# Starling vs Smart Pension

Starling and Smart Pension both sit at 4.9 stars, but that hides the real split: 74% of Starling's written reviews are positive against 29% of Smart Pension's. Starling also leads on ratings volume (2.8K vs 6) and update cadence (weekly vs every 5 weeks). 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 — 4.9 for Starling against 5.0 for Smart Pension. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Starling has 2.8K ratings behind it against 6, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 74% of Starling's written reviews are positive against 29% of Smart Pension's.

Starling ships an update weekly, Smart Pension every 5 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 28, 2026 and October 26, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Starling | Smart Pension |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.9 (2.8K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/starling-mobile-banking/id956806430/reviews) | **[5.0 (6 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/smart-pension/id1293678839/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **2.8K** | 6 |
| Positive reviews | **73.8% of reviews** | 28.9% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Weekly** | Every 5 weeks |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 529 MB | 88 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 17.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [STARLING BANK LIMITED](https://appshunter.io/developer/956806429) | [Smart Pension Limited](https://appshunter.io/developer/1293678838) |

## What reviewers say

### 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


### Smart Pension

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/smart-pension/id1293678839)

Manage your workplace pension savings with ease. Track your fund's performance in real-time, adjust contributions, and explore investment options. Access exclusive discounts and customer support directly from your phone.

**Highlights:** Real-time pension balance tracking, Investment fund selection, Contribution level adjustments, Enhanced security features (Face ID, Touch ID), Access to exclusive discounts, Live chat customer support

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Easy to use
- 💡 Pension calculator helpful
- 📈 Up-to-date values
- 📱 Convenient mobile access
- 💻 Can do same as computer

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 App crashes frequently
- 🐛 App not loading
- 🐛 Login issues
- 🐛 App freezes
- 🐛 Basic functionalities not working

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes shortly after launch
- App never lets you update details
- Cannot log into the app after recent update
- App or website will not load
- Stuck on loading screen

**Requested features**

- Show profit or loss on investment
- Receive notification for new contribution
- Improve app design and UI
- Implement in-app form for pension transfers
- Add dark mode


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Starling free?

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

### Is Smart Pension free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Starling or Smart Pension?

Smart Pension is rated higher. Starling averages 4.9 out of 5 from 2.8K ratings, while Smart Pension averages 5.0 from 6 ratings.

### Do Starling or Smart Pension have ads?

Neither Starling nor Smart Pension shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Starling or Smart Pension?

Starling ships an update weekly, and Smart Pension every 5 weeks. Most recently, Starling was updated on October 28, 2026 and Smart Pension on October 26, 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.*