Does Revolut Charge for Currency Exchange on Weekends?
Does Revolut Charge for Currency Exchange on Weekends?
If you’re packing for a city break or paying an overseas invoice on a Sunday, the timing of your currency exchange matters. Revolut made its name by offering near-interbank exchange rates, but one detail catches people out: weekend markups. This guide explains exactly when Revolut adds a fee, how much it costs, which plans reduce it, and how to avoid paying more than you need to.
How Revolut’s Weekend Currency Fee Works
Revolut uses live exchange rates during the week, but the foreign-exchange markets close from Friday evening to Sunday evening UK time. Because Revolut still lets you spend, send, and exchange currencies over the weekend, it protects itself against price swings by adding a weekend markup.
The markup is typically 1% for most major currencies on Standard and Plus plans. For less liquid currencies — notably Thai Baht (THB), Russian Ruble (RUB), and Ukrainian Hryvnia (UAH) — the weekend markup can be higher, so always check the in-app rate before confirming a transaction.
The fee is built into the exchange rate, so you won’t see a separate line item. Instead, the rate you get on Saturday or Sunday is slightly worse than the rate you would have received on a Tuesday afternoon. Revolut publishes its current markups in the app under Profile → Settings → Fees and Pricing → Currency Exchange, and the exact percentage can vary by plan and by currency pair.
Which Revolut Plans Cut the Weekend Markup?
Not every Revolut customer pays the same weekend rate. Higher-tier plans include discounts on currency exchange markups, including the weekend fee.
| Plan | Monthly fee | Weekend FX markup (major currencies) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard | Free | 1% | Best for occasional travellers |
| Plus | £2.99 | 1% | Adds insurance and purchase protection |
| Premium | £6.99 | Lower or waived on major currencies | Faster support, airport lounges |
| Metal | £12.99 | Lower or waived on major currencies | Highest limits, cashback perks |
Important: Plan terms and markup percentages change periodically. Open the Revolut app before you travel and check the Fees and Pricing section for the live rates that apply to your plan today.
If you travel regularly or often receive payments in EUR or USD at the weekend, upgrading from Standard to Premium can pay for itself quickly if it removes or reduces the weekend markup on your typical currencies.
When Exactly Does the Weekend Markup Apply?
Revolut generally treats weekend hours as:
- From: Friday 17:00 New York time (22:00 BST / 21:00 GMT)
- Until: Sunday 17:00 New York time (22:00 BST / 21:00 GMT)
During this window, the weekend markup is added to foreign-exchange transactions. That means a hotel check-in paid at 21:00 UK time on a Friday night carries the markup, while a Monday-morning coffee in Paris usually does not.
Revolut’s base currency is set by your account country. For UK customers, that is GBP. Any spend or transfer that converts from GBP into another currency during the weekend window is subject to the markup unless your plan specifically waives it.
How to Avoid Revolut’s Weekend Exchange Fee
There are four practical ways to reduce or remove the weekend markup:
Exchange currency during the week. Open the Revolut app on a weekday, convert the GBP amount you expect to spend into EUR, USD, or another currency, and hold it in a currency balance. When you spend from that balance over the weekend, no new conversion takes place, so the weekend markup does not apply.
Choose a plan that waives weekend FX. Premium and Metal plans often remove or reduce the markup on major currencies. Run the maths against your typical monthly weekend spend to see if the subscription saves money.
Use a local currency balance. If you are paid in euros or dollars, keep that money in its own Revolut pocket. Spending directly from an existing EUR or USD balance avoids a fresh conversion and therefore avoids the markup.
Time large purchases for Monday. If the transaction is not urgent, wait until the FX market reopens. A flight, hotel, or invoice paid on Monday morning is usually cheaper than the same transaction on Sunday afternoon.
Revolut Weekend Fees vs Wise and Monzo
Revolut is not the only UK fintech with weekend quirks. Here is how three popular options compare for a typical GBP-to-EUR purchase on a Saturday.
| Provider | Weekend GBP→EUR fee structure | Stand-out feature |
|---|---|---|
| Revolut | Built-in markup (often 1% on Standard) | Exchange in advance to skip it |
| Wise | Transparent mid-market rate + small variable fee | Fees shown upfront, no subscription tiers |
| Monzo | Uses MasterCard rate; no extra weekend markup on card spend | Simple, no hidden weekend loading |
Wise keeps its fee structure consistent across the week, which can make budgeting easier, but its rates include a small variable charge that is visible before you confirm. Monzo is straightforward for card spending abroad because it does not add a weekend loading, although it may charge interest or fees for cash withdrawals above the free monthly limit.
If your top priority is the cheapest possible weekend rate, the winner depends on the currency and the amount. For large transfers, compare Revolut’s in-app weekend rate against Wise’s quoted fee before you tap confirm.
Pros and Cons of Using Revolut for Weekend Spending
Pros
- Lock in weekday rates by exchanging into a currency balance in advance.
- Multi-currency accounts let you hold, send, and receive EUR, USD, and dozens more.
- Higher-tier plans can remove weekend markups entirely for frequent travellers.
- Instant notifications and spending analytics make it easy to track costs abroad.
Cons
- Standard-plan users pay a weekend markup on most major currencies.
- Less liquid currencies can carry a larger markup.
- Fee schedule changes mean you must check the app before each trip.
- ATM withdrawal limits apply; fees can stack if you also withdraw cash at the weekend.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Revolut charge extra for card payments on Saturday?
Yes, if your card payment requires a currency conversion from GBP into another currency and your plan does not waive the weekend markup. The extra cost is embedded in the exchange rate, so it is not shown as a separate fee.
Can I avoid the weekend fee by exchanging money on Friday?
Yes. If you convert GBP into the currency you need on a weekday and hold it in a Revolut balance, spending from that balance at the weekend does not trigger a new conversion or the weekend markup.
Does the weekend markup apply to transfers between Revolut users?
No. Sending money to another Revolut user in the same currency does not involve FX, so there is no weekend markup. If you send money across currencies at the weekend, the markup applies.
Is Revolut cheaper than Wise at the weekend?
It depends on the currency pair and your plan. Revolut can be cheaper if you have already exchanged during the week or if you are on a plan that waives the weekend markup. Wise’s fees are usually transparent and stable, so compare both in real time before a large transaction.
What time does Revolut stop charging the weekend markup?
The markup generally ends when the New York FX market reopens on Sunday at 17:00 local time, which is 22:00 BST (21:00 GMT) in the UK. Transactions after that window usually receive the weekday rate.
Bottom Line
Revolut does charge for currency exchange on weekends for most Standard and Plus customers, usually through a 1% markup baked into the rate. The simplest way to beat it is to exchange your spending money on a weekday and hold it in the relevant currency balance. If you travel or trade cross-border regularly, a higher-tier Revolut plan, or comparing with Wise and Monzo, may save you more over the year.
Open a Revolut account to check live weekend rates for your plan, or compare Wise and Monzo before your next trip.
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