Starling Bank vs WeBank.
Starling Bank (S77/100) and WeBank (W76/100), scored on the same six pillars and compared row-by-row. Every cell is sourced from licence registers and live pricing pages, not opinion. WeBank leads Starling Bank 3-2.
| S Starling Bank №12 · FCA 77 /100 | W WeBank №18 · CBI 76 /100 | |
|---|---|---|
| Score | ||
| Composite score Out of 100 | 77 /100 | 76 /100 |
| Fees | ||
| Monthly fee Cheapest paid tier (€0 if free) | €0 Free tier | €0 Free tier |
| FX markup Debit card abroad | Interbank | 1.00% |
| Free FX / month EUR equivalent | €0 | €0 |
| Free ATM Before fee kicks in | — | — |
| Protection | ||
| Banking licence Tier | Full bank FCA | Full bank CBI |
| Deposit guarantee Per depositor | £85,000 GB.FSCS | €500,000 CN.PBoC-DIS |
| Reach | ||
| Markets served Licensed jurisdictions | 1 country | 1 country |
| Crypto Coins available | No | No |
| Stocks & ETFs Self-directed | No | Yes |
| 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 WeBank if…
World's largest digital bank by user count (~400M Chinese customers). First CBIRC-licensed internet-only bank in China (2014). Tencent majority shareholder; deeply integrated with WeChat. China DIS cover.
- Best for fees Starling Bank won 1 of 4
- Best for protection WeBank won 1 of 2
- Best for reach WeBank won 1 of 3
- Best for ux WeBank won 1 of 2
Starling Bank vs WeBank — FAQ
Quick answers to the four questions the search-bar asks most about a head-to-head.
Is Starling Bank better than WeBank?
Under our v3 methodology, WeBank leads Starling Bank 3–2 across 12 dimensions. Composite scores: Starling Bank 77/100 vs WeBank 76/100. WeBank 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 WeBank cheaper?
Monthly fee — Starling Bank: €0; WeBank: €0. Card FX markup — Starling Bank: Interbank; WeBank: 1.00%. 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 WeBank?
Starling Bank holds a Full bank licence under FCA; deposit guarantee per depositor: £85,000. WeBank holds a Full bank licence under CBI; deposit guarantee per depositor: €500,000. WeBank is the stronger pick on regulatory protection.
Where can I use Starling Bank and WeBank?
Starling Bank operates in 1 country; WeBank 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.