Starling Bank vs Anna.
Starling Bank (S77/100) and Anna (A58/100), 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 Anna 4-2.
| A Anna №57 · FCA 58 /100 | S Starling Bank №12 · FCA 77 /100 | |
|---|---|---|
| Score | ||
| Composite score Out of 100 | 58 /100 | 77 /100 |
| Fees | ||
| Monthly fee Cheapest paid tier (€0 if free) | £11 /mo | €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 | E-money inst. FCA | Full bank FCA |
| Deposit guarantee Per depositor | Safeguarded GB.FSCS | £85,000 GB.FSCS |
| Reach | ||
| Markets served Licensed jurisdictions | 1 country | 1 country |
| Crypto Coins available | No | No |
| Stocks & ETFs Self-directed | No | No |
| UX | ||
| Trustpilot Customer score | 4.6 ★ 6k reviews | — |
| App store iOS + Android avg | 4.7 ★ iOS 4.8 · And 4.6 | — |
| Read review → | Read review → | |
Pick Anna if…
The design-led mobile-first UK SMB neobank — Anna positions itself versus Tide as the friendlier UX with a focus on solo founders and freelancers. The Self Assessment + Corporation Tax filing tools are the structural differentiator versus Tide at the UK freelance tier. FCA-authorised EMI — funds safeguarded, NOT FSCS-protected (same structural trade-off as Tide).
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 Tied
- Best for ux Anna won 2 of 2
Starling Bank vs Anna — FAQ
Quick answers to the four questions the search-bar asks most about a head-to-head.
Is Anna better than Starling Bank?
Under our v3 methodology, Starling Bank leads Anna 4–2 across 12 dimensions. Composite scores: Anna 58/100 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 Anna or Starling Bank cheaper?
Monthly fee — Anna: £11; Starling Bank: €0. Card FX markup — Anna: Interbank; 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, Anna or Starling Bank?
Anna 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 Anna and Starling Bank?
Anna operates in 1 country; 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.