Starling Bank vs AstroPay
Un comparatif côte à côte de ces deux portefeuilles — et lequel l'emporte selon le besoin.
| Fonctionnalité | Starling Bank | AstroPay |
|---|---|---|
| Note | 4.5 / 5 | 3.5 / 5 |
| Idéal pour | Free UK personal and business banking | Payments in LatAm & emerging markets |
| Frais mensuels | Free personal account | No annual maintenance/card fee |
| Taux de change | Mastercard rate, no Starling fee on card payments | Conversion margin varies |
| Envoyer / recevoir | Free UK transfers; abroad 0.4% + £0.30–£5.50 delivery | P2P supported; varies by corridor |
| Retraits | No Starling fee in the UK or abroad (£300 a day abroad) | Bank-transfer charges may apply |
| Carte | Yes — debit Mastercard | Yes — virtual & physical debit cards |
| Disponibilité | United Kingdom (residents aged 16+) | LatAm, Asia, Africa & beyond |
| Devises | GBP + optional euro account (USD for limited companies only) | Multiple currencies |
| Réglementation | UK PRA/FCA full banking licence (FSCS protected) | UK FCA EMI; Isle of Man FSA; Brazil Central Bank |
| Création | 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, 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.
Avantages
- 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
Inconvénients
- 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.
Avantages
- Strong coverage of Latin American payment methods
- No card or annual maintenance fees
- Virtual & physical cards with multi-currency balances
Inconvénients
- FX/withdrawal fees vary and can be unclear
- Coverage thinner outside LatAm/emerging markets
- FCA authorisation briefly restricted in 2024 (restored 2025)
En résumé
Globalement, Starling Bank prend l'avantage avec une note de 4.5 contre 3.5 — mais le bon choix dépend de vos priorités. Vérifiez les deux selon votre pays et votre usage avant de décider.