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Personal Finance · head to head

Starling Bank vs Wise Business

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
Wise Business logo

Wise Business

Accounting

The smart way to send and receive business payments

From
$29/month
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: 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.; Wise Business opening a Wise Business account in the UK carries a one off setup fee of 50 GBP
  • They diverge on capability: Starling Bank covers FSCS-protected deposits, Wise Business covers Multi-currency accounts.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Starling Bank and Wise Business actually diverge.

Attributes where Starling Bank and Wise Business differ
AttributeStarling BankWise Business
Starting priceFree$29/month
Pricing modelFree personal current account; business accounts have free and paid tiersusage-based
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsiOS, Android, WebWeb, Ios, Android, Api
CategoryPersonal FinanceAccounting
FoundedUnknown2011

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 Starling Bank

  • FSCS-protected deposits
  • Business banking suite
  • Fee-free foreign card spending
  • Savings Spaces
  • Joint accounts
  • Starling mortgages

Only in Wise Business

  • Multi-currency accounts
  • International transfers
  • Batch payments
  • API access
  • Team management
  • Xero
  • QuickBooks
  • Various

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Starling Bank

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

Wise Business

  • Holding and converting multiple currencies as a businessnot Starling Bank
  • Paying international suppliers and contractors at the mid market ratenot Starling Bank
  • Receiving payments into local currency account details in several countriesnot Starling Bank

Where each one falls short

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

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.

Wise Business

  • Opening a Wise Business account in the UK carries a one off setup fee of 50 GBP
  • Volume discounts on transfers start only above 20,000 GBP equivalent sent per month

Pricing, plan by plan

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

Wise Business

$29/month
  • StandardFree
    • Multi-currency account
    • Real exchange rate
    • Batch payments

Which should you pick?

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

Choose Wise Business if

  • You need multi-currency accounts.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android, Api.
  • You also want international transfers.
Wise Business review

Questions people ask

Is Starling Bank or Wise Business better?
Neither clearly leads. Starling Bank starts at Free and Wise Business at $29/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Starling Bank or Wise Business?
Starling Bank has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Starling Bank and $29/month for Wise Business.
Does Starling Bank or Wise Business run on more platforms?
Starling Bank runs on iOS, Android, Web. Wise Business runs on Web, Ios, Android, Api.
Can I use Starling Bank for free?
Yes. Starling Bank has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Wise Business starts at $29/month.
What is Starling Bank best used for?
Starling Bank is most often used for a uk resident wanting a free, fully licensed current account with fscs deposit protection, a sole trader or small business wanting a business account with built-in invoicing rather than a separate accounting subscription, a frequent traveller wanting fee-free card spending abroad on a uk-regulated account, a saver wanting goal-based spaces sub-accounts without opening a separate savings product. Of those, a uk resident wanting a free, fully licensed current account with fscs deposit protection and a sole trader or small business wanting a business account with built-in invoicing rather than a separate accounting subscription are not what Wise Business is typically brought in for.
What can Starling Bank do that Wise Business cannot?
Starling Bank covers FSCS-protected deposits, Business banking suite, Fee-free foreign card spending, Savings Spaces. Wise Business covers Multi-currency accounts, International transfers, Batch payments, API access.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

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.

Wise Business: How fast are international transfers with Wise Business?

Wise Business offers fast global payments with 70% arriving in 20 seconds and 95% arriving in under 24 hours. You can also pay up to 1,000 contacts in a single batch transfer.

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.

Wise Business: Does Wise Business offer volume discounts?

Yes, volume discounts are available on monthly transfers over 20,000 GBP or equivalent.

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.

Wise Business: How does Wise Business keep funds secure?

Wise customers move over AED60 billion monthly with systems built to keep funds safe. The company runs over 7 million daily fraud checks (80 per second), keeps funds diversified with secure financial institutions, and offers 24/7 customer support.

Source
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