai ATMs. You get 2 free withdrawals per month (up to £200 equivalent). Thai ATMs charge ฿220 regardless of which card you use — this fee applies on top of any Wise fees.