Having a dedicated international account for travel purposes and to send or receive international payments can be convenient and help keep down the costs of transacting in foreign currencies. If you’re looking for a low fee multi-currency account and card you might have heard of both Revolut and Wise. But which is the better option for Malaysia - Revolut or Wise?
This guide walks through Wise vs Revolut on features, card use, international payments, and availability. If you’re wondering - can I use Revolut in Malaysia - read on.
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Revolut is a specialist provider which offers multi-currency accounts, linked cards, and ways to send and receive foreign currency payments. Revolut launched back in 2015, and has expanded to offer services in many countries and regions globally, usually with a variety of different account plans to suit differing customer needs.
So - can I use Revolut in Malaysia if I’m a Malaysian resident? Unfortunately, the answer is no.
Revolut is not available for residents of Malaysia at the time of research. However, if you’ve got a Revolut account from elsewhere in the world, you should still be able to use your Revolut card, and access your account, if you happen to be traveling to Malaysia.
Wise launched in 2011 as an international transfer provider, and has expanded its portfolio to offer multi-currency accounts and debit cards, in countries and regions globally.
Wise personal accounts have no fee to open, and no ongoing fees, and currency conversion uses the mid-market rate with low, transparent fees. While the exact services available vary a bit depending on where in the world you live, you can usually hold and exchange 40+ currencies, and receive dozens of currencies to your account with local or SWIFT account information.
Yes. You can use Wise in Malaysia, if you’re a Malaysian resident, or if you’re a Wise customer from elsewhere and travel there.
If you’re a Malaysian resident you can open a Wise account, order a Wise card, hold and exchange 40+ currencies, and send money to others around the world with low fees and the mid-market rate. You'll also be able to use the Wise card to make payments locally - anywhere that accepts Mastercard or Visa payments.
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Let’s take a look at Revolut vs Wise based on the available features, including accounts, payments and card services.
As Revolut isn’t available to people with a Malaysian address, we’ve used details from the Revolut UK¹ service to illustrate the options typically available. As features and fees do depend on the country you live in, you’ll also want to check the Revolut local information for your country of residence before you sign up.
Both Revolut and Wise offer digital international accounts which you can use to hold a selection of foreign currencies, with a linked debit card to make spending and cash withdrawals easy.
Wise accounts have no sign up fee, and no ongoing fees, while Revolut typically offers 3 or more different account plans, which can include some with and without monthly charges.
Wise focuses on low, transparent fees for things like currency exchange, with core services sitting around international payments and spending. Revolut often has a broader suite of features including accounts for children, cash back cards and travel perks - but you’ll usually have to pay a fairly high monthly fee to unlock all the account benefits available.
Let’s take a quick side by side Revolut vs Wise account comparison to give you a flavour:
| Service | Wise | Revolut |
|---|---|---|
| Available for Malaysian residents | Yes | No |
| Monthly fees | No fee | 0 GBP - 45 GBP depending on plan² |
| Supported currencies for holding and exchange | 40+ | 30+ |
| Supported currencies for receiving | Receive with local account details in 8+ currencies | Receive with local account information in GBP, and SWIFT information for other supported currencies³ |
| Exchange rate | Mid-market rate | Revolut rate with no additional fee for weekday exchange, to plan limit - fair usage or out of hours fees can apply |
| Debit card available | Yes | Yes - different cards depending on plan selected |
| Fee for card spending | No fee to spend a currency you hold Currency conversion from 0.77% | No fee to spend a currency you hold Fair usage fee of up to 1% may apply Weekend exchange fees of up to 1% may apply |
| ATM fee | No Wise fee for 2 withdrawals/month up to the value of 1,000 MYR 5 MYR + 1.75% for withdrawals beyond that | No Revolut fee for withdrawals to your plan limit, then fees of 2% apply (minimum 1 GBP) |
| Reward points offered | Not applicable | Revolut reward points earned, with rates depending on the account type |
| Travel perks offered | Not applicable | Some plans get lounge access, complimentary insurance and other travel perks |
*Details correct at time of research - 5th August, 2025
When you open an account with either Revolut or Wise, you can also get a linked debit card which you can use to spend anywhere Visa or Mastercard is accepted. Revolut has different card types, depending on the account you select, which can include cashback cards and premium metal cards. Wise offers a card as an option to all account holders, which has a one time order fee.
To help you see where they are similar and different, here’s a look at Revolut vs Wise card features and fees:
| Service | Wise | Revolut |
|---|---|---|
| Available for Malaysian residents | Yes | No |
| Card accepted in Malaysia | Yes | Yes |
| Card order fee | 13.70 MYR | No order fee, but delivery charges may apply |
| Virtual card option | Yes | Yes |
| Fee for card spending | No fee to spend a currency you hold Currency conversion from 0.77% | No fee to spend a currency you hold Fair usage fee of up to 1% may apply Weekend exchange fees of up to 1% may apply |
| ATM fee | No Wise fee for 2 withdrawals/month up to the value of 1,000 MYR 5 MYR + 1.75% for withdrawals beyond that | No Revolut fee for withdrawals to your plan limit, then fees of 2% apply (minimum 1 GBP) |
| Exchange rate | Mid-market rate | Revolut rate with no additional fee for weekday exchange, to plan limit - fair usage or out of hours fees can apply |
| Cash back | Not applicable | Some account plans attract cash back on spending, with variable rates based on plan |
*Details correct at time of research - 5th August, 2025
When you register an account with Revolut or Wise you can also use it to send payments overseas. You can send to bank accounts, to other Revolut or Wise accounts, or to e-wallets in some destinations. Pay for your transfer from your account balance, or choose to pay from your bank or using a card, and your money is deposited to the recipient’s account in their preferred currency.
Both Wise and Revolut offer international payments in a really good selection of currencies, to a wide selection of countries - here’s a side by side comparison of Wise vs Revolut on international transfer features and fees, so you can see how they both work:
| Service | Wise | Revolut UK |
|---|---|---|
| Available for Malaysian residents | Yes | No |
| Send payments to Malaysia | Yes | Yes |
| Total supported countries for payments | 140+ destinations | Broad selection of destinations, depending on where your account is registered |
| Exchange rate | Mid-market rate | Revolut rate with no additional fee for weekday exchange, to plan limit - fair usage or out of hours fees can apply |
| Transfer fee | From 0.77% | Fees depend on currency - often from around 0.15%, subject to minimum and maximum fee amounts⁵ Some account plans offer discounts on the fee amount |
| Transfer speed | Often fast or instant | Up to 2 days, depending on the route⁶ |
*Details correct at time of research - 5th August, 2025
Wise and Revolut are both specialist providers which have a selection of account, card and transfer services which can suit a very broad range of customers. Unfortunately, Revolut is not available for Malaysian residents, and so the final call on Wise vs Revolut may come down to your preferences and where you call home.
If you’re in Malaysia and want an account and card to manage the costs of international transactions, Wise can be a great choice. If you’re based in another country where Revolut is available, it’s worth comparing both to see which is the best fit for your needs.
Sources:
*Please see terms of use and product availability for your region or visit Wise fees and pricing for the most up to date pricing and fee information.
This publication is provided for general information purposes and does not constitute legal, tax or other professional advice from Wise Payments Limited or its subsidiaries and its affiliates, and it is not intended as a substitute for obtaining advice from a financial advisor or any other professional.
We make no representations, warranties or guarantees, whether expressed or implied, that the content in the publication is accurate, complete or up to date.
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