About Tide
- A UK business financial platform, not a bank in its own right.
- ClearBank provides Tide business current accounts.
- Built for sole traders, freelancers and limited companies.
Independent BankAdvisor review
Tide Complete Review
Tide is a business financial platform rather than a bank in its own right. It provides app-led accounts and administration tools for sole traders, freelancers and limited companies.
Business onlyClearBank account optionSole traders and companies
Review contents
Overview & Approach
Tide combines a business current account with invoicing, accounting connections, expense tools, payment acceptance and company-administration services. It is aimed at people who want banking and everyday business admin in one app.
The free plan has no monthly subscription, but usage charges and allowances still matter. Paid Smart, Pro and Max plans add more included transfers, team tools, support and administration features.
Tide is not itself a bank. ClearBank provides its business current accounts. Some older Tide accounts are e-money accounts provided through PrePay Technologies, so customers should check their sort code and account documents before assuming FSCS protection applies.
Trust & Customer Ratings
Tide Platform Limited is authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority for electronic-money and payment services. It is also regulated for relevant credit and insurance-broking activities.
Eligible deposits in a Tide business current account powered by ClearBank are protected by the FSCS up to £120,000 in total per eligible depositor. Deposits held across other ClearBank products are aggregated when applying that limit.
Some legacy Tide members hold e-money accounts powered by PrePay Technologies. Those balances are safeguarded rather than covered by FSCS deposit protection. The account sort code and monthly statement help identify the provider.
4.4 / 5
★★★★★★★★★★
(Trustpilot)Trust Score
FSCS Protection
Check provider status
Apple App Store
Not separately verified
Google Play
Not separately verified
Phone Support
Digital support
Branch Access
Available
Digital & App Features
Tide focuses on reducing small-business administration. The app includes payment categorisation, invoices, payment links, accounting connections, expense cards and team access, although availability and allowances differ by plan.
✓
Business current account powered by ClearBank
✓
Invoices, payment links and card-payment tools
✓
Transaction categorisation and accounting integrations
✓
Making Tax Digital tools
✓
Cash deposits at Post Office and PayPoint locations
✓
Digital cheque deposits for eligible ClearBank accounts
✓
International payments and foreign-currency services
✓
Expense cards, virtual cards and team access
✓
Instant Saver account with plan-dependent variable rates
✓
Company registration and wider business-administration tools
Account types and fees
Account Types & Fees
Tide offers Free, Smart, Pro and Max plans. The headline subscription is only part of the cost: businesses should also compare included transfers, cash-deposit charges, ATM use, card foreign-exchange fees and optional tools.
At the time checked, the monthly plan prices shown by Tide were £0 for Free, £12.49 for Smart, £27.49 for Pro and £69.99 for Max. Prices, allowances and promotional rates can change.
Account types covered
Product areas covered in this review. The detailed fees, rates and conditions are grouped below.
- Tide Free
- Tide Smart
- Tide Pro
- Tide Max
- Tide Instant Saver
- Sole trader and freelancer accounts
- Limited-company accounts
Detailed fees and rates
Grouped by product area to make account fees, savings rates, card costs and important conditions easier to compare.
Everyday banking
| Item | Applies to | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly account fee | Free | £0 |
| Monthly account fee | Smart | £12.49 |
| Monthly account fee | Pro | £27.49 |
| Monthly account fee | Max | £69.99 |
Travel and card use
| Item | Applies to | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| International card payments | Free | 2.75% foreign-exchange fee |
| International card payments | Smart, Pro and Max | No Tide foreign-exchange fee shown; network and other charges may still apply |
| ATM withdrawals | All plans | Available; check the current per-withdrawal charge |
Other fees and notes
| Item | Applies to | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| UK bank transfers | Free | 5 included each month; check current usage fee afterwards |
| UK bank transfers | Smart | 30 included each month; check current usage fee afterwards |
| UK bank transfers | Pro and Max | Unlimited according to the current plan table |
| Cash deposits | Post Office or PayPoint | Available; provider and plan charges apply |
Important note: rates, fees and eligibility can change. Use these figures as a checked summary, then confirm the latest details with the provider before applying or moving money.
App Experience
Tide is designed around mobile and web access rather than branches. The account dashboard brings transactions, invoices, expenses and payment tools together, which can reduce switching between banking and administration apps.
Its breadth can be useful for a small business, but users should check which tools are included in their plan and which are separate paid services.
May suit
- OKFree plan with no monthly subscription
- OKDesigned specifically for sole traders, freelancers and limited companies
- OKClearBank account option with FSCS protection for eligible deposits
- OKInvoicing, payment acceptance and accounting tools in one service
- OKCash deposits available through Post Office and PayPoint locations
- OKPaid plans add more transfers, team tools and support
May not suit
- !Tide is not itself a bank
- !Some legacy e-money accounts are safeguarded rather than FSCS protected
- !The free plan can incur transaction and usage charges
- !No branch network for face-to-face banking
- !Plan pricing rises substantially at the higher tiers
- !Eligibility excludes some business types and higher-risk industries
Final Verdict
Tide is a useful comparison point for sole traders and small companies that want banking, invoicing and administration tools in one place. The free plan lowers the entry cost, while paid plans add allowances and support for growing teams.
The main trade-off is complexity beneath the simple headline: Tide is not itself a bank, account protection depends on the underlying provider, and transaction charges can matter on the free plan. Check the account provider, expected payment volume and required tools before applying.
Tide Features Overview
Savings & Pots
- Tide Instant Saver is available with plan-dependent variable rates.
- Eligible ClearBank deposits can receive FSCS protection, subject to aggregation and eligibility.
- Promotional and ongoing rates can change, so check the current summary box.
Loans & Overdrafts
- Tide advertises business loans, asset finance and invoice-finance routes.
- Credit products are subject to separate providers, eligibility and terms.
- An account does not guarantee access to borrowing.
Who May Tide Suit?
- Sole traders and freelancers separating business and personal money.
- Limited companies wanting app-led banking and admin tools.
- Businesses that invoice customers or accept card payments.
- Small teams needing controlled access and expense cards.
Card & Spending
- Business debit and expense-card options are available.
- Virtual cards and team cards depend on the chosen plan and service.
- Cards may be issued by Tide or PrePay Technologies; check the statement.
Budgeting & Money Tools
- Automatic transaction categorisation supports bookkeeping.
- Invoice, expense and accounting connections reduce manual admin.
- Making Tax Digital tools are available, subject to product terms.
International & Travel
- International payments and foreign-currency services are available.
- The Free plan currently shows a 2.75% fee for international card payments.
- Businesses with regular international activity should compare plan allowances carefully.
App & Usability
- App-first service with web access and no branch network.
- 24/7 in-app chat is advertised across the account range.
- Cash deposits are available through Post Office and PayPoint locations.
Financial Information Disclaimer
The information on this website is provided for general guidance only and may not always reflect the latest fees, rates, or terms offered by each bank. While we do our best to keep content accurate and up-to-date, you should always check the bank's official website or app before applying for an account. Nothing on this site constitutes financial advice.
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