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For me, it's a 2 horse race between Starling and Monzo in the mobile challenger bank space. It is really, really good to have these two pushing each other. Sure you have options like Revolut and Atom, but I think these two just edge it.
I've used both Starling and Monzo for about a year and they are both excellent, truly excellent. I have never had a problem with either. In terms of functionality, they are both pretty similar but Starling are further ahead with their business and offerings as a whole. They were first to overdrafts, Apple Pay and business accounts.
However, I had Monzo about a month before Starling, and although feature wise Starling just edges it, I can't bring myself to switch over. It's about being part of Monzo's incredible community, I prefer the app (although Starling's does look snazzier) and having that sweet coral card alongside all the other people, admittedly just in London, is pretty cool. Is that potentially a odd reason to choose one product over another? Yes, probably, but that's just the effect Monzo has over people. Oh, and my mum uses it, that has to count for something.
Awesome onboarding experience - within 15 mins you have a bank account setup to receive money and an Apple Pay card issued to spend it.
I love that I can do EVERYTHING in app, unlike any other bank I've used in the past. I love features such as instant notifications and knowing to the second exactly how much money I have in my account.
These guys and gals aren't stopping with personal UK current accounts.
They've just released business accounts, international payments are available on Android, they have a public API for developers to integrate with and a marketplace of linked applications for wealth management.
They also run a payment services business.
Now I've switched to Starling from the Dinosaur banks I've finally managed to get complete handle on how much I spend every month. Not JUST at the end of each month but as I spend it with all of Starlings instant spending & payment notifications, no need to shuffle money between accounts though out the month and constantly being caught out if I forgot money went out of one account but the money was in another savings account causing HUGE fines even though I had the money in their bank a Starling Bank has one account and lots of Goals allowing you to split off money but if you spend more than is in the account and go over drawn it just uses the money from the goal so you don't get charged! :D
great bank, great ideas, great UI, great people - refreshing change
