Quick Answer
Stop trying to pick a winner
Most “Amex vs Revolut” articles try to crown one. That’s the wrong question, and chasing it costs you money. These two cards solve different problems — and the travelers who save the most carry both. I do. Let me show you why, then you can decide whether you even need the paid side at all.
What each one is for
American Express is a rewards-and-perks machine. The Platinum brings lounge access, Hilton and Marriott Gold status and annual credits; the Gold earns rich Membership Rewards on dining and everyday spend for a smaller fee. The trade-off: an annual fee (except the free Payback card, which earns Payback points), and acceptance gaps — small shops and stalls abroad often take only Visa or Mastercard. If you’re still deciding which Amex to open in the first place, my honest Amex travel card recommendation walks through all four.
Revolut is a friction-remover. You spend in 150+ currencies at the real interbank rate with no foreign transaction fee, hold multiple currency balances, withdraw cash abroad at the real rate, and lock down fraud with disposable virtual cards. The free Standard plan costs nothing. The trade-off: it earns few or no rewards, and as a debit/prepaid product it can’t always stand in for a credit card. Check the exact monthly fees for your own currency — say, Revolut’s euro plans — before you decide whether Premium or Metal is worth it.
Side by side
| American Express | Revolut | |
|---|---|---|
| Core strength | Points, lounges, hotel status | Real-rate foreign spending |
| Foreign transaction fee | Varies; not its strength | None (free plan, up to allowance) |
| Rewards | Strong (Membership Rewards) | Minimal |
| Annual cost | Fee (free Payback exists) | Free plan available |
| Acceptance abroad | Gaps in small merchants | Visa/Mastercard — near-universal |
| Lounge / hotel perks | ✅ (Platinum) | Limited (Metal/Ultra) |
| Credit card? | ✅ Yes | ❌ Debit/prepaid |
Where the Amex wins
On big, planned spending — flights, hotels, eligible Amex Travel bookings — the points and perks add up fast. A welcome bonus can cover a flight; hotel status and points turned four of my nights into five; lounges paid the fee across 13 airport visits. Plus you get real credit-card protections and the ability to build credit history. Revolut simply doesn’t play this game.
Where Revolut wins
On everyday foreign spending, Revolut is untouchable: the real rate, no foreign transaction fee, no mental overhead. On a €2,000 trip that’s €30–60 saved versus a typical card’s 1.5–3% markup. Add cash-heavy destinations (real-rate ATM withdrawals can save 10–20%) and fraud control via disposable cards, and the free plan does the expensive part for nothing. The Amex can’t match this — and in plenty of small shops abroad it won’t even be accepted.
Why I carry both
Here’s the setup, plainly: Amex for the big, perk-earning bookings; Revolut for everyday spend, foreign currency and ATMs. The Amex earns points and protection where it’s accepted and worth it; Revolut covers the real rate everywhere else and steps in the moment a merchant waves only Visa or Mastercard. Two cards, zero overlap, maximum value.
If you only want one to start: take the free Revolut Standard plan today — it costs nothing and immediately kills foreign fees — then add the Amex tier that matches your travel (Platinum vs Gold helps you choose).
Frequently Asked Questions
Amex vs Revolut — which is better for travel?
They solve different problems, so the honest answer is ‘both’. American Express earns points and travel perks (lounges, hotel status, credits) but charges a fee and isn’t accepted everywhere. Revolut spends in 150+ currencies at the real exchange rate with no foreign transaction fee, and its free plan costs nothing — but it earns few or no rewards. Put big, perk-earning bookings on the Amex; use Revolut for everyday foreign spending and ATM withdrawals.
Is Revolut cheaper than an Amex abroad?
For raw foreign spending, yes — Revolut’s free plan gives you the real interbank rate with no foreign transaction fee, while most credit cards add 1.5–3%. But the Amex’s points and perks can outweigh fees on big bookings. The cheapest setup overall is to use each for what it’s best at: Revolut for FX, Amex for points and protection on large purchases.
Can Revolut replace a credit card?
Not entirely. Revolut is a debit/prepaid product, so some hotels and car-rental desks still want a real credit card for the security hold, and it builds no credit history. Keep a credit card (an Amex, for example) for deposits and big purchases, and use Revolut as your everyday-spend and ATM workhorse.
Do I have to pay for either card?
No. Revolut’s Standard plan is free and removes foreign transaction fees immediately. On the Amex side, the Payback card is free (earns Payback points, not Membership Rewards). So you can run a free Revolut plus a free or paid Amex depending on whether you want travel points and perks.
Verdict
Don’t pick a winner — pick a team. Start with the free Revolut plan to kill foreign fees, then layer on the Amex that fits how you actually travel. Sign up through my links below and you support the next trips I write about here.