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Accounting · head to head

Fyle vs Starling Bank

Fyle logo

Fyle

Accounting

Real-time expense management that works with your cards

From
$11.99/month per active user
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

  • Only Starling Bank has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Fyle billed per active user, defined as anyone who creates an expense or has a connected card with transactions in the month, so headcount does not predict the bill; 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: Fyle covers Real-time card tracking, 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 Fyle and Starling Bank actually diverge.

Attributes where Fyle and Starling Bank differ
AttributeFyleStarling Bank
Starting price$11.99/month per active userFree
Pricing modelsubscriptionFree personal current account; business accounts have free and paid tiers
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWeb, Ios, AndroidiOS, Android, Web
CategoryAccountingPersonal Finance
Founded2016Unknown

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated).

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 Fyle

  • Real-time card tracking
  • Automatic receipt matching
  • Expense policies
  • Approval workflows
  • Mileage tracking
  • QuickBooks
  • Xero
  • Sage Intacct

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.

Fyle

  • Expense reporting and corporate card reconciliationnot Starling Bank
  • Enforcing spend policy and approvals before reimbursementnot Starling Bank

Starling Bank

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

Where each one falls short

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

Fyle

  • Billed per active user, defined as anyone who creates an expense or has a connected card with transactions in the month, so headcount does not predict the bill
  • The Growth plan carries a 5 user minimum and the Business plan a 10 user minimum, so the entry cost is set by the floor rather than the team
  • API access and the Sage Intacct and NetSuite integrations require a paid tier
  • ACH reimbursements and project expense tracking sit above the entry plan
  • Both published plans are billed annually
  • Enterprise pricing is custom and aimed at organisations with 250 or more employees

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

Fyle

$11.99/month per active user
  • Growth$11.99/month per active user
    • Minimum 5 users
    • Unlimited expense tracking, receipt scanning
    • Card integrations, mileage/per diem tracking
  • Business$14.99/month per active user
    • Minimum 10 users
    • Multi-stage approvals, ACH reimbursements (US only)
    • Project tracking, Sage Intacct/300 CRE integrations
  • Enterprise$null/mo
    • 250+ employees
    • IP whitelisting, SSO options
    • Branded accounts, dedicated account manager

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 Fyle if

  • You need real-time card tracking.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android.
  • You also want automatic receipt matching.
Fyle 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 Fyle or Starling Bank better?
Neither clearly leads. Fyle starts at $11.99/month per active user and Starling Bank at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Fyle or Starling Bank?
Starling Bank has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $11.99/month per active user for Fyle and Free for Starling Bank.
Does Fyle or Starling Bank run on more platforms?
Fyle runs on Web, Ios, Android. Starling Bank runs on iOS, Android, Web.
Can I use Starling Bank for free?
Yes. Starling Bank has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Fyle starts at $11.99/month per active user.
What is Fyle best used for?
Fyle is most often used for expense reporting and corporate card reconciliation, enforcing spend policy and approvals before reimbursement. Of those, expense reporting and corporate card reconciliation and enforcing spend policy and approvals before reimbursement are not what Starling Bank is typically brought in for.
What can Fyle do that Starling Bank cannot?
Fyle covers Real-time card tracking, Automatic receipt matching, Expense policies, Approval workflows. Starling Bank covers FSCS-protected deposits, Business banking suite, Fee-free foreign card spending, Savings Spaces.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Fyle: How does Fyle define and charge for active users?

An 'active user' is defined as an employee who creates at least one expense or has a credit card connected with active transactions monthly. You only pay for active users, not all onboarded employees.

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.

Fyle: What is Fyle's Growth plan pricing?

The Growth plan costs $11.99 per active user per month (billed annually) with a minimum of 5 users. Includes unlimited expense tracking, receipt scanning, and single-stage approvals.

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.

Fyle: What features does Fyle's Business plan add?

The Business plan costs $14.99 per active user per month (minimum 10 users, annual billing) and adds multi-stage approvals, project tracking, ACH reimbursements (US only), and premium support.

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.

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