Which Is Better for UK businesses choosing between FSCS-protected multi-currency banking and EMI multi-currency with relationship-led FX expertise?
If FSCS deposit protection is non-negotiable, choose Revolut Business. We rate the new PRA banking licence as a structural step-change, no other major fintech in this segment now has direct FSCS at that depth except Starling.
If you need 38 multi-currency IBANs across hospitality, manufacturing, iGaming or other niche industries, choose Equals Money. The 30,000+ company customer base spans verticals Revolut Business doesn’t specifically target.
When your business holds £100,000+ in foreign currency balances, the FSCS gap matters operationally. Revolut new accounts offer direct FSCS cover; Equals Money offers EMI safeguarding only.
If you bill more than 5 international invoices a month, Equals Money’s 38 multi-currency IBANs may beat Revolut’s wallet model for receiving in local currencies. Confirm exact FX markup with Equals before committing.
Revolut vs Equals Money Fees and Charges
You pay £10/month at Revolut Business Basic with up to 10 local transfers and 1 international transfer included. Above the allowance, international transfers cost £5 each.
Choose Revolut Grow at £30/month for 5 free international transfers and higher FX allowances. We rate Grow as the practical entry point for any business with regular international invoicing.
You pay £25-£35/month at Equals Money for Business and Business Plus card tiers. Physical card £10 one-off; virtual cards free up to 50 (Business) or 100 (Business Plus).
You should confirm exact FX markup with Equals Money before committing. The marketing page mentions “in-house FX expertise” but doesn’t publish a percentage markup against interbank.
On Revolut FX, you get near-interbank rates within plan allowance, above the cap, the markup steps up. For high-volume FX, choose Wise Business instead of either Revolut or Equals Money.
For cash deposits, neither account offers UK cash handling. Equals Money has no UK cash channel; Revolut has no native cash deposit. Pair either with a high-street account if you take cash daily.
You pay £0 on UK Faster Payments within Revolut plan allowances; above the allowance, fees apply per plan. Equals Money UK Faster Payment fees aren’t prominently itemised on the main page.
Revolut vs Equals Money Features and Tools
You should weigh feature depth carefully. Revolut Business ships team cards with per-employee spend controls, expense capture, crypto access on paid tiers, and a published developer API.
You get 38 multi-currency IBANs at Equals Money with multi-currency wallet management. We rate Equals as broader than Revolut on currency depth and on industry vertical support (hospitality, manufacturing, iGaming).
When your team needs spend controls across 5-50 employees, Revolut Business has the deeper per-employee card programme. Equals Money supports virtual and physical cards but with less published depth on spend rules.
If you need accounting integration, both connect with Xero and QuickBooks via Open Banking. Neither matches Tide’s native in-app invoicing or Sage integration.
For payment infrastructure, Revolut offers a published API for programmatic supplier payments, batch processing and ledger sync. Equals Money offers in-house FX expertise and account management rather than a self-serve API.
You get crypto access at Revolut Business on paid tiers, no equivalent at Equals Money. For digital-asset businesses requiring crypto rails, Revolut is the only option here.
Revolut vs Equals Money International Payments
If you receive in 5+ foreign currencies, Equals Money’s 38 multi-currency IBANs across 21 free major currencies beats Revolut’s 25+ wallet model on breadth.
You get near-interbank FX rates at Revolut Business within plan allowance. Above the allowance, the markup steps up to 0.4-0.6%. For sustained high-volume FX, this is meaningful.
When you convert £50,000 EUR a month at Revolut Grow, the free allowance covers most plans; above the cap you step into the 0.4-0.6% range. Equals Money pricing is more relationship-based.
For receiving foreign currency, Equals Money provides multi-currency IBANs with local clearing in 21+ markets. Revolut provides multi-currency wallets but with less explicit local-clearing breadth.
You should weigh the FSCS gap when holding meaningful foreign-currency balances. Revolut Business new accounts (from 11 March 2026) are FSCS-protected to £120,000. Equals Money is EMI-safeguarded.
For card spending overseas, Revolut Business charges interbank FX within allowance; Equals Money offers in-house FX but doesn’t publish card-specific FX markup on the main page.
Revolut vs Equals Money Customer Reviews and Reputation
The two serve very different bases. Revolut Business reaches 13+ million UK customers across personal and business accounts; Equals Money serves 30,000+ companies across hospitality, manufacturing, iGaming and other verticals.
Revolut complaints cluster around compliance freezes during onboarding, the familiar fintech issue where a flagged transaction holds the account for 24-72 hours.
Equals Money’s positive reviews lean on the in-house FX expertise, the relationship management model and the breadth of currency support. The review base is smaller than Revolut’s.
When your bookkeeper urgently needs a supplier paid on Friday afternoon, both providers’ Faster Payments rails clear in seconds. The compliance hold risk is comparable.
Support model splits sharply. Revolut offers 24/7 in-app chat to business customers; Equals Money offers dedicated account managers for higher-tier customers, similar to Allica or HSBC’s relationship banking model.
Revolut vs Equals Money for FSCS-Protected Multi-Currency vs 38-Currency IBAN Coverage with Vertical Industry Support
For FSCS-protected multi-currency banking, Revolut Business wins after the 11 March 2026 PRA bank licence. We rate it as the most multi-currency-capable FSCS-protected option.
For 38 multi-currency IBANs and relationship-led FX expertise, Equals Money wins. The currency breadth and the vertical-specific support beat Revolut on niche industry coverage.
When you process £500,000+ monthly transactions and need enterprise pricing, both providers offer custom enterprise tiers. For sustained transaction volume beyond Revolut Grow’s £500k cap, plan accordingly.
If you operate in iGaming, hospitality or other industries where mainstream banks restrict service, Equals Money explicitly markets to these verticals. Revolut Business has more generic positioning.
Downsides of Revolut and Equals Money
Equals Money carries no direct FSCS protection; it is EMI safeguarding only. For balances above £10,000, that gap matters operationally.
Pricing transparency is the other Equals Money weak spot: FX markup percentages are not published. The relationship-led model means you confirm specific rates with Equals before committing.
Revolut has its own limits. Basic includes only one international transfer a month, and the £5-per-transfer charge bites fast on a cross-border-heavy business.
Balance caps apply too: £500k on Grow, £1m on Scale, £2m on Enterprise. Hold more operating cash than that and you are into a multi-account setup.
Neither takes UK cash deposits. When a day’s takings come in as cash, you are carrying them to a high-street account, because neither of these will touch them.
And the compliance hold risk is real at Revolut: a flagged transaction can lock an account for 24-72 hours during review. It is a known fintech pattern, not Revolut-specific.
Alternatives to Revolut and Equals Money
You don’t have to choose between Revolut and Equals Money alone. We compared several adjacent UK business accounts that solve specific problems better than either.
Want free PRA-licensed UK banking with FSCS and only light multi-currency needs? Starling Business is the pick. We rate Starling as the strongest free FSCS-protected challenger.
For a full PRA-licensed bank with cashback and interest on deposits, Allica goes further. We rate Allica Business Rewards best for established UK SMEs holding £50k+ on deposit.
Need mid-market FX from 0.33% on a one-off £50 setup? Wise Business is the cheapest cross-border option for UK SMEs.
And for high-street branch access plus business lending, HSBC or Barclays are the call: both PRA-licensed, both FSCS-direct, both with trade finance.
Final Verdict: Revolut or Equals Money?
Choose Revolut Business if you want FSCS-protected multi-currency banking, team card programmes with spend controls, API access, or 24/7 in-app support. We rate Revolut Grow at £30/month as the value pick.
Choose Equals Money if you need 38 multi-currency IBANs, relationship-led FX expertise, or operate in a vertical where mainstream banks restrict service (iGaming, certain hospitality sub-sectors). The 30,000+ company customer base reflects this positioning.
When FSCS protection on multi-currency balances is critical, Revolut wins. When breadth of currencies and vertical-specific support is critical, Equals Money wins.
You should pair either account with Wise Business for the lowest-cost cross-border SME transfers. Neither Revolut nor Equals Money matches Wise on mid-market FX from 0.33%.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Revolut Business FSCS-protected?
Yes for new accounts opened from 11 March 2026. Revolut Bank UK Ltd received its UK banking licence from the PRA on 11 March 2026 and came under dual PRA and FCA regulation. New accounts from that date are FSCS-protected to £120,000 per eligible depositor.
Is Equals Money FSCS-protected?
No. Equals Money is an FCA-authorised e-money institution (FRN 488396), not a bank. Customer funds are held in segregated safeguarded accounts at Tier-1 banks, but FSCS deposit protection does not apply at the Equals Money level.
Which has more multi-currency support?
Equals Money supports 38 currencies with multi-currency IBANs and 21 free major currencies, plus 140+ accessible for international payments. Revolut Business offers 25+ multi-currency wallets. Equals is broader on currency depth; Revolut is integrated with the wider Revolut ecosystem.
How much does Revolut Business cost?
Revolut Business plans run Basic £10/month, Grow £30/month, Scale and Enterprise (with custom pricing). Annual subscriptions save up to 28%. International transfers cost £5 each on Basic, with 5 free on Grow and 25 free on Scale per month.
How much does Equals Money cost?
Equals Money Business and Business Plus card tiers run £25-£35/month. Physical cards cost £10 one-off; virtual cards are free up to 50 (Business) or 100 (Business Plus). Enterprise pricing is customised.
Do either accept iGaming or hospitality businesses?
Equals Money explicitly markets to hospitality, manufacturing, iGaming and accountancy verticals. Revolut Business has more generic positioning. For businesses in industries where mainstream banks restrict service, Equals Money is more likely to onboard you.
Can I deposit cash with either provider?
Neither Revolut Business nor Equals Money offers UK cash deposit options. For retail businesses with regular cash takings, pair either with a high-street account (HSBC, Barclays, Lloyds) for cash handling.
Which is cheaper for high-volume international transfers?
For more than 5 international transfers per month, Revolut Grow at £30/month with 5 free included beats Basic at £5 each. For 25+ transfers, move to Scale.
For mid-market FX from 0.33% on any volume, pair either with Wise Business, cheaper than both Revolut and Equals Money above moderate FX volumes.
