# HMRC vs Starling

HMRC and Starling both sit at 4.8 stars, but that hides the real split: 74% of Starling's written reviews are positive against 48% of HMRC's. Starling also leads on update cadence (weekly vs monthly) and ratings volume (2.8K vs 600). On price, rating, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.8 for HMRC against 4.9 for Starling. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 600 and 2.8K respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 48% of HMRC's written reviews are positive against 74% of Starling's.

HMRC ships an update monthly, Starling weekly. The most recent releases landed on October 18, 2026 and October 21, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | HMRC | Starling |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.8 (600 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hmrc/id514561561/reviews) | **[4.9 (2.8K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/starling-mobile-banking/id956806430/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 600 | **2.8K** |
| Positive reviews | 47.9% of reviews | **74.1% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Monthly | **Weekly** |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 34 MB | 529 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [HMRC](https://appshunter.io/developer/514561564) | [STARLING BANK LIMITED](https://appshunter.io/developer/956806429) |

## What reviewers say

### HMRC

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hmrc/id514561561)

Manage your taxes, benefits, and savings securely and easily. Check your tax code, claim refunds, and track your State Pension. Access Self Assessment and Child Benefit information, and find your National Insurance number.

**Highlights:** Quick secure sign-in, Check tax code and pay, Claim tax refunds, View State Pension details, Self Assessment payments, Manage Child Benefit, Find National Insurance number

**Features:** Apple Wallet

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Easy to use
- 🚀 Straightforward payment process
- 💡 Useful information and updates
- 🔒 Secure authentication

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent login issues and app crashes
- 🤔 Confusing navigation and UI
- ⚠️ Lack of communication about tax changes
- 🕰️ Slow and unresponsive app

**Reported bugs**

- Endless login loops and redirects
- App freezing and becoming unresponsive
- Inconsistent behavior after app updates
- Issues with Face ID and biometric authentication

**Requested features**

- Improved notification system for tax updates
- Ability to view and manage tax details in-app
- Better integration with banking apps for payments
- More user-friendly design and navigation


### Starling

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/starling-mobile-banking/id956806430)

Manage personal, business, and joint finances with a seamless mobile banking experience. Enjoy fee-free international transactions, advanced budgeting tools, and secure, human support.  It offers features for individuals, families, and businesses, making banking simple and satisfying.

**Highlights:** Fee-free overseas spending and ATM withdrawals, Virtual 'Spaces' for saving and budgeting, Real-time payment notifications and spending insights, Automated bill management, Seamless international money transfers, Digital cheque deposits, 24/7 in-app human support

**Features:** Apple Wallet

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Easy to use app
- 🚀 Instant transactions
- 🔒 Secure banking
- 💡 Useful features like Spaces
- 👍 Excellent customer service

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 App crashes and freezes
- 🔒 Overly strict security measures
- 💰 Fees for cash deposits
- 🚫 Inability to open certain account types
- 🚫 Declined payments with no explanation

**Reported bugs**

- Login issues after phone updates
- Inability to record video for verification
- App crashes on certain devices
- Delayed or failed money transfers

**Requested features**

- Joint account cards with different designs
- Ability to set up automatic transfers to savings
- More customization options for Spaces
- Integration with password managers
- Showing pending payments in balance


## Frequently asked questions

### Is HMRC free?

HMRC is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Starling free?

Starling is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, HMRC or Starling?

Starling is rated higher. HMRC averages 4.8 out of 5 from 600 ratings, while Starling averages 4.9 from 2.8K ratings.

### Do HMRC or Starling have ads?

Neither HMRC nor Starling shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, HMRC or Starling?

HMRC ships an update monthly, and Starling weekly. Most recently, HMRC was updated on October 18, 2026 and Starling on October 21, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*