Starling vs Tellow: Complete Comparison (2026)
An in-depth comparison of Starling and Tellow to help you choose the right tool for your business.
Last updated: November 2026
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.
Tellow
5.9/10
Dutch bookkeeping app for self-employed workers (zzp'ers). It combines a business account, invoicing, receipt scanning, automatic VAT filing and optional accountant-prepared tax returns.
Feature-by-Feature Comparison
| Feature | | |
|---|---|---|
| Scores | ||
| Overall Rating | 6.6/10 | 5.9/10 |
| Analytics | 4/10 | 4/10 |
| Compliance | 7/10 | 7/10 |
| Cost | 9/10 | 8/10 |
| Customization | 3/10 | 4/10 |
| Ease of Use | 8/10 | 8/10 |
| Integration | 6/10 | 4/10 |
| Scalability | 3/10 | 3/10 |
| Security | 8/10 | 5/10 |
| Support | 7/10 | 7/10 |
| Pricing | ||
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Cheapest paid plan | £7/mo Accounting Plus | €13/mo Basis |
| Estimated cost for 10 users | Free Business Account + Accounting Essentials | Free Gratis |
| Features | ||
| Accountant Access | ||
| Bank Reconciliation | ||
| Expense Management | ||
| Invoicing | ||
| Online Payments | ||
| Tax Compliance | ||
| Financial Reporting | Not listed | |
| Multi-currency | Not listed | |
Starling vs Tellow cost by team size
| Team size | Starling | Tellow |
|---|---|---|
| 1 user | FreeBusiness Account + Accounting Essentials | FreeGratis |
| 5 users | FreeBusiness Account + Accounting Essentials | FreeGratis |
| 10 users | FreeBusiness Account + Accounting Essentials | FreeGratis |
| 25 users | FreeBusiness Account + Accounting Essentials | FreeGratis |
| 50 users | FreeBusiness Account + Accounting Essentials | FreeGratis |
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 Starling
- Higher Security score (8/10 vs 5/10)
- Higher Integration score (6/10 vs 4/10)
- Better fit for small business (8/10 vs 6/10)
Why choose Tellow
- Higher Customization score (4/10 vs 3/10)
- Better fit for freelancers (10/10 vs 8/10)
Pros & Cons
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.
Tellow
Pros
- The Plus plan files the VAT return to the Belastingdienst automatically, which saves Dutch freelancers manual tax work.
- The free plan includes a business IBAN and debit card, so very small sole traders can start without paying.
- Trustpilot reviewers (4.3 out of 5 from 156 reviews) often praise fast support, including in English for expats.
- The Compleet plan has accountants prepare and check both the business and private tax returns for a fixed monthly fee.
Cons
- Reviewers report there is no multi-currency or dual-currency bookkeeping.
- Payments from outside the SEPA area were reported as not processed.
- Some users find the mobile app slow to load.
- The free plan is tightly capped at 3 invoices and 20 receipts a month.
- It has no payroll, inventory or multi-entity support, and it is Netherlands-only.
Not sold on either?
Frequently Asked Questions
Starling scores higher on our Finance Software criteria: 6.6/10 against 5.9/10 for Tellow. The largest gap is in Security: 8/10 for Starling and 5/10 for Tellow.
Yes, both Starling and Tellow have a free plan.
Tellow is the better fit for freelancers: we rate it 10/10 for them, against 8/10 for Starling.
