Apple Pay vs Starling Bank

Una mirada en paralelo a cómo se comparan estos dos monederos, y cuál gana en cada tarea.

Apple Pay logo

Apple Pay

4.4

Tap-to-pay built into iPhone

Visitar Apple Pay
Nuestra elección Starling Bank logo

Starling Bank

4.5

UK bank with strong business accounts

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FunciónApple PayStarling Bank
Puntuación4.4 / 54.5 / 5
Ideal paraContactless payments on Apple devicesFree UK personal and business banking
Comisión mensualFreeFree personal account
Tipo de cambioUses your card's FX termsMastercard rate, no Starling fee on card payments
Enviar / recibirApple Cash P2P free; instant 1.7%Free UK transfers; abroad 0.4% + £0.30–£5.50 delivery
RetiradasStandard Apple Cash free; instant 1.7%No Starling fee in the UK or abroad (£300 a day abroad)
TarjetaNo standalone card; tokenises existing cardsYes — debit Mastercard
DisponibilidadApple Pay in 101 countries and regions (Apple list, 27 Oct 2026); Apple Cash US-onlyUnited Kingdom (residents aged 16+)
DivisasLocal card currency; Apple Cash USDGBP + optional euro account (USD for limited companies only)
RegulaciónApple Cash via Green Dot Bank (US); rides card networksUK PRA/FCA full banking licence (FSCS protected)
Fundación20142014

Apple Pay

Apple Pay is the default contactless wallet for iPhone and Apple Watch users, offering fast, private, tokenized tap-to-pay available in 100+ countries and regions with no Apple fee. Apple Cash adds US-only peer-to-peer payments inside iMessage. Excellent for everyday spending within the Apple ecosystem but offers no standalone account or Android support.

Pros

  • Seamless, secure contactless on iPhone/Watch
  • Tokenization keeps real card numbers private
  • Available in 100+ countries and regions

Contras

  • Apple Cash P2P is US-only
  • Locked to the Apple ecosystem
  • Instant Apple Cash transfers cost 1.7%

Starling Bank

Starling Bank is a fully licensed UK app bank with FSCS-protected deposits, no fees on overseas spending or ATM withdrawals, an optional euro account and highly regarded free business accounts. It is one of the strongest all-round UK options, especially for freelancers and small businesses, though it is UK-only and GBP-focused.

Pros

  • Full UK bank, FSCS-protected deposits up to £120,000
  • No Starling fees on overseas spending or ATM withdrawals
  • Euro account with its own IBAN, no monthly fee

Contras

  • UK-only
  • GBP-focused for personal accounts
  • Fewer lifestyle perks than some rivals

En resumen

En conjunto, Starling Bank se adelanta con una puntuación de 4.5 frente a 4.4, pero la elección correcta depende de tus prioridades. Compara ambos según tu país y tu caso de uso antes de decidir.