If you’re here, chances are you’re looking for a better way to spend abroad—one that doesn’t hit you with hidden fees or poor exchange rates. Starling is one of the most well-known travel card options, but how does it really stack up? And is there a better alternative?
Let’s dive into the details.
What is Starling Bank?
Starling Bank was founded in 2014 and is an app-based mobile bank. Starling's Personal Account provides you with a contactless debit card and works just like a standard current account, with the key difference being that it's all digital.
Starling features & plans
Starling offers a Personal Current Account and a Joint Current Account as free to use options. There is a paid for Connected Card service which costs £2 per month, but for the purposes of this comparison, we’ll be focusing on the Personal Current account.
Starling exchange rates & fees
Starling rates include the card scheme foreign exchange rate that is set each day by major credit card networks such as Visa and Mastercard.
While the value of currencies fluctuates throughout the day, the card scheme rate stays the same for the whole day. The rate will contain a mark-up to protect the card schemes from fluctuation risks.
We don’t believe fees should ever be hidden- so we’ve done the calculations for you. Tests in Q3 2024 showed that on average, the markup built into the card scheme rate was 0.58% for Mastercard and 0.52% for Visa. Since Starling uses Mastercard, this means that you're typically being charged 0.58% above the interbank rate when you use their card to spend abroad.
ATM withdrawal fees and limits:
Starling doesn’t charge cash withdrawal fees in the UK or abroad. However, some individual ATMs may incur a charge to withdraw your money. You’ll also be subject to the card scheme rate.
Delivery fees:
There is a £5 replacement charge for a lost or stolen card in the UK and £10 if you need a replacement while you are abroad.
Is Starling good for travel?
Starling can be a good option for travel, particularly for those looking to switch to a new primary bank account. It offers reasonable exchange rates that are generally better than those of high street banks, meaning you could save on foreign transactions compared to using a traditional bank card.
However, if you’re using Starling as a secondary account, you’ll need to regularly top it up while traveling. There’s also the added step of opening and managing an entirely new bank account, which might not be ideal for everyone. If you’re comfortable with these extra steps, Starling can be a solid choice. But for those who prefer to spend directly from their existing bank account without the hassle, other options may be more convenient.
So, what is Currensea?
Currensea is a travel debit card that connects directly to your existing bank account. Unlike Starling, there’s no need to open a new bank account or preload like you would with a prepaid card.
Currensea allows you to spend abroad just as you would at home—without needing to transfer or manage funds separately. You simply spend, and the money comes directly from your bank account.
Currensea’s pricing plans
Currensea offers three travel card options:
- Currensea Essential (free)
- Currensea Pro & Currensea Elite (paid plans with market-leading FX rates and exclusive perks)
For this comparison, we’ll focus on Currensea Essential, which is free, just like the Starling personal current account.
Currensea vs. Starling – What’s Different?
Unlike Starling, Currensea doesn’t require you to manage a separate account or worry about topping up your card.
What Currensea offers is a card that partners directly with your trusted bank account. Funds come straight out of your bank account, and you can spend whatever balance you have.
Because it’s not a prepaid card, you never have to top up your Currensea card. You don’t have to worry about losing it and any funds that might remain on it, nor do you have to constantly top it up and remember how much you have on it: we offer travel, but without the hassle.
We also check how much your bank would have charged you to use your regular debit card abroad- and we can tell you exactly how much money you saved by using your Currensea card.
But what about exchange rates?
Currensea offers the Realtime Rate, which removes bank fees and is consistently competitive and typically better than "fee-free" cards like Monzo, Starling, and Chase. Crucially.
For Pro and Elite users, the Currensea Pro Rate is even stronger, beating all Revolut pricing plans and also beating “fee-free” cards by over 0.5% and high street banks by over 3%.
Currensea Fees & Limits
Card spend:
- Essential: £500/month fee-free at the Realtime Rate, then 1% FX fee
- Pro & Elite: Unlimited fee-free spending at the Pro Rate
ATM withdrawals:
- Essential: £200/month fee-free, then 2% FX fee
- Pro & Elite: Higher limits with only 1% FX fee beyond them
Delivery:
Currensea charges just £4.95 for the delivery of essential cards. Currensea Pro and Elite customers receive free delivery when they sign up.
So, which one is better?
Starling and Currensea are fairly similar when it comes to Fx charges. Both products offer competitive rates that significantly undercut those offered by high street banks, and whichever product you choose there is no doubt that you'll save a significant amount when spending abroad. If you’re travelling somewhere where you’ll need to withdraw lots of cash from ATMs, Starling could be a good choice as they don't charge any additional fees to do so.
However, if you have no plans to leave your high street bank, Currensea is the easier option for you. While Currensea simply partners with your existing bank account, Starling requires you to create an entirely new bank account. Assuming this is used as a secondary account, you'll then need to faff around topping it up as you spend abroad. With Currensea on the other hand, you can spend abroad just as you would at home with your regular debit card- we do travel, but without the hassle.
Overall, if you are in the market for a new primary bank account that will cost you less than high street banks when spending abroad, Starling is a great option. But if you are happy with your existing bank account and want a product focused on great rates when travelling abroad, then Currensea is the right choice for you.
Get your free card today
