[Japan Edition] In-depth Guide to Revolut Membership Plans and Services

• This article is for reference only as it is merely a translated version of the Japanese article below.
  【日本版】Revolut(レボリュート) の会員プランやサービスを徹底解説 (Japanese version)

*This article contains a promotion by REVOLUT TECHNOLOGIES JAPAN K.K.
*Creation Date: June 13, 2023
This article is based on Revolut’s terms and conditions that will be revised on February 26, 2024.

Revolut is a UK-based financial service that is also available in Japan.

It is a convenient tool for international money transfers and overseas online shopping.

This article provides a comprehensive overview of Revolut’s Japanese membership plans and services. It also includes recommendations on who might benefit from these plans and guidance on choosing the right membership plan to suit your needs.

At the end of the article, there is an introduction to Revolut’s exclusive offers that are only available through our company. Be sure to read to the end for all the details.

＼ Now enjoy 3 months free of the 980 JPY monthly fee! ／

Company Overview: Revolut

Revolut is a fintech company founded in 2015.

It launched its services in Japan in 2020 and has been expanding its market share.

Key Features of Revolut

• Individual Users: Over 40 million
• Corporate Users: Over 500,000
• Supported Areas: More than 200 countries and regions
• Currencies Available in the App: Over 35 currencies

Revolut Membership Plans

The Revolut membership plans are listed below according to their services.

Revolut Plan Comparison

The Standard Plan has no monthly fee, while the Premium Plan and Metal Plan require a subscription fee.

The top-tier Metal Plan offers the most comprehensive services, the Premium Plan provides a mid-range level of services, and the Standard Plan offers a basic membership package.

Next, the features of each membership plan are introduced.

＼ Now enjoy 3 months free of the 980 JPY monthly fee! ／

Standard Plan

The Standard Plan has some service limitations because it comes with no monthly fees.

However, international money transfers can be used free of charge in principle, foreign currency exchange is free up to 750,000 JPY equivalent per month¹, and ATM withdrawals are free up to 25,000 JPY equivalent per month².

¹ A 1% or 1.5% exchange fee is charged for currency exchanges made outside of market hours (Friday 5 p.m. to Sunday 6 p.m. New York time).
² Even within the free withdrawal limit, ATM providers may charge a fee.

Many people find that they can use the free plan without any inconvenience.

Premium Plan

The Premium Plan offers more extensive services than the Standard Plan.

The advantages of the Premium Plan include free ATM withdrawals up to 50,000 JPY per month at international travel destinations and unlimited free foreign currency exchanges.

For those interested in learning more about the details and benefits of the Premium Plan, please refer to the article below.

Details and Benefits of Revolut Premium Plan

• [Exclusive Offer] A Guide to Revolut’s Paid Plans (Premium Plan & Metal Plan)

Metal Plan

The Metal Plan is Revolut’s top-tier plan.

In addition to issuing an exclusive metal card available only with the Metal Plan, it offers benefits such as a 1% cashback and favorable conditions for overseas ATM fees, which are not available with the Premium Plan.

For those who frequently shop online internationally, the cashback benefits can exceed the monthly fee.

Services: Revolut

International Money Transfers

Revolut’s international money transfer service is generally free for all membership plans.

The following article details the fees, exchange rates, limits, advantages, and disadvantages of Revolut’s international money transfer service:

Details of Revolut’s International Money Transfer Service

• Comprehensive Review of Revolut’s International Money Transfer Services: Methods, Fees, and Limits

Domestic Money Transfers

Revolut users in Japan can transfer their account balance to Japanese domestic bank accounts.

Each plan offers a set number of free domestic transfers per month: the Standard Plan allows for one free transfer, the Premium Plan offers three free transfers, and the Metal Plan provides five free transfers to personal or friends’ bank accounts.

If the free transfer limit is exceeded, a fee of 220 JPY per transaction will be charged.

Foreign Currency Exchange

Revolut supports currency exchange for over 35 different foreign currencies.

A major advantage is the ability to manage and hold major currencies within the app.

The foreign currency exchange limit for the Standard Plan is 750,000 JPY per month, while the Premium and Metal Plans have unlimited exchange limits¹.

Users can hedge against exchange rate risks with just one click, eliminating the need to visit airports or exchange offices.

¹ For currency exchanges made outside of market hours (Friday 5 p.m. to Sunday 6 p.m. New York time), a foreign exchange fee of 1% or 1.5% will apply.

＼ Now enjoy 3 months free of the 980 JPY monthly fee! ／

Overseas ATM Fees

Revolut offers different limits for free overseas ATM withdrawals based on the membership plan.

Detailed information about cash withdrawals, ATM fees, and important considerations for both domestic and international withdrawals can be found in the following article:

Details on Revolut Overseas ATM Fees

• How to Withdraw Cash from Revolut in Japan and Abroad

Top-Ups

With Revolut, users can make transfers and payments using the balance topped up on their physical (debit card) or virtual cards.

The following article explains how to top up an account, the time it takes for the balance to reflect, and important points to consider when topping up:

Details on Revolut Top-Ups

• Quick Guide: Understanding Cards and Other Methods for Adding Funds to Revolut

Who Should Use Revolut?

Revolut is highly recommended for international travelers and those who shop online from overseas!

International Travelers

Revolut is particularly beneficial for those traveling abroad!

There are two main advantages of using Revolut while traveling overseas:

Benefits of Using Revolut Abroad

• Save approximately 4% on shopping (compared to credit cards).
• Save approximately 3.5% on cash withdrawals (compared to cash advances).

Save Approximately 4% on Shopping (Compared to Credit Cards)

Using a Rakuten credit card abroad incurs the following fees:

When Using a Rakuten Card Overseas

• Foreign Exchange Spread Fee: Approximately 2% (fee paid to VISA, MasterCard, JCB, Amex, etc.)
  Note: Spreads vary by currency, so check the standard rates for each international brand.
• Overseas Transaction Fee: 1.6% to 2% (fee paid to Rakuten Card)
  Reference: Rakuten Card Overseas Payment

In total, typical credit cards incur around 4% in fees.

On the other hand, Revolut offers currency exchange rates close to the market rates displayed on Google searches.

Additionally, Revolut does not charge overseas transaction fees when making purchases abroad.

Therefore, using Revolut while traveling abroad allows you to save approximately 4% on all your purchases!

Note: A foreign exchange fee of 1% or 1.5% applies to currency exchanges made on weekends. Please conduct exchanges on weekdays. The weekend period is from 7 a.m. Saturday to 8 a.m. Monday Japan time (6 a.m. to 7 a.m. during daylight savings time).

＼ Now enjoy 3 months free of the 980 JPY monthly fee! ／

Save Approximately 4% on Cash Withdrawals (Compared to Cash Advances)

When traveling abroad, there are often situations where cash is necessary, such as handing out tips.

Let’s examine how Revolut can provide better value compared to a Rakuten credit card for cash withdrawals.

When Using Rakuten Credit Card for Overseas ATM Cash Advances

• Foreign Exchange Spread Fee: Approximately 2% (Fee paid to VISA, MasterCard, JCB, Amex, etc.)
  Note: The spread varies by currency, so please check the standard rates for each international brand.
• Cash Advance Fee: Annual effective rate of 18% (Fee paid to Rakuten Card)
  ⇒ If repaid within 30 days, this amounts to 1.47% of the transaction amount
  Reference: Rakuten Card Cash Advance

When using a Rakuten credit card to withdraw cash from an overseas ATM, a total fee of approximately 3.5% is incurred, comprising the foreign exchange spread fee (about 2%) and the cash advance fee (about 1.5%).

On the other hand, with Revolut’s Metal Plan, both currency exchange fees and ATM withdrawal fees (up to the limit) are free up to 100,000 JPY.

By using Revolut to obtain the equivalent of JPY 100,000, you can save 3,500 JPY (approximately 3.5%) compared to a cash advance.

Therefore, Revolut is highly recommended for those who need a bit of cash while traveling abroad!

＼ Now enjoy 3 months free of the 980 JPY monthly fee! ／

International Online Shoppers

Revolut is highly recommended for those who frequently shop online from international retailers.

When using a Rakuten credit card for overseas online shopping, approximately 4% in fees is incurred.

Fees for Using Rakuten Card for Overseas Online Shopping

• Foreign Exchange Spread Fee: Approximately 2% (Fee paid to VISA, MasterCard, JCB, Amex, etc.)
  Note: The spread varies by currency, so please check the standard rates for each international brand.
• Overseas Transaction Fee: 1.6% to 2.2% (Fee paid to Rakuten Card)
  Reference: Rakuten Card Overseas Payment

On the other hand, Revolut offers currency exchanges at rates close to the market rates displayed on Google searches and does not charge overseas transaction fees when making purchases abroad.

This means that by using Revolut for international online shopping, you can always save approximately 4%.

Additionally, shopping on less frequently used sites can be a concern in terms of trustworthiness, but Revolut allows you to issue disposable virtual cards for free.

With Revolut’s disposable virtual card, you can create a new card for each transaction, making it difficult for card information to be misused even if it is compromised.

Revolut is highly recommended for those who wish to ensure transaction security.

The following article explains how to issue and use disposable virtual cards with Revolut:

How to Issue and Use Revolut Disposable Virtual Cards

• Comprehensive Guide to Using the Revolut Virtual Card

Choosing the Right Membership Plan with Revolut

Revolut’s membership plan should be chosen based on the average monthly spending.

The benefits vary depending on the amount spent on online shopping and other transactions.

For instance, those who spend over 200,000 JPY while traveling abroad are recommended to choose the Metal Plan.

The Metal Plan offers a 1% cashback (up to 5,000 JPY), allowing users to offset the 1,980 JPY monthly fee with 200,000 JPY worth of transactions.

By selecting a membership plan according to the spending level, Revolut can be utilized advantageously.

Creating a Revolut Account

Creating and using a Revolut account is done through the app.

The following article provides a detailed guide on the account creation process, complete with smartphone screenshots.

Revolut Account Creation Guide

• 　Revolut Account Creation Guide

Summary of This Article

This article explained the membership plans and services of the Japanese version of Revolut. Here is a summary:　

• Revolut allows for comprehensive money management with just one app.
• There are three membership plans: Standard, Premium, and Metal.
• The monthly fees are: Standard Plan is free, Premium Plan is 980 JPY, and Metal Plan is 1,980 JPY.
• The services of each membership plan differ in aspects such as the foreign exchange limits and free overseas ATM withdrawal limits.
• International money transfers are generally free for all membership plans.
• Recommended for international travelers and those who shop online from overseas sites.
• It is advisable to choose a membership plan based on the average monthly spending.
• Account creation and usage are managed through the app.

[Exclusive Offer] Get Revolut Premium Plan Free for 3 Months

By signing up for the Revolut Premium Plan through this page, you can enjoy the service free for three months, which usually costs 980 JPY per month.

This offer is perfect for those planning an overseas trip or who wish to easily hold and manage foreign currencies.

Click the button below to access this offer and get the Revolut Premium Plan free for three months.