FastBill vs Starling: Complete Comparison (2026)
An in-depth comparison of FastBill and Starling to help you choose the right tool for your business.
Last updated: November 2026
FastBill
5.2/10
Cloud invoicing and bookkeeping software from Frankfurt for German freelancers and small businesses, with e-invoicing, DATEV export and direct VAT 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 | 5.2/10 | 6.6/10 |
| Scalability | 3/10 | 3/10 |
| Analytics | 4/10 | 4/10 |
| Compliance | 7/10 | 7/10 |
| Integration | 5/10 | 6/10 |
| Security | 5/10 | 8/10 |
| Support | 4/10 | 7/10 |
| Cost | 5/10 | 9/10 |
| Customization | 6/10 | 3/10 |
| Ease of Use | 6/10 | 8/10 |
| Pricing | ||
| Free plan | No | Yes |
| Cheapest paid plan | €10/mo Solo | £7/mo Accounting Plus |
| Estimated cost for 10 users | €10/mo Solo | Free Business Account + Accounting Essentials |
| Features | ||
| Accountant Access | ||
| Bank Reconciliation | ||
| Expense Management | ||
| Invoicing | ||
| Online Payments | ||
| Tax Compliance | ||
| Multi-currency | Not listed | |
| Payroll | Not listed | |
FastBill vs Starling cost by team size
| Team size | FastBill | Starling |
|---|---|---|
| 1 user | €10/moSolo | FreeBusiness Account + Accounting Essentials |
| 5 users | €59/moPremium | FreeBusiness Account + Accounting Essentials |
| 10 users | €10/moSolo | FreeBusiness Account + Accounting Essentials |
| 25 users | €10/moSolo | FreeBusiness Account + Accounting Essentials |
| 50 users | €10/moSolo | 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 FastBill
- Higher Customization score (6/10 vs 3/10)
Why choose Starling
- Has a free plan (FastBill does not)
- Higher Cost score (9/10 vs 5/10)
- Higher Security score (8/10 vs 5/10)
Pros & Cons
FastBill
Pros
- Experte.de rated invoicing 1.3, its strongest area, covering quotes, recurring invoices, time tracking and XRechnung.
- XRechnung and ZUGFeRD e-invoicing are included in every plan.
- VAT pre-returns go straight to the tax office through ELSTER.
- DATEV export and tax advisor access make handing over to a Steuerberater simple.
- Invoices can carry payment links through PayPal, Stripe or Sofort.
Cons
- FastBill cannot produce an EÜR or P&L on its own; tests say these need an external tax advisor.
- There is no cash book, and fuer-gruender.de says there is no payroll interface either.
- Automatic dunning and extra receipts cost extra, and automatic bank matching needs Premium.
- Support is by message or email only, on weekdays, with no phone line or live chat.
- 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 5.2/10 for FastBill. The largest gap is in Cost: 5/10 for FastBill and 9/10 for Starling.
Starling has a free plan; FastBill does not list one.
