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Personal Finance · head to head

Crypto.com vs Starling Bank

Crypto.com logo

Crypto.com

Personal Finance

The best place to buy, sell, and pay with crypto

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Starling Bank logo

Starling Bank

Personal Finance

UK-licensed digital bank with FSCS-protected deposits, built and majority-owned without a US parent

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Crypto.com trading fees are significantly higher than industry average at 0.25%/0.5% versus 0.15%/0.194%; Starling Bank as a UK-only bank, customers wanting broad multi-currency holding, international transfers or in-app investing will need a separate product, since Starling's feature set stays deliberately focused on core banking.
  • They diverge on capability: Crypto.com covers Cryptocurrency Trading, Starling Bank covers FSCS-protected deposits.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Crypto.com and Starling Bank actually diverge.

Attributes where Crypto.com and Starling Bank differ
AttributeCrypto.comStarling Bank
Pricing modelUnknownFree personal current account; business accounts have free and paid tiers
PlatformsWeb, iOS, AndroidiOS, Android, Web
Founded2016Unknown

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Personal Finance).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Crypto.com

  • Cryptocurrency Trading
  • Visa Card
  • Crypto Earn
  • DeFi Wallet
  • NFT
  • Visa
  • Apple Pay
  • Google Pay

Only in Starling Bank

  • FSCS-protected deposits
  • Business banking suite
  • Fee-free foreign card spending
  • Savings Spaces
  • Joint accounts
  • Starling mortgages

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Crypto.com

  • Exchangesnot Starling Bank
  • Walletsnot Starling Bank
  • Paymentsnot Starling Bank

Starling Bank

  • A UK resident wanting a free, fully licensed current account with FSCS deposit protectionnot Crypto.com
  • A sole trader or small business wanting a business account with built-in invoicing rather than a separate accounting subscriptionnot Crypto.com
  • A frequent traveller wanting fee-free card spending abroad on a UK-regulated accountnot Crypto.com
  • A saver wanting goal-based Spaces sub-accounts without opening a separate savings productnot Crypto.com

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Crypto.com

  • Trading fees are significantly higher than industry average at 0.25%/0.5% versus 0.15%/0.194%
  • Bitcoin withdrawal fees are excessive at 0.0004 BTC (approximately $47) versus actual blockchain mining fees
  • Customer support experiences significant delays up to months, with Trustpilot rating of 2.0/5
  • CRO token dependency for fee reductions and card rewards exposes users to token price volatility
  • Account freezes, card blocks, and verification delays reported by users

Starling Bank

  • As a UK-only bank, customers wanting broad multi-currency holding, international transfers or in-app investing will need a separate product, since Starling's feature set stays deliberately focused on core banking.
  • Business account paid tiers add a monthly fee for features that some competitors bundle for free, so cost comparison against other business banking options should account for the tier actually needed, not the free entry point.
  • Like other app-first banks, Starling has very limited physical presence, which is a real limitation for customers needing to deposit cash or prefer in-person service.
  • Mortgage lending is limited to buy-to-let through a subsidiary rather than a full residential mortgage range, so it is not a one-stop option for a typical homebuyer.
  • Interest rates on savings Spaces and any lending products are set individually and can change, so the specific rate should be checked at the time of opening rather than assumed from marketing.

Pricing, plan by plan

Crypto.com

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Crypto.com review.

Starling Bank

Free
  • Personal current accountFree
    • Free current account with FSCS-protected deposits
    • Fee-free foreign currency card spending
    • No monthly account fee
  • Business Toolkit$7/month
    • Integrated invoicing and expense categorisation
    • Multiple sub-accounts (Spaces) for tax and VAT setting-aside
    • Accounting software integrations

Which should you pick?

Choose Crypto.com if

  • You need cryptocurrency trading.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, iOS, Android.
  • You also want visa card.
Crypto.com review

Choose Starling Bank if

  • You need fscs-protected deposits.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on iOS, Android, Web.
  • You also want business banking suite.
Starling Bank review

Questions people ask

Is Crypto.com or Starling Bank better?
Neither clearly leads. Crypto.com starts at Free and Starling Bank at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Crypto.com or Starling Bank?
Crypto.com starts at Free and Starling Bank at Free.
Does Crypto.com or Starling Bank run on more platforms?
Crypto.com runs on Web, iOS, Android. Starling Bank runs on iOS, Android, Web.
Can I use Crypto.com for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Crypto.com best used for?
Crypto.com is most often used for exchanges, wallets, payments. Of those, exchanges and wallets are not what Starling Bank is typically brought in for.
What can Crypto.com do that Starling Bank cannot?
Crypto.com covers Cryptocurrency Trading, Visa Card, Crypto Earn, DeFi Wallet. Starling Bank covers FSCS-protected deposits, Business banking suite, Fee-free foreign card spending, Savings Spaces.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Crypto.com: What are Crypto.com's trading fees?

Base spot trading fees are 0.25% for makers and 0.5% for takers. Fees decrease with higher 30-day trading volume and CRO staking, with volume-based discounts reaching 0.065% maker and 0.1% taker fees at $5M volume.

Source
Starling Bank: Is Starling Bank a real bank?

Yes, Starling Bank Limited holds a full UK banking licence and is regulated by the FCA and PRA, the same framework as traditional UK banks.

Crypto.com: What is the difference between Crypto.com App and Exchange?

The App is designed for beginners with embedded spreads reaching 0.5-1%, while the Exchange platform shows transparent maker/taker fees starting from 0.25%/0.50%, with costs decreasing with CRO staking and VIP levels.

Source
Starling Bank: Are deposits protected if Starling fails?

Eligible deposits are covered by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme up to 85,000 pounds per eligible person, the same statutory protection as other UK banks.

Crypto.com: What are the total costs of trading on Crypto.com?

Estimated total costs are approximately 1.30% per trade, composed of 0.75% trading fees and an approximate spread of 0.55%.

Source
Starling Bank: Is Starling good for a small business?

It has a well regarded business banking product with integrated invoicing and accounting software links, commonly used by UK sole traders and small companies.

Crypto.com: What integrations does Crypto.com have?

Crypto.com integrates with Coinbase and Kraken for cryptocurrency trading and account activity, enabling multi-exchange portfolio management.

Source
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