BillingEngine vs Starling: Complete Comparison (2026)
An in-depth comparison of BillingEngine and Starling to help you choose the right tool for your business.
Last updated: November 2026
BillingEngine
5.7/10
BillingEngine is a browser-based invoicing tool from Hamburg for freelancers and small German businesses. It creates quotes, invoices and XRechnung or ZUGFeRD e-invoices.
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 | 5.7/10 | 6.6/10 |
| Analytics | 3/10 | 4/10 |
| Compliance | 7/10 | 7/10 |
| Cost | 9/10 | 9/10 |
| Customization | 3/10 | 3/10 |
| Ease of Use | 8/10 | 8/10 |
| Integration | 3/10 | 6/10 |
| Scalability | 2/10 | 3/10 |
| Security | 5/10 | 8/10 |
| Support | 8/10 | 7/10 |
| Pricing | ||
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Cheapest paid plan | €8/mo Basic | £7/mo Accounting Plus |
| Estimated cost for 10 users | Free Free | Free Business Account + Accounting Essentials |
| Features | ||
| Bank Reconciliation | ||
| Accountant Access | ||
| Invoicing | ||
| Tax Compliance | ||
| Expense Management | Not listed | |
| Multi-currency | Not listed | |
| Online Payments | Not listed | |
BillingEngine vs Starling cost by team size
| Team size | BillingEngine | Starling |
|---|---|---|
| 1 user | FreeFree | FreeBusiness Account + Accounting Essentials |
| 5 users | €15/moPremium | FreeBusiness Account + Accounting Essentials |
| 10 users | FreeFree | FreeBusiness Account + Accounting Essentials |
| 25 users | FreeFree | FreeBusiness Account + Accounting Essentials |
| 50 users | FreeFree | 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 BillingEngine
- Higher Support score (8/10 vs 7/10)
Why choose Starling
- Higher Integration score (6/10 vs 3/10)
- Higher Security score (8/10 vs 5/10)
- Includes Bank Reconciliation, which BillingEngine lacks
Pros & Cons
BillingEngine
Pros
- Creates ZUGFeRD and XRechnung e-invoices on every plan, including the free one, and reviewers say public authorities accept them.
- Every account gets an inbox for incoming supplier e-invoices, with no limit.
- Paid plans start at 7.50 euros a month with a flat fee rather than per-user pricing, and annual billing saves 20 percent.
- Stopwatch time tracking turns timed tasks into invoice items in one click.
- Reviewers on OMR and Trustpilot praise fast, personal support and the simple interface.
Cons
- There is no bank connection, so bank reconciliation is not available.
- There is only one invoice design, with limited layout and branding options.
- There is no mobile app; it runs in the browser only.
- The maximum is five users, and reviewers say it is unsuitable for larger companies.
- Users have asked for automatic sending of payment reminders and delivery notes.
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 5.7/10 for BillingEngine. The largest gap is in Integration: 3/10 for BillingEngine and 6/10 for Starling.
Yes, both BillingEngine and Starling have a free plan.
Starling has Bank Reconciliation, which BillingEngine lacks.
