{"id":545192,"date":"2025-03-12T09:45:06","date_gmt":"2025-03-12T09:45:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.finder.com\/uk\/?p=545192"},"modified":"2026-04-23T14:24:04","modified_gmt":"2026-04-23T13:24:04","slug":"monzo-under-16s-vs-starling-under-16s","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.finder.com\/uk\/banking\/childrens-banking\/monzo-under-16s-vs-starling-under-16s","title":{"rendered":"Monzo for Under 16s vs Starling Under 16s: Which is better?"},"content":{"rendered":"Monzo and Starling are the 2 big neobanks in the UK, so it\u2019s only natural that they both have an offering for children. While Starling Under 16s has been around for a few years, Monzo for Under 16s only launched in 2025. We\u2019ve compared them side by side so you can decide which one to pick for your child.

Vital statistics<\/h3>
\n \n
Provider<\/th><\/td><\/td><\/tr>
Finder score<\/th>9.3<\/span><\/span>Excellent<\/span><\/span><\/td>9.9<\/span><\/span>Excellent<\/span><\/span><\/td><\/tr>
Customer satisfaction survey<\/th>Not yet rated<\/td>4.4 <\/span>
\u2605\u2605\u2605\u2605\u2605<\/div><\/td><\/tr>
Age range<\/th>6-15<\/td>6-15<\/td><\/tr>
App for parents<\/th><\/use><\/svg><\/td><\/use><\/svg><\/td><\/tr>
App for kids<\/th><\/use><\/svg><\/td><\/use><\/svg><\/td><\/tr>
Network<\/th>Mastercard<\/td>Mastercard<\/td><\/tr>
FSCS protected<\/th><\/use><\/svg><\/td><\/use><\/svg><\/td><\/tr>
Find out more<\/th>
Go to site<\/a>
Read review<\/a><\/div><\/td>
Read review<\/a><\/div><\/td><\/tr>\n <\/tbody>\n <\/table><\/div>

There\u2019s not much to separate the pair here, though Starling does have a slightly higher Finder Score. Other than that, both are available for kids aged 6\u201315, have FSCS protection<\/a> up to \u00a3120,000 (OK, Richie Rich), run on the Mastercard network and have a version of the app for kids, if they want to use it.<\/p>

Round 1: Account features<\/h3>
\n \n
Provider<\/th><\/td><\/td><\/tr>
How many child accounts<\/th>5<\/span><\/td>6<\/span><\/td><\/tr>
Can non-parents gift money to child's account<\/th><\/use><\/svg><\/td><\/use><\/svg><\/td><\/tr>
Customised card available<\/th><\/use><\/svg><\/td><\/use><\/svg><\/td><\/tr>
Maximum daily ATM withdrawal limit<\/th>\u00a3100<\/td>\u00a3100<\/td><\/tr>
Make regular pocket money payments<\/th><\/use><\/svg><\/td><\/use><\/svg><\/td><\/tr>
Web portal (desktop access)<\/th><\/use><\/svg><\/td><\/use><\/svg><\/td><\/tr>
Find out more<\/th>
Go to site<\/a>
Read review<\/a><\/div><\/td>
Read review<\/a><\/div><\/td><\/tr>\n <\/tbody>\n <\/table><\/div>

To sign up, parents need to already have a Monzo or Starling current account. You can open one easily with both by downloading the app. Starling has the edge here, because you can open a Under 16s account with a joint Starling account, so 2 adults can access and control the app. Monzo only lets 1 adult open and be in charge of an Under 16s account, though another adult can be added to the account once it is opened. <\/p>

Starling lets you open 6 Under 16s accounts, while Monzo only allows 5 Under 16s accounts. If you have more than 6 kids then you\u2019re going to need to try something else. But both will be suitable for most families.<\/p>

Both accounts come with a link you can give to friends or family to deposit money directly into the account, which is a handy feature when relatives are asking what to get for a birthday present.<\/p>

Where Monzo does have an edge is with its cards. There\u2019s no bright coral card for kids and instead they get a choice of pink, yellow or blue. This feature is likely to resonate with kids and is not something Starling Under 16s offers, with just a single teal card with a couple of bluey\/purpley dots.<\/p>

Another feature that kids and parents alike will find useful is being able to set up a regular pocket money payment. <\/p>

There\u2019s a maximum daily ATM withdrawal limit of \u00a3100 for both accounts and you can decide if you want to allow cash withdrawals at all. Monzo does let you reduce the limit too, if you see fit, but Starling doesn\u2019t.<\/p>