Starling Bank vs bunq
Uno sguardo fianco a fianco a come si confrontano questi due portafogli — e quale vince per ciascun compito.
| Caratteristica | Starling Bank | bunq |
|---|---|---|
| Punteggio | 4.5 / 5 | 4.0 / 5 |
| Ideale per | Free UK personal and business banking | Digital nomads needing EU banking + multi-currency |
| Canone mensile | Free personal account | Free €0; Core €3.99; Pro €9.99; Elite €18.99 |
| Tasso di cambio | Mastercard rate, no Starling fee on card payments | Mastercard rate + 0.5% (Free: 1.5% after €1,000 a year) |
| Invia / ricevi | Free UK transfers; abroad 0.4% + £0.30–£5.50 delivery | Free instant euro transfers; SWIFT €5 |
| Prelievi | No Starling fee in the UK or abroad (£300 a day abroad) | Free: €2.99 each; Pro/Elite: first 6 a month free |
| Carta | Yes — debit Mastercard | Yes — physical & virtual Mastercard |
| Disponibilità | United Kingdom (residents aged 16+) | EU residents (new UK sign-ups paused) |
| Valute | GBP + optional euro account (USD for limited companies only) | About 20 currencies; local IBANs from 7 EU countries |
| Regolamentazione | UK PRA/FCA full banking licence (FSCS protected) | De Nederlandsche Bank (DNB) full EU banking licence |
| Fondata | 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, 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.
Pro
- 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
Contro
- 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. Its free plan is limited (virtual card only, €2.99 per ATM withdrawal), so most travellers will want Core or Pro. A strong choice for EU residents wanting flexible, feature-rich banking.
Pro
- Full Dutch banking licence, €100k protection
- Multi-currency holding with fair FX
- Multiple sub-accounts & budgeting tools
Contro
- Free plan has only a virtual card and €2.99 ATM fees
- Free plan FX rises to 1.5% after €1,000 a year
- EU residents only (UK sign-ups paused, US pending a licence)
In conclusione
Nel complesso, Starling Bank ha la meglio con un punteggio di 4.5 contro 4.0 — ma la scelta giusta dipende dalle tue priorità. Verifica entrambi rispetto al tuo Paese e al tuo caso d'uso prima di decidere.