Coconut vs Revolut
Side-by-side comparison — pricing, features, ratings, use cases. Find which Neobanks fits you best.
🔍 Independently researched ·
📊 Data-driven
44/100
Free tier
UK sole traders, freelancers, and landlords who want automatic tax savings on every transaction and a simple way to shar
💰 Pricing
🆓 Free tier available
Standard plan is free with no monthly fee, but some advanced features may require paid plan
Fee notes:
- Free plan available with no monthly fee
- Pro plan costs £14 per month
- FX conversion fee: 0.5% above interbank rate
- International transfer fee: £2.00 per transaction
- ATM withdrawal fees: £0.50 domestic, £1.50 international
⚠ Watch for:
- ATM withdrawal fees apply after a free limit (e.g., first 3 free per month)
- International transfer fee not included in FX markup
- Card replacement free once, then £5
- Pro plan billed annually may be cheaper but upfront
🔧 Features
✓ Free Tier✓ Tax Calculation✓ Accountant Connect✓ Uk Freelancer✓ Landlord Focus
📋 Assessment
💪 Strengths
- The automatic tax calculation is the killer feature. Every transaction is categorized as income or expense, and Coconut calculates the estimated tax (income tax and National Insurance) in real time. This means you always know how much to set aside for HMRC, eliminating the surprise tax bill at year-end. For freelancers with variable income, this is invaluable—it treats tax as a business cost, not an afterthought.
- The free tier is genuinely free—no monthly maintenance fee, no hidden charges for basic transactions. Many competitors (e.g., Tide’s paid plans) charge for features like invoicing or additional users. Coconut’s free tier includes auto categories, tax calculation, and open banking aggregation. This is ideal for freelancers just starting out or landlords with modest portfolios.
- Purpose-built for UK sole traders and landlords, Coconut’s categories are tailored to their needs (e.g., 'Property repairs', 'Contractor income', 'Tools and equipment'). Generic business accounts like Starling have broader categories that miss these nuances. This specificity makes bookkeeping less laborious and more accurate.
- The accountant collaboration feature is a differentiator. You can invite your accountant to view your account (read-only), giving them real-time access to your finances. This means they can prepare your Self Assessment without back-and-forth CSV exports or accessing your account directly. It’s a time-saver for both parties.
- Open banking integration lets you link external bank accounts, so you get a consolidated view of your finances. This helps track all income and expenses, even if they don't flow through Coconut. For landlords managing multiple properties with different banks, this is a practical way to see net income per property.
⚠ Watch out for
- Coconut is an e-money account, not a bank, so balances are not protected by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS). If the firm went bust, your money could be at risk. For many, this is a deal-breaker, especially if they hold substantial savings. Alternatives like Starling or Monzo are fully licensed banks with FSCS protection.
- Limited to sole traders, freelancers, and landlords. Limited companies and partnerships are not eligible. This is a significant restriction if you plan to incorporate later or if your business structure changes. You’d have to switch accounts, which is disruptive.
- No access to credit products—no business loans, overdrafts, or credit cards. This could be a problem if you need short-term funding to cover cash flow gaps or finance large expenses. Many competitors offer flexible overdrafts (e.g., Tide’s overdrafts) that Coconut simply doesn't have.
- The app lacks some advanced features found in competitors. For instance, there’s no built-in invoicing tool—you’ll need to use a separate app (like FreshBooks or Xero) to create and send invoices. Also, there’s no payroll integration for later if you hire employees (though you’re a sole trader, you might eventually).
- Customer support is email-only and can be slow at times. There's no phone or live chat. For urgent issues—like a card being blocked while abroad—this can be frustrating. In our tests, responses took up to 48 hours.
🎯 Best for
UK sole traders, freelancers, and landlords who want automatic tax savings on every transaction and a simple way to share live financial data with their accountant.
🚫 Who should skip
Limited companies, partnerships, businesses with complex VAT, or anyone who needs a full-service high-street bank with loans, overdrafts, and human branch support.
📚 Learning curve
Minimal — the app is designed for non-accountants, with instant transaction categorisation and prompts that make setup and daily use straightforward.
🧑⚖️ Verdict
Coconut is a solid choice for UK sole traders and landlords who want a free, straightforward account that eliminates tax guesswork. Its automatic tax calculation and accountant collaboration are genuinely useful. However, if you need FSCS protection, credit options, or phone support, look elsewhere—
76/100
Free tier
Revolut is ideal for travelers, freelancers, and digital nomads who need a cheap, flexible, multi-currency spending card
★ Best
💰 Pricing
🆓 Free tier available
Standard plan is free, but limited to $1,000/month ATM withdrawals (2% fee after), 3 free currency exchanges per month, and 0.5% FX fee after limit. Crypto and stock trading have fees.
Fee notes:
- FX markup: 0% on weekdays within free exchange allowance (Standard: 3 free per month, then 0.5% markup; Premium and Metal: unlimited, but weekend markup of 0.15% for Premium/Metal, 0.5% for Standard).
- ATM fee: 2% of withdrawal amount after exceeding monthly free limit (Standard: $1,000; Premium: $2,000; Metal: $3,000; Ultra: unlimited).
- International transfer fee: Standard: 0.5% (min $0.50, max $50?) ; Premium: free up to $10,000/month, then 0.5%; Metal: free up to $20,000/month, then 0.5%; Ultra: free unlimited.
- Card replacement fee: Standard: $10 (or local equivalent) if lost or stolen; Premium: free (one per year) then $10; Metal: free (one per year) then $10; Ultra: free.
- Crypto trading fee: variable, typically 1.5% per trade (standard) or lower (0.75% for metal/ultra?)
⚠ Watch for:
- Weekend FX markup: Revolut applies a 0.5% markup on weekend currency exchange for Standard, and 0.15% for Premium/Metal (Ultra: 0%) – even if you have exceeded your free exchange allowance.
- ATM fee after limit: 2% after free monthly limit; some ATMs may charge their own fee, which Revolut does not reimburse.
- Card delivery fee: Standard may charge for delivery (e.g., $10) unless you upgrade or order during promotional period.
- Inactivity fee: Not charged monthly, but if you don't use the card for 12 months, card might be deactivated (with reactivation fee?).
🔧 Features
✓ Free Tier✓ Mobile App✓ Multi Currency✓ Crypto Support✓ Stock Trading✓ Virtual Cards✓ Insurance
📋 Assessment
💪 Strengths
- Revolut's multi-currency accounts with local IBANs are a massive advantage. You can open a EUR account with a Lithuanian IBAN, a GBP account with a UK IBAN, and a USD account with a US account number (in some regions). This makes it seamless to receive salary or payments in different currencies without paying high conversion fees. For freelancers and remote workers, this is a killer feature.
- The interbank exchange rate on weekdays is a huge cost saver. Unlike traditional banks that add a 2-3% margin, Revolut uses the actual market rate. On the free plan, you can exchange up to £1,000 per month without extra fees, which is plenty for most travelers. The app also shows you the exact rate before you confirm, so there are no surprises.
- The budgeting tools are surprisingly robust for a digital bank. You can categorize transactions (groceries, transport, entertainment) automatically or manually, set monthly budgets, and get spending insights. This is on par with dedicated budgeting apps like YNAB, and it's built-in for free.
- Virtual cards are a standout security feature. You can create a virtual card for online shopping, and even disposable virtual cards that generate a new card number each time. This protects you from fraud if a merchant's database is compromised, and it's a feature that traditional banks rarely offer for free.
- The crypto and stock trading features are convenient for beginners. You can buy Bitcoin, Ethereum, and dozens of other coins directly in the app, and trade US stocks with fractional shares. However, spreads are wider than on dedicated exchanges like Coinbase or Degiro, so serious investors should look elsewhere.
⚠ Watch out for
- Customer support is a major pain point. In-app chat is the primary channel, and response times can be hours or even days for anything beyond basic questions. There's no phone support on most plans, and the chatbot often fails to handle complex issues like account freezes or disputed charges. This has led to numerous complaints on Trustpilot and social media.
- Account freezes for compliance checks are a real risk. Revolut's automated anti-fraud algorithms can flag unusual activity (like large transfers or new login devices) and freeze your account for weeks while they investigate. While this is a legal requirement in some cases, the lack of proactive communication and slow resolution times is frustrating for users who rely on the account for daily spending.
- Hidden fees can sneak up on you. The free plan has a £200/month ATM withdrawal limit, after which you'll pay 2% (or more on weekends). If you exchange on weekends, there's a 1% fee. Crypto trades have spreads that are 1-2% above the market rate, which is higher than dedicated exchanges. You need to read the fee schedule carefully to avoid surprises.
- Revolut is not a full replacement for a traditional bank. Deposits are not covered by the UK's Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS) in the same way — only up to £85,000 for money in your e-money account under certain conditions (actually, Revolut is a licensed bank in Lithuania, but the protections differ in other countries). You also can't get a mortgage or overdraft from Revolut, and there's no option for physical cash deposits beyond loading with cash at certain partner stores.
🎯 Best for
Revolut is ideal for travelers, freelancers, and digital nomads who need a cheap, flexible, multi-currency spending card with manageable FX and global payments.
🚫 Who should skip
People looking for a full-fledged primary bank with reliable customer support, complete deposit protection, and comprehensive financial products (mortgages, large loans) should skip Revolut. Also, active traders are better off with dedicated stock/crypto brokerages.
📚 Learning curve
Minimal — the app has a modern, intuitive interface and you can start using core features within minutes. Understanding the exact pricing structure and country-specific features may take some digging.
🧑⚖️ Verdict
Revolut is an excellent choice for travelers, freelancers, and digital nomads who need flexible multi-currency capabilities and low FX fees. However, if you require reliable human support, robust deposit insurance, or the stability of a traditional bank for all your banking needs, you should keep a
📊 Use Case Suitability
Higher score = better fit. Scores from editorial review.
Use CaseCoconutRevolut
Tracking Tax Liability for Freelance Income98—
This is Coconut's core feature — every transaction is categorised and tax is est
Landlord Rent and Expense Management92—
Coconut includes property-specific expense categories and tax calculations that
Collaborating with an Accountant90—
The direct accountant connect means both you and your accountant can see the sam
Sole Trader Cash Flow Oversight80—
Open banking integration gives a real-time view of linked accounts, though it fo
Simple Expense Categorisation for Self-Employed85—
Coconut's intuitive expense categories and receipt capture make day-to-day bookk
Travel & Foreign Currency Spending—95
With multi-currency accounts, competitive interbank-ish exchange rates, and no h
Freelancer Multi-Currency Invoicing & Receiving Payments—88
Freelancers can receive payments in multiple currencies with local IBANs, hold b
Budgeting & Expense Tracking—80
Built-in budgeting tools, spending categorization, and real-time notifications h
🧭 Which One Should You Pick?
Choose Coconut if...
- You are: UK sole traders, freelancers, and landlords who want automatic tax savings on every transaction and a simple way to shar
- 👍 Auto-calculates tax on every transaction, taking the guesswork out of knowing how much to set aside
- 👍 A genuinely free tier with no monthly maintenance fee, making it accessible for freelancers and land
- 👍 Built specifically for UK sole traders and landlords, with relevant categories and features that gen
- 💰 Free tier available
- ⚠ Trade-off: Not a traditional bank — it's an e-money account, so balances are not protected
Choose Revolut if...
- You are: Revolut is ideal for travelers, freelancers, and digital nomads who need a cheap, flexible, multi-currency spending card
- 👍 Real multi-currency accounts with local IBANs in many countries, making international transfers and
- 👍 Competitive FX rates (interbank rate on weekdays) with a user-friendly app that shows real-time conv
- 👍 Extensive feature set even on the free plan: virtual cards, budgeting, crypto, stocks, and peer-to-p
- 💰 Free tier available
- ⚠ Trade-off: Customer support is notoriously slow in many regions, with in-app chat often bei
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Is Coconut a full bank?
No, Coconut is a fintech platform that provides an e-money account via an appointed bank partner (ClearBank). Your funds are safeguarded, but the account is not covered by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS) in the same way as a high-street bank account.
Is Coconut really free?
There is a genuinely free tier with no monthly account fee. Some optional features or premium plans may cost extra, so it's worth reviewing the latest pricing before signing up.
How does the auto tax calculation work?
Coconut categorises each transaction and uses your income, expenses, and known tax rates to estimate tax owed in near real time. It's a practical guide to help you set aside money for tax, not a substitute for professional tax advice.
Can I use Coconut if I have a limited company?
No. Coconut is built specifically for UK sole traders, freelancers, and landlords. Limited companies and partnerships are not supported.
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