Wise eSIM vs Revolut eSIM
Both are travel eSIMs sold inside a money app, both are data plans bought from your existing balance, and both need an account first. Wise arrived in 2026 with wider coverage and a 12-month refund; Revolut has been selling since 2024 and gives free data on its paid plans.
The short answer
If you have both accounts, the answer depends on the trip. Revolut wins if you pay for Premium, Metal or Ultra and the trip is short: the free monthly allowance may cover it outright. Wise wins on coverage (150+ destinations against 100+), on custom plans in its 20 top destinations, and on risk: an unused plan is fully refundable for 12 months, so you can buy early. If you only have one of the two, use the one you have, as long as it covers where you are going.
| Wise eSIM | Revolut eSIM | |
|---|---|---|
| Destinations covered | 150+ | 100+ |
| Unlimited plans | No | No |
| Pricing | Pre-set country and regional packs, custom data-and-days plans in 20 top destinations, and 20GB, 50GB or 100GB global plans valid for 12 months; paid from your Wise balance, prices shown only to Wise customers | Fixed packs (1GB/7d up to 100GB/60d) bought inside the Revolut app; paid plans include free monthly data (1GB Premium, 3GB Metal and Ultra) |
| Parent company | Wise (powered by Gigs) | Revolut (service provided by 1GLOBAL) |
| Operating since | 2026 | 2024 |
| Best known for | Travel eSIM inside the Wise account, powered by Gigs; covers 150+ destinations with a full refund within 12 months if no data is used | App-only eSIM for Revolut customers, powered by 1GLOBAL; install once, works in 100+ locations |
| Who can buy | Wise customers (personal or business) in supported countries: UK, EEA, US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Malaysia, Brazil | Revolut customers only, inside the Revolut app |
| Network partner | Gigs | 1GLOBAL |
| Free data | No | Monthly allowance on paid plans: 1GB on Premium, 3GB on Metal and Ultra (varies by country of residence) |
| Plan types | Pre-set country and regional packs, custom data and days in 20 top destinations, 20GB/50GB/100GB global plans valid 12 months | Fixed packs from 1GB/7 days up to 100GB/60 days, plus regional and global plans |
| Refunds | Full refund within 12 months of purchase if no data used | Terms shown per plan in the app |
| Hotspot | Yes | Yes |
Choose Wise eSIM if...
You already hold money with Wise and want your data paid from the same balance you spend abroad. You can buy well ahead of the trip: the plan only starts counting down when you connect at your destination, and an unused plan is fully refundable for 12 months.
Choose Revolut eSIM if...
You already bank with Revolut. Data plans sit next to your card, Premium, Metal and Ultra include free data every month, and there is nothing new to install or sign up for.
Coverage: Wise reaches further
Wise covers more than 150 countries and territories, grouped into regional plans for Europe and the UK (44 destinations), Asia and Oceania (32), Latin America and the Caribbean (43), the Middle East and Africa (31) and North America (Canada, Mexico and the US). Revolut covers 100+.
Both lists include the mainstream holiday destinations. The gap shows up in Latin America, Africa and smaller Asian markets, so check your exact destination in the app before relying on either.
One Wise restriction to know: you cannot buy a single-country plan for the country your Wise account is registered in. The eSIM still works at home if your country is part of a regional or global plan you bought.
Price: neither publishes one
Wise and Revolut both show prices only to logged-in customers, so there is no public list we can check the way we check Airalo's. Any "X is cheaper" claim you read about these two is a snapshot of one destination on one day.
What does differ is the free allowance. A Revolut Premium, Metal or Ultra customer gets 1GB to 3GB of data a month at no extra cost, which can cover a weekend away. Wise has no equivalent, so for a short trip on a paid Revolut plan, Revolut is very likely the cheaper option.
Flexibility and refunds: Wise is easier to buy early
Wise lets you choose the exact amount of data and number of days in its 20 top destinations, including Japan, Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam, Turkey, the US, the UK, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Portugal, the Netherlands and Switzerland. Elsewhere it sells pre-set packs like Revolut does.
Its plans only start counting down when the eSIM connects to a local network at your destination, you have 12 months from purchase to start using them, and a plan with no data used is fully refundable for 12 months. That removes the usual risk of buying before the trip is confirmed.
For long or repeated travel, Wise's global plans (20GB, 50GB or 100GB, valid for 12 months) are the closest thing either app has to a year-round travel eSIM.
Limits to know about
Wise allows one eSIM per account, so you cannot run two active plans on two phones from the same Wise account. You can share data from your phone through a personal hotspot instead.
Both are data plans. Your regular SIM keeps working alongside either eSIM, so calls and texts to your usual number still arrive while you use the eSIM for data.
Frequently asked questions
Is Wise eSIM better than Revolut eSIM?
Wise covers more destinations (150+ against 100+), offers custom plans in 20 top destinations and refunds unused plans for 12 months. Revolut gives free monthly data on its paid plans. If you are on Revolut Premium, Metal or Ultra and taking a short trip, Revolut is usually the better deal; otherwise Wise has the more flexible terms.
Do I need a Wise account to use Wise eSIM?
Yes. Wise eSIM is bought from your Wise account in the app or on the website and paid from your Wise balance, and it is available to personal and business customers in countries where Wise lets you hold money.
Which countries can buy Wise eSIM?
Customers living in Australia, Brazil, Canada, the EEA, Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore, the United Kingdom and the United States.
Can I get a refund on Wise eSIM?
Yes, a full refund within 12 months of purchase if you have not used any data. Partly used plans are reviewed case by case and a refund is not guaranteed.
Who provides the network for Wise eSIM?
Wise built its eSIM with Gigs, the connectivity platform behind several banking and fintech eSIMs. The eSIM connects to the strongest local network available at your destination.
Can I use a hotspot with Wise eSIM?
Yes. Wise allows one eSIM per account, and suggests turning on a personal hotspot to share your data with someone else.
The Sherpa take
Check the app you already use first. If you have both, let the trip decide: a short break on a paid Revolut plan goes to Revolut, anything longer, further afield, or booked well in advance goes to Wise.
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