Qonto vs Starling: Complete Comparison (2026)
An in-depth comparison of Qonto and Starling to help you choose the right tool for your business.
Last updated: November 2026
Qonto
6.4/10
Qonto is a European online business account for freelancers and SMEs, combining a local IBAN, payment cards, transfers, invoicing, and expense tools.
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 |
| Analytics | 5/10 | 4/10 |
| Compliance | 6/10 | 7/10 |
| Cost | 6/10 | 9/10 |
| Customization | 5/10 | 3/10 |
| Ease of Use | 8/10 | 8/10 |
| Integration | 8/10 | 6/10 |
| Scalability | 6/10 | 3/10 |
| Security | 6/10 | 8/10 |
| Support | 5/10 | 7/10 |
| Pricing | ||
| Free plan | No | Yes |
| Cheapest paid plan | €9/mo Basic | £7/mo Accounting Plus |
| Estimated cost for 10 users | €49/mo Essential | Free Business Account + Accounting Essentials |
| Features | ||
| Accountant Access | ||
| Bank Reconciliation | ||
| Expense Management | ||
| Invoicing | ||
| Accounts Payable | Not listed | |
| Corporate Cards | Not listed | |
| Online Payments | Not listed | |
| Tax Compliance | Not listed | |
Qonto vs Starling cost by team size
| Team size | Qonto | Starling |
|---|---|---|
| 1 user | €9/moBasic | FreeBusiness Account + Accounting Essentials |
| 5 users | €49/moEssential | FreeBusiness Account + Accounting Essentials |
| 10 users | €49/moEssential | FreeBusiness Account + Accounting Essentials |
| 25 users | €49/moEssential | FreeBusiness Account + Accounting Essentials |
| 50 users | €49/moEssential | 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 Qonto
- Higher Scalability score (6/10 vs 3/10)
- Higher Customization score (5/10 vs 3/10)
Why choose Starling
- Has a free plan (Qonto does not)
- Higher Cost score (9/10 vs 6/10)
- Higher Security score (8/10 vs 6/10)
Pros & Cons
Qonto
Pros
- Low entry price: the Basic solo plan costs €9 a month, and every plan has a one-month free trial with no commitment.
- Team plans include unlimited users, so costs do not rise with headcount.
- A large integration directory covers DATEV, Sage, Tiime and Stripe, plus Zapier, Make and a public API.
- Accountants get unlimited access from the Smart plan, which makes bookkeeping handoffs easier.
- Reviewers on G2 and Capterra praise the interface and quick onboarding.
Cons
- Reviewers often report account freezes during compliance checks that hold funds for days.
- Support is described as slow or generic when an issue is complex.
- International transfers cost 0.56% to 1.8% with a €5 minimum, which adds up for businesses that pay in many currencies.
- Qonto is a payment institution, not a full bank, and offers no broad lending products.
- There is no full general ledger or financial statements, so a separate accounting tool is still needed.
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 Qonto. The largest gap is in Cost: 6/10 for Qonto and 9/10 for Starling.
Starling has a free plan; Qonto does not list one.
