REVPOINTS ELIGIBLE SPENDING GUIDE
Eligible RevPoints Spending: Which Purchases Earn Points?
Not every Revolut payment earns RevPoints. Discover which purchases may qualify, understand excluded transactions and merchant categories, and learn how to calculate points using your eligible spending rather than your total account activity.
Card spending eligibility · Excluded transactions · Independent of Revolut
What counts as eligible RevPoints spending?
Eligible RevPoints spending generally means qualifying purchases made through a supported Revolut card by a customer participating in the RevPoints programme. The transaction must meet Revolut’s applicable rules and must not belong to an excluded category.
Revolut offers RevPoints through several activities, but regular card spending rewards have specific eligibility conditions. Making a card payment successfully does not automatically mean that the transaction will earn points.
Some everyday purchases may qualify, while financial transfers, certain bills, taxes, gambling transactions and selected merchant categories are excluded. The applicable classification and programme conditions are important.
This guide explains what to look for before including a payment in your RevPoints estimate, why certain transactions are excluded and what to do when an expected points award does not appear.
The most important eligibility rule
Use only qualifying spending when estimating regular RevPoints. Revolut excludes specific payment types and merchant categories, and the merchant’s classification may determine whether an otherwise ordinary-looking transaction earns points.
Which everyday purchases can earn RevPoints?
Regular RevPoints earning is designed around qualifying purchases of goods and services. Ordinary consumer purchases may be eligible when they meet the card, merchant and programme requirements.
Supermarkets & groceries
Purchases from ordinary grocery retailers may qualify when the merchant and transaction meet Revolut’s eligibility rules. Certain product types or merchant classifications can still affect eligibility.
Restaurants & cafés
Qualifying food and drink purchases may earn regular points. The payment must be processed as an eligible purchase rather than an excluded transaction type.
Retail & online shopping
Eligible purchases of consumer goods may earn points with a supported Revolut card. Check whether the seller’s merchant category is excluded.
Travel purchases
Qualifying travel-related purchases may earn points, but not every travel or transport payment is automatically eligible. Parking, certain rentals and specialist services can be excluded.
These are examples of transaction types that may qualify, not guarantees that every merchant or purchase within a category earns RevPoints. Revolut’s actual eligibility decision depends on its rules and transaction information.
A successful card purchase is not proof of eligibility
A payment can go through normally and still earn no RevPoints. The transaction might be classified as an excluded financial service, utility payment, specialist business service or another ineligible merchant category.
Requirements for earning regular RevPoints
Several conditions need to be satisfied before a card transaction can generate regular RevPoints. These apply alongside the specific rules of your country and subscription plan.
Join the RevPoints programme
You must be eligible for RevPoints and have joined or activated the programme in the Revolut app. Simply holding a Revolut account is not enough if you have not enrolled.
Use a supported card
Make qualifying purchases using a supported Revolut card. Card eligibility and earning rates can differ between countries, and eligible credit card products may have separate rules.
Purchase genuine goods or services
The payment must represent a genuine eligible purchase. Transfers, cash-like transactions and other non-purchase activity do not qualify for regular card spending rewards.
Avoid excluded merchant categories
Even a genuine purchase may be excluded if it belongs to a merchant category listed in the programme’s exclusions.
Keep the transaction valid
Refunded, cancelled or reversed transactions may lead to previously awarded RevPoints being cancelled or adjusted under the applicable programme terms.
Which transactions do not earn Revolut RevPoints?
Revolut publishes a broad list of excluded activities and merchant categories. The following overview is based on its personal RevPoints guidance for markets including the United Kingdom, Ireland and Germany.
| Transaction category | Examples | General treatment |
|---|---|---|
| Financial services | Money transfers, wallet top-ups, brokerage activity | Excluded |
| Cash-like transactions | Cash withdrawals, cash equivalents, certain crypto purchases | Excluded |
| Government payments | Taxes, fines, penalties and specified government payments | Excluded |
| Gambling | Lottery tickets, betting and gambling services | Excluded |
| Utilities | Payments to utility providers | Excluded |
| Selected organisations | Charities, political or religious organisations, educational institutions | Excluded |
| Specialist services | Certain real estate, rental, parking and maintenance services | Excluded |
| Certain retailers | Selected tobacco-related merchant categories | Excluded |
| Revolut Pro | Transactions made through a Revolut Pro account | Excluded from the personal earning rules described here |
This is a category summary, not an exhaustive or permanent list. Revolut may update exclusions, and different programme terms can apply depending on the country and account product. Merchant classification determines some exclusions.
The list is broader than simply excluding transfers and ATM withdrawals. It also covers certain genuine purchases of goods and services that Revolut categorises as ineligible.
For the current market-specific rules, check Revolut’s official UK earning guide or the equivalent local help page for your country.
Why money transfers and cash-like transactions do not qualify
Regular RevPoints rewards relate to eligible purchases rather than simply moving money between accounts or converting it into another financial product.
Sending money to another person, adding funds to a wallet or moving money through payment services is not treated as ordinary eligible retail spending under Revolut’s published exclusions.
Revolut also excludes transactions involving certain financial and insurance services, cryptocurrency purchases and brokerage activity, along with other cash-like transactions.
A cash withdrawal is likewise different from buying goods or services. Withdrawing money from an ATM should not be included in your regular RevPoints spending calculations.
Moving money is not the same as spending on a purchase
Do not count wallet top-ups, account transfers or other cash-like activity when estimating your regular card-spending RevPoints. These categories are explicitly excluded in Revolut’s personal programme guidance.
Do bills, utilities, rent and taxes earn RevPoints?
Several common household and administrative payments are excluded under Revolut’s published RevPoints rules. This means that a large monthly payment is not automatically a useful way to collect points.
Electricity, water and other utilities
Revolut identifies utility providers as an excluded merchant category. Payments to a provider classified within the excluded categories should not be treated as eligible spending.
Rent, housing and real estate
Revolut also identifies certain real estate, rental and housing-related merchant categories as excluded. The precise transaction classification matters, so do not assume that paying rent or a similar charge by card will generate points.
Taxes, fines and government charges
Tax payments, fines, penalties and certain other payments to governments or judicial entities are specifically excluded from the personal RevPoints earning rules described in the official help pages.
Insurance and financial bills
Revolut lists financial and insurance services among the excluded categories. Payments related to such services should not automatically be counted as qualifying purchases.
Some payments can be difficult to classify from their description alone. If you are unsure, check the relevant official guidance and the transaction details available in your Revolut app.
What is a Merchant Category Code (MCC), and why does it matter?
A Merchant Category Code is used within card payment systems to describe a merchant’s business category. Revolut uses merchant-category information when applying certain RevPoints exclusions.
This means that the eligibility of a transaction is not determined solely by what you think you purchased. The merchant classification attached to the payment can be important.
Merchant classification
The merchant or payment-processing information identifies the business category associated with the card transaction.
Programme exclusion check
Revolut can use that classification to determine whether the merchant falls within a category excluded from regular RevPoints earning.
Points outcome
If the transaction belongs to an excluded category, it may generate no regular RevPoints even though the card payment itself was successful.
Revolut’s programme terms explain that transaction categorisation can rely on information supplied by merchants or financial institutions. Therefore, a merchant’s category can affect eligibility even when the customer sees the payment differently.
Why two similar payments may produce different results
Two businesses can appear similar to a customer but have different merchant classifications. If one falls under an excluded category, it may not earn points while another transaction could be eligible. The actual classification and terms determine the outcome.
What happens to RevPoints when a purchase is refunded?
RevPoints earned from a genuine eligible purchase can be affected if that transaction is later refunded, cancelled or reversed.
Revolut’s programme terms permit the reversal of points associated with a qualifying activity that has subsequently been undone. This means that points already visible in your balance are not necessarily permanent if the underlying purchase is reversed.
For example, if you receive points for an eligible retail purchase and later return the item, Revolut may adjust the points awarded for that transaction.
The exact adjustment depends on the applicable programme rules and transaction circumstances. A partial refund may require a different adjustment from a full cancellation.
Points earned on a refunded purchase may be reversed
Do not include fully cancelled purchases in a forecast of points you expect to retain. Check your RevPoints activity after refunds or disputes if the resulting balance differs from your earlier estimate.
Do Revolut Pro transactions earn personal RevPoints?
Revolut’s personal RevPoints help pages explicitly exclude transactions made through Revolut Pro accounts from the regular personal earning programme described there.
Revolut Pro is not the same as ordinary spending from an eligible personal account. Do not assume that purchases made through a Pro account are included in personal RevPoints earning simply because both account features are accessed through Revolut.
Revolut also has separate business products and terms. This article concerns the personal RevPoints programme only and should not be used to determine rewards eligibility for an unrelated business programme.
Does eligible RevPoints spending vary by country?
Eligibility, supported card products, earning rates and programme conditions can vary between Revolut markets. It is important to follow the rules for the country associated with your account.
The United Kingdom publishes GBP-based regular earning rates, while Germany and France publish euro-based rates. Ireland and Spain have also published distinctions between eligible debit and credit card earning rates.
These rate differences do not automatically mean that a particular purchase qualifies in every country. Always check both the earning rate and the transaction eligibility rules for your account.
When comparing countries, remember that changing the language of a website or calculator is not the same as changing the legal market in which your Revolut account is registered.
Follow the account country, not just the currency
A purchase made in a foreign currency does not automatically make the earning rules of that foreign country applicable to your account. Check the conditions of your own Revolut market and the transaction’s eligibility.
How to calculate RevPoints using only eligible spending
For a realistic estimate, separate your total spending from transactions that may be excluded. Then apply the appropriate published earning rate to the remaining eligible amount.
For example, imagine a UK Metal customer with £2,000 in monthly outgoings. Of that total, £500 is spent on excluded transactions, leaving £1,500 of fully eligible purchases.
At the published UK Metal regular rate of 1 RevPoint per £2 of eligible spending, the simplified calculation produces 750 RevPoints, not 1,000.
EXAMPLE: ELIGIBLE SPENDING VS TOTAL SPENDING
Use the correct amount in your calculator
Separating eligible purchases from excluded transactions can make a substantial difference to your estimate. Our calculator works with the spending amount you enter, so that input should represent qualifying spending.
- Review your monthly transactions
- Identify excluded payment categories
- Remove excluded amounts from your total
- Select your supported country and Revolut plan
- Enter your estimated eligible spending
ILLUSTRATIVE EXAMPLE · UK METAL
£1,500 eligible spending after exclusions
750
RevPoints
Estimated monthly earnings
Fictional spending breakdown using the published UK Metal rate. The eligible amount is assumed, not verified. Actual point awards may vary due to exclusions, transaction processing and rounding.
The point of this example is not that every customer has the same excluded percentage. It is that the appropriate calculation starts with purchases that actually meet the applicable RevPoints requirements.
Why didn’t I receive RevPoints for a card payment?
If points are missing after a purchase, the transaction may be excluded or may not yet have been reflected in the programme. Review the payment and the applicable earning conditions before assuming an error.
Check programme enrolment
Confirm that RevPoints is active for your account and that you meet the programme’s participation requirements.
Check the type of payment
Determine whether the transaction was a genuine supported card purchase or an excluded transfer, top-up, financial service or other payment.
Review the merchant category
Look for possible exclusions involving utilities, gambling, government payments, specialist services or other listed merchant categories.
Review your points activity
Open RevPoints in the Revolut app and inspect the balance and relevant transaction information. Points from different earning activities may be credited at different times.
Contact Revolut Support if necessary
If you still believe an eligible payment has not been credited correctly, ask Revolut Support to review the transaction. Only Revolut can investigate your account-specific earning decision.
Revolut’s UK guidance indicates that points for eligible card payments are generally credited promptly, while certain Shops rewards may take longer. The timing and conditions for additional earning methods can differ.
Are Revolut Shops and Stays subject to the same spending rules?
Regular card-spending rewards are only one part of the RevPoints programme. Revolut also offers other earning opportunities that may have their own eligibility conditions.
Regular card spending
Points earned on qualifying purchases using a supported card, according to the rate and excluded transaction categories for your account.
Revolut Shops
Additional points may be offered for qualifying purchases at participating merchants. Specific promotional instructions and Shops terms apply.
Stays & Experiences
Qualifying bookings through supported Revolut services may earn points under separate booking conditions and rates.
Spare Change and direct point purchases are different again because they use the customer’s own money to acquire RevPoints. Purchased points are not equivalent to free points earned from eligible card spending.
For a broader explanation of the available earning methods, read our How to Earn RevPoints guide.
Frequently asked questions about eligible RevPoints spending
Answers to common questions about ordinary purchases, excluded payments, merchant categories, refunds and missing points.
What purchases earn Revolut RevPoints?
Qualifying purchases made through supported Revolut cards may earn regular RevPoints. The payment must meet the programme’s conditions and must not belong to an excluded transaction or merchant category.
Do supermarket purchases earn RevPoints?
Ordinary grocery purchases may qualify, provided the transaction meets Revolut’s eligibility requirements and does not fall under an excluded merchant or product category. Eligibility is not guaranteed for every transaction.
Do restaurant payments earn RevPoints?
Qualifying restaurant purchases may earn points with a supported card. The transaction’s merchant classification and all other applicable programme conditions still matter.
Do money transfers earn RevPoints?
No. Revolut’s official personal RevPoints information excludes money transfers and other specified payment or cash-like transactions from regular earning.
Do Revolut wallet top-ups earn RevPoints?
Wallet top-ups are listed among the excluded financial and payment transactions. They should not be counted as eligible regular RevPoints spending.
Do rent or utility bills earn RevPoints?
Utility providers and certain real estate, rental and housing-related categories are excluded. Do not assume these bills qualify simply because they can be paid using a card.
Do tax payments earn RevPoints?
No. Revolut lists taxes, fines, penalties and certain other government or judicial payments among its excluded transaction categories.
Do gambling or lottery purchases earn RevPoints?
No. Revolut explicitly excludes transactions with lottery, betting and gambling services from the regular earning categories described in its help information.
Can an eligible payment earn no points because of its merchant code?
Yes. Revolut uses merchant-category information when applying certain exclusions. A payment can be processed successfully yet remain ineligible because the merchant belongs to an excluded category.
What happens to RevPoints after a refund?
Revolut may reverse or adjust points associated with refunded, cancelled or reversed purchases in accordance with the applicable programme terms.
Do Revolut Pro transactions earn personal RevPoints?
Revolut’s personal RevPoints guidance excludes transactions made through Revolut Pro accounts from the regular personal earning rules described in this article.
Why didn’t I receive RevPoints for a purchase?
The payment may be excluded, incorrectly assumed to qualify or subject to a different crediting timeline. Review your RevPoints activity and the current rules. Contact Revolut Support for account-specific assistance if needed.
Should I enter total spending or eligible spending in a RevPoints calculator?
Enter the amount of spending that qualifies under the applicable rules. Including excluded transactions can overestimate the number of points you might receive.
Calculate RevPoints from your eligible spending
Once you have separated qualifying purchases from excluded transactions, use our free calculator to estimate potential points based on the supported country, Revolut plan and card options.
Explore more RevPoints guides
Learn more about the loyalty programme, how points are earned and what happens when they are redeemed or expire.
How to Earn RevPoints
Explore regular card earning, Shops, Stays, Experiences and other available ways to collect points.
How to Use RevPoints
Learn about available redemptions, including airline miles, accommodation bookings, gift cards and shopping discounts.
RevPoints Expiry
Understand the general three-year validity rule, where to check expiry dates and how unused points can be lost.
Official sources and independence
Information reviewed: . Eligible spending rules and excluded merchant categories can change. Always check the programme terms that apply to your country and account before relying on an earning estimate.
Revolut Ireland – Earning rules and merchant exclusions
Revolut Germany – Eligible spending and exclusions
Revolut Germany – RevPoints programme terms
Revolut UK – Joining RevPoints and checking your balance
Reward Points Calculator is an independent informational website and is not affiliated with, sponsored by or endorsed by Revolut. Revolut and RevPoints are trademarks of their respective owners. This guide provides general information, not an account-specific eligibility decision. Calculator examples are estimates and do not guarantee the award of points. Official Revolut programme rules take precedence.