Starling Bank vs Ualá.
Starling Bank (S77/100) and Ualá (U49/100), scored on the same six pillars and compared row-by-row. Every cell is sourced from licence registers and live pricing pages, not opinion. Ualá leads Starling Bank 5-4.
| S Starling Bank №12 · FCA 77 /100 | U Ualá №81 · BCRA 49 /100 | |
|---|---|---|
| Score | ||
| Composite score Out of 100 | 77 /100 | 49 /100 |
| Fees | ||
| Monthly fee Cheapest paid tier (€0 if free) | €0 Free tier | €0 Free tier |
| FX markup Debit card abroad | Interbank | 4.00% |
| Free FX / month EUR equivalent | €0 | €0 |
| Free ATM Before fee kicks in | — | — |
| Protection | ||
| Banking licence Tier | Full bank FCA | Payment inst. BCRA |
| Deposit guarantee Per depositor | £85,000 GB.FSCS | Safeguarded AR.SEDESA |
| Reach | ||
| Markets served Licensed jurisdictions | 1 country | 3 countries |
| Crypto Coins available | No | 6 coins |
| Stocks & ETFs Self-directed | No | Yes |
| UX | ||
| Trustpilot Customer score | — | 2.4 ★ 5k reviews |
| 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 Ualá if…
The default Argentine fintech card (~9M users in AR). Wilobank acquisition (2022) gave Ualá a full Argentine banking licence — converts the wallet to a chartered bank for AR depositors. Mexican + Colombian expansions via local subsidiaries. Argentine inflation-hedge yield (Rendimientos) is a near-mandatory product for ARS holders.
- Best for fees Starling Bank won 1 of 4
- Best for protection Starling Bank won 2 of 2
- Best for reach Ualá won 3 of 3
- Best for ux Ualá won 2 of 2
Starling Bank vs Ualá — FAQ
Quick answers to the four questions the search-bar asks most about a head-to-head.
Is Starling Bank better than Ualá?
Under our v3 methodology, Ualá leads Starling Bank 5–4 across 12 dimensions. Composite scores: Starling Bank 77/100 vs Ualá 49/100. Ualá 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 Ualá cheaper?
Monthly fee — Starling Bank: €0; Ualá: €0. Card FX markup — Starling Bank: Interbank; Ualá: 4.00%. Starling Bank 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, Starling Bank or Ualá?
Starling Bank holds a Full bank licence under FCA; deposit guarantee per depositor: £85,000. Ualá holds a Payment inst. licence under BCRA; deposit guarantee per depositor: Safeguarded. Starling Bank is the stronger pick on regulatory protection.
Where can I use Starling Bank and Ualá?
Starling Bank operates in 1 country; Ualá operates in 3 countries. 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.