Monzo Business vs Starling: Complete Comparison (2026)
An in-depth comparison of Monzo Business and Starling to help you choose the right tool for your business.
Last updated: November 2026
Monzo Business
6.5/10
Monzo Business is an app-based UK business bank account for sole traders and limited companies. It includes invoicing, Tax Pots, expense cards and accounting software bank feeds.
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 | 6.5/10 | 6.6/10 |
| Analytics | 4/10 | 4/10 |
| Compliance | 7/10 | 7/10 |
| Cost | 8/10 | 9/10 |
| Customization | 4/10 | 3/10 |
| Ease of Use | 9/10 | 8/10 |
| Integration | 6/10 | 6/10 |
| Scalability | 3/10 | 3/10 |
| Security | 7/10 | 8/10 |
| Support | 6/10 | 7/10 |
| Pricing | ||
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Cheapest paid plan | £9/mo Pro | £7/mo Accounting Plus |
| Estimated cost for 10 users | £25/mo Team | Free Business Account + Accounting Essentials |
| Features | ||
| Accountant Access | ||
| Expense Management | ||
| Invoicing | ||
| Online Payments | ||
| Tax Compliance | ||
| Bank Reconciliation | Not listed | |
| Corporate Cards | Not listed | |
| Financial Reporting | Not listed | |
| General Ledger | Not listed | |
| Multi-currency | Not listed | |
| Payroll | Not listed | |
Monzo Business vs Starling cost by team size
Starling costs less up to 10 users; Monzo Business and Starling cost the same from 25 users.
| Team size | Monzo Business | Starling |
|---|---|---|
| 1 user | £9/moPro | FreeBusiness Account + Accounting Essentials |
| 5 users | £25/moTeam | FreeBusiness Account + Accounting Essentials |
| 10 users | £25/moTeam | FreeBusiness Account + Accounting Essentials |
| 25 users | FreeLite | FreeBusiness Account + Accounting Essentials |
| 50 users | FreeLite | 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 Monzo Business
- Higher Customization score (4/10 vs 3/10)
- Higher Ease of Use score (9/10 vs 8/10)
Why choose Starling
- Lower estimated cost for 10 users: Free vs £25/mo
- Higher Cost score (9/10 vs 8/10)
- Higher Security score (8/10 vs 7/10)
Pros & Cons
Monzo Business
Pros
- The Lite plan is free and includes Making Tax Digital software
- Pro adds invoicing, Tax Pots and live feeds to Xero, QuickBooks, FreeAgent and Sage for £9 a month
- The Team plan adds expense cards, payment approvals and bulk payments for up to 15 users
- 24/7 in-app support on every plan
- Licensed UK bank with FSCS deposit protection
Cons
- Holds GBP only, and incoming foreign currency is converted at a 1% fee
- No general ledger or financial statements, so you still need separate accounting software
- Partnerships, LLPs, charities and non-UK businesses cannot open an account
- Cash deposits cost £1 each and are capped
- Reviews report frozen accounts and slow resolution, and there is no dedicated account manager
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 6.5/10 for Monzo Business. The largest gap is in Cost: 8/10 for Monzo Business and 9/10 for Starling.
Starling costs less for 10 users: free on its Business Account + Accounting Essentials plan, against about £25/mo on its Team plan for Monzo Business, billed monthly.
Yes, both Monzo Business and Starling have a free plan.
