Personal Finance · head to head
Credit Karma 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
- Each has a real cost: Credit Karma state tax filing costs 15 USD even though federal filing is 0 USD; 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: Credit Karma covers Free credit score, Revolut covers Multi-currency accounts.
- Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Credit Karma and Revolut actually diverge.
| Attribute | Credit Karma | Revolut |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | freemium | Free standard tier; paid plans add higher limits, insurance and perks |
| Platforms | Web, IOS, Android | iOS, Android, Web |
| Founded | 2007 | Unknown |
Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), 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 Credit Karma
- Free credit score
- Credit report monitoring
- Credit card recommendations
- Tax filing
- Credit bureaus
- Financial institutions
- 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.
Credit Karma
- Monitoring a credit score and the factors affecting it for freenot Revolut
- Comparing credit card and loan offers with Approval Oddsnot Revolut
- Filing federal tax returns at no chargenot Revolut
Revolut
- Someone travelling or living across multiple currencies who wants low-cost exchange and spending in one accountnot Credit Karma
- A user in the EEA who wants their balance held with a licensed bank covered by a deposit guarantee schemenot Credit Karma
- A UK-based user who understands their balance sits under e-money safeguarding rather than FSCS bank protection, and is comfortable with thatnot Credit Karma
- An investor wanting stock or crypto trading integrated with everyday spending in a single appnot Credit Karma
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
Credit Karma
- State tax filing costs 15 USD even though federal filing is 0 USD
- Credit Spark builds score history against TransUnion, and the site states that not all lenders use TransUnion credit reports or scores
- Card and loan listings are advertising placements, disclosed on the site as compensation from third party advertisers
- Send and score update frequency limits are not published on the site
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
Credit Karma
Free- FreeFree
- Credit score monitoring
- Credit reports
- Personalized recommendations
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 Credit Karma if
- You need free credit score.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Web, IOS, Android.
- You also want credit report monitoring.
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 Credit Karma or Revolut better?
- Neither clearly leads. Credit Karma starts at Free and Revolut at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Credit Karma or Revolut?
- Credit Karma starts at Free and Revolut at Free.
- Does Credit Karma or Revolut run on more platforms?
- Credit Karma runs on Web, IOS, Android. Revolut runs on iOS, Android, Web.
- Can I use Credit Karma for free?
- Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
- What is Credit Karma best used for?
- Credit Karma is most often used for monitoring a credit score and the factors affecting it for free, comparing credit card and loan offers with approval odds, filing federal tax returns at no charge. Of those, monitoring a credit score and the factors affecting it for free and comparing credit card and loan offers with approval odds are not what Revolut is typically brought in for.
- What can Credit Karma do that Revolut cannot?
- Credit Karma covers Free credit score, Credit report monitoring, Credit card recommendations, Tax filing. Revolut covers Multi-currency accounts, Revolut Bank EEA deposits, Stock, crypto and commodity trading, Budgeting and spending analytics.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
Credit Karma: How much does Credit Karma cost?
Credit Karma's core services are completely free: credit score monitoring, credit reports, card and loan comparisons, and federal tax filing. The only costs are optional: $15 per state tax return and $2.50 per out-of-network ATM withdrawal.
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.
Credit Karma: Is Credit Karma's credit monitoring free?
Yes, Credit Karma offers free credit score monitoring, credit reports, personalized insights, and credit building tools. Users can access their credit data without any subscription cost.
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.
Credit Karma: What is the cost to file taxes with Credit Karma?
Federal tax filing is free with Credit Karma Tax. State tax filing costs $15 per return. These costs are optional and only apply if you choose to file through the platform.
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.
Related pages
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