Get Revolut Card UK Free: Complete Guide + Referral Bonus
Getting a Revolut card in the UK is free and takes just 5 minutes. Over 9 million UK customers now use Revolut to save money on foreign transactions, hold 28+ currencies in one account, and access fee-free international spending that traditional banks charge 2.5-3% for. This complete guide shows you how to get your free Revolut card, qualify for referral bonuses, and save hundreds of pounds annually on banking fees.
Revolut offers near-interbank exchange rates (0.5% markup) compared to traditional UK banks like Barclays, HSBC, and Lloyds charging 2.5-3% on every foreign transaction. UK customers save an average of £300 yearly switching to Revolut for international spending, multi-currency management, and advanced budgeting tools.
Save on Travel & Foreign Spending with Revolut
Trusted by over 9 million UK customers • Free Standard account • No hidden fees • Set up in under 5 minutes
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Stop Paying Foreign Fees. Get Your Free Revolut Card.
Open a free Standard account in 5 minutes and start saving with 9 million UK customers. No hidden charges.
How to Get Revolut Card UK in 5 Minutes
📋 Section Summary: Getting a Revolut card takes 5 minutes with instant virtual card access. Over 9 million UK customers use Revolut to save money on foreign spending and manage 28+ currencies in one app.
Getting a Revolut card in the UK is free, instant, and takes 5 minutes. Over 9 million UK customers use Revolut to save money on foreign spending, hold 28+ currencies, and access fee-free international transactions that traditional banks charge 2.5-3% for.
Revolut Card Sign-Up Steps UK
✅ Step 1: Download Revolut App
Download Revolut app from iOS App Store or Google Play Store on your UK mobile device.
✅ Step 2: Verify UK Mobile Number
Enter UK mobile number and verify with SMS code sent to your phone.
✅ Step 3: Upload Photo ID
Upload UK passport or driving licence (photocard version accepted).
✅ Step 4: Add Minimum Deposit
Add £10 minimum deposit via UK bank transfer or debit card.
✅ Step 5: Get Your Card
Order physical Revolut card (£4.99 delivery, 5-7 days) or use virtual card instantly.
✅ Step 6: Make Qualifying Purchases
Make 3 qualifying purchases £5+ each to complete referral requirements and unlock bonus.
5-minute setup • No credit check • Cancel anytime
Why Choose Revolut Card UK? 7 Key Benefits
📋 Section Summary: Revolut saves UK customers average £300 yearly on foreign exchange fees, offers 28+ currencies in one account, zero monthly fees on Standard accounts, and advanced budgeting tools traditional banks don’t provide.
1. Revolut Foreign Exchange Rates Save UK Customers Money
Revolut offers near-interbank exchange rates compared to traditional UK banks charging 2.5-3% fees on every foreign transaction.
| Service | £1,000 GBP to EUR Cost |
|---|---|
| Revolut Standard (weekday) | £5 (0.5% markup) |
| Barclays UK | £29.90 (2.99% fee) |
| HSBC UK | £27.50 (2.75% fee) |
| Lloyds Bank UK | £29.90 (2.99% fee) |
| Post Office Bureau | £45-80 (4.5-8% margin) |
💰 Annual savings: UK customers spending £5,000 yearly abroad save £125-145 using Revolut versus traditional banks.
2. Revolut Multi-Currency Account: Hold 28+ Currencies
Revolut multi-currency wallet lets you hold GBP, EUR, USD, AUD, JPY, CHF, CAD, and 21 other currencies simultaneously. Exchange between currencies at competitive rates directly in Revolut app.
🌍 Perfect for UK Users:
- International travellers visiting multiple countries
- Online shoppers buying from US/EU websites
- Freelancers receiving foreign currency payments
- UK expats managing money across borders
- Business owners making international supplier payments
3. Revolut UK Standard Account: Zero Monthly Fees
Revolut Standard account costs £0 monthly with no minimum balance requirements, no maintenance fees, and no hidden charges for basic banking features.
UK bank comparison: Most traditional UK banks charge £5-15 monthly unless you maintain £1,000-£1,500 minimum balance or deposit £1,500+ salary monthly.
4. Revolut Fee-Free Foreign Spending UK
Revolut Standard cardholders spend abroad fee-free up to £1,000 monthly (weekdays). Revolut Premium and Metal offer unlimited fee-free foreign spending.
Traditional UK bank charges: Barclays charges 2.99%, HSBC charges 2.75%, Lloyds charges 2.99% per foreign transaction plus £1-3 ATM withdrawal fees.
5. Revolut Budgeting Tools UK: Track Every Pound
Revolut automatically categorises transactions into groceries, transport, entertainment, dining out, shopping, bills, and custom categories. Visual spending analytics show monthly patterns, category breakdowns, and budget progress.
📊 Revolut Budgeting Features:
- Spending limits per category: Set monthly budgets for groceries, entertainment, dining
- Savings vaults: Create multiple savings goals with automated deposits
- Subscription tracking: Track recurring payments with cancellation reminders
- Bill splitting: Split restaurant bills and shared expenses with friends instantly
- Monthly insights: Visual charts showing spending trends and comparisons
6. Revolut Virtual Card UK: Instant Access
Revolut provides instant virtual card number upon UK account approval for immediate online purchases. Add Revolut virtual card to Apple Pay or Google Pay for contactless payments before physical card arrives.
7. Revolut Security UK: Real-Time Fraud Protection
Revolut sends push notifications for every transaction providing instant fraud detection. Freeze and unfreeze Revolut card instantly via app if lost or stolen.
🔒 Revolut Security Features:
- 3D Secure authentication for all online purchases
- Location-based security restricting transactions to your location
- Disposable virtual cards (Premium/Metal accounts)
- Instant card freeze/unfreeze via app
- Biometric app login (fingerprint/Face ID)
Join 9 million UK customers • Save £300+ yearly
📋 Section Summary: Revolut offers 4 account tiers in UK. Standard costs £0/month, Plus £3.99/month, Premium £9.99/month, Metal £15.99/month. Each tier increases foreign spending limits, ATM withdrawals, and additional perks.
🆓 Revolut Standard Account UK (Free)
£0 / month
Best for: UK students, casual users, first-time digital banking customers
Revolut Standard Features:
- Fee-free foreign spending up to £1,000/month (weekdays only)
- £200 free ATM withdrawals monthly anywhere globally
- 28+ currency accounts (GBP, EUR, USD, etc.)
- Virtual and physical Revolut card
- Basic budgeting and spending analytics
- Real-time transaction notifications
Limitations:
- 0.5-1% weekend exchange markup
- Customer support via chatbot only
- £4.99 physical card delivery fee
Choose Revolut Standard if: Testing digital banking or spending under £1,000 monthly abroad
💎 Revolut Plus Account UK
£3.99 / month
Best for: Regular UK travellers making 2-3 international trips annually
Revolut Plus Additional Benefits:
- Fee-free foreign spending up to £2,000/month
- £400 free ATM withdrawals monthly globally
- Two physical Revolut cards included
- Interest on Revolut savings (rates vary)
- Basic travel insurance coverage
- Priority customer support
Choose Revolut Plus if: Spending £1,000-£2,000 monthly abroad or withdrawing cash over £200/month
⭐ Revolut Premium Account UK
£9.99 / month
Best for: Frequent flyers, digital nomads, UK business travellers
Revolut Premium Exclusive Features:
- Unlimited fee-free foreign spending (weekdays)
- £600 free ATM withdrawals monthly worldwide
- Comprehensive travel insurance (medical, delays, luggage)
- Airport lounge access (1 free visit monthly via LoungeKey)
- Enhanced cashback on selected UK merchants
- Commission-free stock trading (limited monthly trades)
- Priority 24/7 customer support phone line
Choose Revolut Premium if: Travelling internationally 4+ times yearly or spending £2,000+ monthly abroad
🏆 Revolut Metal Account UK
£15.99 / month
Best for: High spenders wanting premium cashback rewards
Revolut Metal Exclusive Benefits:
- All Revolut Premium features included
- Exclusive metal debit card (5 colour options)
- 1% cashback on all spending in Europe (up to £10,000 monthly)
- 0.1% cashback on foreign currency exchange
- Unlimited airport lounge access globally via LoungeKey
- Dedicated customer support hotline
- Exclusive preferential exchange rates
Choose Revolut Metal if: Spending £1,500+ monthly and wanting cashback that pays for subscription
Upgrade anytime • No commitment • Cancel free
Revolut Referral Programme UK: How to Get Bonus
📋 Section Summary: Revolut UK referral programme offers variable rewards to referrers when friends sign up and complete qualifying activities. New customers must make 3 purchases £5+ each within campaign deadline to qualify.
How Revolut UK Referral Works
Revolut operates variable reward referral campaigns where existing UK customers earn cash bonuses for successful friend referrals. Referral rewards vary by campaign with amounts determined through promotional draws.
⚠️ Important: Only the referrer earns the bonus. New Revolut customers joining via referral link don’t typically receive rewards unless specified in special promotions.
Revolut Referral Requirements UK
✅ New Customer Requirements (That’s You):
Step 1: Sign Up Using Referral Link
Click the unique Revolut referral link to begin sign-up process
Step 2: Complete Identity Verification
Successfully pass Revolut KYC checks with valid UK ID
Step 3: Add Money from External Source
Deposit minimum £10 via UK bank transfer or debit card
Step 4: Order Physical Revolut Card
Order physical card (or use virtual card for purchases)
Step 5: Make 3 Qualifying Purchases
Complete 3 Revolut card purchases (typically £5+ minimum each)
Step 6: Complete Before Deadline
Finish all steps within Revolut campaign period (usually 30-60 days)
Revolut Qualifying Purchases UK: What Counts?
✅ Valid Revolut Transactions
- Online shopping (Amazon UK, ASOS, eBay)
- In-store contactless payments
- Subscriptions (Netflix, Spotify, Disney+)
- Restaurant and retail spending
- Petrol station purchases
- Grocery shopping
❌ Excluded Transactions
- Gambling and betting
- Gift card purchases
- Currency exchange
- Peer-to-peer transfers
- Cryptocurrency purchases
- Revolut-to-Revolut transfers
Revolut Referral Bonus Timeline UK
Qualifying activities must be completed before Revolut campaign end date specified in referral invitation. Revolut credits referral rewards to referrer account within 14 days after invitee completes all requirements.
🚫 Revolut Anti-Abuse Policy
Revolut reverses rewards and closes accounts detecting orchestrated campaigns, multiple fake accounts, or immediate closures after receiving rewards. Only share with genuine friends who’ll benefit from the service.
Complete 3 purchases • Unlock rewards • Help me earn
Revolut vs Monzo vs Starling Bank UK Comparison
📋 Section Summary: Revolut excels for multi-currency needs and international travel. Monzo wins on customer service and simplicity. Starling offers full banking licence with FSCS protection. Choose based on your primary needs.
Revolut vs Monzo UK: Which Digital Bank Wins?
🏆 Revolut Advantages Over Monzo
- 28+ currencies vs Monzo basic GBP/EUR/USD only
- Better exchange rates (near-interbank vs 0.5% Monzo markup)
- Crypto and commodities trading integrated
- More advanced budgeting analytics
- Stock trading available (Premium accounts)
🏆 Monzo Advantages Over Revolut
- Unlimited fee-free foreign spending any day (Revolut limits £1,000/month weekdays)
- Better customer service ratings (Trustpilot 4.1 vs Revolut 3.8)
- Simpler fee structure
- Free card delivery (Revolut charges £4.99 Standard)
- £400 free ATM withdrawals vs Revolut £200
🎯 Verdict: Choose Revolut for multi-currency needs and international travel. Choose Monzo for simplicity and customer service.
Revolut vs Starling Bank UK: Full Bank vs E-Money
🏆 Revolut Advantages Over Starling
- 28+ currencies vs Starling GBP/EUR/USD only
- Better exchange rates for currency conversion
- More innovative features (crypto, stocks, commodities)
- Metal card option with cashback
- Premium tiers with travel perks
🏆 Starling Advantages Over Revolut
- Full UK banking licence with FSCS protection £85,000
- Unlimited free ATM withdrawals worldwide
- Free card delivery always
- Free cash deposits at UK Post Office
- Better for UK business banking
- More suitable for mortgages and large balances
🎯 Verdict: Choose Revolut for travel and multi-currency flexibility. Choose Starling for primary banking with FSCS protection.
Revolut UK Market Position
Revolut serves 9 million UK customers as of 2024, positioning it as UK’s largest digital banking provider ahead of Monzo (7.5 million) and Starling (3.6 million) according to company reports.
| Digital Bank | UK Customers | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Revolut | 9 million | Multi-currency, travel, innovation |
| Monzo | 7.5 million | Simplicity, customer service |
| Starling Bank | 3.6 million | FSCS protection, business banking |
9 million UK customers trust Revolut
Revolut Card UK FAQs: Common Questions Answered
📋 Section Summary: Answers to most common Revolut UK questions including safety, FSCS protection, fees, verification times, account closure, and whether Revolut can replace your main bank.
❓ Is Revolut Safe UK? FCA Authorisation Explained
Q: Is Revolut safe for UK customers?
A: Yes, Revolut is authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) as an e-money institution (firm reference 900562). Your funds are safeguarded in segregated accounts at established UK banks.
Important difference: Revolut is NOT covered by FSCS (Financial Services Compensation Scheme) £85,000 protection like traditional banks Barclays, HSBC, Lloyds, NatWest. Revolut is safe for daily spending balances (£500-£5,000) but keep emergency funds and large savings in FSCS-protected accounts.
❓ Can I Use Revolut as Main Bank UK?
Q: Can Revolut replace my UK bank account completely?
A: Partially. Many UK customers use Revolut as primary account for daily spending, direct debits, and salary deposits. However, limitations exist:
- Some UK employers don’t recognise Revolut sort codes for salary payments
- UK mortgage lenders may not accept Revolut statements for affordability assessments
- Limited cash deposit options compared to traditional UK banks
- No FSCS protection for large balances
Best practice: Use Revolut alongside traditional UK bank account, not as complete replacement.
❓ Revolut UK Fees Explained
Q: What are Revolut UK hidden fees?
A: Revolut Standard account main charges:
- £4.99 physical card delivery fee
- 0.5-1% weekend currency exchange markup (Friday 11pm – Sunday 11pm GMT)
- 0.5% fee on foreign spending exceeding £1,000 monthly
- 2% fee on ATM withdrawals exceeding £200 monthly
- £5 card replacement fee if lost/damaged
Revolut Premium/Metal reduce or eliminate most fees with monthly subscriptions.
❓ How Long Does Revolut UK Verification Take?
Q: How long to get Revolut card UK?
A: Revolut UK verification timeline:
- Account creation: 5 minutes
- Identity verification: Instant to 48 hours maximum
- Virtual Revolut card: Immediate access after verification
- Physical Revolut card: 5-7 working days Royal Mail delivery
❓ Can I Close Revolut UK Account Anytime?
Q: How to close Revolut account UK?
A: Yes, close Revolut account anytime penalty-free:
- Navigate to Profile > Account > Close Account in Revolut app
- Withdraw or transfer all remaining GBP/foreign currency
- Cancel outstanding direct debits separately
- Download transaction history if needed for records
- Confirm closure (instant, regulatory processes take several days)
❓ Does Revolut UK Require Minimum Balance?
Q: Is there Revolut minimum balance UK?
A: No, Revolut has zero minimum balance requirement for any account tier (Standard, Plus, Premium, Metal). You can maintain £0 balance indefinitely without fees or penalties.
No minimum balance • No credit check • 5-minute setup
Revolut Card UK: Key Takeaways Summary
🎯 Revolut UK Main Benefits
£0
Monthly fees (Standard)
£300
Average yearly savings
28+
Currencies supported
5 min
Account setup time
✅ What Makes Revolut Excellent
- Save money abroad: Near-interbank exchange rates vs 2.5-3% bank fees
- Multi-currency master: Hold 28+ currencies including GBP, EUR, USD simultaneously
- Fee-free spending: Up to £1,000 monthly abroad (Standard), unlimited (Premium/Metal)
- Instant everything: 5-minute account opening, immediate virtual card access
- Advanced budgeting: Automatic categorisation, savings vaults, spending analytics
- Strong security: 3D Secure, instant freeze/unfreeze, real-time notifications
⚠️ Important Considerations
- Not FSCS protected: E-money institution, not traditional bank with £85,000 protection
- Customer service varies: Standard accounts limited to chatbot support
- Weekend markup: 0.5-1% additional fees Friday 11pm-Sunday 11pm
- Monthly limits: Standard faces fees exceeding £1,000 foreign spending
- Some restrictions: Not all UK employers/lenders accept Revolut fully
🎯 Who Should Get Revolut Card UK?
✅ Perfect For Revolut:
- UK international travellers saving money on foreign transactions
- Digital nomads managing multiple currencies
- Students and young professionals wanting free banking
- Budget-conscious families using advanced spending tracking
- Online shoppers buying from international websites
- Freelancers receiving payments in multiple currencies
❌ Not Ideal For Revolut:
- Large savings holders needing FSCS protection £85,000
- Those requiring extensive UK customer service support
- Cash-heavy users needing frequent deposits
- UK mortgage applicants using Revolut as sole account
- People wanting traditional branch banking experience
💼 Revolut UK Final Recommendation
Revolut excels as supplementary account alongside traditional UK bank:
Use Revolut for: Foreign spending and travel, multi-currency management, daily spending budgeting, £500-£5,000 balances
Use traditional UK bank for: Emergency savings with FSCS protection, mortgage applications, large balance storage, cash deposits
Best Revolut strategy: Start with free Standard account, upgrade to Plus/Premium if foreign spending consistently exceeds £1,000 monthly or need travel insurance.
Get Your Free Revolut Card UK Today
Over 9 million UK customers trust Revolut for smarter money management, fee-free foreign spending, and multi-currency banking that traditional banks can’t match.
✅ Instant virtual card • ✅ Physical card in 5-7 days • ✅ £0 monthly fees
✅ No credit check • ✅ Cancel anytime free • ✅ Join 9 million UK customers
Disclosure: This article contains affiliate referral links. Author earns commission when readers sign up through provided Revolut referral link. All information independently researched and complies with UK ASA/FCA advertising guidelines. Content last verified: December 2025.
Revolut authorisation: Revolut Ltd is authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority as an e-money institution (firm reference 900562).
Sources cited: Revolut official UK website and app, Financial Conduct Authority register, UK customer data from Revolut transparency reports, competitor comparison data from Monzo and Starling Bank official sources, UK banking fee comparisons from Barclays, HSBC, Lloyds published rates, exchange rate data from XE.com interbank rate tracker.
