Starling vs ZipBooks: Complete Comparison (2026)
An in-depth comparison of Starling and ZipBooks 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.
ZipBooks
5.6/10
Cloud accounting software for small businesses and freelancers, with invoicing, payments, bank feeds, reconciliation and reporting, and a free starter plan.
Feature-by-Feature Comparison
| Feature | | |
|---|---|---|
| Scores | ||
| Overall Rating | 6.6/10 | 5.6/10 |
| Analytics | 4/10 | 5/10 |
| Compliance | 7/10 | 4/10 |
| Cost | 9/10 | 9/10 |
| 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 | 6/10 |
| Support | 7/10 | 5/10 |
| Pricing | ||
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Cheapest paid plan | £7/mo Accounting Plus | $15/mo Smarter |
| Estimated cost for 10 users | Free Business Account + Accounting Essentials | Free Starter |
| Features | ||
| Accountant Access | ||
| Bank Reconciliation | ||
| Invoicing | ||
| Online Payments | ||
| Expense Management | Not listed | |
| Financial Reporting | Not listed | |
| General Ledger | Not listed | |
| Inventory Accounting | Not listed | |
| Tax Compliance | Not listed | |
Starling vs ZipBooks cost by team size
| Team size | Starling | ZipBooks |
|---|---|---|
| 1 user | FreeBusiness Account + Accounting Essentials | $15/moSmarter |
| 5 users | FreeBusiness Account + Accounting Essentials | $15/moSmarter |
| 10 users | FreeBusiness Account + Accounting Essentials | FreeStarter |
| 25 users | FreeBusiness Account + Accounting Essentials | FreeStarter |
| 50 users | FreeBusiness Account + Accounting Essentials | FreeStarter |
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 Compliance score (7/10 vs 4/10)
- Higher Integration score (6/10 vs 4/10)
Why choose ZipBooks
- Higher Analytics score (5/10 vs 4/10)
- Higher Customization score (4/10 vs 3/10)
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.
ZipBooks
Pros
- The free Starter plan includes unlimited invoices, customers and vendors.
- Recurring invoices with auto-billing and automated reminders are available from the 15 per month tier.
- Reviewers say new staff can pick up the interface quickly.
- Bank and card transactions sync daily and are auto-categorized for reconciliation.
- Paid tiers cost less than QuickBooks, which reviewers cite as a reason for switching.
Cons
- Reviewers report limited reporting and customization options.
- No inventory or mileage tracking.
- Reconciliation and book locking are reserved for the 35 per month Sophisticated tier.
- Some users report slow support responses.
- A very small company, estimated at about four employees.
Not sold on either?
Frequently Asked Questions
Starling scores higher on our Finance Software criteria: 6.6/10 against 5.6/10 for ZipBooks. The largest gap is in Compliance: 7/10 for Starling and 4/10 for ZipBooks.
Yes, both Starling and ZipBooks have a free plan.
