Crunch vs Starling: Complete Comparison (2026)
An in-depth comparison of Crunch and Starling to help you choose the right tool for your business.
Last updated: November 2026
Crunch
5.4/10
UK online accountancy service that pairs bookkeeping and invoicing software with ACCA-regulated accountants for sole traders, contractors and small limited companies.
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 | 5.4/10 | 6.6/10 |
| Analytics | 4/10 | 4/10 |
| Compliance | 8/10 | 7/10 |
| Cost | 5/10 | 9/10 |
| Customization | 3/10 | 3/10 |
| Ease of Use | 7/10 | 8/10 |
| Integration | 3/10 | 6/10 |
| Scalability | 3/10 | 3/10 |
| Security | 6/10 | 8/10 |
| Support | 7/10 | 7/10 |
| Pricing | ||
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Cheapest paid plan | £27/mo Sole Trader Pro | £7/mo Accounting Plus |
| Estimated cost for 10 users | Free Crunch Free | Free Business Account + Accounting Essentials |
| Features | ||
| Accountant Access | ||
| Bank Reconciliation | ||
| Expense Management | ||
| Invoicing | ||
| Online Payments | ||
| Tax Compliance | ||
| Financial Reporting | Not listed | |
| Multi-currency | Not listed | |
| Payroll | Not listed | |
Crunch vs Starling cost by team size
Crunch and Starling cost the same at every team size we checked.
| Team size | Crunch | Starling |
|---|---|---|
| 1 user | FreeCrunch Free | FreeBusiness Account + Accounting Essentials |
| 5 users | FreeCrunch Free | FreeBusiness Account + Accounting Essentials |
| 10 users | FreeCrunch Free | FreeBusiness Account + Accounting Essentials |
| 25 users | FreeCrunch Free | FreeBusiness Account + Accounting Essentials |
| 50 users | FreeCrunch Free | 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 Crunch
- Higher Compliance score (8/10 vs 7/10)
Why choose Starling
- Higher Cost score (9/10 vs 5/10)
- Higher Integration score (6/10 vs 3/10)
Pros & Cons
Crunch
Pros
- Paid plans include a qualified UK accountant who prepares and files Self Assessment, Corporation Tax, VAT and year-end accounts.
- Fixed monthly pricing through a published quote tool, backed by a price match guarantee and a 14-day free trial.
- MTD for Income Tax software comes at no extra cost on sole trader plans.
- Dividend vouchers, board minutes and distributable reserves are automated for limited company directors.
- Support is available by phone, live chat, video and email, and Trustpilot reviewers often praise named advisers.
Cons
- Far fewer third-party integrations than Xero or QuickBooks, and no app marketplace.
- Payroll for staff, director Self Assessment and multi-currency all cost extra on top of the base fee.
- Recent reviews complain about inconsistent support and software glitches, such as bank file formats not being recognised.
- A poor fit for complex companies with group structures or share schemes.
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 5.4/10 for Crunch. The largest gap is in Cost: 5/10 for Crunch and 9/10 for Starling.
Both are free for 10 users.
Yes, both Crunch and Starling have a free plan.
