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Personal Finance · head to head

Monarch Money vs Starling Bank

Monarch Money logo

Monarch Money

Personal Finance

All-in-one wealth management platform

From
$99/year
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: Monarch Money the free trial is one week, after which a paid subscription is required to keep using the app; 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: Monarch Money covers Budget management, 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 Monarch Money and Starling Bank actually diverge.

Attributes where Monarch Money and Starling Bank differ
AttributeMonarch MoneyStarling Bank
Starting price$99/yearFree
Pricing modelsubscriptionFree personal current account; business accounts have free and paid tiers
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWeb, IOS, AndroidiOS, Android, Web
Founded2022Unknown

Identical on both: 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 Monarch Money

  • Budget management
  • Investment tracking
  • Tax planning
  • Financial insights
  • Bank accounts
  • Investment accounts
  • Cryptocurrency
  • Web support

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.

Monarch Money

  • Tracking household budgets and spending across linked bank accountsnot Starling Bank
  • Shared budgeting between partners in one accountnot Starling Bank
  • Monitoring net worth and investment balances alongside cash accountsnot Starling Bank

Starling Bank

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

Where each one falls short

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

Monarch Money

  • The free trial is one week, after which a paid subscription is required to keep using the app
  • The advertised 30 percent discount with code WELCOME applies to the first year only and is restricted to new users
  • There is no free tier, and a Plus tier gates features above the base subscription

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

Monarch Money

$99/year
  • Core Plan$99/year
    • 7-day free trial
  • Plus$null/year
    • Premium features

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 Monarch Money if

  • You need budget management.
  • You work on Web, IOS, Android.
  • You also want investment tracking.
Monarch Money 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 Monarch Money or Starling Bank better?
Neither clearly leads. Monarch Money starts at $99/year and Starling Bank at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Monarch Money or Starling Bank?
Starling Bank has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $99/year for Monarch Money and Free for Starling Bank.
Does Monarch Money or Starling Bank run on more platforms?
Monarch Money 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. Monarch Money starts at $99/year.
What is Monarch Money best used for?
Monarch Money is most often used for tracking household budgets and spending across linked bank accounts, shared budgeting between partners in one account, monitoring net worth and investment balances alongside cash accounts. Of those, tracking household budgets and spending across linked bank accounts and shared budgeting between partners in one account are not what Starling Bank is typically brought in for.
What can Monarch Money do that Starling Bank cannot?
Monarch Money covers Budget management, Investment tracking, Tax planning, Financial insights. Starling Bank covers FSCS-protected deposits, Business banking suite, Fee-free foreign card spending, Savings Spaces.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Monarch Money: How much does Monarch Money cost?

Monarch Money Core plan costs 99 USD/year, referenced in customer testimonials and promo code terms. Additional Plus tier exists but specific pricing is not disclosed on the main page.

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.

Monarch Money: Is there a free trial?

Yes, Monarch Money offers a 7-day free trial for new users with no credit card required.

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.

Monarch Money: Are there discounts available?

Monarch Money offers 30% off the first year with promo code WELCOME for new members on annual Core plan subscriptions. Cannot be combined with other offers.

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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