Personal Finance · head to head
Betterment vs Revolut

Revolut
Personal Finance
Multi-currency financial app operating as a licensed bank in parts of the EU and as an e-money institution elsewhere
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Only Revolut has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
- Each has a real cost: Betterment digital automated investing charges $5 per month fee for accounts under $24,000 balance; Revolut uK customer balances have historically been held under an e-money institution licence, meaning they are not covered by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme the way a traditional UK bank deposit is, even though Revolut was granted a restricted UK banking licence in 2024.
- They diverge on capability: Betterment covers Automated investing, Revolut covers Multi-currency accounts.
- Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Betterment and Revolut actually diverge.
| Attribute | Betterment | Revolut |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | On request | Free |
| Pricing model | subscription | Free standard tier; paid plans add higher limits, insurance and perks |
| Free tier | No | Yes |
| Platforms | Web, iOS, Android | iOS, Android, Web |
| Founded | 2008 | Unknown |
Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (Personal Finance).
What each one covers
Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.
Only in Betterment
- Automated investing
- Retirement planning
- Financial advisory
- Goal tracking
- Bank accounts
- Investment accounts
- Web support
- IOS support
Only in Revolut
- Multi-currency accounts
- Revolut Bank EEA deposits
- Stock, crypto and commodity trading
- Budgeting and spending analytics
- Virtual and disposable cards
- Business accounts (Revolut Business)
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Betterment
- Automated portfolio managementnot Revolut
- High-yield cash savingsnot Revolut
- Self-directed investingnot Revolut
Revolut
- Someone travelling or living across multiple currencies who wants low-cost exchange and spending in one accountnot Betterment
- A user in the EEA who wants their balance held with a licensed bank covered by a deposit guarantee schemenot Betterment
- A UK-based user who understands their balance sits under e-money safeguarding rather than FSCS bank protection, and is comfortable with thatnot Betterment
- An investor wanting stock or crypto trading integrated with everyday spending in a single appnot Betterment
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
Betterment
- Digital automated investing charges $5 per month fee for accounts under $24,000 balance
- Premium advisory service requires minimum balance of $100,000 in eligible investments
- Foreign transaction fees apply to checking account (though reimbursed after the fact)
- High-balance fee discounts only available above $1,000,000 account balance
Revolut
- UK customer balances have historically been held under an e-money institution licence, meaning they are not covered by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme the way a traditional UK bank deposit is, even though Revolut was granted a restricted UK banking licence in 2024.
- Regulatory status differs by country of use, EEA versus UK versus other markets, so the actual protection on a given balance depends on where the account is domiciled, not on the brand alone.
- Customer service has been a recurring complaint, with account freezes for fraud checks sometimes leaving customers unable to access funds for extended periods with limited direct human contact.
- The free tier caps fee-free currency exchange at a monthly allowance, after which a fair usage fee applies, so heavy multi-currency users may need a paid plan to avoid extra charges.
- The breadth of features, banking, trading, crypto and business accounts, spans multiple regulatory regimes and legal entities, which makes the overall structure harder for a typical customer to fully understand than a single-licence traditional bank.
Pricing, plan by plan
Betterment
On request- Automated Investing$null/month
- AUM-based or flat monthly advisory fees
- Premium Service$0.4/percent of AUM
- Requires $100,000 minimum balance
- Self-Directed InvestingFree
- No wrap fee
- High-Yield Cash$4/APY promotional
- $10 minimum deposit
- New customer boost through 1/15/2027
Revolut
Free- StandardFree
- Free multi-currency spending up to a monthly exchange allowance
- Basic budgeting tools
- UK balances held under e-money safeguarding, not FSCS-protected as a standard bank deposit
- Premium$7.99/month
- Higher free exchange allowance
- Travel insurance and card delivery perks
- Priority customer support
- Metal$14.99/month
- Cashback on card spending
- Higher limits across features
- Metal card and additional insurance cover
Which should you pick?
Choose Betterment if
- You need automated investing.
- You work on Web, iOS, Android.
- You also want retirement planning.
Choose Revolut if
- You need multi-currency accounts.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on iOS, Android, Web.
- You also want revolut bank eea deposits.
Questions people ask
- Is Betterment or Revolut better?
- Neither clearly leads. Betterment starts at On request and Revolut at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Betterment or Revolut?
- Revolut has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at On request for Betterment and Free for Revolut.
- Does Betterment or Revolut run on more platforms?
- Betterment runs on Web, iOS, Android. Revolut runs on iOS, Android, Web.
- Can I use Revolut for free?
- Yes. Revolut has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Betterment starts at On request.
- What is Betterment best used for?
- Betterment is most often used for automated portfolio management, high-yield cash savings, self-directed investing. Of those, automated portfolio management and high-yield cash savings are not what Revolut is typically brought in for.
- What can Betterment do that Revolut cannot?
- Betterment covers Automated investing, Retirement planning, Financial advisory, Goal tracking. Revolut covers Multi-currency accounts, Revolut Bank EEA deposits, Stock, crypto and commodity trading, Budgeting and spending analytics.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
Betterment: What is the minimum to start investing with Betterment?
Betterment requires only $10 to open an account and begin either automated or self-directed investing.
SourceRevolut: Is my money safe with Revolut?
It depends on your country. EEA balances are held with a Lithuanian-licensed bank and generally covered by deposit guarantee up to 100,000 euro; UK balances have historically sat under e-money safeguarding rather than FSCS bank protection, though Revolut has been working toward full UK banking status since gaining a restricted licence in 2024.
Betterment: How much does Betterment's Premium Service cost?
Premium Service charges an additional 0.40% fee on your invested balances and requires a minimum account balance of $100,000.
SourceRevolut: Is Revolut a bank?
In the EEA, yes, through Revolut Bank UAB, licensed in Lithuania. In the UK, it has historically operated as an e-money institution and was granted a restricted banking licence in 2024, with full UK banking status pending completion of a mobilisation period.
Betterment: What APY does Betterment's High-Yield Cash offer?
High-Yield Cash offers 3.25% base APY plus a new customer boost of 0.75% APY (up to $1M) through January 15, 2027, totaling 4.00% promotional APY.
SourceRevolut: Does Revolut charge for currency exchange?
Exchange is free up to a monthly allowance on the standard tier, after which a fair usage fee applies; paid plans raise or remove that allowance.
Betterment: Does Betterment charge a wrap fee on self-directed accounts?
No, Betterment waives its wrap fee for self-directed investing accounts, allowing customers to invest without advisory fees.
SourceRelated pages
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