Starling Bank vs Up Bank.
Starling Bank (S77/100) and Up Bank (U55/100), 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 Up Bank 3-2.
| S Starling Bank №12 · FCA 77 /100 | U Up Bank №60 · PRA 55 /100 | |
|---|---|---|
| Score | ||
| Composite score Out of 100 | 77 /100 | 55 /100 |
| Fees | ||
| Monthly fee Cheapest paid tier (€0 if free) | €0 Free tier | €0 Free tier |
| FX markup Debit card abroad | Interbank | Interbank |
| Free FX / month EUR equivalent | €0 | €0 |
| Free ATM Before fee kicks in | — | — |
| Protection | ||
| Banking licence Tier | Full bank FCA | Payment inst. PRA |
| Deposit guarantee Per depositor | £85,000 GB.FSCS | Safeguarded AU.FCS |
| Reach | ||
| Markets served Licensed jurisdictions | 1 country | 1 country |
| Crypto Coins available | No | No |
| Stocks & ETFs Self-directed | No | No |
| UX | ||
| Trustpilot Customer score | — | 4.0 ★ 2k reviews |
| App store iOS + Android avg | — | 4.8 ★ iOS 4.8 · And 4.7 |
| 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 Up Bank if…
Australian neobank built on top of Bendigo and Adelaide Bank's APRA-regulated charter — direct FCS AUD 250,000 cover via the parent. Strongest Australian neobank UX for under-35 consumers; budgeting and pay-day forecasting are best-in-class. No FX markup makes it travel-friendly.
- Best for fees Tied
- Best for protection Starling Bank won 2 of 2
- Best for reach Tied
- Best for ux Up Bank won 2 of 2
Starling Bank vs Up Bank — FAQ
Quick answers to the four questions the search-bar asks most about a head-to-head.
Is Starling Bank better than Up Bank?
Under our v3 methodology, Starling Bank leads Up Bank 3–2 across 12 dimensions. Composite scores: Starling Bank 77/100 vs Up Bank 55/100. Starling Bank is stronger overall, but the right pick depends on which row matters most to you — fees, protection, reach, or app quality.
Is Starling Bank or Up Bank cheaper?
Monthly fee — Starling Bank: €0; Up Bank: €0. Card FX markup — Starling Bank: Interbank; Up Bank: Interbank. Tied across fee rows. See the Fees section of the matrix above for ATM caps and the rest.
Which is safer for deposits, Starling Bank or Up Bank?
Starling Bank holds a Full bank licence under FCA; deposit guarantee per depositor: £85,000. Up Bank holds a Payment inst. licence under PRA; deposit guarantee per depositor: Safeguarded. Starling Bank is the stronger pick on regulatory protection.
Where can I use Starling Bank and Up Bank?
Starling Bank operates in 1 country; Up 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.