Starling Bank vs Kuda.
Starling Bank (S77/100) and Kuda (K60/100), scored on the same six pillars and compared row-by-row. Every cell is sourced from licence registers and live pricing pages, not opinion. A close tie.
| K Kuda №50 · FCA 60 /100 | S Starling Bank №12 · FCA 77 /100 | |
|---|---|---|
| Score | ||
| Composite score Out of 100 | 60 /100 | 77 /100 |
| Fees | ||
| Monthly fee Cheapest paid tier (€0 if free) | €0 Free tier | €0 Free tier |
| FX markup Debit card abroad | 5.00% | Interbank |
| Free FX / month EUR equivalent | €0 | €0 |
| Free ATM Before fee kicks in | — | — |
| Protection | ||
| Banking licence Tier | E-money inst. FCA | Full bank FCA |
| Deposit guarantee Per depositor | Safeguarded NG.NDIC | £85,000 GB.FSCS |
| Reach | ||
| Markets served Licensed jurisdictions | 2 countries | 1 country |
| Crypto Coins available | No | No |
| Stocks & ETFs Self-directed | Yes | No |
| UX | ||
| Trustpilot Customer score | 4.0 ★ 1k reviews | — |
| App store iOS + Android avg | 4.7 ★ iOS 4.7 · And 4.6 | — |
| Read review → | Read review → | |
Pick Kuda if…
Largest Nigerian neobank by user count (~7M+). CBN microfinance bank charter — NDIC-insured but with the smaller microfinance-class ceiling. UK presence as Kuda Technologies adds GBP exposure for Nigerian diaspora customers. Free transfer limit (25/mo) is generous for the Nigerian market.
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 Kuda won 2 of 3
- Best for ux Kuda won 2 of 2
Starling Bank vs Kuda — FAQ
Quick answers to the four questions the search-bar asks most about a head-to-head.
Is Kuda better than Starling Bank?
Kuda and Starling Bank are tied 4–4 across 12 dimensions under our v3 methodology. Composite scores: Kuda 60/100 vs Starling Bank 77/100. The right pick depends on which dimension you weight most heavily.
Is Kuda or Starling Bank cheaper?
Monthly fee — Kuda: €0; Starling Bank: €0. Card FX markup — Kuda: 5.00%; 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, Kuda or Starling Bank?
Kuda holds a E-money inst. licence under FCA; 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 Kuda and Starling Bank?
Kuda 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.