Tide business accounts can help a range of businesses manage their finances online, including freelancers, small businesses and companies scaling up their operations. Currently, Tide offers a business account with no monthly fee, as well as three paid options: Tide Smart, Tide Pro and Tide Cashback. These come with a variety of features, depending on your chosen plan.
Offering a potentially quick set-up and a range of features, Tide allows you to schedule payments, create and send invoices, and manage your expenses from your smartphone.
» MORE: Compare business bank accounts
Tide Business Account – Free
- For registered business accounts: Must be a director of a UK company registered with Companies House.
- For sole trader accounts: Must be a UK-based sole trader or freelancer with a valid UK home address and be registered with HMRC
- For all accounts: you must be aged 18+, have a valid UK phone number and address, and hold a compatible device registered to a UK App or Google Play store
NerdWallet's Review Summary
Tide Key features:
- Free and paid accounts: Tide offers business accounts with and without a monthly fee, plus possible transaction fees.
- Access to business loans: If you are eligible, small business financing such as business loans is available through Tide.
- FCA regulation and FSCS protection: Tide is a digital business account provider regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). Tide bank accounts are provided by ClearBank and are protected by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS) for eligible deposits up to £85,000.Protected: Eligible deposits of up to £85,000 in new Tide accounts are protected by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS).
- Payments: Take payments online or in-person with Tide’s variety of point of sale tools.
- Savings account: Get a free savings account for your business when you open a Tide account.
- Account extras: Customers can pay for additional Tide tools for accounting, invoicing and more.
NerdWallet's Pros & Cons
Pros:
- A business account with no monthly fee is available.
- Take customer payments in-person or online.
- Great mobile app.
- Free savings account included.You can access your account digitally via an app on Android or iOs and on the Tide website.
Cons:
- Business partnerships and charities cannot open a Tide account.
- No branch access.
- All transactions carry a fee with Tide’s Free account.
This product may be one of a range offered by this provider. Always check terms & conditions for suitability before applying.
Learn more about how we bring you our review.
Key features
- Free and paid accountsTide offers business accounts with and without a monthly fee, plus possible transaction fees.
- Access to business loansIf you are eligible, small business financing such as business loans is available through Tide.
- FCA regulation and FSCS protectionTide is a digital business account provider regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). Tide bank accounts are provided by ClearBank and are protected by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS) for eligible deposits up to £85,000.
- Account extrasCustomers can pay for additional Tide tools for accounting, invoicing and more.
- PaymentsTake payments online or in-person with Tide’s variety of point of sale tools.
- Savings AccountGet a free savings account for your business when you open a Tide account.
The pros and cons featured here are chosen by us based on a combination of our expert, research-based opinions and an exclusive survey of UK business owners and decision makers. The survey was conducted on behalf of NerdWallet UK in December 2022 to identify the business bank account features that people feel are most important. This was subsequently reinforced by an additional survey in 2024. They are unlikely to be the only product features and restrictions that you should consider. Pros and cons are subjective and you should align them to your own personal and business circumstances. Information was correct at the time of publication but may have changed since.
Tide business account full review
Tide was founded in 2015 and has been offering business banking since 2017. A digital fintech platform, it aims to make opening and managing a business account faster and more user-friendly compared to traditional banks, with its use of mobile technology.
Tide offers sole traders, freelancers and limited companies a range of business accounts, including a free account and more advanced paid accounts that allow businesses to upgrade as and when they need to. All accounts include one free expenses card and can hold up to five business accounts. They also offer accounting software integration, including QuickBooks, Sage and Xero, scheduled payments, free invoicing, and charge £1 for ATM withdrawals.
Free business bank account
Tide’s free business account has no monthly fee and offers expenses cards for £5 a month. Transfers in and out cost 20p each, but you can send three invoices each month, use Tide’s payment acceptance tools and connect third party accounting software. In addition, customers get access to basic member perks and an instant saver account. Customer support services are limited to in-app chat support.
Smart business bank account
The Smart plan costs £12.49 + VAT each month, comes with 25 free transfers per month and includes one expense card. This account also offers priority support via its app, customer support over the phone, a 24/7 legal helpline, support with trademarking and disputes, enhanced access for a team member, better interest rates for your business savings and exclusive member perks.
Pro business bank account
The Pro plan has a monthly fee of £24.99 + VAT and offers all of the same features as the Smart account. It also comes with Tide’s Accounting package, unlimited free transfers, reduced fees on international transactions, better savings rates and two additional expense cards.
Max business bank account
The Tide Cashback account costs £64.99 + VAT per month. It includes unlimited free transfers plus free access to Tide’s Admin Extra package, three expense cards, a dedicated team of account managers and 0.5% cashback on purchases made with your Tide debit card.
Tide business account features: at a glance
| Free account | Smart account | |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly fee | £0 | £12.49 (+ VAT) |
| Basic transaction fees | 20p | 25 free transfers per month. Yes for 26-plus monthly transactions |
| Account management | Online or via the app | Online, via the app, over the phone |
| FSCS protection | Yes | Yes |
| Set-up time | In minutes for most customers | In minutes for most customers |
| Cash deposits | Yes (via Post Office and PayPoint) | Yes (via Post Office and PayPoint) |
| Cheque deposits | Yes | Yes |
| Access to other banking services | Yes | Yes |
| International payments | Yes (in EUR within the Single Euro Payments Area) | Yes (in EUR within the Single Euro Payments Area) |
| Customer service | App and online support Email support: [email protected] 24/7 support is available in cases of fraud, theft or lost cards. | App and online support Email support: [email protected] Phone support (available 9am to 6pm on weekdays not including bank holidays) 24/7 support is available in cases of fraud, theft or lost cards. |
| Multiple user access | No | Yes |
| Create and send invoices | Yes | Yes |
| Integration with accounting software tools | Yes (QuickBooks, Sage, Xero and more) | Yes (QuickBooks, Sage, Xero and more) |
Where Tide business account stands out
No monthly fees: Tide’s Free business account has no monthly fee.
Taking payments: Tide offers extensive payment acceptance tools, including tap-to-pay functionality for smartphones, payment links, payment terminals, online checkouts and more.
Paid extras: Optional paid extras, dubbed ‘Toolkits’, include Tides’ Invoice Assistant and Accounting packages. These packages can help you to file for VAT, prepare for tax deadlines, view cash flow reports and much more.
Customer support: Paid accounts have access to a priority phone number as well as a 24/7 legal helpline.
FSCS protection: New business bank accounts with Tide are covered by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS). It’s worth noting that if you’re a sole trader and have a personal, savings and business account with Tide, the £85,000 limit for FSCS protection will be the total you can claim across all your accounts.
Where Tide business account falls short
No branch access: Tide is a digital-only business banking provider. It has no high-street branches, so it might not suit your business if you would prefer to speak to someone face-to-face to manage your account.
Transaction fees: All transfers in or out cost 20p with Tide’s cheapest account.
Partnerships, charities and non-profits: Tide does not offer accounts to business partnerships, charities and non-profits.
Take a look at some of the other business banking providers we review.
Tide business account customer reviews
Tide has received generally positive reviews on different review sites.
- Trustpilot: 4.0 out of 5 rating, based on nearly 26,000 reviews
- Apple App Store: 4.8 out of 5 rating, based on over 76,200 reviews
- Google Play: 4.6 out of 5, based on over 22,100 reviews.
This information is correct as of 21 August 2025.
Tide business account eligibility
To be eligible to open a Tide business account, you must:
- be at least 18 years old
- have a valid UK phone number
- own an Apple or Android device
If you’re a sole trader or freelancer, you’ll need to prove you have a UK residential address. If you run a limited company, it must be registered with Companies House and you need to be a director to apply.
Tide currently will not open business accounts for charities or business partnerships.
There are also a number of industries that Tide does not support, including but not limited to:
- cryptocurrencies
- investments
- gambling
- weaponry
- adult entertainment
You can find out more information about prohibited industries on Tide’s website.
How to apply for a Tide business account
You can open a Tide business account online. When you apply, you’ll need to download the Tide app on your smartphone.
To apply for a Tide business account, you need to:
- Click the See Deal button at the top of the page.
- Provide basic information, such as personal details and contact information.
- Scan and submit proof of identity.
- Wait for approval fromTide.
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Services offered by this provider may change over time. Always check Ts&Cs.