In this guide
Wise’s EUR account details use a non-Dutch euro IBAN; Revolut customers who live in the Netherlands are migrated to its Dutch branch and receive a Dutch IBAN. Both can be used for salary: a Dutch employer may not refuse a euro IBAN from another EU/EEA country (De Nederlandsche Bank).
💡 Looking for a complete banking comparison? Read Best banking for expats in the Netherlands 2026.
Quick Comparison
| Topic | Wise | Revolut |
|---|---|---|
| Euro IBAN | Non-Dutch euro IBAN (Belgian BIC and address) | Dutch IBAN for customers who live in the Netherlands (check your app) |
| Subscription | No subscription, you pay per transaction | Standard is free; paid plans from EUR 3.99 a month |
| iDEAL | Not on iDEAL’s issuer list | On iDEAL’s issuer list (Revolut Bank UAB) |
| Type | Payment institution, not a bank | Bank (Revolut Bank UAB) |
Side-by-Side Comparison Table
| Feature | Wise | Revolut |
|---|---|---|
| IBAN | Non-Dutch euro IBAN (Belgian BIC and address) | Dutch IBAN for customers who live in the Netherlands; check your app |
| Free plan available | Yes (no subscription) | Yes (Standard) |
| Exchange rate | The fee is shown before you confirm | Standard: EUR 1,000 a month without additional fees on weekdays, then a 1% fair-usage fee; a 1% weekend fee applies |
| Debit card | EUR 7 to order; digital card free | See Revolut’s own terms |
| Free ATM withdrawals | Up to EUR 250 a month, then 2.69% of the amount over EUR 250 | Standard: EUR 200 a month or 5 withdrawals, then 2% (minimum EUR 1) |
| iDEAL | No (not on iDEAL’s issuer list) | Yes (Revolut Bank UAB is on the issuer list) |
| Plans | One account, pay per transaction | Standard free, Plus EUR 3.99, Premium EUR 10.99, Metal EUR 19.99, Ultra EUR 65 a month |
Sources: wise.com card fees (Netherlands) and Wise Help Centre; revolut.com pricing plans and standard fees (Netherlands), checked 6 October 2026; ideal.nl/en/issuers.
The IBAN Question: Why It Matters for Expats
What Wise gives you
When you open a Wise account and Wise has verified you, you get EUR account details with a non-Dutch euro IBAN (Wise uses a Belgian BIC and address). A Dutch employer may not refuse it for salary, and companies such as Ziggo, Vattenfall or your health insurer may not refuse it for a direct debit (De Nederlandsche Bank: IBAN discrimination is not allowed).
What Revolut gives you
Revolut says customers who live in the Netherlands are migrated to its Dutch branch and receive a Dutch IBAN (Revolut Help). Check the IBAN shown in your own Revolut app. Banking services are provided by Revolut Bank UAB, authorised by the Bank of Lithuania and the ECB.
iDEAL
Wise is not on iDEAL’s list of issuers, so you cannot pay with iDEAL from a Wise account. Revolut Bank UAB is on that list, as are the Dutch banks, bunq and N26 (ideal.nl). For iDEAL payments, such as many government fees, use an account from a provider on the list.
For a full picture of your Dutch banking options, see our guide to the best bank accounts for expats or use the Bank Account Chooser tool.
Currency Exchange and International Transfers
If you regularly move euros to another currency, the difference in how Wise and Revolut price exchanges can add up over a year, so compare live quotes.
Wise: shows the exchange rate, fee and expected recipient amount before confirmation. The rate and fee depend on currency, amount and payment method, so use the live quote rather than a historic percentage.
Revolut (Standard plan): Revolut says you can exchange up to EUR 1,000 a month without additional fees on weekdays; above that it charges a fair-usage fee of 1% on Standard (0.5% on Plus), and a 1% fee applies to exchanges made at weekends (revolut.com, checked 6 October 2026).
Wise gives you an estimated delivery time when you set up a transfer; for Revolut, check the estimate shown in the app before you confirm. For other options, see best international money transfers.
Daily Use in the Netherlands
Both Wise and Revolut offer debit cards. Check each provider’s terms for Apple Pay and Google Pay support in your country.
Tikkie
Tikkie is a payment-request app from ABN AMRO that customers of all banks can use; you pay the request through iDEAL. Wise is not an iDEAL issuer, so you cannot pay Tikkie requests from Wise; Revolut is on iDEAL’s list of issuers. bunq gives you an NL IBAN as well; see the bunq vs N26 comparison.
ATM withdrawals
- Wise: free up to EUR 250 a month; above that, 2.69% of the amount over EUR 250 (wise.com card fees (Netherlands)).
- Revolut Standard: EUR 200 a month or 5 withdrawals free; after that 2% (minimum EUR 1) (revolut.com standard fees).
Online shopping and direct debits
A company that collects by SEPA direct debit may not refuse a euro IBAN from another EU/EEA country (De Nederlandsche Bank).
Pricing Plans Compared
Wise
Wise does not have subscription plans; you pay per transaction. The Wise account gives you multi-currency balances, EUR account details with a non-Dutch euro IBAN (Wise uses a Belgian BIC and address), a debit card and international transfers. Ordering the physical card costs EUR 7; a digital card is free (wise.com card fees (Netherlands)).
Revolut
| Plan | Monthly fee |
|---|---|
| Standard | Free |
| Plus | EUR 3.99 |
| Premium | EUR 10.99 |
| Metal | EUR 19.99 |
| Ultra | EUR 65 |
Paid plans add higher limits and extras such as insurance; compare them on Revolut’s plan page. Prices from revolut.com (Netherlands), checked 6 October 2026. Revolut changes its plans regularly, so check before you commit to a paid plan.
Safety and Regulation
Wise is a payment institution, not a bank. Its entity in Belgium is the reason it uses a Belgian BIC and address (Wise Help Centre). Read Wise’s own explanation of how customer money is safeguarded, and note that a payment institution is not a bank.
Revolut says its banking services in the Netherlands are provided by the Dutch branch of Revolut Bank UAB, authorised by the Bank of Lithuania and the ECB, and refers to its own Deposit Insurance Information. Check Revolut’s deposit information for which products are covered.
If formal deposit protection matters to you, compare each provider’s own protection documents for the account you would actually use.
For tax questions, such as whether your 30% ruling affects how you should manage foreign income, see our guide on the ruling.
Which Should You Choose?
If you are arriving and need an account before you have a BSN: Wise lets verified customers get EUR account details with a non-Dutch euro IBAN, and several Dutch banks let you start without a BSN too. See ING vs ABN AMRO.
If you regularly send larger amounts abroad: compare both live quotes every time the amount is material, because the lowest total cost can change with the currency, plan allowance, payment method and timing.
If you want to pay with iDEAL or Tikkie from the account: Wise is not on iDEAL’s issuer list; Revolut, bunq, N26 and the Dutch banks are.
If you want formal deposit protection: Revolut operates as a bank; read its Deposit Insurance Information for the product you use.
A Note on the Bigger Picture
Wise does not replace a Dutch bank account, because it is not on iDEAL’s list of issuers. Revolut is on that list, but check which features your own Revolut account supports before you rely on it. If you are moving to the Netherlands, setting up your finances in the first few weeks saves frustration later.
A setup that covers the basics:
- Before arrival: Wise (EUR account details with a non-Dutch euro IBAN once Wise has verified you, plus international transfers).
- First month: a Dutch bank such as ING or ABN AMRO for iDEAL, Tikkie and the Dutch financial ecosystem. ING Go costs €4.00 a month (ing.nl); ABN AMRO’s Basic Payment Package costs EUR 4.30 a month (abnamro.nl).
- Optional: Revolut if you want a travel card or its investment features.
If you are leaving the Netherlands
Before leaving, ask Wise whether the account and its features remain available in the new country of residence, update your address and tax details, and review current fees. Keep an account open only if it can receive expected refunds or debits under the provider’s current terms. For your Dutch bank account, plan the closure carefully: update direct debits to your new bank and formally close the account rather than abandoning it.
Related Guides
- Best bank accounts for expats in the Netherlands 2026
- Wise vs Revolut vs Bunq three-way comparison for expats
- ING vs ABN AMRO: which Dutch bank for expats?
- Bunq vs N26 in the Netherlands
- Best international money transfer services in the Netherlands
- The best way to send money from the Netherlands in 2026
- Best savings accounts in the Netherlands for expats
- Complete guide to moving to the Netherlands
- The 30% ruling explained
- Find the right bank account with the Bank Account Chooser
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Wise or Revolut offer a European IBAN accepted in the Netherlands?
Wise's EUR account details use a non-Dutch euro IBAN (Wise uses a Belgian BIC and address). For Revolut, customers who live in the Netherlands are migrated to its Dutch branch and receive a Dutch IBAN; check the IBAN shown in your own app. A Dutch employer, landlord or company may not refuse a euro IBAN from another EU/EEA country (De Nederlandsche Bank).
Which is cheaper for sending money abroad, Wise or Revolut?
Neither provider is cheapest for every currency, amount, payment method and plan. Compare simultaneous live quotes using the final recipient amount, including the exchange-rate margin and every separate fee.
Can I use Wise or Revolut as my main bank in the Netherlands?
Wise is a payment institution, not a bank, and it is not on iDEAL's list of issuers, so it does not replace a Dutch bank account. Revolut operates as a bank (Revolut Bank UAB) and is on iDEAL's list of issuers; check which IBAN and features your own Revolut account has before you rely on it as your main account.
Do I need a BSN to open a Wise or Revolut account?
For Wise, its verification guide asks for a photo of a government-issued ID and sometimes proof of address, and does not mention a BSN. For Revolut, check Revolut's own onboarding requirements before you rely on it.
How do Wise and Revolut exchange rates compare for everyday spending?
Pricing depends on the currency, payment method, plan, allowance and time of the quote. Compare the final recipient amount in both apps at the same moment; do not rely on an old percentage or weekend rule.
Where does bunq fit next to Wise and Revolut?
bunq is a bank licensed by De Nederlandsche Bank that gives accounts opened in the Netherlands an NL IBAN. Dutch employers, landlords and direct-debit collectors may not refuse a foreign euro IBAN anyway (SEPA Regulation), but an NL IBAN avoids the discussion. For the full line-up alongside the traditional Dutch banks, see the [banking comparison for expats](/blog/best-banking-expats-netherlands-2026/).
Which is better, Wise or Revolut, in the Netherlands?
Neither is universally better. Compare the exact account entity, IBAN, safeguarding or deposit-protection status, transfer quote, weekend pricing, card limits and recipient compatibility for your use case. Terms can differ by country and plan.