Monzo vs Starling vs Revolut Business

The decision in one paragraph

Monzo wins for most businesses. It ranks first in the UK for business service quality in the independent survey banks are legally required to publish, and it is the only one of the three that pays a meaningful rate on money sitting in your account. Starling is the better free account and the only one that will lend to you, but it pays nothing at all on balances. Revolut is the right answer only if a real share of your money moves between currencies.

Service: this is not a matter of opinion

UK banks must publish independent service data under the CMA's Retail Banking Order, surveyed by BVA BDRC (now part of Ipsos) across roughly 1,200 customers per provider. In the August 2026 results, Monzo came first of 17 providers for overall business service quality at 85%, and first for online and mobile banking at 90%. Starling came third and second respectively.

Revolut does not appear at all. It is below the survey threshold, so its service score rests on public review platforms alone — a weaker evidence base, and we say so on its page.

Interest: the gap nobody mentions

This is where the comparison has genuinely changed, and where most reviews are still wrong.

• Monzo pays 1.30% AER on the free Lite plan and up to 3.25% on Team, instant access, FSCS-protected on its own licence.
• Starling pays nothing on business balances. Its Easy Saver and Fixed Saver are personal products — every one carries the condition "Starling personal current account required".
• Revolut pays nothing on Basic. Savings start on Grow at up to 2.15%, which means £30 a month rather than £10 — £240 a year of extra subscription before you earn a penny.

On a £25,000 reserve that is roughly £325 a year from Monzo Lite, £513 net from Monzo Team after its £300 fee, and zero from Starling. For a company holding a corporation tax reserve, that difference dwarfs the monthly fee argument entirely.

Where Starling still wins

Credit. Starling and Monzo both lend; Revolut does not. Monzo's is the faster route — overdrafts to £3,000 for sole traders and £5,000 for companies, plus loans to £25,000, decided in-app — but at a representative 39.0% EAR it is priced for convenience rather than value. Starling's overdraft is the more conventional facility.

Cheques. Starling images them, Monzo takes them in-app up to £500 and by post above. Revolut takes none at all, so if you are paid by cheque that ends its candidacy.

Integrations at no cost. Xero, QuickBooks and FreeAgent connect on the free tier, where Monzo charges £108 a year for the same capability.

Cash separates them fastest

If your business handles notes and coins, this is decided before anything else. Starling takes cash through the Post Office at a percentage with a minimum per deposit. Monzo charges a flat fee per deposit — cheap for one large deposit, expensive for frequent small ones. Revolut does not support cash at all.

Run your own numbers on the true cost calculator rather than guessing: at two deposits totalling £1,200 a month the flat-fee model costs about £24 a year and the percentage model about £101.

How to decide

1. Do you bank cash? Revolut is out. Compare Starling's percentage against Monzo's flat fee at your actual volumes.
2. Are you paid by cheque? Starling or Monzo. Revolut takes none.
3. Do you need an overdraft? Starling or Monzo — Revolut does not lend at all.
4. Is a real share of your money in other currencies? Revolut, and it is worth the fee.
5. Do you hold a meaningful balance? Monzo, comfortably. Starling paying zero costs you real money.
6. Everything else equal? Monzo. Best service in the country on the only independent measure, and it pays you to keep money there.

Opening two costs nothing and takes minutes. Several businesses deliberately hold a second free account so they still have a working one if the first is restricted during a compliance review — which happens more often than providers like to discuss.