Starling Bank vs Monzo: Which Is Better in 2025?

Starling Bank and Monzo are two of the UK’s leading challenger banks, each offering a digital-first business current account designed for sole traders, freelancers, and limited companies. With intuitive mobile apps, built-in tools, and competitive monthly fee options, both providers appeal to businesses seeking alternatives to traditional high-street banks.
This guide draws from our full reviews of both Starling and Monzo business accounts. We’ll compare their offerings side by side, covering everything from features to fees, to help you choose the right provider based on your business priorities in 2025.

*Starling Bank is currently not accepting new EUR account applications. EUR accounts are expected to become available again soon.

Feature Comparison Analysis

Starling Bank is well-suited for businesses with domestic and international operations. It offers local account details in GBP and USD, real-time SWIFT payments, and cash and cheque deposit options via the Post Office and mobile app. It also supports bulk payments, integrates with major accounting tools, and offers invoicing and tax features through its Business Toolkit.

Monzo, on the other hand, provides a tiered solution for UK-based businesses. The Pro and Team plans include invoicing, budgeting, virtual cards, bulk payments, and multi-user access. Monzo also offers flexible payment collection via QR codes and tap-to-pay. However, it doesn’t support multi-currency accounts, and most advanced features are only available on paid plans.

Our Verdict

Starling Bank is a good fit for businesses managing international payments, thanks to multi-currency account options, real-time SWIFT tracking, and accounting integrations.

Monzo suits UK-focused businesses looking for built-in tools like invoicing, budgeting, and flexible payment features in its paid plans. While it doesn’t offer multi-currency accounts, it excels at streamlining everyday local operations.

Bottom line:
Choose Starling if your business handles international payments or needs multi-currency capabilities. Go with Monzo if you're focused on domestic growth and want modern tools to simplify daily business banking.

Fees Comparison Analysis

Starling Bank offers a free account with flat international transfer fees—£5.50 per transaction plus a 0.4% FX fee. This structure may benefit businesses looking for predictable cross-border payment costs.

Monzo uses Wise to process international payments, with fees starting from 0.33% and a 1% FX fee. Its free Lite plan covers core banking, while Pro (£9/month) and Team (from £25/month) plans unlock additional tools.

Both providers offer free domestic transfers. Businesses focused on international payments may prefer Starling’s flat rates, while those seeking integrated tools might find Monzo’s tiered pricing worthwhile.

Our Verdict

Starling Bank offers simple, flat fees for international transfers and doesn’t charge a monthly fee for its standard account, making it a good fit for businesses prioritising predictable costs.

Monzo’s tiered pricing gives businesses access to more tools like invoicing, budgeting, and multi-user access but comes with higher FX fees and plan charges.

Bottom line: 

Choose Starling if your business needs affordable, transparent fees for cross-border payments. Choose Monzo if you value built-in tools and don’t mind paying a little more for added functionality.

Cards Comparison Analysis

Starling Bank provides a straightforward card setup with a physical debit card and no foreign transaction fees, making it well-suited for businesses with frequent international travel. It charges a flat 0.4% FX fee and offers free ATM withdrawals globally (ATM operator fees may still apply). However, it does not offer virtual or expense cards, and its daily ATM withdrawal limit is lower than Monzo’s.

Monzo supports both physical and virtual cards, plus expense cards under its Team plan. There are no FX fees on card payments, though a 3% ATM fee applies outside the EEA after £400 per 30 days. These features may be more flexible for teams managing multiple users or digital-first spending, but virtual card access is locked behind paid plans.

Our Verdict

Starling Bank is well-suited for solo businesses looking for simple, transparent card use and unlimited international ATM withdrawals with flat FX fees.

Monzo may be a better fit for businesses managing team expenses, thanks to virtual and expense card options, though these are limited to paid plans.

Bottom line: Choose Starling if your business values straightforward international spending. Go with Monzo if team-based card features and flexible payment tools are your priorities.

Customer Support Comparison Analysis

Starling Bank stands out for offering 24/7 human support across all channels—live chat, phone, and email—making it a strong choice for businesses that value immediate and flexible assistance.

Monzo also delivers responsive support, especially through its in-app chat, but access to full support services is limited outside working hours. If your business needs consistent support at any time, Starling may offer more peace of mind.

Our Verdict

Starling Bank may be a better choice for businesses that need consistent 24/7 support across live chat, phone, and email—without restrictions on query type or time.

Monzo, on the other hand, offers reliable in-app support, with 24/7 availability for urgent matters and standard support hours for non-urgent requests.

Bottom line: 

Choose Starling if your business values all-hours access across multiple channels. Consider Monzo if in-app chat is sufficient for your daily support needs.

Statrys is a licensed payment service provider in Hong Kong, offering multi-currency business accounts tailored for SMEs that operate across borders—particularly those working with clients, suppliers, or partners in Asia.

With our business account, you can hold funds in 11 major currencies and make local payments in 12 currencies, including GBP, USD, EUR, SGD, and HKD—all from a single account. You can also access prepaid Mastercard® cards (physical and virtual) with built-in expense tracking tools.

We offer competitive FX rates based on the mid-market rate, with optional forward contracts to manage currency risk. Every client receives support from a dedicated account manager, and multilingual assistance is available through live chat, WhatsApp, and WeChat.

If your UK-based business is growing internationally or eyeing expansion into Asia, Statrys could be a practical partner for handling cross-border payments.

Choosing the right business account depends on your priorities, whether that’s managing international payments, day-to-day finances, or streamlining admin tasks.

Starling Bank is ideal for businesses with cross-border needs, thanks to its multi-currency features and 24/7 support. Monzo, meanwhile, suits those focused on UK operations who value built-in tools and a simple setup.

Review the latest features and pricing from each provider to decide which one best supports your business goals.