Barclays vs NatWest
Updated November 2026 · AppBreakup editorial
Barclays
Major UK high street bank whose app covers current accounts, savings, loans and card controls.
NatWest
UK high street bank with a widely used app for everyday banking, saving and credit score checks.
The short answer
Barclays and NatWest are both UK high street banks with full-featured apps, free standard current accounts and paid reward packages. Barclays suits people who want cheque imaging, cardless cash and investing in the same app. NatWest suits people who want built-in money tools such as Round Ups, a credit score check and a Subscription Manager. Day-to-day banking is similar; the extras differ.
Barclays or NatWest: our take
Both banks pair an iOS and Android app with web banking and branches, and both offer savings, loans and mortgages alongside current accounts. Each has a standard current account with no monthly fee, and both let customers use the app from age 11, so families can bank in one place. Like most high street banks, both usually charge more for spending abroad than app-only banks such as Monzo or Wise.
The Barclays app leans toward account control and breadth. You can pay in cheques by photographing them, withdraw cash without a card, set card limits by payment type, view your PIN and freeze a lost card. Savings, investments, loans and mortgages are all reachable from the app, and you can open a new current account in it. Its paid packages start at £5 a month (Blue Rewards). One practical limit: the app doesn't support Android Go phones.
The NatWest app leans toward money management. It checks your credit score, rounds up card spending into savings, and its Subscription Manager lists recurring payments so you can spot unexpected Direct Debits. Payments can be approved with face or voice checks, and MyRewards pays back on eligible spending. Paid accounts start at £2 a month (Reward account), with Reward Silver at £12 a month and Reward Platinum at £23 a month. NatWest also has child and teen accounts and a pocket money app, and more than 10 million people use its app each day. The app needs a UK mobile number, or one from a short list of countries.
Pick Barclays if you want investing in the same app and features like cheque imaging and cardless cash. Pick NatWest if built-in budgeting tools, subscription tracking and a family pocket money setup matter more.
Which should you pick?
Choose Barclays if…
- UK customers who want an app plus branches, mortgages, savings and investing at one bank
- Cheque imaging, cardless cash and card freezing in one app
- Savings, loans, mortgages and investing all reachable from the app
Choose NatWest if…
- UK customers who want a mainstream bank with Round Ups, subscription tracking and a credit score in-app
- Subscription Manager helps catch forgotten recurring payments
- Round Ups and a built-in credit score check
About each app
What is Barclays?
Barclays is one of the UK's largest high street banks, and its mobile app is how most customers run their accounts day to day. The app shows balances and transactions, sends payments and transfers, lets you pay in cheques by photographing them, and has budgeting insights that flag where your money goes. Card controls let you set limits by payment type, see your PIN and freeze a lost card, and you can withdraw cash without a card. Savings, investments, loans and mortgages are reachable from the same app, and you can open a new current account in it. It suits people who want a full-service bank with branches, mortgages and wealth products alongside the app, rather than an app-only bank. Standard current accounts have no monthly fee, while reward and premier packages add perks for a fee or eligibility criteria. The app runs on iPhone and Android, with online banking on the web; it doesn't support Android Go phones.
What is NatWest?
NatWest is a large UK high street bank, part of NatWest Group, and its app is the main way customers bank with it. Beyond balances and payments, the app checks your credit score, rounds up card spending to the nearest pound into savings, and has a Subscription Manager that lists recurring payments and helps spot unexpected Direct Debits. You can approve payments with face or voice checks and earn MyRewards on eligible spending. NatWest also offers child and teen accounts and a pocket money app, so the app works for families as well as adults. It fits people who want a traditional bank with branches, mortgages and ISAs but expect a capable app. Standard current accounts have no monthly fee, while premier and reward accounts add benefits for eligible customers. The app runs on iOS and Android for customers aged 11 and over, with online banking on the web.
Side by side
| Attribute | Barclays | NatWest |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free plan + paid | Free plan + paid |
| Open source | No | No |
| Self-hostable | No | No |
| Platforms | iOS, Android, Web | iOS, Android, Web |
| Best for | UK customers who want an app plus branches, mortgages, savings and investing at one bank | UK customers who want a mainstream bank with Round Ups, subscription tracking and a credit score in-app |
| Status | Active | Active |
Verified facts, compared
Facts both apps publish, checked on each vendor's own site.
| Fact | Barclays | NatWest |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum age | 11 | 11 |
| Starting price | £5 a month (Blue Rewards) | £2 a month (Reward account) |
| Free plan | Yes, Barclays Bank Account with no monthly fees | Yes, Select account with no monthly fee |
Barclays vs NatWest pricing
Barclays: free plan + paid
- Card freeze: Yes source
- Starting price: £5 a month (Blue Rewards) source
- Free plan: Yes, Barclays Bank Account with no monthly fees source
NatWest: free plan + paid
- Starting price: £2 a month (Reward account) source
- Free plan: Yes, Select account with no monthly fee source
- Reward Silver plan: £12 a month source
- Reward Platinum plan: £23 a month source
Platforms
| Platform | Barclays | NatWest |
|---|---|---|
| Web | ||
| iOS | ||
| Android |
Barclays facts
7 of 7 verified- Minimum age
- 11
- Checked Nov 8, 2026barclays.co.uk(opens source in a new tab)
- “You need to be 11 or over to use the app.”
- Mobile cheque deposit
- Yes
- Checked Nov 8, 2026barclays.co.uk(opens source in a new tab)
- “More reasons to use the app Pay in a cheque Pay in cheques without having to come to us”
- Card freeze
- Yes
- Checked Nov 8, 2026barclays.co.uk(opens source in a new tab)
- “You can also temporarily freeze your card if you can’t find it”
- Cardless cash
- Yes
- Checked Nov 8, 2026barclays.co.uk(opens source in a new tab)
- “Cardless cash withdrawals Cardless cash withdrawals when you need them most”
- Android Go support
- No
- Checked Nov 8, 2026barclays.co.uk(opens source in a new tab)
- “No, we don’t support Android (Go edition) devices for any accounts right now.”
- Starting price
- £5 a month (Blue Rewards)
- Checked Nov 8, 2026barclays.co.uk(opens source in a new tab)
- “Upgrade to Blue Rewards (2) for just £5 a month to receive extra benefits.”
- Free plan
- Yes, Barclays Bank Account with no monthly fees
- Checked Nov 8, 2026barclays.co.uk(opens source in a new tab)
- “everyday account with no monthly fees”
NatWest facts
9 of 9 verified- Daily app users
- Over 10 million
- Checked Nov 8, 2026natwest.com(opens source in a new tab)
- “No wonder over 10 million customers use it every day.”
- Minimum age
- 11
- Checked Nov 8, 2026natwest.com(opens source in a new tab)
- “Our app is available to customers aged 11+ using compatible iOS and Android devices.”
- Subscription tracking
- Yes
- Checked Nov 8, 2026natwest.com(opens source in a new tab)
- “Track subscriptions Subscription Manager helps you manage recurring payments and quickly spot unusual Direct Debits.”
- Round Ups
- Yes
- Checked Nov 8, 2026natwest.com(opens source in a new tab)
- “Save as you spend Round up purchases to the nearest pound with Round Ups.”
- Deposit protection
- Up to £120,000
- Checked Nov 8, 2026natwest.com(opens source in a new tab)
- “Eligible deposits in current and savings accounts up to a total of £120,000”
- Starting price
- £2 a month (Reward account)
- Checked Nov 8, 2026natwest.com(opens source in a new tab)
- “Information Message £2 monthly fee.”
- Free plan
- Yes, Select account with no monthly fee
- Checked Nov 8, 2026natwest.com(opens source in a new tab)
- “Select account offers no monthly fee.”
- Reward Silver plan
- £12 a month
- Checked Nov 8, 2026natwest.com(opens source in a new tab)
- “Reward Silver £12 monthly fee European travel insurance.”
- Reward Platinum plan
- £23 a month
- Checked Nov 3, 2026natwest.com(opens source in a new tab)
- “Information Message Continue to Reward Silver Open in new window Reward Platinum £23 monthly fee Worldwide family travel insurance.”
Pros and cons of Barclays
- Cheque imaging, cardless cash and card freezing in one app
- Savings, loans, mortgages and investing all reachable from the app
- Usable from age 11, so families can bank in one place
- Branch network for things the app can't do
- Doesn't support Android Go devices
- Spending abroad typically costs more than with app-only banks like Monzo or Wise
- Best perks sit behind paid or eligibility-based reward packages
Pros and cons of NatWest
- Subscription Manager helps catch forgotten recurring payments
- Round Ups and a built-in credit score check
- Used by more than 10 million customers a day, so it's well tested
- Child and teen accounts plus a pocket money app
- Spending abroad usually costs more than with Monzo, Starling or Wise
- Some rewards need a qualifying account or paid package
- App needs a UK mobile number, or one from a short list of countries
Other apps to consider
Barclays vs NatWest: common questions
Is Barclays better than NatWest?
Barclays and NatWest are both UK high street banks with full-featured apps, free standard current accounts and paid reward packages. Barclays suits people who want cheque imaging, cardless cash and investing in the same app. NatWest suits people who want built-in money tools such as Round Ups, a credit score check and a Subscription Manager. Day-to-day banking is similar; the extras differ.
Is Barclays free?
Barclays has a free plan, with paid plans for more features. See its verified pricing facts above for current limits.
Is NatWest free?
NatWest has a free plan, with paid plans for more features. See its verified pricing facts above for current limits.
Is Barclays or NatWest open source?
Neither is open source.
Which platforms do Barclays and NatWest support?
Barclays: iOS, Android and Web. NatWest: iOS, Android and Web.