Bench vs Starling: Complete Comparison (2026)
An in-depth comparison of Bench and Starling to help you choose the right tool for your business.
Last updated: November 2026
Bench
5/10
Online bookkeeping and tax service for US small businesses: a dedicated bookkeeper keeps the books in Bench's own software, with optional tax filing.
Starling
6.6/10
A UK digital bank business account with built-in invoicing, bookkeeping, and Making Tax Digital tax tools for sole traders and small limited companies.
Feature-by-Feature Comparison
| Feature | | |
|---|---|---|
| Scores | ||
| Overall Rating | 5/10 | 6.6/10 |
| Scalability | 3/10 | 3/10 |
| Analytics | 4/10 | 4/10 |
| Compliance | 6/10 | 7/10 |
| Integration | 5/10 | 6/10 |
| Security | 6/10 | 8/10 |
| Support | 4/10 | 7/10 |
| Cost | 3/10 | 9/10 |
| Customization | 3/10 | 3/10 |
| Ease of Use | 8/10 | 8/10 |
| Pricing | ||
| Free plan | No | Yes |
| Cheapest paid plan | $199/mo Bookkeeping Light | £7/mo Accounting Plus |
| Estimated cost for 10 users | $199/mo Bookkeeping Light | Free Business Account + Accounting Essentials |
| Features | ||
| Invoicing | ||
| Accountant Access | ||
| Bank Reconciliation | ||
| Accounts Payable | Not listed | |
| Expense Management | Not listed | |
| Financial Reporting | Not listed | |
| Online Payments | Not listed | |
| Payroll | Not listed | |
| Tax Compliance | Not listed | |
Bench vs Starling cost by team size
| Team size | Bench | Starling |
|---|---|---|
| 1 user | $199/moBookkeeping Light | FreeBusiness Account + Accounting Essentials |
| 5 users | $199/moBookkeeping Light | FreeBusiness Account + Accounting Essentials |
| 10 users | $199/moBookkeeping Light | FreeBusiness Account + Accounting Essentials |
| 25 users | $199/moBookkeeping Light | FreeBusiness Account + Accounting Essentials |
| 50 users | $199/moBookkeeping Light | FreeBusiness Account + Accounting Essentials |
The plan that fits each team size, billed monthly, before add-ons and usage charges. Each cost opens that tool's pricing calculator for the team size.
Which One Should You Choose?
Why choose Bench
Our data shows no clear advantage over Starling.
Why choose Starling
- Has a free plan (Bench does not)
- Higher Cost score (9/10 vs 3/10)
- Higher Support score (7/10 vs 4/10)
- Better fit for freelancers (8/10 vs 6/10)
- Includes Invoicing, which Bench lacks
Pros & Cons
Bench
Pros
- A dedicated human bookkeeper does the monthly categorizing and reconciliation, so owners don't need to learn accounting software.
- Flat monthly pricing, with about 20 percent off for annual billing, makes costs predictable.
- The bundled plan adds business tax filing and up to four advisory calls a year from licensed professionals.
- Bench is SOC 2 compliant, and Plaid bank connections are read-only.
- Owners and reviewers describe the dashboard as simpler than QuickBooks for non-accountants.
Cons
- Bench shut down abruptly in December 2024 before Employer.com bought it, and some customers still question its continuity.
- Reviews since the acquisition report slower responses, bookkeeper turnover and late monthly closes.
- It does not handle payroll, invoicing or bill pay.
- Books are kept on a modified cash basis in proprietary software, which makes moving to QuickBooks or Xero harder.
- It is expensive compared with DIY accounting software, and there is no free trial.
Starling
Pros
- The business account has no monthly fee, and UK transfers, invoicing, and up to five expense cards are free.
- The free Essentials tier includes MTD for Income Tax submissions, which helps sole traders and landlords facing the April 2026 rules.
- VAT returns can be filed to HMRC from inside the banking app for £7 a month until April 2027.
- Bank feeds connect to Xero, QuickBooks, and FreeAgent.
- UK-based support is available 24/7 in the app, and Finder ranked it highly for customer satisfaction in 2026.
Cons
- It is not a full accounting system: there is no general ledger, payroll, or multi-entity support.
- Accountants only get view-only access.
- Only GBP and EUR accounts are available, and new USD account applications are paused.
- Eligibility is strict: directors and people with significant control must be UK residents.
- Overdrafts and loans are not available to new business customers, and there are no branches.
Not sold on either?
Frequently Asked Questions
Starling scores higher on our Finance Software criteria: 6.6/10 against 5/10 for Bench. The largest gap is in Cost: 3/10 for Bench and 9/10 for Starling.
Starling has a free plan; Bench does not list one.
Starling is the better fit for freelancers: we rate it 8/10 for them, against 6/10 for Bench.
Starling has Invoicing, which Bench lacks.
