Objective To compare the physicochemical properties of Tibetan pea starch, mung bean starch, and poplar-wheat starch. Methods The amylose content, granule morphology, particle size distribution, crystalline structure, pasting properties, digestibility and thermodynamic properties of the 3 types of starch were studied. Results The amylose content in pea starch was significantly lower than that in mung bean starch and poplar-wheat starch; pea starch and poplar-wheat starch granules were mainly oval and kidney-shaped, while mung bean starch granules were mainly disc-shaped and ellipsoidal. The average particle size of pea starch was significantly different compared to the other 2 types of starch, and the relative crystallinity of the 3 types of starch types showed no significant differences; pea and mung bean starches had typical C-type crystalline structures, while poplar-wheat starch had an A-type crystalline structure. Mung bean starch had a stronger water-binding capacity, and the starch paste became more viscous after absorbing water and swelling, while pea starch and poplar-wheat starch had better thermal paste stability, with stronger heat resistance and shear resistance in high-temperature environments. Pea starch was more prone to gelation and aging, while poplar-wheat starch was less prone to aging. Poplar-wheat starch had a later pasting time, while pea starch had the earliest pasting time. Pea starch had the highest content of rapidly digestible starch and slowly digestible starch, while poplar-wheat starch had the highest content of resistant starch. Pea starch and poplar-wheat starch were easier to gelatinize than mung bean starch, which was less prone to gelatinization. Conclusion Tibetan pea starch and poplar-wheat starch are similar as granule shape and thermal paste stability, and most of their physicochemical properties are similar as those of mung bean starch.