Starling Bank vs Wise.
Starling Bank (S77/100) and Wise (W68/100), scored on the same six pillars and compared row-by-row. Every cell is sourced from licence registers and live pricing pages, not opinion. Wise leads Starling Bank 5-3.
| S Starling Bank №12 · FCA 77 /100 | W Wise №42 · FCA 68 /100 | |
|---|---|---|
| Score | ||
| Composite score Out of 100 | 77 /100 | 68 /100 |
| Fees | ||
| Monthly fee Cheapest paid tier (€0 if free) | €0 Free tier | €0 /mo |
| FX markup Debit card abroad | Interbank | Interbank |
| Free FX / month EUR equivalent | €0 | €0 |
| Free ATM Before fee kicks in | — | €200 /mo |
| Protection | ||
| Banking licence Tier | Full bank FCA | E-money inst. FCA |
| Deposit guarantee Per depositor | £85,000 GB.FSCS | Safeguarded GB.FSCS |
| Reach | ||
| Markets served Licensed jurisdictions | 1 country | 160 countries |
| Crypto Coins available | No | No |
| Stocks & ETFs Self-directed | No | Yes |
| UX | ||
| Trustpilot Customer score | — | 4.3 ★ 220k reviews |
| App store iOS + Android avg | — | 4.5 ★ iOS 4.7 · And 4.2 |
| 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 Wise if…
Pick if FX and multi-currency receiving accounts dominate your usage — not for stocks or crypto.
- Best for fees Wise won 1 of 4
- Best for protection Starling Bank won 2 of 2
- Best for reach Wise won 2 of 3
- Best for ux Wise won 2 of 2
Starling Bank vs Wise — FAQ
Quick answers to the four questions the search-bar asks most about a head-to-head.
Is Starling Bank better than Wise?
Under our v3 methodology, Wise leads Starling Bank 5–3 across 12 dimensions. Composite scores: Starling Bank 77/100 vs Wise 68/100. Wise 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 Wise cheaper?
Monthly fee — Starling Bank: €0; Wise: €0. Card FX markup — Starling Bank: Interbank; Wise: Interbank. Wise 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, Starling Bank or Wise?
Starling Bank holds a Full bank licence under FCA; deposit guarantee per depositor: £85,000. Wise holds a E-money inst. licence under FCA; deposit guarantee per depositor: Safeguarded. Starling Bank is the stronger pick on regulatory protection.
Where can I use Starling Bank and Wise?
Starling Bank operates in 1 country; Wise operates in 160 countries. 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.