Starling Bank vs Curve
Una mirada en paralelo a cómo se comparan estos dos monederos, y cuál gana en cada tarea.
| Función | Starling Bank | Curve |
|---|---|---|
| Puntuación | 4.5 / 5 | 3.8 / 5 |
| Ideal para | Free UK personal and business banking | Consolidating multiple cards into one |
| Comisión mensual | Free personal account | Curve Pay free; X £/€5.99; Pro £/€9.99; Pro+ £/€17.99 |
| Tipo de cambio | Mastercard rate, no Starling fee on card payments | Mastercard wholesale rate; free up to £/€250 a month on Curve Pay, then 2.99% (+1.5% at weekends) |
| Enviar / recibir | Free UK transfers; abroad 0.4% + £0.30–£5.50 delivery | N/A (overlays existing cards) |
| Retiradas | No Starling fee in the UK or abroad (£300 a day abroad) | Curve Pay 2% (min £/€2); paid plans £/€300–1,000 free a month |
| Tarjeta | Yes — debit Mastercard | Yes — single Mastercard overlaying your cards |
| Disponibilidad | United Kingdom (residents aged 16+) | UK and EEA (residents aged 18+) |
| Divisas | GBP + optional euro account (USD for limited companies only) | Spends in multiple currencies via linked cards |
| Regulación | UK PRA/FCA full banking licence (FSCS protected) | FCA-authorised e-money institution |
| Fundación | 2014 | 2015 |
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.
Pros
- 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
Contras
- UK-only
- GBP-focused for personal accounts
- Fewer lifestyle perks than some rivals
Curve
Curve is a London-based smart card that consolidates all your existing debit and credit cards into one Mastercard and app, with a standout "Go Back in Time" feature to retroactively switch a payment's funding card. Its free Curve Pay plan includes only £/€250 of fee-free FX a month and adds a 1.5% weekend fee, so its best travel value sits in the paid tiers. An overlay layer rather than a bank or transfer account.
Pros
- Combine all cards into one card & app
- No FX fee on paid plans up to high monthly allowances
- "Go Back in Time" to switch a payment's card
Contras
- Free plan: 2.99% FX above £/€250 a month plus 1.5% at weekends
- Not a transfer/IBAN account — overlay only
- Best features behind paid plans
En resumen
En conjunto, Starling Bank se adelanta con una puntuación de 4.5 frente a 3.8, pero la elección correcta depende de tus prioridades. Compara ambos según tu país y tu caso de uso antes de decidir.