For UK readers in 2021, Monzo and Starling were the strongest choices if you wanted a banking app with money-management tools; Moneyhub, Yolt and Emma were better fits for tracking or consolidating accounts you already had. Revolut offered another broad fintech app with linked-account features. There was no single best choice for everyone: the right app depended on whether you wanted a new main bank or a view across existing accounts.
This is a historical comparison of options discussed in 2021, not a current app recommendation. Banking-app features, availability and account support can change; check an app’s current terms before connecting accounts or relying on a feature.
What could an open banking app do for you?
Open Banking lets you authorize an app to access financial information held by participating institutions, so you can view accounts from more than one provider in a single place. Depending on the app, linked data may also support spending analysis or transfers. The banks, account types and features available depend on the provider, your location and any plan limits.
Monzo described Open Banking as a way for consumers to control the sharing of transaction data. Its 8 October 2021 explainer said users could connect other accounts, view balances and transaction histories, request easy bank transfers and use linked information in overdraft affordability checks. Monzo reported that more than 1.3 million users were using Open Banking functionality in its app at that time.
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Monzo also cited more than 4 million Open Banking payments in 2020, up from 320,000 in 2018. Those figures describe payments in the wider UK Open Banking context, not the number of users of any one app.
Which app was best for each use?
| App | Best fit in a 2021 comparison | What the cited material establishes |
|---|---|---|
| Monzo | A banking app with connected-account visibility and money-management features | Its 2021 explainer described viewing linked balances and transactions, requesting transfers and using linked data in affordability checks. Monzo help documentation also describes connected-account balances, transaction history and Trends; account and plan limits apply. |
| Starling Bank | A primary banking relationship with in-app controls and budgeting tools | Starling feature documentation highlights Bills Manager and card controls. Its API help page gives Yolt, Moneyhub and TrueLayer as examples of companies using its Open Banking API. |
| Moneyhub | Aggregating and contextualising financial information across accounts | Open Banking Limited describes Moneyhub as collecting, enriching and contextualising financial-data fragments to create personalised financial journeys. It is a financial-wellness and aggregation option, not simply a current-account replacement. |
| Revolut | A broad fintech app with linked-account visibility | Revolut documentation describes linked external accounts, a consolidated financial view, recurring-payment tracking and spending analytics. Availability and feature history vary by region and date. |
| Yolt and Emma | Budget tracking and spending visibility, as options named in early 2021 coverage | The Guardian’s 9 January 2021 comparison included both among notable budgeting or app-only banking choices. That dated mention does not establish their present availability or features. |
Which app is best to consolidate accounts from multiple institutions?
Moneyhub was the clearest dedicated aggregation choice in the material available for this comparison. Its stated focus was bringing financial-data fragments together and adding context, which suits someone who wants an overview without treating the app as a replacement current account.
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Monzo and Revolut also described linking accounts held elsewhere. Monzo’s documented linked-account features included balances, transaction history and Trends, while Revolut described a consolidated view and spending analytics. Whether a particular account could be connected depended on institution support, region and plan restrictions; the cited material does not establish a complete coverage list for any of these apps.
Which is the best budgeting app?
For a dedicated view of financial data, Moneyhub’s aggregation and financial-wellness positioning made it a natural option to consider. For someone who also wanted a banking relationship, Monzo combined linked-account information with Trends, while Starling paired banking with tools such as Bills Manager and card controls.
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Yolt and Emma were also named as budgeting or tracking choices in The Guardian’s January 2021 comparison. That is evidence of their place in the 2021 conversation, not a guarantee that either service remains available or unchanged. Verify present status and features before choosing one.
Do you want to replace your bank or keep your existing accounts?
Choose an app-based bank if you want banking and money tools together
Monzo or Starling made more sense if you wanted a primary banking app as well as features for managing money. Monzo’s connected-account tools added visibility beyond Monzo accounts; Starling’s Bills Manager and card controls addressed day-to-day banking tasks. The precise functions, account eligibility and plan restrictions should be checked against the relevant terms for the date and region in question.
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Choose an aggregator if you want to keep several existing relationships
Moneyhub, Yolt or Emma were more aligned with tracking and budgeting across accounts rather than choosing a new main bank. Revolut occupied a broader fintech position and also documented external-account links. These categories overlap: an app can offer some banking services and some aggregation, but that does not make every app a like-for-like current-account replacement.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What should you check before connecting an account?
- Supported institutions and account types: Confirm that the specific bank and account you want to connect are supported. A general Open Banking capability does not guarantee universal coverage.
- What the connection enables: Distinguish read-only views such as balances and transaction history from functions such as transfers. Monzo’s 2021 description included both viewing linked data and requesting easy bank transfers.
- Plan and region limits: Account access and features can depend on geography, subscription or account type. This matters especially when comparing dated descriptions with current app offerings.
- Permission and data sharing: Review the access requested in the authorization flow and the app’s terms before approving it. Monzo’s explanation framed Open Banking around consumer control of transaction-data sharing.
- Current status: Treat mentions of Yolt and Emma as historical 2021 references. Check whether an app still operates and whether the features you need remain available.
How the 2021 shortlist was framed
The Guardian’s 9 January 2021 comparison grouped Emma, Yolt, Starling and Monzo among notable budgeting or app-only banking options. Monzo’s own October 2021 explainer documents its connected-account functions and reported user figure. Starling’s feature documentation supports its positioning around Bills Manager and card controls; its API help page names services that use its Open Banking API. Open Banking Limited’s listing describes Moneyhub’s data-focused role, while Revolut’s documentation describes external-account links and analytics.
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These sources support a use-case comparison rather than a universal ranking. They do not establish a single winner on price, institution coverage or security for every user: those details can differ by product, plan, geography and date.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
