Revolut and MoneyGram both move money abroad, but they come at it from different angles. Revolut is an all-in-one banking app that gives you a near-mid-market rate up to a monthly limit, then a fee on the excess. MoneyGram is a traditional money-transfer operator with a low advertised fee but a hefty markup on the rate.
On a $1,000 dollar-to-euro transfer on a weekday, Revolut on its free plan costs about $1.00, while MoneyGram costs about $42.31. Revolut is usually the cheaper of the two for a bank deposit. The tables below use the current mid-market reference; Wise may use an account-holder API estimate, while other providers use stored published fee and markup models rather than live quotes.
- Revolut is usually cheaper for a bank deposit. Inside its monthly limit on a weekday, only its small spread applies.
- MoneyGram's low fee is misleading. Its advertised fee is low, but it adds a markup of about 3.75% to the rate, which is where the real cost sits.
- MoneyGram wins on cash pickup. If your recipient needs cash, MoneyGram supports it across many countries, which Revolut does not.
- The payout method matters. For a bank deposit, Revolut usually wins; for cash pickup, MoneyGram is often the better fit.
How Revolut charges
This site's representative Revolut model uses a small spread on major pairs, a roughly US$1,450 Standard allowance, and 0.5% on the excess. It is a fallback scenario, not a universal plan: country-specific allowances, overage terms, paid-plan prices, and availability differ.
The table uses a weekday-style scenario and intentionally excludes weekend adjustments. Revolut allowances, overage fees, and out-of-market-hours pricing vary by country and plan; check the terms and remaining allowance shown in your app.
How MoneyGram charges
MoneyGram is a traditional money-transfer operator with a long history. Its pitch is a low advertised fee, around $5, but the real cost lives in the exchange rate. MoneyGram adds a markup of about 3.75% on major pairs, and more on some routes. It supports cash pickup and bank deposit across many countries.
The appeal of MoneyGram is its reach: it supports cash pickup across many countries, which is a lifeline where bank access is thin. The trade-off is the markup, which works out much higher than Revolut's spread for a bank deposit.
Head to head, by amount
The ranking depends on the payout method and the amount. Here is the same dollar-to-euro transfer at three sizes.
$1,000: Revolut's spread-only tier
Inside the limit, Revolut Standard sits at just its small spread (0.10%), far below MoneyGram's fee-plus-markup. For a bank deposit, Revolut is the clear winner here.
$5,000: the limit starts to bite
At $5,000, Standard has gone past its monthly limit, so Revolut charges 0.5% on the amount above it. Even so, it stays well below MoneyGram's fee-plus-markup.
$25,000: a big send
On a large send, Revolut's 0.5% excess fee applies to a big amount over the limit, but it still works out well below MoneyGram's fee-plus-markup on the whole sum. The gap is now worth real money.
Who should pick what
Pick Revolut if you send to a bank account and want the lowest all-in cost. Inside its monthly limit on a weekday, only its small spread applies, and it is usually much cheaper than MoneyGram for a bank deposit.
Pick MoneyGram if your recipient needs cash pickup, or you send to a country where bank access is thin. MoneyGram is a traditional operator with cash pickup across many countries, which is a lifeline where banks are scarce.
Pick a different specialist if neither fits. Wise charges a small fee at the mid-market rate with no limit or weekend surcharge, and Western Union is another cash-pickup option. See Wise vs MoneyGram and Revolut vs Western Union.
Frequently asked questions
Is Revolut cheaper than MoneyGram?
For a bank deposit, yes, by a wide margin. Revolut gives you a near-mid-market rate up to a monthly limit, while MoneyGram adds a markup of about 3.75% to the exchange rate on top of its fee. But if your recipient needs cash pickup, MoneyGram is often the better fit.
Does MoneyGram really have a low fee?
Its advertised fee is low, around $5, but the real cost lives in the exchange rate. MoneyGram adds a markup of about 3.75% on major pairs, which is where most of the cost sits. That is why we compare the all-in cost, not the headline fee.
Does Revolut charge extra on weekends?
It may. Revolut's out-of-market-hours pricing depends on your country and plan. These tables intentionally exclude weekend adjustments; check the in-app quote or wait until the next weekday. MoneyGram's route-specific price must also be confirmed at checkout.
Are the fees shown here exact?
No. The table uses the current mid-market reference and, where available, a Wise account-holder API estimate. Other providers use stored published fee and markup models, not live quotes, so the results are modelled estimates for typical routes. MoneyGram's fee and markup vary by route, and Revolut's limits vary by region. Always confirm the final figure on the provider's own site before you transfer.
Cost figures are worked out from each provider's published fee structure applied to the current mid-market reference rate, modelled estimates for typical major-currency routes. MoneyGram's fee and markup vary by route; Revolut's fair-use limits and plan prices vary by region. The figures shown are representative. Always confirm the final quote on the provider's own site before you transfer. We may earn a commission from affiliate links at no extra cost to you; this never affects rankings. Nothing here is financial advice.
Sources: Revolut exchange fees (opens in a new tab), MoneyGram pricing (opens in a new tab), Wise pricing (opens in a new tab). Accessed August 2026.