Starling Bank vs Wallester
A side-by-side look at how these two wallets stack up — and which one wins for which job.
| Feature | Starling Bank | Wallester |
|---|---|---|
| Score | 4.5 / 5 | 4.1 / 5 |
| Best for | Free UK personal and business banking | Businesses issuing expense & team cards |
| Monthly fee | Free personal account | Free (Free plan) |
| Exchange rate | Mastercard rate, no markup | 2% on foreign currency |
| Send / receive | Free UK transfers | Free plan + paid premium tiers |
| Withdrawals | Free in the UK and abroad | 2% on cash/ATM |
| Card | Yes — debit Mastercard | Yes — Visa (virtual & physical, white-label) |
| Availability | United Kingdom | EEA-focused |
| Currencies | GBP (EUR/USD business accounts) | 10 currencies for exchange |
| Regulation | UK PRA/FCA full banking licence (FSCS protected) | Estonian FSA; Visa Principal Member |
| Founded | 2014 | 2016 |
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
Cons
- UK-only
- GBP-focused for personal accounts
- Fewer lifestyle perks than some rivals
Wallester
Wallester is an Estonian, Visa-principal-member platform offering free IBAN business accounts and up to 300 free virtual Visa cards with strong expense-management and accounting integrations. It is built for businesses rather than consumers, with 2% FX and ATM-withdrawal fees as the main cost considerations.
Pros
- Up to 300 free virtual Visa cards
- Free IBAN business account & expense controls
- Visa Principal Member, PCI DSS Level 1
Cons
- 2% FX markup on foreign-currency spend
- 2% fee on cash/ATM withdrawals
- Geared to businesses, not consumers
The bottom line
Overall, Starling Bank edges ahead with a score of 4.5 versus 4.1 — but the right choice depends on your priorities. Check both against your own country and use case before deciding.