Starling Bank vs Tonik.
Starling Bank (S77/100) and Tonik (T53/100), scored on the same six pillars and compared row-by-row. Every cell is sourced from licence registers and live pricing pages, not opinion. Starling Bank leads Tonik 3-1.
| S Starling Bank №12 · FCA 77 /100 | T Tonik №62 · BSP 53 /100 | |
|---|---|---|
| Score | ||
| Composite score Out of 100 | 77 /100 | 53 /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 | — | — |
| Protection | ||
| Banking licence Tier | Full bank FCA | Payment inst. BSP |
| Deposit guarantee Per depositor | £85,000 GB.FSCS | Safeguarded PH.PDIC |
| Reach | ||
| Markets served Licensed jurisdictions | 1 country | 1 country |
| Crypto Coins available | No | No |
| Stocks & ETFs Self-directed | No | No |
| UX | ||
| Trustpilot Customer score | — | — |
| App store iOS + Android avg | — | 4.5 ★ iOS 4.6 · And 4.5 |
| Read review → | Read review → | |
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.
Pick Tonik if…
First holder of one of the 6 BSP digital-bank licences. Headline 6.0% APY on Stash savings is among the highest in PH retail banking — the structural inflation hedge for PHP holders. PDIC-insured, BSP-supervised — fully chartered, not partner-bank.
- Best for fees Tied
- Best for protection Starling Bank won 2 of 2
- Best for reach Tied
- Best for ux Tonik won 1 of 2
Starling Bank vs Tonik — FAQ
Quick answers to the four questions the search-bar asks most about a head-to-head.
Is Starling Bank better than Tonik?
Under our v3 methodology, Starling Bank leads Tonik 3–1 across 12 dimensions. Composite scores: Starling Bank 77/100 vs Tonik 53/100. Starling Bank is stronger overall, but the right pick depends on which row matters most to you — fees, protection, reach, or app quality.
Is Starling Bank or Tonik cheaper?
Monthly fee — Starling Bank: €0; Tonik: €0. Card FX markup — Starling Bank: Interbank; Tonik: Interbank. Tied across fee rows. See the Fees section of the matrix above for ATM caps and the rest.
Which is safer for deposits, Starling Bank or Tonik?
Starling Bank holds a Full bank licence under FCA; deposit guarantee per depositor: £85,000. Tonik holds a Payment inst. licence under BSP; deposit guarantee per depositor: Safeguarded. Starling Bank is the stronger pick on regulatory protection.
Where can I use Starling Bank and Tonik?
Starling Bank operates in 1 country; Tonik 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.