Lumi vs the rest
Revolut and Wise are great products — but they weren't built for paying at a Thai street food stall or a Balinese warung. Here's how the options actually compare for Southeast Asia travel.
* Revolut fees vary by plan (Standard, Plus, Premium, Metal). Free FX has monthly limits on Standard plans. Rates as of March 2026.
Fees & Rates
| Feature | compare.headers.lumifin | Revolut | Wise | Trad. Bank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Transaction fee | 2% | 0–2.5%* | 0.4–1.5% | 1.5–3% |
| Exchange rate | Near interbank | Interbank (weekdays) | Mid-market | Bank markup (2–5%) |
| Weekend FX markup | No | 1–2% surcharge | No | Included in spread |
| ATM withdrawal fee | N/A (QR only) | Free up to limit* | €1.50 + 1.75% | €3–7 + local fee |
| Hidden currency conversion | Never | Possible on weekends | Never | Common |
Southeast Asia Coverage
| Feature | compare.headers.lumifin | Revolut | Wise | Trad. Bank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thailand (PromptPay) | Coming soon | No | No | No |
| Vietnam (VietQR) | Yes | No | No | No |
| Indonesia (QRIS) | Coming soon | No | No | No |
| Local QR code payments | Yes | No | No | No |
| Street vendor / market payments | Yes | No | No | No |
| Card terminal required | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
User Experience
| Feature | compare.headers.lumifin | Revolut | Wise | Trad. Bank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Works without cash | Yes | Partial | Partial | No |
| No local bank account needed | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Real-time EUR equivalent shown | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Designed for SEA travel | Yes | No | No | No |
The bottom line
Revolut and Wise are excellent for countries with widespread card acceptance — Europe, the US, Australia. But in Thailand, Vietnam, and Indonesia, the majority of daily commerce happens at places that don't have card terminals. Street food vendors, tuk-tuk drivers, local markets, small cafes — these are the places you actually want to spend money, and none of them accept your Revolut card.
Lumi is purpose-built for this gap. Instead of trying to force a card into a cashless, QR-first economy, we connect you directly to the local payment rails — PromptPay, VietQR, QRIS — that millions of locals use every day. That means you can pay anywhere they can, at rates comparable to the best fintechs, without carrying cash or hoping for a card terminal.
Ready to try the smarter way to pay in Southeast Asia?
Download Lumi and travel without payment friction.
Download the appLast updated: July 2026. Information based on publicly available pricing. Verify current rates on each provider's website.