Tide Business Account Review 2025: Fees, Features & Verdict

Tide is a mobile-first business banking platform providing current accounts, savings, invoicing, and accounting tools to over 1.5 million UK small businesses. Unlike traditional banks, Tide operates entirely through its app, offering a free account with no monthly fees plus three paid plans with enhanced features. But does this digital-only approach genuinely deliver value, or does it fall short when real business needs arise?

This review examines Tide’s actual fees, features, and user experiences based on 29,000+ customer reviews to help you decide if it’s right for your business.

Review Summary Box

Best For: Freelancers and sole traders with fewer than 25 monthly transactions
Main Pro: Genuinely free account (£0 monthly) with FSCS protection up to £120,000
Main Con: 20p per-transfer fees accumulate quickly; persistent account freezing complaints
Rating: 3.8/5

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Tide Business Account Pricing

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Tide Core Features (All Accounts)

• Banking essentials: Free business current account with physical card arriving within 2-5 days, plus instant virtual debit card for online transactions. The virtual card works with Google Ads, Facebook Ads, Amazon Business, and SaaS subscriptions.
• Invoicing: Built-in invoice generator with branded templates. Create and send invoices directly from the app via email or messaging. Free, Smart, and Pro plans limited to 3 free invoices per month. Max plan includes unlimited invoicing.
• Accounting sync: Automatic integration with Xero, Sage, FreeAgent, QuickBooks, Coconut, KashFlow, Crunch, Clearbooks, and Reckon. Transaction data pushes to your accounting software every 24 hours with no manual data entry required.
• SEPA euro payments: Send and receive euros through the Single Euro Payments Area network. Incoming euros automatically convert to GBP with 1.50% FX markup on Free plan or 0.50% on paid plans. Payments sent before 1:50pm GMT typically arrive same-day.
• Business savings: Linked Instant Saver account earning 2.52-3.86% AER (variable) depending on plan tier. New customers receive boosted rate of 4.5% AER for first 6 months. Interest pays monthly with no withdrawal penalties. Minimum deposit £1.
• Team access: Grant financial permissions to 1-5 team members depending on plan level. Free plan includes 1 read-only member. Smart: 1 enhanced member. Pro: 2 enhanced. Max: 5 enhanced. Expense Cards available at £5 per month on Free plan, or included free with paid plans (Smart: 1 card, Pro: 2 cards, Max: 3 cards). Team members scan receipts directly in-app.

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Tide Premium Add-Ons

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Tide Pros & Cons

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Tide Fees & Charges: The Reality

Transaction Costs

20p per UK bank transfer on Free plan accumulates rapidly. Make 50 monthly transfers? That’s £10/month—nearly the Smart plan’s £12.49 cost, which includes 25 free transfers plus 0% foreign currency fees. Pro and Max plans offer unlimited free transfers, making them more economical for active businesses.

Foreign Exchange

2.75% FX markup on foreign currency card transactions (Free plan). Spend £1,000 internationally per month? That’s £27.50 in fees. Smart, Pro, and Max plans eliminate FX fees entirely on card transactions—0% markup. SEPA euro payments incur 1.50% FX markup (Free plan) or 0.50% (paid plans).

Cash & Hidden Fees

• ATM withdrawals: £1 per withdrawal (all plans)
• Post Office deposits: 0.99% with £2.50 minimum (Free plan) or 0.5% with £2.50 minimum (paid plans)
• PayPoint deposits: 3% across all plans—depositing £500 costs £15 in fees
• Inbound SWIFT payments: £1 fee for transactions under £100, £5 fee for transactions £100 or above (Free plan only)
• Digital cheque deposits: 70p processing fee plus 20p transfer fee = £0.90 total
• Invoice generation limit: 3 free invoices per month (Free/Smart/Pro plans). Unlimited on Max plan.

Reality check: A business making 50 transfers (£10), 5 ATM withdrawals (£5), and depositing £1,000 cash at PayPoint (£30) monthly pays £45/month on the “free” plan. The Pro plan at £24.99 would be cheaper with unlimited transfers and lower cash deposit fees.

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Tide App Performance

4.8/5 stars (Apple App Store, 79,000+ reviews) | 4.7/5 stars (Google Play, 23,000+ reviews)

Strengths: Automatic transaction categorisation, instant virtual card generation, real-time spending notifications, clear account balance visibility, and intuitive navigation for basic banking tasks.

Issues: Frequent app crashes reported by users, Android users cannot access Tap to Pay functionality (iPhone-only feature), complex navigation for advanced features. One software engineer reviewer stated: “I’m struggling lol how is a ‘normal’ user gonna cope?”

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Opening a Tide Account: Eligibility, Process, and Restricted Industries

Tide’s onboarding is famously fast, but they maintain strict regulatory boundaries. While the “happy path” can see an account active in under 10 minutes, the reality for complex businesses can involve multi-week verification delays.

Who Can Apply? (Eligibility)

To qualify for a Tide account, you must be at least 18 years old, reside in the UK, and possess a smartphone compatible with the UK App Store or Google Play.

• Sole Traders & Freelancers: You must have a valid UK home address and be registered (or registering) with HMRC for Self Assessment.
• Limited Company Directors: You must be registered with Companies House. Notably, while the company must be UK-registered, directors may reside at a home address either in the UK or overseas.
• Key Exclusions: Crucially, Tide does not currently support LLPs, Partnerships, PLCs, Trusts, or Charities/CICs.

The “No Credit Check” Advantage: One of Tide’s strongest features is that they perform identity and anti-money laundering checks rather than “hard” credit searches. This makes them highly accessible for business owners with poor personal credit history.

The “High-Risk” Exclusions (Restricted Industries)

Tide maintains a “Risk Appetite” policy that excludes several sectors. If your business involves any of the following, your application will likely be rejected:

• Financial Services: Holding/managing third-party money, insurance brokerage, or money transfer services.
• High-Risk Trading: Cryptocurrency/virtual currency exchange, precious metals extraction, or weapons trading.
• Regulated Goods: Gambling, casinos, and the sale of unlicensed pharmaceuticals or CBD products.
• Specialised Trades: Unlicensed scrap metal processing, waste management, or used vehicle import/export.
• Adult Industry: Escort services and other services within the adult industry.

Timeline & International Limitations

Once approved, digital access is immediate, and your physical card arrives within 2-5 business days. However, before applying, consider these critical operational limits:

1. Incoming USD Gap: Tide cannot receive USD payments. Any funds sent in USD will be rejected. Currently, they only support incoming payments in GBP and EUR.
2. Verification Delays: While most users are approved in minutes, identity verification can occasionally stall. As one reviewer noted: “Monzo made it far, FAR easier… Tide took several months.”

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Tide FSCS Protection & Regulatory Compliance

All Tide business accounts receive £120,000 FSCS protection through ClearBank Ltd, a fully authorised UK bank regulated by both the Prudential Regulation Authority and Financial Conduct Authority (Financial Services Register number: 754568). Registered address: 13 Dirty Lane, Borough Yards, London, SE1 9PA.

Protection limits by business structure: Limited companies can claim up to £120,000 separately for business accounts and £85,000 separately for personal accounts (if held with the same banking group). These protections operate independently. Sole traders have a combined £120,000 limit across both business and personal accounts with the same banking group. FSCS protection applies automatically with no registration required. In the event of banking provider failure, FSCS aims to compensate eligible depositors within seven days.

⚠️ Concern: Multiple user reviews report account freezes “without valid explanation” causing sudden loss of fund access. While financial institutions must comply with anti-money laundering regulations and suspicious activity monitoring, the reported communication failures during these freezes represent significant customer treatment issues. User reports suggest investigation timelines and accessible support channels are not consistently provided, creating business-critical cash flow disruptions.

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Tide User Reviews & Customer Experience

Trustpilot: 4.2/5 stars from nearly 29,000 reviews—rated “Great”

What works: Satisfied customers praise the straightforward application process and consolidated financial tools. “Straight forward application process. Review and response all in good time. No issues at all.” Another highlighted: “Fast and efficient, listened well to the query which was fixed straight away.”

Major issues reported:

• Account freezing (most serious complaint): “One of the worst company ever. Randomly it would freeze your account without a valid explanation.” Multiple users report sudden loss of fund access creating severe cash flow disruption for operating businesses.
• Unresponsive customer support: Despite advertising 24/7 chat support, users consistently report generic automated responses that fail to address specific issues, no telephone support on Free plan (priority phone access available only on Smart, Pro, Max), multi-day delays in resolving account problems, and significant difficulty closing accounts or cancelling services. Critical complaint: One user unable to access their account since January received generic “login to app” emails after explicitly stating this was impossible.
• Hidden fee frustration: “This used to be automatic, but as part of Tide’s commitment to worsening the customer experience every few months, now you have to manually add it to every amount.” The 20p per-transaction fee frustrates users who expected genuinely “free” banking.
• Intrusive advertising: “3-5 unsolicited ads from 3rd party companies via Tide notifications – EVERY DAY. ADS IN THEIR NOTIFICATIONS.” Users receive multiple daily advertisements within a financial services app, undermining the professional banking experience.
• Feature limitations: “It limits features like more than 3 invoices a month to paying customers.” The 3-invoice monthly cap on Free, Smart, and Pro plans frustrates growing businesses with multiple clients requiring regular invoicing.

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Our Final Verdict & Tide Recommendation

Tide works well for micro-businesses with fewer than 25 monthly transactions—the Free plan’s £0 monthly fee and FSCS protection suit side businesses and new freelancers testing business viability. However, transaction fees accumulate rapidly for active businesses. The 20p transfer fee means 50 monthly payments cost £10, nearly matching the Smart plan’s £12.49 monthly cost (which includes 25 free transfers plus 0% foreign currency fees).

The persistent account freezing complaints and poor customer service responsiveness represent unacceptable risks for established operations that cannot tolerate sudden cash flow disruptions or extended resolution timelines.

✓ Choose Tide if:

• You’re a sole trader or freelancer with fewer than 25 monthly transactions
• You need free basic banking without monthly fees
• You want invoicing, accounting, and optional payroll tools in one platform

✗ Avoid Tide if:

• You make 30+ monthly transfers and need lower transaction costs
• You require responsive customer support for time-sensitive issues
• You need USD payment capabilities for American clients
• You cannot risk account access disruptions affecting business operations

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Tide FAQs: People Also Ask

Is Tide a real bank?

No, Tide is not a bank itself. Tide provides business banking services through ClearBank Ltd, which is a fully authorised UK bank regulated by both the Prudential Regulation Authority and the Financial Conduct Authority (Financial Services Register number: 754568). This means Tide accounts receive the same regulatory protections and safeguards as traditional bank accounts, including FSCS deposit protection.

Is Tide FSCS protected?

Yes, all Tide business accounts receive FSCS protection up to £120,000—this is government-backed deposit protection that safeguards your money if the banking provider fails.

• Limited companies: £120,000 separately for business accounts and £85,000 separately for personal accounts (if held with the same banking group)
• Sole traders: £120,000 combined across both business and personal accounts held with the same banking group (ClearBank)

This protection applies automatically with no registration required.

Does Tide do a credit check when opening an account?

No, Tide does not perform traditional credit checks that affect your credit score. The company conducts identity verification and anti-money laundering compliance checks, but these are informational searches rather than credit applications. This makes Tide accessible for business owners with poor personal credit histories who might struggle to open accounts with traditional banks.

Is Tide Business Account actually free?

The Free plan charges £0 monthly fees, but users pay per-transaction costs:

• 20p per UK bank transfer
• £1 per ATM withdrawal
• 2.75% FX markup on foreign currency transactions
• Percentage-based cash deposit fees (0.99% at Post Office, 3% at PayPoint)

For businesses making 50+ monthly transfers, these transaction fees can exceed £10-15 monthly, potentially making the Smart plan (£12.49) or Pro plan (£24.99 with unlimited transfers) more economical overall.

How long does it take to open a Tide Business Account?

Account opening times vary dramatically between users. Some applicants receive approval within 10-15 minutes from starting the application. However, others report multi-week or multi-month delays during the identity verification process. One reviewer noted: “Monzo made it far, FAR easier to the point that I was set up in 10-15 mins. Tide took several months.” Once approved, users receive digital access immediately, with physical cards arriving within 2-5 business days via post.

Can I deposit cash into my Tide account?

Yes, through two options:

• Post Office branches: 0.99% with £2.50 minimum (Free plan) or 0.5% with £2.50 minimum (paid plans)
• PayPoint locations: 3% across all plans—depositing £100 costs £3, depositing £500 costs £15

Neither option is cost-effective for businesses requiring regular cash deposits, as fees accumulate significantly compared to traditional banks offering free cash deposit services.

Does Tide offer business overdrafts?

No, Tide does not provide traditional overdraft facilities. Instead, the company partners with Iwoca to offer business loans up to £150,000 as an alternative credit facility. These loans carry different terms, interest rates, and approval criteria compared to traditional bank overdrafts. Applications can be submitted directly through the Tide app, but require separate approval and credit assessment by Iwoca.

What accounting software integrates with Tide?

Tide integrates with Xero, Sage, FreeAgent, QuickBooks, Coconut, KashFlow, Crunch, Clearbooks, and Reckon—covering the major UK accounting platforms. Transactions automatically sync to your chosen accounting software every 24 hours with no manual CSV uploads or data entry required. Setup process: log into your accounting software, search for Tide in available integrations, and authorise the connection (typically completes within minutes).

Can I receive international payments with Tide?

Tide supports SEPA euro payments (typically arriving within minutes to 3 business days) and inbound SWIFT payments in GBP (£1 fee for amounts under £100, £5 fee for amounts £100 or above on Free plan). However, Tide cannot receive USD payments—this is a critical limitation for businesses with American clients or suppliers. Only GBP and EUR currencies are supported for incoming payments.

How many invoices can I send with Tide?

Free, Smart, and Pro plans are limited to 3 free invoices per month. The Max plan includes unlimited invoicing at no additional cost. If you need more than 3 invoices on Free/Smart/Pro plans, you must purchase the separate Get Invoices Paid subscription, which adds automated payment reminders, premium branded templates, custom email messaging, and discounted transaction fees on payment links.

Can multiple people access my Tide account?

Yes, through the Team Access feature:

• Free plan: 1 read-only team member
• Smart plan: 1 enhanced team member with spending permissions
• Pro plan: 2 enhanced team members
• Max plan: 5 enhanced team members

You can also issue Expense Cards to team members for business purchases (£5 per card per month on Free plan; Smart includes 1 free card, Pro includes 2 free, Max includes 3 free). Team members can scan and upload receipts directly within the app.

What’s the difference between Tide’s Free, Smart, Pro, and Max plans?

Key differences include:

• Transfer fees: Free (20p each), Smart (25 free monthly), Pro/Max (unlimited free)
• Foreign currency fees: Free (2.75% markup), Smart/Pro/Max (0% markup)
• Savings interest rates: Free (2.52% AER up to £75k), Smart (3.04% AER up to £100k), Pro (3.35-3.55% AER up to £150k), Max (3.35-3.86% AER up to £1 million)
• Customer support: Free (chat only), Smart/Pro/Max (priority chat and phone support)
• Additional features: Max plan uniquely includes Tide Accounting software and unlimited invoicing at no additional cost

Is Tide good for limited companies?

Yes, particularly for low-to-moderate transaction volume limited companies. Tide handles company formation registration (£14.99 vs £50 via Companies House direct), provides separate FSCS protection for business accounts (£120,000 business + £85,000 personal), integrates with Companies House for statutory filing, and offers virtual London office addresses for professional credibility. However, high-volume limited companies making 50+ monthly transfers will find the Free plan’s 20p transaction fees expensive—the Pro plan (£24.99 with unlimited free transfers) becomes more economical at that activity level.

Can I close my Tide account easily?

User reviews indicate significant difficulty closing Tide accounts. Multiple customers report unresponsive customer support, generic automated email responses that fail to address closure requests, and lengthy processes without clear timelines. One user stated: “I asked them to close the account on Monday and transfer me the money, only for customer service to send me a generic email, telling me to login into the app to do so”—after the user had explicitly explained they could not access the app. This pattern suggests account closure may require persistent follow-up and extended waiting periods.