Wise vs Revolut vs bunq for Expats 2026

If you want a broader look at all your banking options, read our best bank account for expats in the Netherlands guide. For a head-to-head between just Wise and Revolut, see the Wise vs Revolut Netherlands comparison.

💡 Looking for a complete banking comparison? Read Best banking for expats in the Netherlands 2026 — covers ABN, ING, Bunq, Wise, Revolut & 5 others by expat use case.

The Core Problem: IBAN Acceptance in the Netherlands

Before getting into fees and features, there is one practical reality that shapes everything else in this comparison.

Under the SEPA Regulation, landlords, utilities, employers and other businesses in the Netherlands must accept a euro IBAN from any EU/EEA country; De Nederlandsche Bank calls a refusal IBAN discrimination. An NL IBAN still avoids any discussion.

Here is what each app gives you:

bunq gives a Dutch NL IBAN as standard, and Revolut does so for Netherlands residents (Revolut Help, checked 29 September 2026); Wise’s IBAN is Belgian.

What the Rules Say About Foreign IBANs

Rent payments: a landlord or housing corporation (woningcorporatie) may not refuse rent from a euro IBAN in another EU/EEA country: De Nederlandsche Bank calls that IBAN discrimination under the SEPA Regulation. If it happens, complain to the landlord first and then report it to DNB.

Utilities and telecom: the same applies to direct debits (automatische incasso) at energy and telecom providers such as Vattenfall, Eneco and KPN: they may not refuse a euro IBAN from another EU/EEA country (De Nederlandsche Bank).

Employer payroll: a Dutch employer may not refuse to pay salary into a euro IBAN from another EU/EEA country; De Nederlandsche Bank gives exactly this as an example of IBAN discrimination.

Gym memberships, subscriptions: the same rule applies to recurring direct debits.

Revolut has launched a Dutch branch and says that customers resident in the Netherlands will now have their accounts migrated to this branch and receive a Dutch IBAN (Revolut Help, checked 29 September 2026). Wise’s EUR account details use a non-Dutch euro IBAN; bunq’s are Dutch.

Wise: International Transfers

Wise (formerly TransferWise) built its reputation on international money transfers: it converts at the mid-market rate and shows its fee before you confirm.

What Wise Actually Gives You

• A multi-currency account
• A Belgian (BE) IBAN for EUR account details
• A debit card (Wise card, one-time fee of €7)
• The mid-market exchange rate on all currency conversions
• Account details to receive money in several currencies

Fees

The no-monthly-fee structure makes Wise attractive as a secondary card to hold alongside a traditional Dutch bank account or bunq.

Wise’s Strengths for Netherlands Expats

Salary from abroad: Wise gives you account details in several currencies, so an employer paying in GBP, USD or another supported currency can pay you as a local transfer; check Wise’s receiving fees for your currency.

Sending money home: Wise converts at the mid-market rate and shows its fee before you confirm; compare that live quote with your bank’s and Revolut’s.

Pre-arrival usability: Wise sign-up and verification run online, so you can open the account before you move. Wise may check your country of residence and can limit features such as ordering a card until that check is done.

Transparent fees: every transfer shows the fee and exchange rate before you confirm.

Wise’s Weaknesses for Netherlands Expats

non-Dutch IBAN: Wise’s EUR account details use a non-Dutch euro IBAN. Dutch landlords and companies may not refuse it for transfers or direct debits (SEPA Regulation; De Nederlandsche Bank), but if one does, complain to them first and then report it to DNB.

Not a bank: Wise serves EU customers through Wise Europe SA, a payment institution authorised by the National Bank of Belgium, not a licensed bank. Wise states that its payment services are not covered by the Belgian deposit guarantee scheme. For everyday use this is fine; for storing savings it is a legitimate concern.

No cash deposits: You cannot deposit cash at an ATM or bank branch. For expats working in cash-heavy industries (hospitality, freelance events), this is a limitation.

Bottom Line for Wise

Best for: International transfers, receiving foreign-currency income, first weeks in the Netherlands before you have a BSN, travel.

Not suitable as: Your sole Dutch bank account.

Open a Wise account here: Open Wise →

Revolut: Budgeting and Travel

Revolut started as a travel card and has grown into a full-featured financial app with budgeting and multi-currency features.

What Revolut Actually Gives You

• A Dutch (NL) IBAN for Netherlands residents, according to Revolut Help (Revolut Help, checked 29 September 2026)
• A multi-currency account
• A Revolut debit card
• Spending analytics by category
• Budgeting tools and savings vaults
• Free and paid plans

Fees

Revolut’s Strengths for Netherlands Expats

Budgeting features: Revolut’s app includes spending analytics, budgeting tools and savings pockets, which help if you track your Dutch cost of living.

Travel: multi-currency holdings and, on paid plans, higher exchange limits (Premium, Metal and Ultra have no exchange limit) and travel insurance (Metal) make Revolut useful for trips (revolut.com, Netherlands, checked 29 September 2026).

Crypto and investments: If you want to buy ETFs or crypto within your fintech app, Revolut has this built in (with caveats about regulatory status).

Revolut’s Weaknesses for Netherlands Expats

Weekend fees: Revolut charges additional currency exchange fees at weekends on its lower plans, so check the fee before you exchange on a Saturday or Sunday (revolut.com, Netherlands, checked 29 September 2026).

Banking entity and product matter: Revolut Bank UAB is a licensed Lithuanian bank with a Dutch branch. Do not infer protection from the brand alone: read the legal entity and deposit or safeguarding information shown for the specific balance or savings product.

Bottom Line for Revolut

Best for: Travel spending, budgeting and spending analytics, crypto and investments as a side feature, weekday currency exchange.

Check before using it as your primary account: Revolut says Netherlands residents get a Dutch IBAN, receive their salary directly and can pay by direct debit (Revolut Help, checked 29 September 2026); check the IBAN and features in your own app.

bunq: Daily Dutch Banking

bunq is a Dutch bank, licensed by De Nederlandsche Bank (DNB).

What bunq Actually Gives You

• A genuine Dutch NL IBAN — this is the headline feature
• Full banking licence (DNB regulated)
• Deposit guarantee up to EUR 100,000 under the Dutch DGS
• Multiple sub-accounts (up to 25 on higher plans)
• Joint accounts

Fees

bunq retired the old Easy Bank naming. Current personal plans (checked 14 September 2026, bunq Help: What plans are available):

Note: all three providers now have a €0 entry plan, so the old line that bunq is the expensive one no longer holds. What you pay for at bunq is the physical card and the extra Money Pockets.

bunq’s Strengths for Netherlands Expats

Dutch NL IBAN: avoids any discussion about foreign IBANs, which Dutch payers may not refuse anyway (De Nederlandsche Bank).

Sub-accounts: bunq’s signature feature. You can create up to 25 separate IBANs, each for a different purpose — rent, groceries, savings, utilities — which helps with budgeting when many bills are paid by direct debit.

Full banking licence: your funds are covered by the Dutch deposit guarantee scheme up to EUR 100,000.

No BSN needed at signup: bunq gives you 90 days after signup to add your tax ID (for Dutch residents, the BSN). You do need to live in a supported EEA country.

bunq’s Weaknesses for Netherlands Expats

Cost: the free plan (bunq Free, €0.00) has no physical card, so a full Dutch card account starts at bunq Core, €3.99 per month — roughly level with €4.00 at ING or €4.30 at ABN AMRO. The Money Pocket system most people want is bunq Pro at €9.99, and that is where cost becomes a real consideration.

International transfer fees: on bunq Free, foreign-currency spending is at bunq’s rate up to €1,000 per year, after which bunq states “a fee of 3% of each further transaction amount applies”; bunq Core lists a 0.5% markup. For sending money abroad, Wise converts at the mid-market rate with a stated fee; compare the quotes.

Tax ID within 90 days: bunq restricts the account temporarily if you have not added your tax ID (the BSN for Dutch residents) 90 days after signup, until you add it.

Bottom Line for bunq

Best for: Primary Dutch banking, rent payments, direct debits, salary receipt, sub-account budgeting, anyone who wants a genuine Dutch bank experience without the bureaucracy of ING or ABN AMRO.

Not suitable for: cheap international transfers (compare with Wise), travel if cost is a concern.

If you are specifically a student or young expat weighing bunq against the free traditional bank options, the best bank accounts for students and young expats guide compares bunq with the student accounts of the traditional banks.

Check Bunq →

Feature Comparison Table

Which App for Which Use Case?

Rather than declaring a single winner — because there isn’t one — here are clear recommendations by situation.

Use case: You just arrived in the Netherlands and need banking immediately

Open Wise before you arrive and use it for your first expenses and any transfers or salary while you wait for your BSN; you get EUR account details with a non-Dutch euro IBAN (Wise uses a Belgian BIC and address) once Wise has verified you.

Once you live in the Netherlands, add bunq as your primary Dutch account; you can add your BSN within 90 days of signup.

Use case: You need to pay Dutch rent and utilities

Choose an account with an NL IBAN if you want to avoid any discussion: bunq, a Dutch bank, or Revolut for Netherlands residents. Legally, landlords and energy providers must also accept a Wise BE IBAN (De Nederlandsche Bank).

Use case: You send money home regularly

Choose Wise. It converts at the mid-market rate with a stated fee; compare the live quote. Even if you use bunq as your primary account, you can keep Wise as your transfer tool.

For more apps and tools for managing money across borders, see our best finance apps for expats in the Netherlands guide.

Use case: You want to track your spending carefully

Choose Revolut as a secondary card if you want its budgeting tools and spending analytics. Load a monthly budget onto your Revolut account and use it for day-to-day spending.

Use case: You want the simplest setup with one app

Choose bunq. The Dutch IBAN, Money Pockets and full banking licence mean it can genuinely replace a traditional Dutch bank. It starts at €0.00 per month on bunq Free; €3.99 on Core if you want a physical card.

Use case: You are comparing these to traditional Dutch banks

All three have app-based onboarding. bunq gives you 90 days after signup to add your tax ID, Wise’s verification guide does not mention a BSN, and for Revolut check its own requirements. Traditional Dutch banks offer physical branches; ABN AMRO lets you hand in the BSN within 120 days once you are registered at a Dutch address. See the ING vs ABN AMRO for expats comparison for the traditional bank side.

You can also use the bank account chooser tool to get a personalised recommendation.

A Combination Strategy

1. Wise — open before you arrive, use for international transfers and as a backup card.
2. bunq — open once you live in the Netherlands (tax ID within 90 days of signup), use as your primary Dutch account for rent, direct debits, and salary.

This covers the two main needs: cheap international money movement (Wise) and reliable Dutch banking (bunq). Revolut is optional — useful if you travel frequently or want its budgeting features, but not necessary.

The total cost of this setup: the Wise card is €7 one-time and bunq Free is €0.00 per month — so €7 in year one. If you want a physical bunq card, bunq Core at €3.99 per month makes it €54.88 in year one and €47.88 a year after that.

If you prefer a traditional Dutch bank (ING or ABN AMRO) as your NL IBAN account instead of bunq, you can pair it with Wise in the same way. ABN AMRO lets you open an account before the BSN arrives, provided you are registered at a Dutch address and hand in the BSN within 120 days.

Practical Steps: Opening Each Account

Wise: Check Wise’s current eligibility and fees, register with accurate residence details and complete the requested verification. EUR details and card pricing depend on the account and current terms.

Revolut: Download the Revolut app and follow its onboarding; check Revolut’s own requirements and the IBAN shown in the app once you are approved.

bunq: Download the bunq app and register with your ID. You can add your tax ID (the BSN for Dutch residents) within 90 days of signup; you need to live in a supported EEA country.

Bottom Line

Wise, Revolut, and bunq are all genuinely useful for expats in the Netherlands — but they solve different problems.

Wise is built for international transfers. Revolut adds budgeting tools and travel features. bunq offers Dutch banking with an NL IBAN and deposit guarantee cover.

An NL IBAN avoids any discussion with Dutch payers, even though they may not refuse a foreign euro IBAN (De Nederlandsche Bank). bunq gives one as standard, and Revolut does so for Netherlands residents.

If you want the cheapest way to send money abroad, it is Wise.

If you travel frequently and want to track your spending carefully, add Revolut as a secondary card.

You can combine two of these. No single app is the strongest at international transfers, an NL IBAN and budgeting at the same time.

Open a Wise account to get started with transfers: Open Wise →

For a deeper look at all your banking options in the Netherlands, see our complete guide to bank accounts for expats.

Frequently Asked Questions: Real-World Scenarios

“I just got my BSN — what should I open first?”

Open Bunq if you need an NL IBAN: accounts opened in the Netherlands get one, and you add your BSN in the app.

Keep your Wise account open (if you already have one) for international transfers, but prioritise bunq for Dutch daily life.

“My HR department told me they can only pay salary to a Dutch NL IBAN. What do I do?”

This is bunq’s territory. Your HR department is technically wrong under EU SEPA law — they must accept any valid SEPA IBAN. But picking a fight with payroll during your first month at a new job is rarely worth it.

Point HR to De Nederlandsche Bank’s page on IBAN discrimination; DNB has a form to report it if they still refuse. If you would rather avoid that discussion, a bunq account gives you an NL IBAN for your salary, and you can keep Wise for transfers.

“I have a Revolut account already. Should I close it when I move to the Netherlands?”

Keep it. Revolut says customers resident in the Netherlands are migrated to its Dutch branch and receive a Dutch IBAN (Revolut Help, checked 29 September 2026), so check the IBAN in your app after you move.

Revolut Standard is free (revolut.com, Netherlands, checked 29 September 2026), so keeping it costs nothing.

“I work remotely for a UK company and get paid in GBP. What is the best setup?”

This is Wise’s strongest use case. Give your UK employer your Wise GBP account details (sort code and account number). Your salary lands in your Wise GBP balance. Convert to EUR as needed at mid-market rate. Fund your bunq NL account from Wise for Dutch bills.

Understanding the Dutch Banking Ecosystem: Context That Helps

To get the most from any of these three apps, it helps to understand the Dutch payment landscape these tools are operating within.

iDEAL: iDEAL payments run through the consumer’s own bank or payment firm, the “issuer”. bunq and Revolut are on iDEAL’s list of issuers; Wise is not, so you cannot pay with iDEAL from a Wise account.