Tide
App-based business current account for UK sole traders and small companies, also in Germany.
Updated · AppBreakup editorial · Web, iOS, Android
Is Tide free?
Free plan, plus paid plans
- Paid plans from:
- £12.49/month (Smart)
- Free plan:
- Lite, no plan fee
Checked on Tide's site Nov 8, 2026
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- 5 of 5
- Alternatives ranked
- 5
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About Tide
Tide is a business account provider for freelancers, sole traders and small limited companies, mainly in the UK, with a separate free business account in Germany and a presence in India. Accounts open in the app in minutes. Alongside the current account and Mastercard debit cards, Tide offers invoicing, expense categorisation, accounting software integrations, Making Tax Digital tools, payroll on its top plan, an instant-access savings account and access to loans and other finance through partners. There is a free plan with no monthly fee and paid plans that add more invoices, cards, cashback and support. In the UK, Tide accounts are provided through ClearBank, so eligible deposits get FSCS protection. Tide suits small UK businesses that want low-cost banking with built-in admin tools. It has no branches, cash deposits cost extra, and larger companies with complex multi-currency needs may outgrow it.
Best for: UK sole traders and small limited companies that want a free or cheap business account with invoicing.
Tide pricing (checked Nov 8, 2026)
Each line is quoted from Tide's own site, with the page it came from.
| Plan or term | What it says | Checked | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Lite, no plan fee | Nov 8, 2026 | tide.co |
| Paid plans from | £12.49/month (Smart) | Nov 8, 2026 | tide.co |
| Deposit protection | FSCS up to £120,000 via ClearBank | Nov 8, 2026 | tide.co |
Pros and cons
What works
- Free plan with no monthly fee
- Invoicing, MTD tax tools and accounting integrations built in
- Eligible deposits protected by the FSCS via ClearBank
- Account opens in the app with little paperwork
Why people leave
- No branches; support is app and phone based
- Free plan limits invoices and features
- Mainly built for the UK market
Tide vs RazorpayX, Qonto and Monzo
From each app's listing and the prices verified on its own site. A dash means we haven't verified it yet.
| Attribute | Tide | RazorpayX | Qonto | Monzo |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free plan + paid | Paid | Paid | Free plan + paid |
| Verified price | £12.49/month (Smart) | ₹1,499/month, billed quarterly (Core) | €9/month excl. VAT (Basic, billed annually) | £3 a month (Extra) |
| Free plan | Lite, no plan fee | No | No | Yes, Monzo Free (16+) |
| Open source | No | No | No | No |
| Self-hostable | No | No | No | No |
| Platforms | Web, iOS, Android | Web, iOS, Android | Web, iOS, Android | iOS, Android, Web |
Top Tide alternatives
See all 5- 1
RazorpayX74.4For Tide users in India: a current account with payouts, payroll and vendor payments built around Razorpay's payment stack.
- 2
Qonto59.4For businesses in the EU: a fuller finance toolkit with invoicing, spend control and accountant access.
- 3
Monzo54.4Monzo also runs UK business accounts with a free tier, tied into an app many people already use.
- 4
Wise52.6Better for businesses that bill and pay abroad, with multi-currency balances and low transfer fees.
- 5
ANNA Money42.3UK business account with receipt capture, invoicing and optional automated tax filing.
Why people left Tide
In reviewers' own words, from reviews of the apps they moved to. These are their opinions, not ours.
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Reviews
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Tide: common questions
What is Tide?
Tide: App-based business current account for UK sole traders and small companies, also in Germany. Best for UK sole traders and small limited companies that want a free or cheap business account with invoicing. Available for Web, iOS and Android.
Is Tide free?
Tide has a free plan and paid plans. Free plan: Lite, no plan fee (checked on Tide's own site).
How much does Tide cost?
Tide is free with paid plans. Free plan: Lite, no plan fee; Paid plans from: £12.49/month (Smart); Deposit protection: FSCS up to £120,000 via ClearBank. Checked on Tide's own site, November 2026.
Is Tide open source?
No, Tide is not open source.
What platforms does Tide run on?
Tide is available for Web, iOS and Android.
What are the best alternatives to Tide?
The highest-ranked Tide alternatives right now are RazorpayX, Qonto and Monzo. See the full ranked list for pricing, platforms and verified facts.
Tide vs RazorpayX: what's the difference?
Tide is free with paid plans; RazorpayX is a paid product. Verified prices: Tide £12.49/month (Smart), RazorpayX ₹1,499/month, billed quarterly (Core). Both run on Web, iOS and Android.