Starling Bank vs Klar.
Starling Bank (S77/100) and Klar (K50/100), 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 Klar 4-1.
| K Klar №76 · CNBV 50 /100 | S Starling Bank №12 · FCA 77 /100 | |
|---|---|---|
| Score | ||
| Composite score Out of 100 | 50 /100 | 77 /100 |
| Fees | ||
| Monthly fee Cheapest paid tier (€0 if free) | €0 Free tier | €0 Free tier |
| FX markup Debit card abroad | 2.00% | Interbank |
| Free FX / month EUR equivalent | €0 | €0 |
| Free ATM Before fee kicks in | — | — |
| Protection | ||
| Banking licence Tier | Payment inst. CNBV | Full bank FCA |
| Deposit guarantee Per depositor | Safeguarded MX.IPAB | £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 | — | — |
| App store iOS + Android avg | 4.3 ★ iOS 4.4 · And 4.3 | — |
| Read review → | Read review → | |
Pick Klar if…
Mexican challenger neobank under SOFIPO licence (CNBV). Credit-card-led — competes with Stori for the underbanked-credit segment. SOFIPOs have limited IPAB cover compared to full banks (instituciones de banca múltiple).
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 Klar won 1 of 2
Starling Bank vs Klar — FAQ
Quick answers to the four questions the search-bar asks most about a head-to-head.
Is Klar better than Starling Bank?
Under our v3 methodology, Starling Bank leads Klar 4–1 across 12 dimensions. Composite scores: Klar 50/100 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 Klar or Starling Bank cheaper?
Monthly fee — Klar: €0; Starling Bank: €0. Card FX markup — Klar: 2.00%; 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, Klar or Starling Bank?
Klar holds a Payment inst. licence under CNBV; 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 Klar and Starling Bank?
Klar 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.