Short answer: Monzo and Starling both offer a personal current account with no monthly fee and state that eligible deposits are protected by the FSCS up to £120,000 per person. The most useful distinctions are Monzo’s account-status-dependent cash limits and paid plans, Starling’s stated cash-withdrawal terms, and the banks’ different app and support features. In the latest service-quality survey cited here, Monzo scored 79% and Starling 76% in Great Britain; that is a customer recommendation measure, not a guarantee of future service.
Monzo vs Starling at a glance
| What matters | Monzo | Starling |
|---|---|---|
| Standard personal account fee | Free tier available; optional Extra and Perks plans are listed at £3 and £9 per month respectively on Monzo’s current account page. Check the live page for current prices and benefits. Monzo account details | Personal accounts have no monthly fee, according to Starling. The bank lists free Faster Payments, Direct Debits and Standing Orders. Starling account overview |
| Cash withdrawals | UK and EEA allowances depend on whether Monzo is the main account and on plan status. If it is not the main account, the stated allowance is £400 per rolling 30 days, then a 3% fee. Outside the UK and EEA, the allowance also depends on account status. Monzo fees and allowances | The located personal-account fee schedule, dated February 2025, states no Starling fee for UK cash withdrawals or foreign-currency withdrawals abroad. ATM operator charges and currency conversion can still apply. Starling fee schedule (February 2025) |
| App and support | Provider-listed features include spending notifications, card freeze, biometric login, daily payment limits, extra checks for large payments, in-app budgeting and savings tools, and 24/7 in-app help. Account features Payments and security features | Starling lists 24/7 UK human support, biometric security and Scam Intelligence, which assesses uploaded screenshots. Starling account overview |
| Eligible-deposit protection | States FSCS cover up to £120,000 per person, subject to eligibility and scheme rules. Monzo account details | States FSCS cover up to £120,000 per person, subject to eligibility and scheme rules. Starling account overview |
| 2026 service-quality result | 79% overall service-quality recommendation score in Great Britain. | 76% overall service-quality recommendation score in Great Britain. |
Which account costs less for everyday banking?
Standard monthly fees
Neither standard personal account has a monthly fee. Starling says its Faster Payments, Direct Debits and Standing Orders are free. Monzo offers a free tier as well as optional paid plans: its current account page lists Extra at £3 a month and Perks at £9 a month. These paid-plan prices and entitlements can change, so confirm the live terms before signing up. Monzo current accounts Starling account overview
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A paid plan is worth considering only if you would use its included benefits enough to justify a recurring charge. The cited information does not establish that either provider is cheaper for every customer: the answer depends on account use, withdrawals and any optional services.
Cash withdrawals in the UK and EEA
Monzo’s fee rules depend on account status. Customers using Monzo as their main bank, and customers on specified paid plans, have unlimited fee-free UK and EEA withdrawals under its published terms. If Monzo is not the main account, the stated allowance is £400 per rolling 30 days, after which Monzo charges 3%. Check the current fee page for the exact definition of main-bank status and plan eligibility. Monzo fees and allowances
#1 Best Overall
Starling’s located personal-account schedule says it charges no fee for UK cash withdrawals. That schedule is dated February 2025, so check the current schedule before relying on it. Starling personal-account schedule
Cash withdrawals abroad
For Monzo, the published allowance and any fee outside the UK and EEA depend on account status; the stated excess fee is 3%. Do not assume the UK/EEA allowance applies globally. Check the current Monzo fee terms for the allowance that matches your account. Monzo fees and allowances
Rank #2
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- Compact for travelling
Starling’s February 2025 schedule states that Starling does not charge a fee for foreign-currency cash withdrawals abroad. This does not guarantee a cost-free withdrawal: an ATM operator may impose its own charge. If the ATM offers to convert the withdrawal into sterling, choosing that conversion can mean the operator sets the exchange rate. Otherwise, Mastercard exchange rates apply under the cited schedule. Starling personal-account schedule (February 2025)
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Replacing a card
Monzo says replacements are free when a card is stolen, expired or affected by fraud. Customers using Monzo as their main bank receive two free replacements per year before a £5 charge, according to its fee information. Starling’s February 2025 schedule lists £5 for a replacement card sent to a UK address and £10 when a card is lost or stolen abroad. As Starling’s figures come from a dated schedule, verify its current charges before ordering a replacement. Monzo fees and allowances Starling personal-account schedule
Rank #3
How do the apps, security tools and support compare?
Monzo lists instant spending notifications, card freezing, biometric login, daily payment limits and extra checks for large payments. Its free account also includes app-based budgeting and savings features; paid-plan benefits are separate and should be checked against current terms. Monzo advertises 24/7 in-app help. Monzo current accounts Monzo payments and security
Starling describes 24/7 UK support from humans, biometric security and Scam Intelligence, a feature that assesses screenshots uploaded by customers. Starling account overview
These are provider-listed features, not like-for-like evidence that one bank prevents fraud more effectively or resolves problems faster. For a practical choice, consider which support route and app tools suit you; the feature descriptions alone do not establish comparative real-world outcomes.
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Are Monzo and Starling protected by the FSCS?
Both banks state that eligible deposits are covered by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS) up to £120,000 per person. The limit is subject to eligibility and aggregation rules: eligible current and savings balances with the same bank count together toward the limit. Joint-account holders each have an individual limit. Qualifying temporary high balances may receive additional protection for a limited period. Starling / FSCS information sheet (2026)
Best Value
FSCS deposit protection is for eligible deposits if a bank fails. It is not the same as safeguards, reimbursement rules or dispute rights for fraud or unauthorised transactions.
What do the latest service-quality results say?
Results published in August 2026 gave Monzo 79% and Starling 76% for overall service quality among personal current-account customers in Great Britain. Ipsos conducted the survey from July 2025 to June 2026. The published results say approximately 1,000 customers for each of the 17 largest providers were surveyed; the scores represent the share who were “extremely likely” or “very likely” to recommend their provider. Monzo’s service-quality results
The three-point difference is a survey result, not a score for every account feature or a prediction of an individual customer’s experience. The results are for Great Britain and should not automatically be generalized to Northern Ireland.
Quick Recap
How to choose between Monzo and Starling
- Start with your cash habits. Estimate how often you use ATMs and where. For Monzo, check the allowance for your account status and plan; for Starling, confirm the current fee schedule. Include possible ATM-operator charges and currency conversion when travelling.
- Decide whether a paid plan earns its keep. Compare Monzo’s current plan price and benefits with features you would genuinely use, rather than assuming paid means better value.
- Match the app and support to your preferences. Compare Monzo’s in-app help and listed controls with Starling’s UK human support and listed tools. Neither provider’s feature list is an independent performance test.
- Consider your total deposits at each banking group. If you hold current and savings balances with the same bank, account for FSCS aggregation and eligibility, including any joint balances or qualifying temporary high balances.
- Use the survey as context, not a verdict. The 2026 recommendation results modestly favour Monzo in Great Britain, but they do not determine which account is best for your needs.
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