Starling vs Tiime: Complete Comparison (2026)
An in-depth comparison of Starling and Tiime to help you choose the right tool for your business.
Last updated: November 2026
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.
Tiime
6.4/10
French invoicing, pre-accounting and business banking app for freelancers and small companies, with a shared workspace for their chartered accountant.
Feature-by-Feature Comparison
| Feature | | |
|---|---|---|
| Scores | ||
| Overall Rating | 6.6/10 | 6.4/10 |
| Scalability | 3/10 | 4/10 |
| Analytics | 4/10 | 5/10 |
| Compliance | 7/10 | 7/10 |
| Integration | 6/10 | 5/10 |
| Security | 8/10 | 6/10 |
| Support | 7/10 | 7/10 |
| Cost | 9/10 | 8/10 |
| Customization | 3/10 | 5/10 |
| Ease of Use | 8/10 | 8/10 |
| Pricing | ||
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Cheapest paid plan | £7/mo Accounting Plus | €10/mo Initial (0-1 employee) |
| Estimated cost for 10 users | Free Business Account + Accounting Essentials | Free Free |
| Features | ||
| Accountant Access | ||
| Bank Reconciliation | ||
| Expense Management | ||
| Invoicing | ||
| Online Payments | ||
| Tax Compliance | ||
| Budgeting and Forecasting | Not listed | |
| Corporate Cards | Not listed | |
Starling vs Tiime cost by team size
| Team size | Starling | Tiime |
|---|---|---|
| 1 user | FreeBusiness Account + Accounting Essentials | FreeFree |
| 5 users | FreeBusiness Account + Accounting Essentials | FreeFree |
| 10 users | FreeBusiness Account + Accounting Essentials | FreeFree |
| 25 users | FreeBusiness Account + Accounting Essentials | FreeFree |
| 50 users | FreeBusiness Account + Accounting Essentials | FreeFree |
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 Starling
- Higher Security score (8/10 vs 6/10)
- Higher Integration score (6/10 vs 5/10)
Why choose Tiime
- Higher Customization score (5/10 vs 3/10)
- Higher Scalability score (4/10 vs 3/10)
Pros & Cons
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.
Tiime
Pros
- Invoicing is free on every tier, with no limit on the number of quotes and invoices, plus e-invoicing through Tiime's registered platform.
- The business's accountant can see its data for free, and around 2,000 accounting firms are reported as partners.
- Bank sync categorises transactions automatically, and receipts can be captured by phone, which cuts pre-accounting work.
- Paid plans come with a 60-day trial, and the entry plan costs 9.99 euros a month.
- Users rate it highly, with about 4.8 out of 5 on Google and Trustpilot.
Cons
- Tiime only does pre-accounting. The full ledger and the tax return package are left to an accountant using Tiime's separate production tool.
- The business account cannot send transfers outside the euro zone and offers no overdraft.
- Reviewers say modules cannot be bought on their own, and the free plan is fairly limited for running a business.
- Users have reported occasional bugs, including after one update on Mac.
- It is aimed at the French market and at companies with up to 20 employees. Larger firms must request a quote.
Not sold on either?
Frequently Asked Questions
Starling scores higher on our Finance Software criteria: 6.6/10 against 6.4/10 for Tiime. The largest gap is in Customization: 3/10 for Starling and 5/10 for Tiime.
Yes, both Starling and Tiime have a free plan.
