Contasimple vs Starling: Complete Comparison (2026)
An in-depth comparison of Contasimple and Starling to help you choose the right tool for your business.
Last updated: November 2026
Contasimple
5.5/10
Cloud invoicing, accounting and tax-filing software for Spanish freelancers (autónomos) and microbusinesses, with VeriFactu-ready invoicing and official tax models.
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 | 5.5/10 | 6.6/10 |
| Scalability | 3/10 | 3/10 |
| Analytics | 4/10 | 4/10 |
| Compliance | 8/10 | 7/10 |
| Integration | 3/10 | 6/10 |
| Security | 5/10 | 8/10 |
| Support | 4/10 | 7/10 |
| Cost | 8/10 | 9/10 |
| Customization | 4/10 | 3/10 |
| Ease of Use | 7/10 | 8/10 |
| Pricing | ||
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Cheapest paid plan | €13/mo Profesional | £7/mo Accounting Plus |
| Estimated cost for 10 users | Free Básico | Free Business Account + Accounting Essentials |
| Features | ||
| Accountant Access | ||
| Bank Reconciliation | ||
| Invoicing | ||
| Tax Compliance | ||
| Expense Management | Not listed | |
| Financial Reporting | Not listed | |
| General Ledger | Not listed | |
| Online Payments | Not listed | |
| Payroll | Not listed | |
Contasimple vs Starling cost by team size
| Team size | Contasimple | Starling |
|---|---|---|
| 1 user | FreeBásico | FreeBusiness Account + Accounting Essentials |
| 5 users | FreeBásico | FreeBusiness Account + Accounting Essentials |
| 10 users | FreeBásico | FreeBusiness Account + Accounting Essentials |
| 25 users | FreeBásico | FreeBusiness Account + Accounting Essentials |
| 50 users | FreeBásico | 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 Contasimple
- Higher Compliance score (8/10 vs 7/10)
- Higher Customization score (4/10 vs 3/10)
Why choose Starling
- Higher Integration score (6/10 vs 3/10)
- Higher Security score (8/10 vs 5/10)
Pros & Cons
Contasimple
Pros
- Covers Spanish tax models such as 303, 130, 349 and 390 from inside the app, which suits autónomos who file their own returns.
- Invoicing is VeriFactu-ready, and paid plans add FACe e-invoicing for public-sector customers.
- Free-forever plan, with paid plans starting at about 11 euros a month on annual billing.
- Capterra reviewers rate ease of use as its strongest point (4.0 out of 5).
Cons
- Capterra reviewers rate support and value for money weakly, and Trustpilot reviews mention slow support.
- The free plan only allows 12 documents a year.
- No payroll, CRM or project features, and very few third-party integrations.
- Built for Spain only, so it does not suit businesses in other countries.
- Reviewers describe the interface as dated.
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 5.5/10 for Contasimple. The largest gap is in Integration: 3/10 for Contasimple and 6/10 for Starling.
Yes, both Contasimple and Starling have a free plan.
