Head to head
Mettle vs Starling
The two strongest free accounts in the UK market. Both cost nothing, both are FSCS-protected, and the choice comes down to four specific capabilities.
The short answer
Starling
Does everything Mettle does, plus cheques, international payments and an overdraft. The safer default.
Mettle
Free FreeAgent subscription included, which is worth more than most rivals' paid tiers — if you fit the narrow eligibility.
Side by side
| Starling | Mettle | |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly fee | £0 | £0 |
| Deposit protection | FSCS to £120,000 | FSCS to £120,000, shared with NatWest Group |
| Accounting software | Integrations free; own tier from £0 | Free FreeAgent subscription included |
| Savings on the free account | None | 1.46% AER, instant access |
| Cash deposits | Post Office, 0.7% min £3 | Post Office |
| Cheques | Imaging up to a limit | In-app to £500, post above |
| International payments | Supported, flat fee plus FX | Not supported |
| Overdraft | On application | Sole trader to £3,000; company to £5,000 |
| Eligible business types | Broad | Sole traders and small limited companies only |
| Multiple owners | Supported | Restricted |
Verify all figures against each provider's own pricing page before relying on them.
Four questions settle it
These accounts are genuinely close. Both cost nothing, both are provided by licensed UK banks with full FSCS protection, and both have competent apps. Rather than weighing them holistically, answer four questions:
- Are you ever paid by cheque? Mettle does not support cheques at any value. Starling does.
- Do you send or receive money in other currencies? Mettle supports no international payments in either direction. Starling does.
- Might you need an overdraft? Mettle does not lend. Starling offers facilities on application.
- Do you already pay for accounting software? If yes, Mettle's free FreeAgent subscription is a genuine annual saving.
A yes to any of the first three points to Starling. A yes to only the fourth points to Mettle.
The FreeAgent inclusion is the real argument for Mettle
Mettle gives you a FreeAgent subscription free, provided you make at least one transaction a month. FreeAgent is a capable product that handles Making Tax Digital properly and costs meaningful money on its own.
Because Mettle and FreeAgent are both NatWest Group products, the connection is native rather than a third-party Open Banking link that needs periodic re-authorising. In practice that means fewer broken feeds and less reconciliation admin.
For a freelancer currently paying for bookkeeping software and taking payment entirely by bank transfer, that is the single best value proposition in this market.
The eligibility trap
Mettle is deliberately narrow. Sole traders and small limited companies only, UK-resident applicants, and restrictions on how many owners a company can have. If you incorporate with two or three co-founders, you may simply not qualify.
Starling is broader on structure, though it applies its own sector appetite and holds firm on certain SIC codes.
The honest recommendation
Take Starling unless you specifically want the FreeAgent inclusion and you are certain you will never need cheques, international payments or credit.
Starling is the more complete account, and "more complete for the same price — nothing" is a straightforward argument. Mettle is excellent, but it is excellent within tight boundaries, and businesses tend to discover those boundaries at inconvenient moments.
One pragmatic option: open both. They are free, and running Mettle for the FreeAgent subscription alongside Starling as the main account is a combination several freelancers use deliberately.
Common questions
Is Mettle or Starling better?
Starling for most businesses, because it also handles cheques, international payments and overdrafts, all of which Mettle refuses. Mettle is better if you want the free FreeAgent subscription and are certain you will never need any of those three.
Are Mettle and Starling both FSCS protected?
Yes, both to £120,000. Mettle shares its limit with NatWest Group accounts including NatWest, RBS and Ulster Bank. Starling shares its limit only with a Starling personal account.
Is Mettle really free?
Yes. One plan, no monthly fee, no paid upgrade, plus a free FreeAgent subscription if you transact at least once a month. The trade-off is what it does not do.
Can a limited company with two directors use Mettle?
Eligibility is narrow and restricts how many owners a company can have. Check current criteria before applying — if you do not qualify, Starling is the obvious alternative.
Can I have both Mettle and Starling?
Yes. Both are free, and some freelancers deliberately hold Mettle for the FreeAgent subscription while using Starling as their main account.