Finom vs Starling: Complete Comparison (2026)
An in-depth comparison of Finom and Starling to help you choose the right tool for your business.
Last updated: November 2026
Finom
6.2/10
Finom is a European online business account that combines payment cards, invoicing, multi-bank cash overview and accounting tools for freelancers and SMEs.
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 | 6.2/10 | 6.6/10 |
| Analytics | 4/10 | 4/10 |
| Compliance | 6/10 | 7/10 |
| Cost | 7/10 | 9/10 |
| Customization | 4/10 | 3/10 |
| Ease of Use | 8/10 | 8/10 |
| Integration | 6/10 | 6/10 |
| Scalability | 5/10 | 3/10 |
| Security | 7/10 | 8/10 |
| Support | 6/10 | 7/10 |
| Pricing | ||
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Cheapest paid plan | €21/mo Basic | £7/mo Accounting Plus |
| Estimated cost for 10 users | €21/mo Basic | Free Business Account + Accounting Essentials |
| Features | ||
| Accountant Access | ||
| Bank Reconciliation | ||
| Expense Management | ||
| Invoicing | ||
| Online Payments | ||
| Corporate Cards | Not listed | |
| Tax Compliance | Not listed | |
Finom vs Starling cost by team size
| Team size | Finom | Starling |
|---|---|---|
| 1 user | FreeSolo | FreeBusiness Account + Accounting Essentials |
| 5 users | €21/moBasic | FreeBusiness Account + Accounting Essentials |
| 10 users | €21/moBasic | FreeBusiness Account + Accounting Essentials |
| 25 users | €21/moBasic | FreeBusiness Account + Accounting Essentials |
| 50 users | €21/moBasic | 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 Finom
- Higher Scalability score (5/10 vs 3/10)
- Higher Customization score (4/10 vs 3/10)
Why choose Starling
- Higher Cost score (9/10 vs 7/10)
- Higher Compliance score (7/10 vs 6/10)
Pros & Cons
Finom
Pros
- A free Solo plan includes a business account, cards and invoicing, so sole traders pay nothing to start.
- Invoices can carry one-click payment links and send automatic overdue reminders, which speeds up collection.
- Employee cards can be issued, limited and topped up in the app, and staff capture receipts by photo.
- Card spend earns cashback of up to 3%, and savings interest rises with the plan tier.
- Connects to accounting tools including Sage, Odoo and NetSuite, and supports multi-bank connections.
Cons
- There are no SWIFT payments, so international transfers outside SEPA need another account.
- Users report sudden account freezes in 2026, with funds held and little explanation from Finom.
- It is not a full accounting ledger, so most businesses still need separate bookkeeping software.
- Fees for transaction volume, foreign exchange and ATM use can add up on the lower tiers.
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 6.2/10 for Finom. The largest gap is in Cost: 7/10 for Finom and 9/10 for Starling.
Yes, both Finom and Starling have a free plan.
