Pilot vs Starling: Complete Comparison (2026)
An in-depth comparison of Pilot and Starling to help you choose the right tool for your business.
Last updated: November 2026
Pilot
6.4/10
Pilot is a US bookkeeping, tax, and CFO service for startups and small businesses. It pairs software with human accountants and charges by monthly expense volume.
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 | 6.4/10 | 6.6/10 |
| Scalability | 6/10 | 3/10 |
| Analytics | 6/10 | 4/10 |
| Compliance | 7/10 | 7/10 |
| Integration | 6/10 | 6/10 |
| Security | 6/10 | 8/10 |
| Support | 7/10 | 7/10 |
| Cost | 5/10 | 9/10 |
| Customization | 6/10 | 3/10 |
| Ease of Use | 8/10 | 8/10 |
| Pricing | ||
| Free plan | No | Yes |
| Cheapest paid plan | $99/mo Essentials | £7/mo Accounting Plus |
| Estimated cost for 10 users | $99/mo Essentials | Free Business Account + Accounting Essentials |
| Features | ||
| Accountant Access | ||
| Bank Reconciliation | ||
| Invoicing | ||
| Tax Compliance | ||
| Accounts Payable | Not listed | |
| Budgeting and Forecasting | Not listed | |
| Expense Management | Not listed | |
| Financial Reporting | Not listed | |
| General Ledger | Not listed | |
| Online Payments | Not listed | |
| Payroll | Not listed | |
Pilot vs Starling cost by team size
| Team size | Pilot | Starling |
|---|---|---|
| 1 user | $99/moEssentials | FreeBusiness Account + Accounting Essentials |
| 5 users | $99/moEssentials | FreeBusiness Account + Accounting Essentials |
| 10 users | $99/moEssentials | FreeBusiness Account + Accounting Essentials |
| 25 users | $99/moEssentials | FreeBusiness Account + Accounting Essentials |
| 50 users | $99/moEssentials | 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 Pilot
- Higher Scalability score (6/10 vs 3/10)
- Higher Customization score (6/10 vs 3/10)
- Better fit for startups (10/10 vs 6/10)
Why choose Starling
- Has a free plan (Pilot does not)
- Higher Cost score (9/10 vs 5/10)
- Higher Security score (8/10 vs 6/10)
Pros & Cons
Pilot
Pros
- Essentials starts at 99 dollars a month, which is low for managed bookkeeping.
- Bookkeeping, tax filing, fractional CFO, R&D credit, and stock administration are available from one provider.
- Long experience with venture-backed startups, with discounts for pre-revenue companies.
- Capterra users rate it 4.7 out of 5.
Cons
- Essentials is cash-basis only, with in-app support and no assigned human bookkeeper.
- Core reports arrive by the 10th business day, so last month's numbers land mid-month.
- Full AP, AR, and payroll administration require the sales-quoted Custom tier.
- Some reviewers report delayed reports, occasional service lapses, and high cost for very early-stage companies.
- Built around QuickBooks Online and US tax, so it suits non-US businesses less well.
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 6.4/10 for Pilot. The largest gap is in Cost: 5/10 for Pilot and 9/10 for Starling.
Starling has a free plan; Pilot does not list one.
Pilot is the better fit for startups: we rate it 10/10 for them, against 6/10 for Starling.
