Plex Smart Manufacturing Platform vs Starling: Complete Comparison (2026)
An in-depth comparison of Plex Smart Manufacturing Platform and Starling to help you choose the right tool for your business.
Last updated: November 2026
Plex Smart Manufacturing Platform
5.3/10
Cloud ERP and MES platform from Rockwell Automation that gives manufacturers accounting, consolidation, inventory costing and shop-floor control in one system.
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 | 7/10 | 3/10 |
| Analytics | 6/10 | 4/10 |
| Compliance | 7/10 | 7/10 |
| Integration | 7/10 | 6/10 |
| Security | 6/10 | 8/10 |
| Support | 4/10 | 7/10 |
| Cost | 2/10 | 9/10 |
| Customization | 5/10 | 3/10 |
| Ease of Use | 4/10 | 8/10 |
| Pricing | ||
| Free plan | No | Yes |
| Cheapest paid plan | Contact for pricing | £7/mo Accounting Plus |
| Estimated cost for 10 users | Contact for pricing | Free Business Account + Accounting Essentials |
| Features | ||
| Bank Reconciliation | ||
| Invoicing | ||
| Accountant Access | Not listed | |
| Accounts Payable | Not listed | |
| Audit Trail | Not listed | |
| Budgeting and Forecasting | Not listed | |
| Expense Management | Not listed | |
| Financial Reporting | Not listed | |
| General Ledger | Not listed | |
| Inventory Accounting | Not listed | |
| Multi-currency | Not listed | |
| Multi-entity Consolidation | Not listed | |
| Online Payments | Not listed | |
| Tax Compliance | Not listed | |
Plex Smart Manufacturing Platform vs Starling cost by team size
| Team size | Plex Smart Manufacturing Platform | Starling |
|---|---|---|
| 1 user | Contact for pricing | FreeBusiness Account + Accounting Essentials |
| 5 users | Contact for pricing | FreeBusiness Account + Accounting Essentials |
| 10 users | Contact for pricing | FreeBusiness Account + Accounting Essentials |
| 25 users | Contact for pricing | FreeBusiness Account + Accounting Essentials |
| 50 users | Contact for pricing | 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 Plex Smart Manufacturing Platform
- Higher Scalability score (7/10 vs 3/10)
- Higher Analytics score (6/10 vs 4/10)
Why choose Starling
- Has a free plan (Plex Smart Manufacturing Platform does not)
- Higher Cost score (9/10 vs 2/10)
- Higher Ease of Use score (8/10 vs 4/10)
- Better fit for small business (8/10 vs 2/10)
Pros & Cons
Plex Smart Manufacturing Platform
Pros
- Accounting, inventory and production share one cloud database, so cost of goods and inventory values update straight from shop-floor activity.
- Consolidates statements across business units and translates currencies automatically using monthly average and spot rates.
- Strong lot traceability and quality records support audits and recalls in regulated manufacturing.
- Backed by Rockwell Automation, which brings machine connectivity and industrial automation integration.
Cons
- Analysts and reviewers describe the financial management as functional but not deep compared with finance-first ERPs.
- No public pricing, and implementation commonly costs more than $100,000.
- Reviewers report a steep learning curve that needs significant training, plus rigid workflows.
- Some reviews mention outages that stopped production labeling, and support responsiveness that varies.
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 Plex Smart Manufacturing Platform. The largest gap is in Cost: 2/10 for Plex Smart Manufacturing Platform and 9/10 for Starling.
Starling has a free plan; Plex Smart Manufacturing Platform does not list one.
Starling is the better fit for small business: we rate it 8/10 for them, against 2/10 for Plex Smart Manufacturing Platform.
