For UK residents choosing a personal current account, Monzo and Starling both offer a standard account with no monthly fee and state that eligible deposits are protected by the FSCS up to £120,000 per person. The clearest differences are how cash withdrawals are treated, whether Monzo’s paid plans are worth their recurring cost to you, and which app and support options you prefer. In the latest service-quality survey located, Monzo scored 79% and Starling 76%—a small difference in customer recommendation scores, not a guarantee of better service.
Fees and cash withdrawals: where the terms differ
Both providers offer a no-monthly-fee personal current account. Starling says Faster Payments, Direct Debits and Standing Orders are free. Monzo also has a free tier, alongside optional paid plans. Monzo’s current account page lists Extra at £3 per month and Perks at £9 per month; these are recurring plan prices, and you should check the live page for current prices and benefits before signing up. Monzo current accounts · Starling account overview
Cash access at a glance
| Account and location | Published withdrawal terms |
|---|---|
| Monzo, UK and EEA | Monzo says customers using it as their main bank, and customers on specified paid plans, can make unlimited fee-free withdrawals. If Monzo is not the main account, the allowance is £400 per rolling 30 days; withdrawals above it incur a 3% fee. Check the current terms for which paid plans qualify. Monzo fee and allowance terms |
| Monzo, outside the UK and EEA | The fee-free allowance depends on account status; the stated fee above the applicable allowance is 3%. Check your account’s current allowance before travel. Monzo fee and allowance terms |
| Starling, UK cash withdrawals | The located personal-account schedule says Starling charges no fee for UK cash withdrawals. The schedule is dated February 2025, so confirm the latest terms. Starling personal-account fee schedule (February 2025) |
| Starling, foreign-currency withdrawals abroad | The February 2025 schedule says Starling does not charge a fee for foreign-currency cash withdrawals. Mastercard exchange rates apply; if you choose the ATM’s sterling conversion, the ATM operator may set the exchange rate. ATM operators may also charge their own fee. Confirm current terms before travel. Starling personal-account fee schedule (February 2025) |
“Fee-free” from the bank does not necessarily mean the whole withdrawal or payment is cost-free: an ATM operator or merchant may levy its own charge or apply its own currency conversion. When offered a choice abroad, compare the ATM’s sterling conversion with paying in the local currency; the provider schedule warns that sterling conversion may use the operator’s rate. Starling personal-account fee schedule (February 2025)
Replacement cards
Monzo says replacements are free if a card is stolen, expired or affected by fraud. Customers using Monzo as their main bank get two free replacements per year before a £5 charge. The Starling schedule dated February 2025 lists £5 for a replacement card sent to a UK address and £10 if a card is lost or stolen abroad; check Starling’s current schedule before relying on those figures. Monzo fee and allowance terms · Starling personal-account fee schedule (February 2025)
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Free accounts, paid extras and everyday app features
Monzo’s free account page lists app-based budgeting and saving features. It also offers paid plan tiers, so separate what you need from the core account from optional benefits before comparing monthly costs. The current page lists Extra at £3 a month and Perks at £9 a month, but plan inclusions and prices can change. Monzo current accounts
Starling’s account overview describes its personal account as having no monthly fee. That does not establish that every optional service is free, so check charges for any specific extra you intend to use. Starling account overview
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Both banks list practical in-app controls and support, but the features are not a like-for-like independent test of app quality or real-world security:
- Monzo: instant spending notifications, card freeze, biometric login, daily payment limits and additional checks for large payments. Monzo also advertises 24/7 in-app help. Monzo payments and security features · Monzo current accounts
- Starling: 24/7 UK support from humans, biometric security and Scam Intelligence, which assesses screenshots uploaded by customers. Starling account overview
These descriptions tell you what the banks say they provide; the available evidence does not establish that one bank’s controls prevent fraud more effectively than the other’s. If a particular support channel or app control matters to you, check its current availability and how it works before opening an account.
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FSCS protection: what the £120,000 limit means
Both banks state that eligible deposits are protected by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS) up to £120,000 per person. The limit applies to eligible deposits if a bank fails; it is not a blanket guarantee for every balance or financial product. Monzo current accounts · Starling account overview
Starling’s 2026 FSCS information sheet explains that eligible current and savings balances held with the same bank count toward the limit. Joint-account holders each have an individual limit, and qualifying temporary high balances may receive additional protection for a limited period. Eligibility rules apply, so consult the information sheet for the circumstances and limits relevant to your money. Starling / FSCS 2026 information sheet
Deposit protection is distinct from the rules and processes that may apply to fraud, unauthorised payments or disputes. The £120,000 FSCS figure should not be read as a promise of reimbursement for those events.
What the latest customer service survey says
The most recent independent service-quality results located were published in August 2026. For personal current accounts in Great Britain, Monzo scored 79% and Starling 76% for overall service quality. Ipsos conducted the survey from July 2025 to June 2026; the published results say approximately 1,000 customers for each of the 17 largest providers were surveyed. The score represents the share who said they were “extremely likely” or “very likely” to recommend the service. Monzo’s independent service-quality survey results
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These are customer survey responses, not objective ratings of every account feature or a forecast of your experience. The results are for Great Britain and should not automatically be generalized to Northern Ireland.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How to choose between Monzo and Starling
- If you regularly withdraw cash: compare your likely ATM use by location. For Monzo, check whether it will be your main bank or whether a qualifying paid plan changes your allowance. For Starling, verify its current fee schedule. In either case, account for possible ATM-operator charges and currency conversion.
- If you are considering a paid Monzo plan: compare its current recurring cost with the benefits you would actually use. Do not count a listed perk as a saving unless it replaces something you would otherwise pay for.
- If app controls or access to support matter most: compare the specific provider-listed functions and support channels against your needs. The survey scores offer one measure of customer recommendation, not evidence that one app is safer or better for every task.
- If you will hold substantial balances: consider how eligible deposits are aggregated across accounts at the same bank, whether funds are jointly held, and whether any temporary-high-balance rules apply. Check the FSCS information for your circumstances.
For current terms, start with the providers’ Monzo account page, Monzo fee and allowance terms and Starling account overview. Starling’s cited detailed fee schedule is dated February 2025, so confirm it has not been superseded before relying on withdrawal or replacement-card charges.
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