Starling Bank vs Aspire.
Starling Bank (S77/100) and Aspire (A70/100), scored on the same six pillars and compared row-by-row. Every cell is sourced from licence registers and live pricing pages, not opinion. Aspire leads Starling Bank 4-3.
| A Aspire №37 · MAS 70 /100 | S Starling Bank №12 · FCA 77 /100 | |
|---|---|---|
| Score | ||
| Composite score Out of 100 | 70 /100 | 77 /100 |
| Fees | ||
| Monthly fee Cheapest paid tier (€0 if free) | €0 Free tier | €0 Free tier |
| FX markup Debit card abroad | 0.30% | Interbank |
| Free FX / month EUR equivalent | €0 | €0 |
| Free ATM Before fee kicks in | — | — |
| Protection | ||
| Banking licence Tier | Partner-bank MAS | Full bank FCA |
| Deposit guarantee Per depositor | €100,000 SG.SDIC | £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 | 4.3 ★ 1k reviews | — |
| App store iOS + Android avg | 4.5 ★ iOS 4.6 · And 4.4 | — |
| Read review → | Read review → | |
Pick Aspire if…
The APAC-first multi-currency business-account platform for SaaS startups and e-commerce sellers — SG-HQ MAS Major Payment Institution with native multi-currency accounts (USD/SGD/EUR/GBP/IDR + HKD/AUD/IDR/MYR) plus local-currency receiving in 30+ countries and local account issuance in 6 jurisdictions (SG, HK, US, UK, EU, AU). Built for APAC startups taking USD revenue who need a SGD operating account without the friction of running Mercury (US) + a SG-bank relationship side-by-side. Stripe + Shopify + Xero integration depth makes Aspire the structural fit for SaaS / e-commerce / fintech operators in the region. MAS-licensed Major Payment Institution status is the structural anchor.
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 Tied
- Best for reach Aspire won 1 of 3
- Best for ux Aspire won 2 of 2
Starling Bank vs Aspire — FAQ
Quick answers to the four questions the search-bar asks most about a head-to-head.
Is Aspire better than Starling Bank?
Under our v3 methodology, Aspire leads Starling Bank 4–3 across 12 dimensions. Composite scores: Aspire 70/100 vs Starling Bank 77/100. Aspire is stronger overall, but the right pick depends on which row matters most to you — fees, protection, reach, or app quality.
Is Aspire or Starling Bank cheaper?
Monthly fee — Aspire: €0; Starling Bank: €0. Card FX markup — Aspire: 0.30%; 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, Aspire or Starling Bank?
Aspire holds a Partner-bank licence under MAS; deposit guarantee per depositor: €100,000. Starling Bank holds a Full bank licence under FCA; deposit guarantee per depositor: £85,000. Both score equally on regulatory protection rows.
Where can I use Aspire and Starling Bank?
Aspire 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.