Starling Bank vs bunq
Una mirada en paralelo a cómo se comparan estos dos monederos, y cuál gana en cada tarea.
| Función | Starling Bank | bunq |
|---|---|---|
| Puntuación | 4.5 / 5 | 4.0 / 5 |
| Ideal para | Free UK personal and business banking | Digital nomads needing EU banking + multi-currency |
| Comisión mensual | Free personal account | ~€3–€18/mo (Core/Pro/Elite) |
| Tipo de cambio | Mastercard rate, no markup | ~0.5–1.5% by plan/currency |
| Enviar / recibir | Free UK transfers | Free SEPA on paid plans |
| Retiradas | Free in the UK and abroad | Limited free ATM on higher plans |
| Tarjeta | Yes — debit Mastercard | Yes — physical & virtual Mastercard |
| Disponibilidad | United Kingdom | 30+ EEA countries (+ UK via e-money) |
| Divisas | GBP (EUR/USD business accounts) | ~20+ currencies |
| Regulación | UK PRA/FCA full banking licence (FSCS protected) | De Nederlandsche Bank (DNB) full EU banking licence |
| Fundación | 2014 | 2012 |
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
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
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.