Revolut is the better app overall, scoring 8.4 to 8.1. Revolut wins on 4 of the 5 scores, PayPal on 0, with 1 tied.
Frequent travelers who want one app for spending, saving and currency exchange
Online shoppers who want buyer protection and a quick, card-free checkout
Score by score
The details
| Feature | Revolut | PayPal |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Money & Investing | Money & Investing |
| Category rank | #8 of 16 | #15 of 16 |
| Developer | Revolut Ltd | PayPal |
| Pricing | Free + paid plans | Free |
| Usable for free | Yes | Yes |
| iPhone & iPad | ✓ | ✓ |
| Android | ✓ | ✓ |
| Web | ✓ | ✓ |
Common questions
Is Revolut better than PayPal?
Revolut is the better app overall, scoring 8.4 to 8.1. Revolut wins on 4 of the 5 scores, PayPal on 0, with 1 tied.
Which is cheaper, Revolut or PayPal?
Revolut: Free Standard plan; paid plans such as Premium and Metal add perks for a monthly fee. PayPal: Free to send from balance or bank in the US; cards cost 2.9% plus 30 cents. On value for money, Revolut scores higher.
Do Revolut and PayPal work on the same devices?
Yes, both run on iPhone & iPad, Android, Web.
Which is more private, Revolut or PayPal?
Revolut scores higher on privacy (6.8/10). App Store label lists identifiers as used to track you, and links purchase history, contact details, user and device IDs and usage data to you. ID checks are required. Revolut says AIR only reads data you can see.
Strengths and weaknesses
Revolut
- Free plan covers spending, transfers and budgeting
- One app for spending, saving, investing and travel
- Fast, feature-rich app with instant notifications
- Constant upsells and a crowded interface
- Support can be slow if your account is flagged
- App Store label shows identifiers used for tracking
Revolut packs a lot into one app: multi-currency spending, budgeting tools, savings, investing and travel perks. The free Standard plan is genuinely useful, and paid plans add higher limits and extras. A new AI assistant, AIR, can break down your spending or help cancel subscriptions by chat, starting in the UK. The trade-off is complexity and constant upsells, so keep a traditional bank account as a backup.
Full Revolut review
PayPal
- Accepted at a huge number of online stores
- Purchase Protection when eligible orders go wrong
- Free to send to US friends from balance or bank
- Sending with a card costs 2.9% plus 30 cents
- Sending abroad costs 5% (up to $4.99) plus currency fees
- App Store label lists usage data used for tracking
PayPal is still one of the easiest ways to pay online without typing your card number, and Purchase Protection helps if an eligible order never shows up. Sending money to friends in the US is free from your balance or bank, while cards cost 2.9% plus 30 cents. The app also covers Pay in 4, savings, crypto and cash back offers. It tracks a lot, and sending abroad or converting currency gets pricey.
Full PayPal review
