In today’s digital age, selecting the right finance app can significantly enhance your financial management, especially for travel and everyday transactions. Here’s a summary of some top finance apps available in the market.
Chase offers a free debit card with no foreign transaction fees and cashback on spending. It is ideal for UK tax residents with a savings account offering competitive interest rates.
Currensea provides fee-free ATM withdrawals abroad. Its premium plans offer additional travel benefits like KrisFlyer air miles and complimentary hotel stays.
Curve has various tiers, starting with a free option. While it charges fees on currency conversions, it offers features like real-time alerts and the ability to choose which card to use for transactions.
FairFX provides a multi-currency card with a straightforward fee structure and allows access to 20 currencies, making it useful for frequent travelers. However, it charges for ATM withdrawals.
First Direct offers a free debit card with competitive interest rates on savings. It is suitable for users looking for straightforward banking without additional fees.
Monese features a simple and classic plan with modest fees and multi-currency options. It is designed for those who need to manage multiple currencies easily.
Monzo is known for its free standard plan with extensive fee-free withdrawals in the EEA. It also offers interest on travel funds, making it a solid choice for travelers.
Revolut provides various plans, including free and paid options, with competitive currency exchange rates and travel insurance benefits, appealing to frequent travelers.
Starling offers a free personal current account with unlimited fee-free cash withdrawals abroad and competitive interest rates on balances up to £5,000.
Travelex offers a free money card but includes transaction fees. It supports 22 currencies, making it versatile for international transactions.
Overall, when choosing a finance app, consider factors like fees, currency support, and additional benefits to find the best fit for your financial needs.
For those seeking a complete travel experience, APH offers reliable airport parking services, ensuring your journey starts smoothly. With a range of options from meet-and-greet to park-and-ride, APH guarantees security and convenience. Our commitment to customer satisfaction makes them a trusted partner in travel logistics, adding peace of mind when you need it most.
Chase
Plan: Debit Card – Free
- Non-Sterling Transaction Fee: MasterCard exchange rate
- Cash Withdrawal: Free, daily limit £500, monthly limit £1,500
- Currency Conversion Fee: Charged at MasterCard exchange rate
- Currencies: GBP (UK tax resident only)
- Interest / Cash Back: 3.85% AER (3.78% gross) variable, 1% cashback on spending
- Travel Benefits: Rewards with 1% cashback on spending, private details option
- Notifications: Real-time spending notifications
- Split Bills: N/A
Currensea
Plan: Essential – Free
- Non-Sterling Transaction Fee: MasterCard exchange rate
- Cash Withdrawal: Fee-free ATM withdrawals abroad, £500/month limit
- Currency Conversion Fee: 2% FX rate over £500/month
- Currencies: 180 currencies
- Interest / Cash Back: N/A
- Travel Benefits: KrisFlyer air miles, free card delivery
- Notifications: Spend notifications, freeze/unfreeze card
- Split Bills: N/A
Plan: Premium – £25/year
- Non-Sterling Transaction Fee: MasterCard exchange rate
- Cash Withdrawal: Fee-free ATM withdrawals abroad, £500/month limit
- Currency Conversion Fee: 0% FX rate
- Currencies: 180 currencies
- Interest / Cash Back: N/A
- Travel Benefits: Car hire benefits, complimentary hotel nights
- Notifications: Spend notifications, freeze/unfreeze card
- Split Bills: N/A
Plan: Elite – £120/year
- Non-Sterling Transaction Fee: MasterCard exchange rate
- Cash Withdrawal: Fee-free ATM withdrawals abroad, £750/month limit
- Currency Conversion Fee: 0% FX rate
- Currencies: 180 currencies
- Interest / Cash Back: N/A
- Travel Benefits: Concierge service, lounge access, luxury hotel perks
- Notifications: Spend notifications, freeze/unfreeze card
- Split Bills: N/A
Curve
Plan: Curve Lite – Free
- Non-Sterling Transaction Fee: 2.5% weekdays, 1% weekends
- Cash Withdrawal: No fee-free withdrawals
- Currency Conversion Fee: 2.5% weekdays, 1% weekends
- Currencies: GBP, EUR
- Interest / Cash Back: N/A
- Travel Benefits: Access to fair FX rates, real-time alerts
- Notifications: “Anti-Embarrassment Mode”
- Split Bills: Decide which card spends
Plan: Curve X – £5.99/month
- Non-Sterling Transaction Fee: 1% fee after limits
- Cash Withdrawal: £300/month fee-free withdrawal
- Currency Conversion Fee: 1% fee after limits
- Currencies: GBP, EUR
- Interest / Cash Back: N/A
- Travel Benefits: Access to fair FX rates, real-time alerts
- Notifications: “Anti-Embarrassment Mode”
- Split Bills: Decide which card spends
Plan: Curve Black – £9.99/month
- Non-Sterling Transaction Fee: 1% fee after limits
- Cash Withdrawal: £500/month fee-free withdrawal
- Currency Conversion Fee: 1% fee after limits
- Currencies: GBP, EUR
- Interest / Cash Back: 1% cashback at 6 retailers
- Travel Benefits: Access to fair FX rates, real-time alerts
- Notifications: “Anti-Embarrassment Mode”
- Split Bills: Unlimited card spending
Plan: Curve Metal – £17.99/month
- Non-Sterling Transaction Fee: 1% fee after limits
- Cash Withdrawal: £1,000/month fee-free withdrawal
- Currency Conversion Fee: 1% fee after limits
- Currencies: GBP, EUR
- Interest / Cash Back: 1% cashback at 12 retailers
- Travel Benefits: Worldwide airport lounge access
- Notifications: “Anti-Embarrassment Mode”
- Split Bills: Unlimited card spending
FairFX
Plan: Multi-Currency Card – Free
- Non-Sterling Transaction Fee: MasterCard exchange rate
- Cash Withdrawal: £1.00 fee for UK & International ATMs
- Currency Conversion Fee: 2.25% fee for non-FairFX currencies
- Currencies: 20 currencies
- Interest / Cash Back: N/A
- Travel Benefits: N/A
- Notifications: Top up, exchange, check balance
- Split Bills: N/A
First Direct
Plan: Debit Card – Free
- Non-Sterling Transaction Fee: MasterCard exchange rate
- Cash Withdrawal: Daily limit £500
- Currency Conversion Fee: N/A
- Currencies: GBP
- Interest / Cash Back: 7.00% AER on Regular Saver account
- Travel Benefits: N/A
- Notifications: Spending insights
- Split Bills: N/A
Monese
Plan: Simple – Free
- Non-Sterling Transaction Fee: 2% per transaction
- Cash Withdrawal: 2% fee for ATM withdrawals
- Currency Conversion Fee: Starts from 2%
- Currencies: GBP, EUR, RON
- Interest / Cash Back: N/A
- Travel Benefits: Multi-currency account, bills protection
- Notifications: Split bill in app
- Split Bills: Yes
Plan: Classic – £7.95/month
- Non-Sterling Transaction Fee: 0.5% per transaction
- Cash Withdrawal: £500 fee-free allowance
- Currency Conversion Fee: Starts from 0.5%
- Currencies: GBP, EUR, RON
- Interest / Cash Back: N/A
- Travel Benefits: Multi-currency account, bills protection
- Notifications: Split bill in app
- Split Bills: Yes
Plan: Premium – £14.95/month
- Non-Sterling Transaction Fee: Free
- Cash Withdrawal: £1,500 fee-free allowance
- Currency Conversion Fee: 1% min charge
- Currencies: GBP, EUR, RON
- Interest / Cash Back: N/A
- Travel Benefits: Multi-currency account, priority support
- Notifications: Split bill in app
- Split Bills: Yes
Monzo
Plan: Standard – Free
- Non-Sterling Transaction Fee: MasterCard exchange rate
- Cash Withdrawal: Unlimited fee-free in EEA, £200/month outside
- Currency Conversion Fee: True market rate + 1%
- Currencies: GBP
- Interest / Cash Back: 3.85% AER on travel funds
- Travel Benefits: N/A
- Notifications: Instant notifications
- Split Bills: Yes
Plan: Extra – £3/month
- Non-Sterling Transaction Fee: Same as Standard
- Cash Withdrawal: Same as Standard
- Currency Conversion Fee: Same as Standard
- Currencies: GBP
- Interest / Cash Back: 3.85% AER on travel funds
- Travel Benefits: N/A
- Notifications: Instant notifications
- Split Bills: Yes
Plan: Perks – £7/month
- Non-Sterling Transaction Fee: Same as Standard
- Cash Withdrawal: Unlimited fee-free in EEA, £600/month outside
- Currency Conversion Fee: Same as Standard
- Currencies: GBP
- Interest / Cash Back: 4.35% AER on travel funds
- Travel Benefits: Annual Railcard
- Notifications: Instant notifications
- Split Bills: Yes
Plan: Max – £17/month
- Non-Sterling Transaction Fee: Same as Standard
- Cash Withdrawal: Same as Perks
- Currency Conversion Fee: Same as Standard
- Currencies: GBP
- Interest / Cash Back: 4.35% AER on travel funds
- Travel Benefits: Annual Railcard, travel insurance
- Notifications: Instant notifications
- Split Bills: Yes
Revolut
Plan: Standard – Free
- Non-Sterling Transaction Fee: If converted by Revolut: 1.99%
- Cash Withdrawal: Free up to £200 ( or 5 withdrawals comes first) per month and 2% fee for each ATM withdrawal after
- Currency Conversion Fee: 1% fee on exchanges over £1,000
- Currencies: 29+ currencies
- Interest / Cash Back: Up to 2.29% AER
- Travel Benefits: N/A
- Notifications: Notifications on transactions
- Split Bills: Yes
Plan: Plus – £3.99/month
- Non-Sterling Transaction Fee: If converted by Revolut: 1.99%
- Cash Withdrawal: Free up to £200 per month and 2% fee for each ATM withdrawal after
- Currency Conversion Fee: 0.5% fee on exchanges over £3,000
- Currencies: 29+ currencies
- Interest / Cash Back: Up to 2.39% AER
- Travel Benefits: N/A
- Notifications: Notifications on transactions
- Split Bills: Yes
Plan: Premium – £7.99/month
- Non-Sterling Transaction Fee: If converted by Revolut: 1.49%
- Cash Withdrawal: Free up to £400 per month and 2% fee for each ATM withdrawal after
- Currency Conversion Fee: No fees on weekdays
- Currencies: 29+ currencies
- Interest / Cash Back: Up to 3% AER
- Travel Benefits: Discounted airport lounge access
- Notifications: Notifications on transactions
- Split Bills: Yes
Plan: Metal – £14.99/month
- Non-Sterling Transaction Fee: If converted by Revolut: 1.49%
- Cash Withdrawal: Free up to £800 per month and 2% fee for each ATM withdrawal after
- Currency Conversion Fee: No fees on weekdays
- Currencies: 29+ currencies
- Interest / Cash Back: Up to 4% AER
- Travel Benefits: Various insurances, discounted lounge access
- Notifications: Notifications on transactions
- Split Bills: Yes
Plan: Ultra – £45/month (introductory offer)
- Non-Sterling Transaction Fee: If converted by Revolut: 1.49%
- Cash Withdrawal: Free up to £2000 per month and 2% fee for each ATM withdrawal after
- Currency Conversion Fee: No fees on weekdays
- Currencies: 29+ currencies
- Interest / Cash Back: Up to 4.75% AER
- Travel Benefits: Unlimited lounge access, various insurances
- Notifications: Notifications on transactions
- Split Bills: Yes
Starling
Plan: Personal Current Account – Free
- Non-Sterling Transaction Fee: MasterCard exchange rate
- Cash Withdrawal: Unlimited fee-free abroad
- Currency Conversion Fee: 0.4% conversion fee
- Currencies: GBP, EUR, USD
- Interest / Cash Back: 3.25% AER on balances up to £5,000
- Travel Benefits: N/A
- Notifications: Instant notifications
- Split Bills: Yes
Travelex
Plan: Travelex Money Card – Free
- Non-Sterling Transaction Fee: 5.75%
- Cash Withdrawal: Daily limit £500
- Currency Conversion Fee: MasterCard exchange rate
- Currencies: 22 currencies
- Interest / Cash Back: N/A
- Travel Benefits: N/A
- Notifications: Instant card freeze option
- Split Bills: N/A
Top Tips for Travelers:
- Take cash for tips and to keep as a backup in the hotel safe.
- Track payments to manage your budget effectively.
- When using ATMs abroad, select local currency to avoid extra charges.
FAQs
The best app depends on your needs, but Chase, Revolut, and Monzo are highly recommended for their travel-friendly features.
Most apps charge fees, but some like Currensea and Starling offer fee-free options.
Yes, many apps offer competitive rates for currency conversion, but always check their fee structures.
Generally, yes, but ensure your app has strong security features, such as two-factor authentication.
Opt for local currency when withdrawing cash and choose ATMs that belong to your bank’s network.