Sorting out money before going abroad felt more complicated than it probably needed to be. Everyone recommends something different, and every app claims to be the best.
In the end, I just tried a few and figured it out as I went. After using them while travelling and working overseas, here’s how they felt in practice for me.
Starling Bank – The one I ended up using the most
Starling became the card I naturally reached for day to day.
There are no fees when paying abroad, and I didn’t really have to think too much about it when using it. Compared to some of the others, I wasn’t constantly checking limits or worrying about charges when taking cash out.
For me, that made a difference. It just felt straightforward to use while travelling, whether I was paying for food, booking things last minute, or withdrawing cash.
Monzo – Still solid, but slightly more limited for travel
I used Monzo a lot before travelling, and the app is still one of the best for budgeting and tracking spending.
When I was abroad, it still worked fine, but I found the ATM withdrawal limits a bit restrictive unless you upgrade the account.
For short trips or occasional cash withdrawals it was okay, but over longer periods I personally found those limits a bit noticeable.
Revolut – Good if you like managing everything in one place
Revolut felt a bit different compared to the others. It’s less of a straightforward bank and more of an all-in-one financial app.
Where it stood out for me was currency exchange. I liked being able to hold multiple currencies and switch between them easily when needed.
It also has extra features like subscriptions and other financial tools. Some people will probably get more value out of those than others depending on how they use it.
Wise – The one that felt best for living abroad
Wise stood out more when I was actually living and working abroad rather than just travelling.
The biggest difference for me was being able to get local bank details in different countries. It felt more like having a proper local setup rather than just a travel card.
That meant things like:
- getting paid was straightforward
- paying rent or bills was easier
- less friction when moving between countries
There are fees, especially on conversions, but they were clear and predictable in my experience.
My personal takeaway
If I had to break it down based on my own experience:
- Starling felt the simplest for day-to-day spending abroad
- Monzo was still great for tracking spending, but a bit limited on cash withdrawals
- Revolut was useful for managing multiple currencies and extras
- Wise felt the most practical when living abroad long term
If I had to personally choose one based on how I used them, it would probably be Wise, mainly because it reduced friction when setting things up in new places.
A quick note
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