Starling Business Bank Review (2026): The “No-Fee” King?

By: Money Navigator Research Team

Last Reviewed: 12/12/2025

Verdict: Starling Bank is widely considered the best “all-round” business bank account in the UK. Unlike its rivals, it offers a truly free account with no monthly fees and no transfer fees. If you want a fully regulated bank account that won't charge you for every payment, Starling is the winner.

Also Compare: 

Also Compare: 

At a Glance: Is Starling Right for You?

Feature
Rating
Quick Summary
Cost
5 / 5
Truly Free. No monthly fee & free UK transfers.
Safety
5 / 5
FSCS Protected (up to £85k). Fully licensed UK bank.
Features
4.9 / 5
Cheque imaging, Xero integration & "Spaces" for tax.
International
4 / 5
Good for Euro/USD accounts, but fees apply (£2-£5/mo).
Eligibility
4 / 5
Strict. Hard Credit Check required.

Visit Starling Website

  PROTECTED BY FSCS  

The “Need to Know” Essentials

1. Is Starling Safe? (The Real Bank Status)

Unlike many fintech competitors, Starling is a fully licensed UK bank.

  • What this means: They don't just “partner” with a bank; they are the bank.

  • FSCS Protection: Your eligible deposits are protected up to £85,000 by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme .

  • Trust: They have won “Best British Business Bank” multiple years running.

2. The Cost: Is it really free?

Yes. For most small businesses, Starling is completely free.

  • Monthly Fee: £0

  • UK Transfers: Free (Unlimited).

  • Card Payments: Free.

  • ATM Withdrawals: Free.

Compare this to Tide, which charges 20p per transfer on its free plan.

starling business bank
Visit Starling Website

  STARLING ACCOUNT FEATURES  

Starling Account Features

Cheque Imaging (A Rare Feature)

  • Starling is one of the few digital banks that lets you deposit cheques via the app. You simply take a photo of the cheque on your phone (up to £1,000 value), and the money clears in two working days. For higher values, you can post them for free.
Visit Starling Website

“Spaces” for Tax

  • You can create separate “buckets” (Spaces) within your account to ring-fence money for Corporation Tax or VAT. This keeps your tax money separate from your daily spending money, ensuring you don't accidentally spend the HMRC bill.
Visit Starling Website

International Banking

If you trade abroad, you can open additional currency accounts alongside your main GBP account:

  • Euro Account: £2 per month.

  • USD Account: £5 per month.

  • Transfers: 0.4% conversion fee + £5.50 Priority Delivery fee.

Visit Starling Website

  STARLING VS TIDE  

The Comparison: Starling vs. Tide

This is the main battle. Do you choose the Speed of Tide or the Value of Starling?

Feature
Tide (Free Plan)
Starling (Free Plan)
Winner
Monthly Fee
£0
£0
Draw
Transfer Fees
❌ CON: 20p each
✅ PRO: Free (Unlimited)
Starling
Speed to Open
✅ PRO: 5-10 Mins
❌ CON: 1-2 Days
Tide
Credit Check
✅ PRO: Soft Check (No footprint)
❌ CON: Hard Check (Footprint)
Tide
Cheque Imaging
❌ CON: No (Post only)
✅ PRO: Yes (In App)
Starling
International
❌ CON: Basic
✅ PRO: Good
Starling

Feature
Tide (Free Plan)
Starling (Free Plan)
Winner
Monthly Fee
£0
£0
Draw
Transfer Fees
❌ CON: 20p each
✅ PRO: Free (Unlimited)
Starling
Speed to Open
✅ PRO: 5-10 Mins
❌ CON: 1-2 Days
Tide
Credit Check
✅ PRO: Soft Check (No footprint)
❌ CON: Hard Check (Footprint)
Tide
Cheque Imaging
❌ CON: No (Post only)
✅ PRO: Yes (In App)
Starling
International
❌ CON: Basic
✅ PRO: Good
Starling

The Verdict:

  • Choose Starling if: You are established, have good credit, and want to avoid all transaction fees.

  • Choose Tide if: You need an account today, or have “Bad Credit” and want to avoid a hard credit check.

👉 If you are worried about passing a hard credit check, read our guide on Business Bank Accounts for Bad Credit.

starling business bank
Visit Starling Website
tide business bank
Visit Tide Website

  REASONS FOR NOT JOINING STARLING  

The Cons: Why would you NOT join Starling?

Starling bank is excellent, but it isn't for everyone.

  1. Strict Eligibility: Starling performs a Hard Credit Check. If you have a CCJ, default, or poor credit history, you will likely be rejected. In this case, Zempler or Tide are safer options.

  2. Slower Setup: Because they do a full credit check, account opening can take 24-48 hours (sometimes longer for complex companies). Tide is usually instant.

  3. Cash Deposits: You can deposit cash at the Post Office, but Starling charges 0.7% (minimum £3 fee). If you handle a lot of cash, a high-street bank might be cheaper.

starling business bank
Visit Starling Website
tide business bank
Visit Tide Website
zempler bank formerly cashplus
Visit Zempler Website

Final Review: Should You Join Starling?

Yes, if you qualify.

Starling Bank is arguably the best “standard” business bank account on the market right now. It offers the functionality of a high-street bank (Overdrafts, Cheques, FSCS) with the speed and zero-fees of a fintech.

However, their high standards mean they don't accept everyone. If you have a spotless credit file, Starling should be your first choice. If your credit is less than perfect, don't risk the hard check – go for Tide instead.

Open Starling Account

Quick links:

Starling Business Bank Account FAQ's

While Starling is famous for being “fee-free,” many business owners still have questions about hidden costs, eligibility, and how it handles cash deposits. Below, we answer the most common queries to help you decide if Starling is the right home for your business finances.

Is Starling Bank truly free for businesses?

Yes. For the vast majority of small businesses, Starling has no monthly fees and charges no fees for standard electronic transactions (Faster Payments, Direct Debits, and Standing Orders). You only pay fees for optional extras like depositing cash at the Post Office, sending CHAPS payments, or making international transfers.

Yes. Unlike some fintech apps (which are e-money institutions), Starling is a fully licensed UK bank regulated by the PRA and FCA. This means your eligible deposits are protected by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS) up to £85,000, offering the same level of security as Barclays, HSBC, or Lloyds.

Yes. Starling performs a full Hard Credit Check when you apply. This leaves a “footprint” on your credit file that other lenders can see. If you have a poor credit history, CCJs, or an IVA, you are likely to be declined. In that scenario, we recommend Tide or Zempler, as they only perform soft checks.

Yes. Starling is one of the few digital banks to offer Cheque Imaging. You can deposit cheques valued up to £1,000 instantly by taking a photo of them in the app. For cheques over £1,000, you can post them to Starling for free using a Freepost envelope.

You can deposit cash into your Starling account at any of the 11,500 Post Office branches across the UK. However, unlike electronic transfers, this is not free. Starling charges a 0.7% fee (minimum £3) for each cash deposit. If your business handles large amounts of daily cash, a high-street bank might be cheaper.

Yes. Because Starling is a regulated bank, they offer business overdrafts and loans (subject to approval). You can adjust your overdraft limit within the app. Interest rates are tailored to your business risk profile, but they are generally competitive compared to traditional banks.

Yes, but it isn't included in the free plan. You can open separate Euro and US Dollar accounts alongside your GBP account. These cost £2/month and £5/month respectively. Currency transfers are charged at a 0.4% conversion fee plus a priority delivery fee.

Yes. Starling offers a seamless, real-time integration with major accounting software like Xero, QuickBooks, and FreeAgent.

This feature is included for free (unlike some competitors who charge for “add-ons”) and allows your transactions to sync automatically for easier tax returns.

Yes. Starling accepts Sole Traders, Limited Companies (LTD), and Limited Liability Partnerships (LLP). However, you must be a UK resident and the business must be registered in the UK. They generally do not accept charities, trusts, or companies with complex ownership structures involving offshore entities.

While many accounts are opened on the same day, Starling's checks are more thorough than Tide's. Most customers get an answer within 24 to 48 hours. In some cases, they may ask for additional documents (like proof of trade or contracts), which can extend the process to a few days.

Money Navigator Research Team

Market Research & Comparison Editors

money navigator

About the Authors: We are a team of independent market researchers passionate about helping UK business owners save money. We analyse hundreds of data points from monthly fees to hidden transaction costs to bring you transparent, side-by-side comparisons of the UK's leading financial providers.

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