KashFlow vs Starling: Complete Comparison (2026)
An in-depth comparison of KashFlow and Starling to help you choose the right tool for your business.
Last updated: November 2026
KashFlow
5.3/10
KashFlow is a UK cloud accounting package from IRIS for sole traders and small businesses. It covers invoicing, bank feeds, VAT filing, and basic payroll.
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 | 5.3/10 | 6.6/10 |
| Scalability | 3/10 | 3/10 |
| Analytics | 5/10 | 4/10 |
| Compliance | 6/10 | 7/10 |
| Integration | 5/10 | 6/10 |
| Security | 5/10 | 8/10 |
| Support | 3/10 | 7/10 |
| Cost | 8/10 | 9/10 |
| Customization | 3/10 | 3/10 |
| Ease of Use | 6/10 | 8/10 |
| Pricing | ||
| Free plan | No | Yes |
| Cheapest paid plan | £14/mo Starter | £7/mo Accounting Plus |
| Estimated cost for 10 users | £28/mo Business | Free Business Account + Accounting Essentials |
| Features | ||
| Accountant Access | ||
| Bank Reconciliation | ||
| Expense Management | ||
| Invoicing | ||
| Online Payments | ||
| Tax Compliance | ||
| Financial Reporting | Not listed | |
| General Ledger | Not listed | |
| Inventory Accounting | Not listed | |
| Multi-currency | Not listed | |
| Payroll | Not listed | |
KashFlow vs Starling cost by team size
Starling costs less at every team size we checked.
| Team size | KashFlow | Starling |
|---|---|---|
| 1 user | £14/moStarter | FreeBusiness Account + Accounting Essentials |
| 5 users | £28/moBusiness | FreeBusiness Account + Accounting Essentials |
| 10 users | £28/moBusiness | FreeBusiness Account + Accounting Essentials |
| 25 users | £28/moBusiness | FreeBusiness Account + Accounting Essentials |
| 50 users | £28/moBusiness | 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 KashFlow
- Higher Analytics score (5/10 vs 4/10)
Why choose Starling
- Has a free plan (KashFlow does not)
- Lower estimated cost for 10 users: Free vs £28/mo
- Higher Support score (7/10 vs 3/10)
- Higher Security score (8/10 vs 5/10)
Pros & Cons
KashFlow
Pros
- Low entry price, with steep introductory discounts for new customers
- Payroll for up to five employees is included rather than sold separately
- VAT management and online submission are built into both plans
- Stock control and multi-currency are included even on the cheapest plan
- Accountants can use KashFlow Connect at no charge
Cons
- The Starter plan caps invoices at 10 and bank reconciliation at 25 transactions, and allows only one user
- Reviewers call it too basic for medium-sized businesses and difficult to customise
- Very low Trustpilot rating (1.4) and app store ratings, with complaints about customer service
- The API is SOAP-based, and some reviewers say it integrates less well than rivals
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 5.3/10 for KashFlow. The largest gap is in Support: 3/10 for KashFlow and 7/10 for Starling.
Starling costs less for 10 users: free on its Business Account + Accounting Essentials plan, against about £28/mo on its Business plan for KashFlow, billed monthly.
Starling has a free plan; KashFlow does not list one.
