- Free business account option
- No hard credit check
- Accountancy software MTD ready
- Loans, savings, investments and much more
About Tide
Tide is built for businesses and its speciality is in the admin around the account. Alongside the account, you can access invoicing, expense cards, Tide Accounting, Making Tax Digital tools, business savings and a credit broking service that introduces you to lenders. Tide is authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority under the Electronic Money Regulations 2011 and separately registered as a credit and insurance broker. New accounts are provided by ClearBank Ltd, a licensed bank and therefore eligible deposits there are covered by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme. Tide offers four plans, Free, Smart, Pro and Max, and our Know Your Business table lists all four plus a paired savings account. Tide can access loans, asset finance, invoice finance and merchant cash advances for its customers through third parties.
Tide at a glance
| Provider type | Tide Platform Limited is an FCA authorised Electronic Money Institution (EMI). Accounts are provided by ClearBank Ltd, a fully regulated bank enabling Tide to offer FSCS protection on eligible deposits. |
|---|---|
| Could be great for | Sole traders, freelancers and small limited companies that want an account open fast. It suits businesses that take some cash, want invoicing and tax tools in the same app and whose needs might extend to borrowing at a later date. Tide has partnered with lending firms to bring access to lending, which sets them apart from other fintech providers who are limited by their EMI regulatory status. |
| Currencies | Accounts are held in sterling. Tide accounts can support Euro transactions via SEPA only. There are no foreign currency accounts or local account details in other countries. |
| Account opening (from a fully complete application) | You apply in the app and Tide states applications can be approved within minutes, with a physical card arriving in a couple of days. Tide states there is no hard credit check. You need to be 18 or over with a UK mobile number and a device registered to the UK app stores. Sole traders and freelancers also need a UK home address and HMRC registration, while limited company directors can have an overseas home address provided the company is registered at Companies House. |
| Deposit protection | New Tide accounts provided by ClearBank Ltd carry Financial Services Compensation Scheme cover on eligible deposits, up to £120,000 . This is aggregated with anything else you hold at ClearBank. Some older Tide accounts provided by PrePay Technologies Limited use safeguarding protection, meaning deposits are held in segregated accounts. See our regulation and protection guide for what each type of protection offers. |
| Free account available? (free from monthly subscription fees) | Yes, the Free plan currently has no monthly subscription fee and includes five free transfers a month, invoicing and Making Tax Digital tools. Other fees will apply for services such as cash deposits, card payments abroad and transfers beyond the monthly allowance. |
| Sample costs (costs shown are part of a wider charging structure. Always check up to date information before proceeding) | Example costs: Plans (pricing checked 26 August 2026). Free: £0 a month. Smart: £12.49 a month. Pro: £27.49 a month. Max: £69.99 a month. The Pro plan currently includes a one-month free trial. Transfers: Free includes five a month, Smart includes 30 a month and Pro and Max are unlimited. Expense cards: Not included on Free, however, with one on Smart, two on Pro and three on Max. Invoicing: Three free invoices and quotes a month on all plans and unlimited invoicing included on the Max plan. Cash deposits: At the Post Office a deposit up to £500 costs £2.50. Above that the charge is a percentage of the total which varies by plan. Deposit limits apply. PayPoint is 3% of the deposit, with a £10 minimum and a £500 daily maximum. |
Suitability
Is Tide good for business banking?
Tide is a strong presence in the business account market and for good reason. It’s evolved to offer more than its peers, and they continually add more products and services attracting more businesses to consider making the switch.
What Tide does well
Opening is genuinely quick and there is no hard credit check. Tide states applications can be approved within minutes which matters for a business that needs its account to be up and running quickly. A survey published in August 2026, run by Ipsos under the CMA’s Retail Banking Order, placed Tide joint fifth of 17 providers with around 1,200 customers of each provider surveyed.
Cash is accepted through two routes, the Post Office and PayPoint. Notably the Post Office route handles larger single deposits than many other app only providers allow.
There is a free plan with no monthly subscription fee. Making Tax Digital tools are also included on every plan rather than sold separately.
Each plan comes with additional features that sit with bespoke access on each tier. A comprehensive range of add on services allow you to build a business account that really fits your business.
Tide also offers an Instant Savings Account for you to keep surplus funds separate, and earn interest.
Who Tide could suit
Tide suits a large range of businesses, but those that run small teams, or alone, should really take a look, due to the many innovative admin tools that are accessible. That covers sole traders, freelancers and self employed people, all of whom Tide accepts directly.
It works for startups that need an account today, and for small limited companies and those growing, who need features such as expense cards and unlimited transfers that come with paid plans.
One useful quirk is that a limited company director can have an overseas home address, as long as the company is registered with Companies House
What Tide doesn’t do
Tide does not lend so there is no overdraft on the accounts. They do however offer access to loans via their own separate company, Funding Options, for other types of lending products.
The account is sterling only, so there are no foreign currency accounts and no local account details abroad. The zero foreign exchange fee on paid plans applies to card payments rather than to holding currency.
Compare business accounts from Tide
You can weigh up Tide against banks and other Electronic Money Institutions on our best business bank accounts comparison. If bookkeeping and tax are the deciding factor, our accountancy business bank accounts page covers providers that build those tools in. If you are moving your main account across, our switcher business bank accounts page explains how switching works.
4 Products Compared
Tide Smart Business Bank Account
- Monthly Fee:£12.49
- Bank Transfers:30 Free per month
- Overdraft:No
- Account Access:App & Online
- Businesses moving beyond basic admin looking for regular free transfer allowances.
- Teams requiring secondary cards and members who frequently transact internationally.
- 20p per bank transfer after 30 free transfers each month.
- Cash deposits incur a fee (0.5% at Post Office / 3% at PayPoint).
- Businesses moving beyond basic admin looking for regular free transfer allowances.
- Teams requiring secondary cards and members who frequently transact internationally.
- 20p per bank transfer after 30 free transfers each month.
- Cash deposits incur a fee (0.5% at Post Office / 3% at PayPoint).
- Includes 1 free employee expense card seat.
- 0% foreign exchange fees on international card payments.
- Linked Instant Saver Account with priority tiered interest rates.
- Direct phone support and 24/7 in-app chat.
- For registered business account: must be registered with UK Companies House as a director of that company or partnership.
- For sole trader account: must be a UK-based sole trader or freelancer.
- Applicants must be aged 18+, hold a valid UK phone number/address, and possess a compatible iOS or Android device.
Tide Pro Business Bank Account-
Monthly Fee:£27.49
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Bank Transfers:Unlimited Free (subject to fair use)
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Overdraft:No
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Account Access:App & Online
- Rapidly growing businesses making a high volume of monthly electronic bank transfers.
- Owners looking to bundle automated bookkeeping and full tax tools directly into their bank account.
- Cash deposits still carry transaction fees (0.5% Post Office / 3% PayPoint).
- High-value CHAPS payments are restricted to specific plan allowances (2 included).
- Rapidly growing businesses making a high volume of monthly electronic bank transfers.
- Owners looking to bundle automated bookkeeping and full tax tools directly into their bank account.
- Cash deposits still carry transaction fees (0.5% Post Office / 3% PayPoint).
- High-value CHAPS payments are restricted to specific plan allowances (2 included).
- Tide Accounting included: Built-in tools for automated bookkeeping and Making Tax Digital (MTD).
- Includes 2 free employee expense card seats.
- Unlimited free UK bank transfers.
- 0% foreign exchange fees on international card purchases and reduced international transfer fees.
- For registered business account: must be registered with UK Companies House as a director of that company or partnership.
- For sole trader account: must be a UK-based sole trader or freelancer.
- Applicants must be aged 18+, hold a valid UK phone number/address, and possess a compatible iOS or Android device.
Tide Max Business Bank Account-
Monthly Fee:£69.99
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Bank Transfers:Unlimited Free (subject to fair use)
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Overdraft:No
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Account Access:App & Online
- Established businesses wanting maximum rewards, highest tier savings rates, and dedicated support.
- Companies with larger teams seeking collaborative, high-access account options.
- Significant jump in monthly fee (£69.99/mo) requiring solid card spending to offset via cashback.
- Established businesses wanting maximum rewards, highest tier savings rates, and dedicated support.
- Companies with larger teams seeking collaborative, high-access account options.
- Significant jump in monthly fee (£69.99/mo) requiring solid card spending to offset via cashback.
- 0.5% cashback on all eligible card spend via the exclusive Tide Max card.
- Premium built-in MTD accounting features and Business Credit Score Insights.
- Includes 3 free employee expense card seats and extended team access (up to 5 members).
- Best available interest rates via the Tide Instant Saver Max Boost.
- For registered business account: must be registered with UK Companies House as a director of that company or partnership.
- For sole trader account: must be a UK-based sole trader or freelancer.
- Applicants must be aged 18+, hold a valid UK phone number/address, and possess a compatible iOS or Android device.
Tide Business Bank Account-
Monthly Fee:Free
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Bank Transfers:5 Free per month
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Overdraft:No
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Account Access:App & Online
- Apply online in minutes with no credit checks or paperwork needed
- File your taxes with our HMRC-recognised, MTD-ready solution
- 20p per bank transfer after 5 free each month
- Tide is a digital-only service. There are no physical branches for in-person banking or face-to-face support
- Apply online in minutes with no credit checks or paperwork needed
- File your taxes with our HMRC-recognised, MTD-ready solution
- 20p per bank transfer after 5 free each month
- Tide is a digital-only service. There are no physical branches for in-person banking or face-to-face support
- Create and send invoices for free
- Multi-business – hold up to 5 business accounts
- Automated 30-day cash flow forecasts
- For registered business account: you must be registered with UK Companies House as a director of that company or partnership
- For sole trader account: you must be a UK based sole trader/freelancer
- For all accounts: you must be aged 18+, have a valid UK phone number and address, and hold compatible device registered to a UK App or Google Play store
 | The Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS) protects up to £120,000 of eligible deposits per person or company, per firm, which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). The limit is the total of all deposits held with one firm. For more information visit www.fscs.org.uk. |
Branch AccessCash DepositsNo Hard Credit CheckFast OpeningGlobal Currency AccountsAccounting | BRANCH ACCESS Account provider maintains a nationwide branch access for face to face customer banking and/or relationship management. CASH DEPOSITS Facilities to deposit cash in either a branch, Post Office, Paypoint or other locations into the account. Limits and charges may apply. NO HARD CREDIT CHECK A soft credit check for ID & Fraud purposes is carried out for account only applications. If you apply for a credit product such as an overdraft with the business account, a hard credit check will be initiated. FAST OPENING Accounts opening in 3 days or less in most circumstances. Excludes application timescales or applications simultaneously applying for credit facilities such as overdraft. GLOBAL CURRENCY ACCOUNTS Currency accounts with local (domestic) bank details for the EU (SEPA) and at least one international country e.g. USA (ACH) to transact as a local business. This feature can also be termed ‘local rails’. This differentiates them from providers offering local account details for the EU (SEPA) only and currency accounts or ‘pots’ that transact only via SWIFT. ACCOUNTING The provider offers accounting features either through their own platform or via integration with third-party software like Xero, QuickBooks or Sage. Please note that third-party integrations usually require a separate subscription fee. |
 | Exclusive to KnowYourBusiness. Valid only via applications linked from this website. Offer fulfilled by the account provider. |
| Important | Our comparison is ordered by the commercial arrangements with some, or all, of the providers featured. Our service is free and commercial arrangements have no effect on the products you may select. To find out more about our independence, regulatory authorisation and how we earn money, visit the ‘About’ page on our website. |
Regulation and account protection
The regulation and fund protection a business account receives depends on whether the provider operates as an Electronic Money Institution (EMI) or a Bank. Both are regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), here is an overview of the key differences.
Electronic Money Institution (EMI)
Focused on transaction and payment management. The limited product range and online only service can translate to lower running costs, faster applications and niche, specialist features.
Protection
Safeguarding: Your money is ring-fenced in segregated accounts with tier-1 banks or backed by insurance.
Lending
No (cannot directly offer lending products, but some do via 3rd parties)
Good to know
- Some EMI’s offer products outside of their regulated status, via partnerships
- Most EMI’s only require soft searches for fraud and identity validation purposes
- Cannot legally call themselves a ‘bank’
- Cash deposits will be handled through partnerships, such as the Post Office or you will only be able to transfer funds in, from another account.
Bank
A provider regulated as a full bank will be able to offer a wide range of additional products and services. Including lending and cash deposits. Applications go through broader checks.
Protection
Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS): Eligible deposits up to £120,000 per business, per banking licence
Lending
Yes (eg. loans, overdrafts, credit cards)
Good to know
- Some newer banks do not have branches but can offer faster application processes than ‘traditional’ banks.
- A business account can be a gateway to products required for business growth
Important info: Our brand overviews are our independent guides, not financial advice or recommendations. Product details are changed frequently by the provider, so always check directly before applying. Conduct your own research to ensure a product suits your specific business. We may earn commission if you open an account via our links. Compare this provider against others using our business accounts comparison.
Frequently asked questions
Is Tide regulated as a bank?
No, the Tide Platform is authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority as an Electronic Money Institution (EMI).
Is Tide FSCS protected?
New Tide accounts are provided by ClearBank and eligible deposits are covered by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme covering up to £120,000 of eligible deposits. Note, this is aggregated with anything else you hold at ClearBank.
How long does it take to open a Tide account?
Tide states that applications can be approved within minutes through the app, with a physical debit card arriving within a couple of days.
Does Tide do a credit check?
Tide doesn’t run a hard credit check to open an account. Instead, it runs identity and eligibility checks, including verifying your documents. This is because Tide does not lend, and any additional lending products are offered by third parties who will run a full check if you apply.
Can you pay cash into a Tide account?
Yes, at the Post Office and PayPoint. Charges and limits depend on the type of Tide Business Account you have.
Can a charity use Tide?
No, charities and donation funded businesses and community interest companies are on Tide’s excluded list, as is any business handling client funds.
