Starling Bank vs Mercury.
Starling Bank (S77/100) and Mercury (M70/100), scored on the same six pillars and compared row-by-row. Every cell is sourced from licence registers and live pricing pages, not opinion. Mercury leads Starling Bank 4-3.
| M Mercury №32 · FDIC 70 /100 | S Starling Bank №12 · FCA 77 /100 | |
|---|---|---|
| Score | ||
| Composite score Out of 100 | 71 /100 | 77 /100 |
| Fees | ||
| Monthly fee Cheapest paid tier (€0 if free) | €0 Free tier | €0 Free tier |
| FX markup Debit card abroad | 1.00% | Interbank |
| Free FX / month EUR equivalent | €0 | €0 |
| Free ATM Before fee kicks in | — | — |
| Protection | ||
| Banking licence Tier | Partner-bank FDIC | Full bank FCA |
| Deposit guarantee Per depositor | $250,000 US.FDIC | £85,000 GB.FSCS |
| Reach | ||
| Markets served Licensed jurisdictions | 1 country | 1 country |
| Crypto Coins available | No | No |
| Stocks & ETFs Self-directed | Yes | No |
| UX | ||
| Trustpilot Customer score | 4.4 ★ 1k reviews | — |
| App store iOS + Android avg | 4.6 ★ iOS 4.7 · And 4.5 | — |
| Read review → | Read review → | |
Pick Mercury if…
Pick if you run a US LLC or C-Corp and want $5M sweep FDIC coverage. Personal accounts not supported.
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 Mercury won 1 of 3
- Best for ux Mercury won 2 of 2
Starling Bank vs Mercury — FAQ
Quick answers to the four questions the search-bar asks most about a head-to-head.
Is Mercury better than Starling Bank?
Under our v3 methodology, Mercury leads Starling Bank 4–3 across 12 dimensions. Composite scores: Mercury 70/100 vs Starling Bank 77/100. Mercury is stronger overall, but the right pick depends on which row matters most to you — fees, protection, reach, or app quality.
Is Mercury or Starling Bank cheaper?
Monthly fee — Mercury: €0; Starling Bank: €0. Card FX markup — Mercury: 1.00%; 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, Mercury or Starling Bank?
Mercury holds a Partner-bank licence under FDIC; deposit guarantee per depositor: $250,000. 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 Mercury and Starling Bank?
Mercury 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.