{"id":135761,"date":"2018-09-24T09:11:47","date_gmt":"2018-09-24T08:11:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.finder.com\/uk\/?p=135761"},"modified":"2025-11-28T15:02:55","modified_gmt":"2025-11-28T15:02:55","slug":"starling-vs-monzo","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.finder.com\/uk\/current-accounts\/starling-vs-monzo","title":{"rendered":"Starling vs Monzo: Fees, features & more"},"content":{"rendered":"

Digital challenger banks Monzo<\/a> and Starling<\/a> are both worth considering if you\u2019re after an app-only bank account. These rivals both offer a free current account with a slick, intuitive app that tells you all about your spending habits. And both offer free transactions abroad \u2013 many people opened accounts for that benefit alone. Each bank now has millions of customers and both have consistently scored highly in Finder\u2019s customer satisfaction surveys. We compare these banks\u2019 business accounts in our Monzo business vs Starling business guide<\/a>.<\/p>

Starling vs Monzo: At a glance<\/h3>
\n \n
<\/th>\"Starling<\/a><\/td>\"Monzo<\/a><\/td><\/tr>
Finder score<\/th>9.6<\/span><\/span>Excellent<\/span><\/span><\/td>9.8<\/span><\/span>Excellent<\/span><\/span><\/td><\/tr>
Customer satisfaction survey<\/th>4.4 <\/span>
\u2605\u2605\u2605\u2605\u2605<\/div><\/td>
4.4 <\/span>
\u2605\u2605\u2605\u2605\u2605<\/div><\/td><\/tr>
Free spending abroad<\/th><\/use><\/svg><\/td><\/use><\/svg><\/td><\/tr>
Arranged overdraft<\/th>15%, 25% or 35% EAR<\/td>19%, 29% or 39% EAR<\/td><\/tr>
Representative example<\/th>If you use an arranged overdraft of \u00a31,200, you'll be charged interest at 15% EAR variable.<\/td>If you use an arranged overdraft of \u00a31,200, you'll be charged interest at 39% EAR variable. Account fee of \u00a30<\/td><\/tr>
Interest when you're in credit<\/th>0%<\/td>0%<\/td><\/tr>
Branch access<\/th><\/use><\/svg><\/td><\/use><\/svg><\/td><\/tr>
FSCS protected<\/th><\/use><\/svg><\/td><\/use><\/svg><\/td><\/tr>
Sign-up bonus<\/th><\/use><\/svg><\/td><\/use><\/svg><\/td><\/tr>
Amount<\/th>N\/A<\/td>N\/A<\/td><\/tr>
Product image<\/th>
\"Starling\"<\/td>		\"Monzo\"<\/td><\/tr>
Find out more<\/th>
See account<\/a>
Read review<\/a><\/div><\/td>
Go to site<\/a>
Read review<\/a><\/div><\/td><\/tr>\n <\/tbody>\n <\/table><\/div>

With the free Monzo current account you get its renowned coral-coloured card, while Starling\u2019s only (and also free) current account comes with a teal-coloured vertical card.<\/p>

Neither bank has branches, but you can withdraw or deposit money into your Starling account at Post Office counters. <\/p>

Both Starling and Monzo have a UK banking licence, which means individual customer funds up to the value of \u00a3120,000 are protected by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme<\/a> (FSCS) if the bank goes bust. Starling was founded in 2014 and Monzo in 2015, so both are around a decade old.<\/p>

You can apply for overdrafts with both Starling and Monzo \u2013 the interest rate you\u2019re offered will depend on your personal circumstances and credit score, although Starling\u2019s overdraft interest rate scale starts at 15% EAR, compared to Monzo\u2019s starting point of 19% EAR.<\/p>

Round 1: App features<\/h3>
\n \n
<\/th>\"Starling<\/a><\/td>\"Monzo<\/a><\/td><\/tr>
Visual breakdown of spending<\/th><\/use><\/svg><\/td><\/use><\/svg><\/td><\/tr>
Spending categories<\/th>53<\/td>17<\/td><\/tr>
Set spending budgets<\/th><\/use><\/svg><\/td><\/use><\/svg><\/td><\/tr>
Set up direct debits in the app<\/th><\/use><\/svg><\/td><\/use><\/svg><\/td><\/tr>
Top up via bank transfer<\/th><\/use><\/svg><\/td><\/use><\/svg><\/td><\/tr>
Have salary paid in<\/th><\/use><\/svg><\/td><\/use><\/svg><\/td><\/tr>
Separate savings accounts<\/th><\/use><\/svg><\/td><\/use><\/svg><\/td><\/tr>
Round-ups<\/th><\/use><\/svg><\/td><\/use><\/svg><\/td><\/tr>
Customer service via the app<\/th><\/use><\/svg><\/td><\/use><\/svg><\/td><\/tr>
Customer service via a telephone line<\/th><\/use><\/svg><\/td><\/use><\/svg><\/td><\/tr>
Cheque scanning<\/th><\/use><\/svg><\/td><\/use><\/svg><\/td><\/tr>
Freeze\/unfreeze card in app<\/th><\/use><\/svg><\/td><\/use><\/svg><\/td><\/tr>
Send money abroad<\/th><\/use><\/svg><\/td><\/use><\/svg><\/td><\/tr>
Fee for sending money abroad<\/th>Local network fee + 0.4% Starling fee<\/td>When sending through Monzo, a fixed fee of between 50p and \u00a32.68, plus a variable amount between 0% and 1.30%. For currencies Monzo can't support, Wise sets the fee.<\/td><\/tr>
Find out more<\/th>
See account<\/a>
Read review<\/a><\/div><\/td>
Go to site<\/a>
Read review<\/a><\/div><\/td><\/tr>\n <\/tbody>\n <\/table><\/div>

There\u2019s a huge range of very similar features in the Starling and Monzo mobile banking apps. Both have spending categories, where your transactions are automatically placed into pre-set categories like groceries or eating out. This in turn generates daily, weekly or monthly spending insights, which helps you set budgets. The apps alert you when payments go in and out of your account, and remind you if you\u2019re close to overspending<\/p>

Monzo\u2019s \u201cPots\u201d and Starling\u2019s \u201cSpaces\u201d let you stash money away for particular things, like a holiday or a savings target. Both offer \u201cround-ups\u201d where spare change from your transactions can be \u201crounded up\u201d and put into your savings bucket.<\/p>

You can pay your salary into either your Starling or Monzo account, set up direct debits and make international payments. You can freeze or unfreeze your card in the apps, and contact both customer service teams through the in-app chats.<\/p>