Personal Finance · head to head
Mint vs Starling Bank
Starling Bank
Personal Finance
UK-licensed digital bank with FSCS-protected deposits, built and majority-owned without a US parent
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Each has a real cost: Mint service transitioned to Credit Karma platform; standalone Mint features migrated elsewhere; 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: Mint covers Expense 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 Mint and Starling Bank actually diverge.
| Attribute | Mint | Starling Bank |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | free | Free personal current account; business accounts have free and paid tiers |
| Platforms | Web, iOS, Android | iOS, Android, Web |
| Founded | 2006 | Unknown |
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 Mint
- Expense tracking
- Budgets
- Bill tracking
- Credit score monitoring
- Financial insights
- Bank connections
- Bank-level encryption
- Verisign secured
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.
Mint
- Legacy free budget tracking for users with supported bank connectionsnot Starling Bank
- Users transitioning to Credit Karma for continued money management featuresnot Starling Bank
Starling Bank
- A UK resident wanting a free, fully licensed current account with FSCS deposit protectionnot Mint
- A sole trader or small business wanting a business account with built-in invoicing rather than a separate accounting subscriptionnot Mint
- A frequent traveller wanting fee-free card spending abroad on a UK-regulated accountnot Mint
- A saver wanting goal-based Spaces sub-accounts without opening a separate savings productnot Mint
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
Mint
- Service transitioned to Credit Karma platform; standalone Mint features migrated elsewhere
- Bank connections supported for only 17,000 financial institutions; many regional or international banks not supported
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
Mint
FreeNo published plan breakdown. See the Mint 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 Mint if
- You need expense tracking.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Web, iOS, Android.
- You also want budgets.
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.
Questions people ask
- Is Mint or Starling Bank better?
- Neither clearly leads. Mint 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, Mint or Starling Bank?
- Mint starts at Free and Starling Bank at Free.
- Does Mint or Starling Bank run on more platforms?
- Mint runs on Web, iOS, Android. Starling Bank runs on iOS, Android, Web.
- Can I use Mint for free?
- Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
- What is Mint best used for?
- Mint is most often used for legacy free budget tracking for users with supported bank connections, users transitioning to credit karma for continued money management features. Of those, legacy free budget tracking for users with supported bank connections and users transitioning to credit karma for continued money management features are not what Starling Bank is typically brought in for.
- What can Mint do that Starling Bank cannot?
- Mint covers Expense tracking, Budgets, Bill tracking, Credit score monitoring. Starling Bank covers FSCS-protected deposits, Business banking suite, Fee-free foreign card spending, Savings Spaces.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
Mint: Is Mint still actively sold?
Mint has been reimagined on Credit Karma. The Mint website now directs users to check out the new platform on Credit Karma's net worth signup page rather than maintaining a standalone product.
SourceStarling 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.
Mint: What pricing information is available on the Mint homepage?
The Mint page does not disclose pricing details. For current pricing information, users should visit Credit Karma's website or contact support directly.
SourceStarling 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.
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.
Related pages
More on Starling Bank
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