# Starling vs Access PayWise+

The clearest difference is update cadence: Starling at weekly against Access PayWise+'s every 3 weeks. Access PayWise+'s advantage is review sentiment (86% vs 74%) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 15.0). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

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

Starling ships an update weekly, Access PayWise+ every 3 weeks. Both last shipped on September 28, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Starling | Access PayWise+ |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.9 (2.8K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/starling-mobile-banking/id956806430/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **2.8K** | — |
| Positive reviews | 74.1% of reviews | **86.4% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Weekly** | Every 3 weeks |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 545 MB | 39 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | **13.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [STARLING BANK LIMITED](https://appshunter.io/developer/956806429) | [Access UK Ltd](https://appshunter.io/developer/325537062) |

## 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


### Access PayWise+

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/access-paywise-plus/id1457007747)

Access earned wages before your payday with this financial wellbeing app. It offers smart money management tools, personalized AI coaching, and savings features to help you build financial resilience and manage your money confidently.

**Highlights:** Earned wage access, Real-time accrued wages, AI financial coach, Savings pots, Money management tools

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Starling free?

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

### Is Access PayWise+ free?

Access PayWise+ is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Do Starling or Access PayWise+ have ads?

Neither Starling nor Access PayWise+ shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Starling or Access PayWise+?

Starling ships an update weekly, and Access PayWise+ every 3 weeks. Most recently, Starling was updated on September 28, 2026 and Access PayWise+ on September 28, 2026.

---

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