bunq vs Starling Bank
Una mirada en paralelo a cómo se comparan estos dos monederos, y cuál gana en cada tarea.
| Función | bunq | Starling Bank |
|---|---|---|
| Puntuación | 4.0 / 5 | 4.5 / 5 |
| Ideal para | Digital nomads needing EU banking + multi-currency | Free UK personal and business banking |
| Comisión mensual | ~€3–€18/mo (Core/Pro/Elite) | Free personal account |
| Tipo de cambio | ~0.5–1.5% by plan/currency | Mastercard rate, no markup |
| Enviar / recibir | Free SEPA on paid plans | Free UK transfers |
| Retiradas | Limited free ATM on higher plans | Free in the UK and abroad |
| Tarjeta | Yes — physical & virtual Mastercard | Yes — debit Mastercard |
| Disponibilidad | 30+ EEA countries (+ UK via e-money) | United Kingdom |
| Divisas | ~20+ currencies | GBP (EUR/USD business accounts) |
| Regulación | De Nederlandsche Bank (DNB) full EU banking licence | UK PRA/FCA full banking licence (FSCS protected) |
| Fundación | 2012 | 2014 |
bunq
bunq is an Amsterdam-based challenger bank with a full Dutch banking licence and €100,000 deposit protection, popular with digital nomads for its multi-currency support, sub-accounts and savings interest. Unlike some rivals it is subscription-based with no fully free everyday plan. A strong choice for EU residents wanting flexible, feature-rich banking.
Pros
- Full Dutch banking licence, €100k protection
- Multi-currency holding with fair FX
- Multiple sub-accounts & budgeting tools
Contras
- No fully free everyday plan (subscription)
- FX markup higher on lower tiers
- Mainly EEA-focused availability
Starling Bank
Starling Bank is a fully licensed UK app bank with FSCS-protected deposits, no fees on overseas spending or ATM withdrawals, interest on balances 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
- No fees on overseas spending or ATM withdrawals
- Excellent free business accounts
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 4.0, pero la elección correcta depende de tus prioridades. Compara ambos según tu país y tu caso de uso antes de decidir.