# Starling vs Cuvva

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Starling at 74% against Cuvva's 50%. Starling also leads on ratings volume (2.8K vs 52) and rating (4.9 vs 4.7). On price, update cadence, 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.

Starling holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 4.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Starling has 2.8K ratings behind it against 52, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 74% of Starling's written reviews are positive against 50% of Cuvva's.

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly weekly. The most recent releases landed on September 25, 2026 and September 21, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Starling | Cuvva |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.9 (2.8K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/starling-mobile-banking/id956806430/reviews)** | [4.7 (52 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cuvva/id979980804/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **2.8K** | 52 |
| Positive reviews | **74.1% of reviews** | 50.5% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Weekly | Weekly |
| Monetization | **Free** | Ad-supported |
| Size | 545 MB | 123 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 16.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [STARLING BANK LIMITED](https://appshunter.io/developer/956806429) | [Cuvva Limited](https://appshunter.io/developer/979980803) |

## 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


### Cuvva

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cuvva/id979980804)

Get temporary car, van, or learner insurance for as little as one hour up to 28 days. Easily borrow or lend vehicles, insure your own car short-term, or get cover to practice driving. Manage your policies entirely through the app.

**Highlights:** Temporary car insurance, Van insurance, Learner driver insurance, Borrow or lend vehicles, Flexible policy durations (1 hour to 28 days), In-app policy management

**Features:** Apple Wallet, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 💯 Excellent service
- ⚡ Quick and easy to use
- 💰 Affordable prices
- 🤝 Great customer support
- 🚗 Convenient for temporary insurance needs

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🚫 Difficulty getting insured
- 💰 Expensive pricing
- 📢 Excessive notifications/ads
- 🤖 Issues with AI/facial recognition
- 🔒 Concerns about legitimacy and coverage

**Reported bugs**

- App freezing or crashing
- Issues with photo uploads and verification
- Inconsistent or incorrect quotes

**Requested features**

- Expand coverage to more vehicle types
- Improve account management and cancellation options
- Provide more transparency on pricing and policies


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Starling free?

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

### Is Cuvva free?

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

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

Starling is rated higher. Starling averages 4.9 out of 5 from 2.8K ratings, while Cuvva averages 4.7 from 52 ratings.

### Do Starling or Cuvva have ads?

Neither Starling nor Cuvva shows ads.

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

Starling ships an update weekly, and Cuvva weekly. Most recently, Starling was updated on September 25, 2026 and Cuvva on September 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.*