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Personal Finance · head to head

Rocket Money vs Starling Bank

Rocket Money logo

Rocket Money

Personal Finance

Cancel subscriptions and save money automatically

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: Rocket Money successful bill negotiation costs a one time fee of 35% to 60% of the first year's savings; 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: Rocket Money covers Subscription 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 Rocket Money and Starling Bank actually diverge.

Attributes where Rocket Money and Starling Bank differ
AttributeRocket MoneyStarling Bank
Pricing modelfreemiumFree 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 Rocket Money

  • Subscription tracking
  • Bill negotiation
  • Automatic savings
  • Spending insights
  • Credit score monitoring
  • Bank accounts
  • Credit cards
  • Utility providers

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.

Rocket Money

  • Finding and cancelling unwanted subscriptionsnot Starling Bank
  • Tracking bills and spending in one appnot Starling Bank
  • Having a third party negotiate down recurring billsnot Starling Bank

Starling Bank

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

Where each one falls short

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

Rocket Money

  • Successful bill negotiation costs a one time fee of 35% to 60% of the first year's savings
  • Premium is priced on a sliding scale and the help centre publishes no fixed monthly or annual amount, stating rates vary across platforms
  • Custom budget categories, financial goal plans, credit score tracking and real time account syncing are Premium only
  • The Premium free trial is 7 days

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

Rocket Money

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Subscription tracking
    • Spending insights
    • Bill reminders
  • Premium$12/month
    • Bill negotiation
    • Subscription cancellation
    • Smart savings

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 Rocket Money if

  • You need subscription tracking.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, IOS, Android.
  • You also want bill negotiation.
Rocket 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 Rocket Money or Starling Bank better?
Neither clearly leads. Rocket Money 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, Rocket Money or Starling Bank?
Rocket Money starts at Free and Starling Bank at Free.
Does Rocket Money or Starling Bank run on more platforms?
Rocket Money runs on Web, IOS, Android. Starling Bank runs on iOS, Android, Web.
Can I use Rocket Money for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Rocket Money best used for?
Rocket Money is most often used for finding and cancelling unwanted subscriptions, tracking bills and spending in one app, having a third party negotiate down recurring bills. Of those, finding and cancelling unwanted subscriptions and tracking bills and spending in one app are not what Starling Bank is typically brought in for.
What can Rocket Money do that Starling Bank cannot?
Rocket Money covers Subscription tracking, Bill negotiation, Automatic savings, Spending insights. Starling Bank covers FSCS-protected deposits, Business banking suite, Fee-free foreign card spending, Savings Spaces.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Rocket Money: Does Rocket Money charge for its basic features?

No. The free tier includes account linking, balance alerts, subscription management, and spend tracking across linked accounts.

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.

Rocket Money: What additional features does the premium tier offer?

The premium plan adds subscription cancellation assistance, an automated savings plan, net worth tracking, shared accounts, unlimited budgets, and human support for subscription cancellation and bill negotiation.

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.

Rocket Money: What does Rocket Money charge for premium features?

The specific dollar amount and billing cycle for the premium tier are not disclosed on the homepage. Pricing details appear only when signing up in the app.

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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