If you’re a sole trader, freelancer, or a growing limited company, Tide offers a fast, app-first way to open and run a business current account, plus tools for invoicing, expenses, savings and more. This guide covers features, fees, plans, what you need to apply, and how Tide compares—so you know exactly what you’re signing up for.
What Tide is (and how your money’s held)
Tide is a business finance platform with UK business current accounts provided by ClearBank. Eligible deposits held with ClearBank are FSCS-protected up to £85,000 per depositor (subject to eligibility). Tide builds the app and services; ClearBank provides the underlying bank account infrastructure. Some legacy members may hold older e-money accounts; new current and savings accounts today are ClearBank-provided and FSCS-eligible.
Plans and pricing at a glance
Tide has a Free plan and three paid tiers—Smart, Pro, and Max—you can upgrade or downgrade anytime. Key monthly prices (VAT-exempt on paid plans from 1 Oct 2025):
- Free: £0
- Smart: £12.99/month
- Pro: £24.99/month
- Max: £69.99/month.
Stand-out differences by plan
- UK transfers: Free plan pays 20p per transfer; Smart includes 25 free transfers; Pro/Max include unlimited UK transfers (fair-use policy applies).
- Card FX fees (spend abroad): Free plan 2.75%; Smart/Pro/Max 0% FX fee.
- ATM withdrawals (UK): £1 per withdrawal across plans.
- Cash deposits: At the Post Office: Free plan 0.99% (min £2.50); paid plans 0.5% (min £2.50). At PayPoint: 3% on all plans. You can deposit with card + PIN at thousands of Post Offices (no cheques).
- International transfers: “Transfers to/from foreign bank accounts” priced at 20p + 1.5% FX on Free, 0.5% FX on paid (with the Smart free-transfer allowance rules), and no transfer fee on Pro/Max beyond FX. Inbound SWIFT is priced/ included according to plan.
- Included tools: All plans get invoicing, payment links, virtual cards, and accounting integrations; higher tiers add more (see below).
Everyday features that save time
Payments & transfers
- Send/receive Faster Payments and Direct Debits; receive BACS/CHAPS. Paid plans include larger/ unlimited UK transfer allowances.
- International: send/receive with plan-specific fees noted above.
Spending tools
- Virtual debit cards for online subscriptions and ad spend (included on all plans).
- Expense Cards for team spending: £5 per card/month, with 1/2/3 free cards included on Smart/Pro/Max respectively. Set limits, freeze/unfreeze instantly.
Ways to get paid (no extra hardware required)
- Payment Links to take card payments online.
- Tap to Pay on iPhone—accept contactless payments right from your iPhone via the Tide app.
- Optional POS reader, QR codes, and Instant Checkout. (Acquiring/processing fees apply separately.)
Invoicing & bookkeeping
- Create and send invoices, track status, auto-match payments, capture receipts, and export to third-party software (e.g., Xero via connector). Pro includes Tide Accounting; Max includes Admin Extra (Accounting + Invoice Assistant). Smart/Free can add Tide Accounting from £13.99/month for sole traders or £19.99/month for limited companies (VAT may apply on add-ons).
Team Access & controls
- Invite your bookkeeper or staff with role-based permissions. Free plan includes read-only; paid tiers add enhanced access for 1/2/5 team members on Smart/Pro/Max.
Wallets & mobile pay
- Add your Tide card to Apple Pay and Google Pay from the app for contactless payments; your main card is supported (expense cards: see limits in help centre).
Security
- 2-factor security, instant card freeze, Confirmation of Payee checks, and FSCS coverage via ClearBank.
Savings: Tide Instant Saver (tiered rates by plan)
Open a linked Instant Saver to earn variable interest on business cash. As of current documentation, example tiering shows higher rates/limits for paid plans (e.g., Smart from 3.04% AER on balances up to £100k; Pro/Max include higher tiers/limits). Always check the live rate and Summary Box in-app—rates change.
Credit & finance (optional)
From the app you can explore Credit Flex (short-term instalment facility, eligibility required) and compare offers from lending partners (loans, asset finance, merchant cash advance, and more). You’ll also find Credit Score Insights tools on higher tiers. Terms, eligibility and rates apply.
Full fees snapshot (high-impact items)
- UK transfers: 20p on Free; 25 free on Smart; unlimited on Pro/Max (fair-use applies).
- Card FX fee (abroad): Free 2.75%, paid plans 0%.
- ATM cash withdrawal: £1 (all plans).
- Cash deposits: Post Office 0.99% Free / 0.5% paid (min £2.50); PayPoint 3%. Deposits supported at Post Office branches with card + PIN.
- International transfers: FX markup varies by plan; Pro/Max waive the per-transfer fee. Inbound SWIFT pricing differs per plan.
- Expense Cards: £5 per card/month, with 1/2/3 free on Smart/Pro/Max.
What you need to apply (and who can open an account)
- Over 18, UK-based business, valid photo ID, and a selfie during onboarding. Tide may request proof of address or additional documents depending on your business type and risk checks. Application is done in minutes via app or web; no hard credit check for opening the current account.
Support & service
- 24/7 in-app chat across plans; paid tiers include prioritised chat & phone support, with Max offering dedicated support and weekend priority callback. You can also email hello@tide.co if you can’t access the app.
Pros and considerations
Why businesses pick Tide
- Quick, digital onboarding and FSCS-protected current accounts via ClearBank.
- Transparent plan structure with upgrade path as you scale.
- Built-in payments, invoicing, expense cards, and accounting options in one app.
- Cash deposits available at the Post Office and PayPoint if you handle cash.
Things to watch
- Fees vary by plan (e.g., transfer counts on lower tiers, ATM £1). Model your expected usage to choose the right plan.
- Interest rates on savings are variable and can change—always check the live Summary Box.
- International transfer fees/FX markup differ by plan. If you do lots of cross-border payments, confirm the total cost.
Quick decision guide
- Just starting / light usage: Start on Free; pay per transfer as needed. Upgrade if usage grows.
- Regular UK transfers + a few team cards: Smart (25 free transfers, 1 free Expense Card).
- Heavier UK payments + accounting included: Pro (unlimited UK transfers, 2 free Expense Cards, Tide Accounting included).
- Need premium support, higher saver tiers, and rewards: Max (cashback on card purchases, 3 free Expense Cards, Admin Extra included).
How to sign up (step-by-step)
- Download Tide or start on the web and choose “Open a business account.”
- Enter business details, scan your ID, and take a selfie.
- Don’t forget to enter the Tide referral code: REDDIT200
- Once approved, your account number & sort code are active; card arrives by post (you can add to Apple/Google Pay straight away).
- Turn on Instant Saver, set up invoicing, create virtual/expense cards, invite your bookkeeper via Team Access, and connect your accounting.
Final word
Tide packages a full business banking toolkit—fast account opening with FSCS protection (via ClearBank), clear pricing, and serious admin-savers like invoicing, expense cards, and accounting. Start on Free, validate the fit, then upgrade only if/when the extras (transfers, support, accounting, saver tiers) pay for themselves in time saved and fees avoided.
If you’d like, I can tailor a one-page “Plan picker” for your site that maps typical behaviours (e.g., 150 UK transfers/month, two staff spenders, occasional euro payments) to the most cost-effective Tide plan using the latest fees.