Tide review
App-based business account built for sole traders and SMEs.
Tide is the default choice for UK sole traders who want a simple business account with invoicing baked in. It is not a bank in the regulatory sense, so deposits are safeguarded rather than FSCS protected.
At a glance
- Monthly fee
- From £0
- Free transfers
- 20 free transfers per month on Free plan
- FSCS protection
- No — funds safeguarded
- Best for
- Sole traders and freelancers
Pros
- Quick sign-up, usually under 10 minutes
- Good invoicing and expense tools built in
- Free plan available with no monthly fee
Cons
- Not a bank — an e-money account (safeguarded, not FSCS protected)
- Transaction fees add up once you go over the free allowance
- Phone support limited to paid plans
Features
- Invoicing and expense management
- Multi-user access
- Direct Debits supported
- Integrations with accounting software
Integrations
Xero · QuickBooks · Sage · FreeAgent