Starling Bank vs Finom.
Starling Bank (S77/100) and Finom (F64/100), 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 Finom 4-3.
| F Finom №45 · DNB 64 /100 | S Starling Bank №12 · FCA 77 /100 | |
|---|---|---|
| Score | ||
| Composite score Out of 100 | 64 /100 | 77 /100 |
| Fees | ||
| Monthly fee Cheapest paid tier (€0 if free) | €0 Free tier | €0 Free tier |
| FX markup Debit card abroad | 0.70% | Interbank |
| Free FX / month EUR equivalent | €0 | €0 |
| Free ATM Before fee kicks in | — | — |
| Protection | ||
| Banking licence Tier | E-money inst. DNB | Full bank FCA |
| Deposit guarantee Per depositor | Safeguarded EU.DGS.NL | £85,000 GB.FSCS |
| Reach | ||
| Markets served Licensed jurisdictions | 7 countries | 1 country |
| Crypto Coins available | No | No |
| Stocks & ETFs Self-directed | No | No |
| UX | ||
| Trustpilot Customer score | 4.5 ★ 8k reviews | — |
| App store iOS + Android avg | 4.5 ★ iOS 4.6 · And 4.5 | — |
| Read review → | Read review → | |
Pick Finom if…
The EU SMB-focused EMI platform that solves the multi-country invoicing-plus-accounting-integration problem better than Qonto, Wise Business, and Revolut Business — local IBAN issuance across NL/DE/FR/IT/ES/PL plus native DATEV / Lexoffice (Germany) and Pennylane (France) integrations is the workflow win for SMBs operating across multiple EU markets. The freelancer-plus-SMB onboarding is structurally paved across entity types (sole trader, GmbH, SARL, BV, SAS, Sp. z o.o., S.R.L.), making Finom the structural fit for German freelancers and EU operators who need country-specific local IBANs without running multiple bank relationships.
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 Starling Bank won 1 of 4
- Best for protection Starling Bank won 2 of 2
- Best for reach Finom won 1 of 3
- Best for ux Finom won 2 of 2
Starling Bank vs Finom — FAQ
Quick answers to the four questions the search-bar asks most about a head-to-head.
Is Finom better than Starling Bank?
Under our v3 methodology, Starling Bank leads Finom 4–3 across 12 dimensions. Composite scores: Finom 64/100 vs Starling Bank 77/100. Starling Bank is stronger overall, but the right pick depends on which row matters most to you — fees, protection, reach, or app quality.
Is Finom or Starling Bank cheaper?
Monthly fee — Finom: €0; Starling Bank: €0. Card FX markup — Finom: 0.70%; Starling Bank: Interbank. 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, Finom or Starling Bank?
Finom holds a E-money inst. licence under DNB; deposit guarantee per depositor: Safeguarded. Starling Bank holds a Full bank licence under FCA; deposit guarantee per depositor: £85,000. Starling Bank is the stronger pick on regulatory protection.
Where can I use Finom and Starling Bank?
Finom operates in 7 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.