Abby vs Starling: Complete Comparison (2026)
An in-depth comparison of Abby and Starling to help you choose the right tool for your business.
Last updated: November 2026
Abby
5.9/10
French invoicing and admin app for micro-entrepreneurs and freelancers, covering quotes, e-invoicing, Urssaf filings, bank sync and basic bookkeeping.
Starling
6.6/10
A UK digital bank business account with built-in invoicing, bookkeeping, and Making Tax Digital tax tools for sole traders and small limited companies.
Feature-by-Feature Comparison
| Feature | | |
|---|---|---|
| Scores | ||
| Overall Rating | 5.9/10 | 6.6/10 |
| Analytics | 4/10 | 4/10 |
| Compliance | 8/10 | 7/10 |
| Cost | 8/10 | 9/10 |
| Customization | 4/10 | 3/10 |
| Ease of Use | 7/10 | 8/10 |
| Integration | 4/10 | 6/10 |
| Scalability | 3/10 | 3/10 |
| Security | 7/10 | 8/10 |
| Support | 4/10 | 7/10 |
| Pricing | ||
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Cheapest paid plan | €9/mo Start | £7/mo Accounting Plus |
| Estimated cost for 10 users | Free Basique | Free Business Account + Accounting Essentials |
| Features | ||
| Bank Reconciliation | ||
| Invoicing | ||
| Online Payments | ||
| Tax Compliance | ||
| Accountant Access | Not listed | |
| Expense Management | Not listed | |
| Inventory Accounting | Not listed | |
| Multi-currency | Not listed | |
Abby vs Starling cost by team size
| Team size | Abby | Starling |
|---|---|---|
| 1 user | FreeBasique | FreeBusiness Account + Accounting Essentials |
| 5 users | FreeBasique | FreeBusiness Account + Accounting Essentials |
| 10 users | FreeBasique | FreeBusiness Account + Accounting Essentials |
| 25 users | FreeBasique | FreeBusiness Account + Accounting Essentials |
| 50 users | FreeBasique | FreeBusiness Account + Accounting Essentials |
The plan that fits each team size, billed monthly, before add-ons and usage charges. Each cost opens that tool's pricing calculator for the team size.
Which One Should You Choose?
Why choose Abby
- Higher Compliance score (8/10 vs 7/10)
- Higher Customization score (4/10 vs 3/10)
Why choose Starling
- Higher Support score (7/10 vs 4/10)
- Higher Integration score (6/10 vs 4/10)
- Better fit for small business (8/10 vs 6/10)
Pros & Cons
Abby
Pros
- The free Basique plan includes unlimited quotes and invoices plus mandatory e-invoicing, which suits freelancers who are just starting out.
- The DGFiP registered Abby as an approved e-invoicing platform in January 2026, so it is ready for France's e-invoicing reform.
- Urssaf contribution estimates and filings are built in, which removes a recurring chore for micro-entrepreneurs.
- Abby claims ISO 27001 certification and is available on iOS and Android.
Cons
- It serves only French businesses and has no English interface.
- Important features are split across tiers. Bank sync needs Pro, and multiple users and foreign currencies need the 33 euro Business plan.
- Reviewers report chatbot-first support with no phone line, even on Business.
- Some users report bugs such as invoices that would not send, wrong Urssaf amounts and unmatched bank payments.
Starling
Pros
- The business account has no monthly fee, and UK transfers, invoicing, and up to five expense cards are free.
- The free Essentials tier includes MTD for Income Tax submissions, which helps sole traders and landlords facing the April 2026 rules.
- VAT returns can be filed to HMRC from inside the banking app for £7 a month until April 2027.
- Bank feeds connect to Xero, QuickBooks, and FreeAgent.
- UK-based support is available 24/7 in the app, and Finder ranked it highly for customer satisfaction in 2026.
Cons
- It is not a full accounting system: there is no general ledger, payroll, or multi-entity support.
- Accountants only get view-only access.
- Only GBP and EUR accounts are available, and new USD account applications are paused.
- Eligibility is strict: directors and people with significant control must be UK residents.
- Overdrafts and loans are not available to new business customers, and there are no branches.
Not sold on either?
Frequently Asked Questions
Starling scores higher on our Finance Software criteria: 6.6/10 against 5.9/10 for Abby. The largest gap is in Support: 4/10 for Abby and 7/10 for Starling.
Yes, both Abby and Starling have a free plan.
Starling is the better fit for small business: we rate it 8/10 for them, against 6/10 for Abby.
