Brex vs Starling (2026): Pricing, Features & Verdict

Why choose Brex

• Higher Scalability score (8/10 vs 3/10)
• Higher Customization score (7/10 vs 3/10)
• Better fit for enterprise (7/10 vs 2/10)
• Better fit for startups (9/10 vs 6/10)

Why choose Starling

• Higher Support score (7/10 vs 6/10)
• Higher Cost score (9/10 vs 8/10)
• Better fit for small business (8/10 vs 4/10)

Brex

Pros

• The Essentials tier is free and includes cards, bill pay, reimbursements, travel booking, API access and accounting integrations.
• Card limits are underwritten on cash balance and revenue rather than a founder's personal guarantee, which helps startups without a credit history.
• Direct ERP syncs cover NetSuite, QuickBooks Online, Xero, Sage Intacct, Business Central and newer AI-native ERPs such as Rillet and Campfire, and a two-way Accounting API launched in January 2026.
• Brex holds SOC 1 Type II and SOC 2 Type II attestations, is PCI-DSS compliant and supports SAML or OIDC single sign-on.
• Brex releases updates often. The September 2026 release alone added more than 30 features, including passkeys, p-card policy rules and access to Brex data from ChatGPT, Claude and Slack.
• Pricing is published at 12 USD per user per month for Premium, and G2 reviewers rate the product highly, at about 4.8 out of 5.

Cons

• Brex has a history of abrupt account closures and eligibility changes, and it left the small-business market in 2022.
• Credit limits move with the company's cash balance, which some reviewers find unpredictable.
• Card purchases that need currency conversion carry an FX markup of up to 3 percent, built into the exchange rate.
• It is not a general ledger. Bookkeeping and financial statements still need a separate ERP or accounting system.
• Some support and setup experiences are poor, including a clunky HRIS integration setup reported on Gartner Peer Insights.
• The Capital One acquisition could slow feature shipping during integration, according to industry commentary.

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.