Monzo vs Starling Bank.
Monzo (M78/100) and Starling Bank (S77/100), scored on the same six pillars and compared row-by-row. Every cell is sourced from licence registers and live pricing pages, not opinion. Monzo leads Starling Bank 4-0.
| M Monzo №08 · Central Bank of Ireland 78 /100 | S Starling Bank №12 · FCA 77 /100 | |
|---|---|---|
| Score | ||
| Composite score Out of 100 | 78 /100 | 77 /100 |
| Fees | ||
| Monthly fee Cheapest paid tier (€0 if free) | €0 Free tier | €0 Free tier |
| FX markup Debit card abroad | Interbank | Interbank |
| Free FX / month EUR equivalent | €0 | €0 |
| Free ATM Before fee kicks in | €200 /mo | — |
| Protection | ||
| Banking licence Tier | Full bank Central Bank of Ireland | Full bank FCA |
| Deposit guarantee Per depositor | €100,000 EU.DGS.IE | £85,000 GB.FSCS |
| Reach | ||
| Markets served Licensed jurisdictions | 2 countries | 1 country |
| Crypto Coins available | No | No |
| Stocks & ETFs Self-directed | No | No |
| UX | ||
| Trustpilot Customer score | — | — |
| App store iOS + Android avg | — | — |
| Read review → | Read review → | |
Pick Monzo if…
Pick if you bank in the UK or Ireland and value the best budgeting tools in the category.
Pick Starling Bank if…
Pick if you bank in the UK and want a clearing bank for personal + business with no retail crypto, no brokerage.
- Best for fees Monzo won 1 of 4
- Best for protection Monzo won 1 of 2
- Best for reach Monzo won 1 of 3
- Best for ux Tied
Monzo vs Starling Bank — FAQ
Quick answers to the four questions the search-bar asks most about a head-to-head.
Is Monzo better than Starling Bank?
Under our v3 methodology, Monzo leads Starling Bank 4–0 across 12 dimensions. Composite scores: Monzo 78/100 vs Starling Bank 77/100. Monzo is stronger overall, but the right pick depends on which row matters most to you — fees, protection, reach, or app quality.
Is Monzo or Starling Bank cheaper?
Monthly fee — Monzo: €0; Starling Bank: €0. Card FX markup — Monzo: Interbank; Starling Bank: Interbank. Monzo wins more fee rows (1 of 4). See the Fees section of the matrix above for ATM caps and the rest.
Which is safer for deposits, Monzo or Starling Bank?
Monzo holds a Full bank licence under Central Bank of Ireland; deposit guarantee per depositor: €100,000. Starling Bank holds a Full bank licence under FCA; deposit guarantee per depositor: £85,000. Monzo is the stronger pick on regulatory protection.
Where can I use Monzo and Starling Bank?
Monzo operates in 2 countries; Starling Bank operates in 1 country. Check each provider's signup page for the live country list — eligibility depends on residency, not just the licence footprint.
Want a 3- or 4-way comparison?
The dynamic compare picker handles up to four banks. Add this pair plus one or two more and we'll resolve every row.