Crypto.com Card vs Starling Bank
Both Crypto.com Card and Starling Bank clear the checkouts our readers ask about most. Here is where the two part ways on fees and verification.
Crypto.com Card issues on Visa and Starling Bank on Mastercard; both ask for ID + proof; only Crypto.com Card takes crypto top-ups.
Crypto.com Card is the more cost-effective option for everyday spending and travel thanks to its free virtual cards, no monthly fee. Starling Bank is the better fit for power users who need ad spend.
The two, compared
| Field | Crypto.com Card | Starling Bank |
|---|---|---|
| Card network | Visa | Mastercard |
| Card type | Crypto Card | Digital Bank / Neobank |
| KYC | ID + proof | ID + proof |
| Card issuance fee | Free (entry tier); higher tiers require CRO staking | Free |
| Monthly fee | Free (no annual fee) | Free |
| Top-up fee | Free crypto top-up; ~1% for card top-up | — |
| FX fee | No FX fees on most tiers | 0% (no foreign transaction fee) |
| Crypto funding | Yes (100+ cryptocurrencies) | No |
| AI tool support | ChatGPT / Midjourney | ChatGPT / Claude / Midjourney |
| Risk level | Low | Low-Medium |
| Our rating | 9.1 | 9.1 |
| User reviews | 855 | 437 |
| Best for | AI subscriptions · Streaming | All-rounder · Ad spend |
A green left edge marks the side that holds the advantage on that row, where the data gives one.
What sets them apart
- If you wear several hats, Starling Bank is the more flexible of the pair.
- Only Crypto.com Card takes crypto top-ups in our data — worth knowing before you decide.
- If risk rating weights your choice, Crypto.com Card is the calmer of the two.
Two cards, one decision
Both cards clear the same checkouts in our tests, so the call comes down to cost. Crypto.com Card is cheaper on issuance (free) and top-ups (a 1% top-up), while Starling Bank is worth the premium only for ad-platform billing.
Questions people ask
That depends on what you spend on. Crypto.com Card scores 9.1/10 against Starling Bank's 9.1/10 in our tests, but the two split on fees, KYC and crypto funding. Read the table above, then match it to the checkouts you actually run.
Crypto.com Card is the cheaper card to run. Both Crypto.com Card and Starling Bank issue virtual cards for free; Crypto.com Card reloads at 1%, while Starling Bank publishes no top-up percentage.
Crypto.com Card asks for ID + proof at signup; Starling Bank asks for ID + proof. If a light sign-up is the priority, the one with the lower KYC label is the faster route.
Both show up in 23 of the same test scenarios, including OpenAI API, Midjourney, RunwayML. They overlap on a good share of checkouts, so the choice between them matters most on those pages. Where one is accepted and the other is not usually comes down to the billing country and 3-D Secure handling.
Where both show up
Crypto.com Card and Starling Bank both landed in our top picks for 23 checkouts. Grouped by category so you can jump straight to the one you actually pay for:
📺 Streaming & Entertainment 6
🤖 AI Tools & Developer Tools 4
🌐 Cloud & VPS 4
🎮 Gaming 3
🧳 Travel & Productivity 3
Their BIN ranges
Cards issued in 🇺🇸 US · 🇬🇧 UK — the country guides group every range we track from there.
What our charge log shows
Every count here is a real charge attempt we placed on that range, renewals included, with the gateway response recorded. Weeks tracked is how long the range has been in the programme: