Starling Bank vs Qonto.
Starling Bank (S77/100) and Qonto (Q51/100), 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 Qonto 5-3.
| Q Qonto №70 · Payment institution license 51 /100 | S Starling Bank №12 · FCA 77 /100 | |
|---|---|---|
| Score | ||
| Composite score Out of 100 | 51 /100 | 77 /100 |
| Fees | ||
| Monthly fee Cheapest paid tier (€0 if free) | €9 /mo | €0 Free tier |
| FX markup Debit card abroad | 1.70% | Interbank |
| Free FX / month EUR equivalent | €0 | €0 |
| Free ATM Before fee kicks in | — | — |
| Protection | ||
| Banking licence Tier | Payment inst. | Full bank FCA |
| Deposit guarantee Per depositor | Safeguarded EU.DGS.FR | £85,000 GB.FSCS |
| Reach | ||
| Markets served Licensed jurisdictions | 8 countries | 1 country |
| Crypto Coins available | No | No |
| Stocks & ETFs Self-directed | No | No |
| UX | ||
| Trustpilot Customer score | 4.8 ★ 50k reviews | — |
| App store iOS + Android avg | 4.5 ★ iOS 4.8 · And 4.3 | — |
| Read review → | Read review → | |
Pick Qonto if…
Pick if you run an EU SME and need multi-currency invoicing, accounting integrations, and proper receipts.
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 2 of 4
- Best for protection Starling Bank won 2 of 2
- Best for reach Qonto won 1 of 3
- Best for ux Qonto won 2 of 2
Starling Bank vs Qonto — FAQ
Quick answers to the four questions the search-bar asks most about a head-to-head.
Is Qonto better than Starling Bank?
Under our v3 methodology, Starling Bank leads Qonto 5–3 across 12 dimensions. Composite scores: Qonto 51/100 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 Qonto or Starling Bank cheaper?
Monthly fee — Qonto: €9; Starling Bank: €0. Card FX markup — Qonto: 1.70%; Starling Bank: Interbank. Starling Bank wins more fee rows (2 of 4). See the Fees section of the matrix above for ATM caps and the rest.
Which is safer for deposits, Qonto or Starling Bank?
Qonto holds a Payment inst. licence under Payment institution license (France, 2018); EU passport across served markets; filed for full French banking license in July 2025; 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 Qonto and Starling Bank?
Qonto operates in 8 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.