Metal and Ultra are Revolut's two travel plans. Both include travel insurance and a large subscription bundle, but Ultra costs over three times as much. I've compared them using Revolut's Metal and Ultra pages, checked today, and worked through who actually comes out ahead on Ultra.
Key takeaways
- Metal: £16.99 a month or £165 a year. Ultra: £60 a month or £595 a year for new customers.
- Ultra costs £430 a year more paid upfront, or £516 more paid monthly.
- Unlimited lounge access is Ultra's headline perk. Metal only gets discounted lounge passes.
- Ultra adds cancel-for-any-reason cover: up to 70% back on cancelled trips or events, up to £5,000 a year.
- Ultra pays 4.00% AER (variable) up to £200,000, against 3.40% on Metal.
Revolut Metal vs Ultra side by side
Ultra includes everything in Metal. Here's what changes, from Revolut's plan comparison:
| Metal | Ultra | |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly price | £16.99 | £60 |
| Annual price | £165 | £595 |
| Airport lounges | Discounted passes | Unlimited, 1,000+ lounges |
| Cancel-for-any-reason cover | No | Up to 70%, max £5,000 a year |
| Travel insurance | Yes | Yes |
| Savings (AER, variable) | 3.40% | 4.00% up to £200,000 |
| RevPoints | 1 per £2 | 1 per £1 |
| Free ATM withdrawals | £800 a month | £2,000 a month |
| International transfers | 40% off | No additional fees |
| Global mobile data | No monthly allowance | Monthly eSIM data |
| Financial Times | Standard Digital | Premium Digital |
| Subscriptions value (Revolut's estimate) | £2,200 a year | £4,000 a year |
| Card | Metal | Platinum-plated |
Both plans include Uber One (even if you've had it before), unlimited currency exchange, 10 commission-free trades a month and 24/7 priority support. Both are 12-month plans.
What do you get for Ultra's extra £430?
Four perks do most of the work.
Unlimited airport lounges
Ultra gives unlimited access to more than 1,000 airport lounges, with food and drink included. Metal only gets discounted passes. Lounge pass prices vary a lot by airport, so price up the lounges at the airports you actually use. If a pass would cost you £30, you'd need about 14 visits a year for lounges alone to cover the £430 gap.
Cancel-for-any-reason cover
Ultra refunds up to 70% of a trip or event you cancel for any reason, up to £5,000 a year. You must pay with Revolut, book at least 72 hours before departure and claim at least 24 hours before. Ordinary travel insurance, including Metal's, only pays for listed reasons such as illness. If you book expensive non-refundable trips or tickets, this is a genuinely unusual perk.
4.00% savings
Ultra's 4.00% AER (variable) applies up to £200,000. Against Metal's 3.40%, that's 0.6 points more. Try it with your own balance:
- Amount saved£40,000
- Rate A (AER)4%
- Rate B (AER)3.4%
- Months12 months
On £40,000, Ultra earns about £240 more a year. To cover the full £430 gap from savings alone, you'd need roughly £72,000 with Revolut.
Double the RevPoints
Ultra earns 1 RevPoint per £1, twice Metal's rate. Here's what that could be worth:
- Monthly card spending£2,000
- RevPoints value (% of spend)1%
- Ultra yearly cost£595
On £2,000 a month, Ultra earns 24,000 RevPoints a year against Metal's 12,000. At around 1p a point, that's £120 more.
Who comes out ahead on Ultra?
Ultra only beats Metal when several of its perks stack up. Here's an example for a heavy user:
| Perk | Extra value over Metal (example) |
|---|---|
| 14 lounge visits at £30 | £420 |
| £40,000 savings at +0.6% | £240 |
| £2,000 a month spend, extra RevPoints at 1p | £120 |
| Total | £780 |
That's well above the £430 gap. But take away the lounge visits and it falls to £360, which is below it. In practice, Ultra makes sense if you're in an airport most months and either keep a large balance with Revolut or spend heavily on the card. These are illustrations, not guarantees: your lounge costs and how you redeem points will differ.
Take Action: Count your flights over the last 12 months and your average Revolut balance. If you flew fewer than 7 return trips, Metal is very likely the better plan.
How the October 2026 price rise affects the choice
Both plans went up for new customers on 14 October 2026, and existing customers move to the new prices on 19 December, according to DepositScout's analysis of Revolut's fees page.
| Old price | New price | |
|---|---|---|
| Metal | £14.99 a month / £140 a year | £16.99 a month / £165 a year |
| Ultra | £55 a month / £540 a year | £60 a month / £595 a year |
The gap on annual billing grew from £400 to £430. The benefits didn't change, although DepositScout reports that Revolut's UK Ultra help page now lists 5GB of monthly eSIM data, up from 3GB.
If you're already on Ultra or Metal
Review your plan before 19 December. If you rarely use lounges, moving from Ultra to Metal saves £430 a year. DepositScout reports that Ultra's break fee is lower than other plans' and stops applying sooner, after 6 months rather than 10. If you don't accept a notified price change, Revolut's Paid Plan Terms let you close your account free before it takes effect. A free downgrade is at Revolut's discretion, so ask in-app chat. Annual payers keep their price until renewal.
Who should choose Metal and who should choose Ultra?
| You... | Plan that may suit you |
|---|---|
| Take several trips a year and want insurance included | Metal |
| Use lounges a few times a year | Metal |
| Fly most months and use lounges every time | Ultra |
| Book expensive non-refundable trips or events | Ultra |
| Keep £70,000+ in Revolut savings | Ultra |
| Spend £2,000+ a month on the card and collect miles | Ultra, if combined with the above |
For each plan on its own, read our Revolut Metal review and Revolut Ultra review. If Metal looks like overkill, our Premium vs Metal comparison covers the step below.
Investing through Revolut carries risk. Capital at risk: the value of investments can go down as well as up.
FAQ
What is the difference between Revolut Metal and Ultra?
Revolut Ultra costs £60 a month against Metal's £16.99. Ultra adds unlimited airport lounge access, cancel-for-any-reason cover up to £5,000 a year, 4.00% savings instead of 3.40%, 1 RevPoint per £1 instead of per £2, £2,000 of free ATM cash, free international transfers and monthly eSIM data.
Is Revolut Ultra worth it over Metal?
Revolut Ultra is worth it over Metal only if you fly most months and use lounges, and also keep a large savings balance or spend heavily on the card. It costs £430 a year more on annual billing. For most travellers, Metal's insurance and subscriptions give better value.
Does Revolut Metal include lounge access?
No, not free access. Revolut Metal includes discounted airport lounge passes and Fast Track passes at 100+ airports. Unlimited free lounge access is only on Ultra. If you only use lounges a few times a year, buying discounted passes on Metal is usually cheaper than upgrading.
What is the Revolut Ultra savings rate?
Revolut Ultra pays 4.00% AER (variable) on Instant Access Savings up to £200,000, as checked on 5 November 2026. Metal pays 3.40%. Eligible deposits are FSCS protected up to £120,000 per person. Rates are variable and can change at any time.
Can I downgrade from Revolut Ultra to Metal?
Yes, but Ultra is a 12-month plan. Monthly payers may pay a break fee if they downgrade early, although DepositScout reports that Ultra's fee is lower and stops applying sooner than other plans'. Annual payers keep Ultra until the end of their paid year. Check the exact fee in the app.
The bottom line
Metal is the better choice for most travellers. Ultra earns its extra £430 a year only if you're a frequent flyer who uses lounges every trip and also holds a large balance or spends heavily with Revolut.
If you don't have Revolut yet, sign up to Revolut on the free plan and upgrade in the app before your next trip. Compare all five plans in Revolut plans compared.