Compare
Side by side from each provider's own published terms: who can apply, what it costs, the accounts and cards, and how your money is held. Nobody pays to be listed, and Finzil doesn't rate providers.
Airwallex
E-money institution · UK business account
Global business account with local account details in 15 currencies, free local transfers, low-cost FX and Visa company cards. Accepts companies from 69 countries.
Starling Bank
Bank · UK business account
UK bank with a free business current account for UK limited companies and LLPs: no monthly fee, Faster Payments, a Mastercard debit card, euro and dollar accounts as add-ons, and FSCS deposit protection.
From the two provider profiles on Finzil, latest check 13 October 2026: each provider's own website, price list and terms.
The short answer
Side by side
A gap means the provider doesn't publish it; ask before you apply.
| The basics | Airwallex | Starling Bank |
|---|---|---|
| Account | UK business account | UK business account |
| Provider type | E-money institution | Bank |
| Licence | E-money institution in the UK; also licensed in Australia, Canada, China and 9 more | Bank in the UK |
| Licensed company | Airwallex (UK) Ltd | Starling Bank Limited |
| Headquarters | United Kingdom | United Kingdom |
| Who can apply | Airwallex | Starling Bank |
|---|---|---|
| Where the company is registered | 69 countries | UK only |
| Owners living abroad | Not published | Not accepted |
| Legal forms | Limited companies, Limited liability partnerships, Partnerships, Sole traders | UK limited companies, Limited liability partnerships (LLP), Community interest companies |
| Businesses not supported | 15 kinds on its list | 13 kinds on its list |
| What it costs | Airwallex | Starling Bank |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly fee | from £0 | Free |
| Setup fee | Free | Free |
| Plans | Explore: £19 a month; Grow: £49 a month; Accelerate: custom | Business current account: free; Euro account: £2 a month |
| Currency exchange | 0.5–1% | 0.4% |
| SEPA transfer out | Free | Free |
| Faster Payments out | Free | Free |
| SWIFT transfer out | £10 | Not published |
| Physical card | Free | Free |
| Card spending abroad | 1% | Free |
| Accounts and payments | Airwallex | Starling Bank |
|---|---|---|
| Currencies | 24 | 3 |
| Local account details | GBP, EUR, USD, CAD, AUD, NZD, HKD, CNY, SGD, DKK, PLN, ILS, MXN, IDR, AED | UK sort code and account number |
| Payment networks | SEPA, SEPA Instant, Faster Payments, CHAPS, BACS, SWIFT, ACH, Fedwire | Faster Payments, CHAPS, Bacs, SEPA |
| Cards | Virtual and physical Visa | Physical Mastercard |
| Opening and safety | Airwallex | Starling Bank |
|---|---|---|
| Opening time | 3–5 days | 3–5 days |
| Open remotely | Yes | Yes |
| How money is held | Segregated accounts | FSCS deposit protection |
| TrustpilotThird-party score, shown for reference. Finzil doesn't rank providers by it. | 2.9 from 2,587 reviews | 4.3 from 48,198 reviews |
From the profiles
Strong points
Watch out for
Strong points
Watch out for
Our view
Finzil's own opinion, kept apart from the facts above.
Airwallex is one of the best-value accounts for an online or software business that collects and pays in many currencies: free local transfers, FX from 0.5% and free company cards. If you keep £10,000 a month moving through it, the entry plan costs nothing. Eligibility is strict by country, and support is by email only.
Starling is the best free bank account for an ordinary UK company run by UK residents: a real bank, protected deposits, good app, no monthly fee. It is closed to everyone else. A UK company with a director or owner abroad will be refused, as will holding companies, so those need Revolut Business, Wise or one of the international specialists.
It depends on how you use the account. Monthly fee: Airwallex from £0, Starling Bank free. Currency exchange: Airwallex 0.5–1%, Starling Bank 0.4%. Transfers and cards are priced line by line in the table on this page, from each provider's own price list.
Airwallex is an e-money institution, licensed in the UK. Starling Bank is a bank, licensed in the UK. Airwallex: segregated accounts. Starling Bank: FSCS deposit protection.
Airwallex: 69 countries. Starling Bank: UK only. Each provider's profile on Finzil lists the countries in full.
Airwallex: not published. Starling Bank: not accepted.
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How this page is built: every row comes from the two provider profiles on Finzil, which are taken from each provider's own website, price list and terms (latest check 13 October 2026). Prices and rules change; check them with the provider before you apply. Meeting a provider's published rules does not mean it will approve a particular application. General information, not legal or financial advice.
