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Accounting · head to head

Ramp vs Starling Bank

Ramp logo

Ramp

Accounting

The corporate card that helps you spend less

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: Ramp procurement module unavailable on Free plan; available as add-on on Plus; 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: Ramp covers Corporate cards, 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 Ramp and Starling Bank actually diverge.

Attributes where Ramp and Starling Bank differ
AttributeRampStarling Bank
Pricing modelsubscriptionFree personal current account; business accounts have free and paid tiers
PlatformsWeb, Mobile appsiOS, Android, Web
CategoryAccountingPersonal Finance
Founded2019Unknown

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), 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 Ramp

  • Corporate cards
  • Expense management
  • Bill pay
  • Accounting automation
  • Spend insights
  • QuickBooks
  • NetSuite
  • Xero

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.

Ramp

  • Corporate expense management and automationnot Starling Bank
  • Accounts payable automation with AI invoice processingnot Starling Bank
  • Multi-currency travel and policy managementnot Starling Bank

Starling Bank

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

Where each one falls short

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

Ramp

  • Procurement module unavailable on Free plan; available as add-on on Plus
  • Workday and Oracle Fusion integrations limited to Enterprise tier only
  • Multi-entity functionality requires Plus tier or higher
  • Local card issuance in 30+ countries limited to Enterprise tier
  • Advanced ERP integrations require higher tier selection

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

Ramp

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Unlimited physical and virtual corporate cards
    • Receipt collection and matching
    • AI-powered OCR invoice capture
  • Plus$15/month
    • All Free plan features
    • Auto-lock cards for compliance violations
    • 24/7 phone support
  • Enterprise$null/year
    • All Plus plan features
    • Custom pricing
    • Workday and Oracle integrations

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 Ramp if

  • You need corporate cards.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Mobile apps.
  • You also want expense management.
Ramp 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 Ramp or Starling Bank better?
Neither clearly leads. Ramp 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, Ramp or Starling Bank?
Ramp starts at Free and Starling Bank at Free.
Does Ramp or Starling Bank run on more platforms?
Ramp runs on Web, Mobile apps. Starling Bank runs on iOS, Android, Web.
Can I use Ramp for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Ramp best used for?
Ramp is most often used for corporate expense management and automation, accounts payable automation with ai invoice processing, multi-currency travel and policy management. Of those, corporate expense management and automation and accounts payable automation with ai invoice processing are not what Starling Bank is typically brought in for.
What can Ramp do that Starling Bank cannot?
Ramp covers Corporate cards, Expense management, Bill pay, Accounting automation. Starling Bank covers FSCS-protected deposits, Business banking suite, Fee-free foreign card spending, Savings Spaces.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Ramp: How much does Ramp Plus plan cost?

Ramp Plus plan costs $15 USD per user per month plus a platform fee based on team size. Annual billing provides a 20% discount compared to monthly billing.

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.

Ramp: What accounting systems does Ramp integrate with?

Ramp Free and Plus plans integrate with QuickBooks Online and Xero. Plus plan adds access to additional ERP systems, and Enterprise plan supports Workday, Oracle, and advanced options.

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.

Ramp: Does Ramp offer a free plan?

Yes, Ramp Free plan includes unlimited corporate cards, AI invoice capture, receipt collection, multiple payment methods, QuickBooks and Xero integrations, and 24/7 chat support. No pricing is charged for the Free tier.

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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