Starling Bank vs AstroPay
Una mirada en paralelo a cómo se comparan estos dos monederos, y cuál gana en cada tarea.
| Función | Starling Bank | AstroPay |
|---|---|---|
| Puntuación | 4.5 / 5 | 3.5 / 5 |
| Ideal para | Free UK personal and business banking | Payments in LatAm & emerging markets |
| Comisión mensual | Free personal account | No annual maintenance/card fee |
| Tipo de cambio | Mastercard rate, no markup | Conversion margin varies |
| Enviar / recibir | Free UK transfers | P2P supported; varies by corridor |
| Retiradas | Free in the UK and abroad | Bank-transfer charges may apply |
| Tarjeta | Yes — debit Mastercard | Yes — virtual & physical debit cards |
| Disponibilidad | United Kingdom | LatAm, Asia, Africa & beyond |
| Divisas | GBP (EUR/USD business accounts) | Multiple currencies |
| Regulación | UK PRA/FCA full banking licence (FSCS protected) | UK FCA EMI; Isle of Man FSA; Brazil Central Bank |
| Fundación | 2014 | 2009 |
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
AstroPay
AstroPay is a London-headquartered, Uruguay-born wallet specialising in Latin American and emerging-market payments, offering local funding options, virtual/physical debit cards and multi-currency balances with no card or maintenance fees. It is a natural fit for cross-border payments into the region, though FX and withdrawal pricing varies. Best for users transacting in or with Latin America.
Pros
- Strong coverage of Latin American payment methods
- No card or annual maintenance fees
- Virtual & physical cards with multi-currency balances
Contras
- FX/withdrawal fees vary and can be unclear
- Coverage thinner outside LatAm/emerging markets
- FCA authorisation briefly restricted in 2024 (restored 2025)
En resumen
En conjunto, Starling Bank se adelanta con una puntuación de 4.5 frente a 3.5, pero la elección correcta depende de tus prioridades. Compara ambos según tu país y tu caso de uso antes de decidir.