Tide is a financial platform, not a bank. Tide Business Current Accounts powered by ClearBank may have eligible-deposit FSCS protection, while legacy PPS/PPT e-money accounts use safeguarding. Check the issuer on your statement and Tide’s current terms.

What plans does Tide offer?

Tide’s public account comparison lists Free, Smart, Pro and Max. The monthly plan fees shown are £0, £12.49, £27.49 and £69.99 respectively, but transaction costs and features should be checked before applying.

Can Tide work for sole traders?

Tide’s current-account page says it accepts eligible UK sole traders and limited companies, subject to its application, identification and industry checks.

How does REFER200 work?

The approved partner offer describes up to £200: £75 after qualifying Tide card spend and £125 after eligible Instant Saver conditions. Use the approved link and verify current offer terms before applying.

Tide business account review: Free, Smart, Pro and Max

Tide is a digital business-finance platform for eligible UK sole traders and incorporated businesses. The useful question is not simply whether its Free plan has a £0 fee, but which plan’s transfers, support, cards and admin tools match your actual usage.

First published: 21 May 2026Last materially updated: 28 August 2026Product facts checked: 28 August 2026Next review due: 28 September 2026By Sophie LinReviewed for UK small businesses

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Plan data last checked: 28 August 2026. Prices, account features and eligibility can change.

Current Tide plans

Plan	Monthly fee	UK transfers	Rewards	Support	Best fit
Free	£0/month	5 UK bank transfers included each month; charges may apply after the allowance.	No cashback; 2% variable AER on Tide Instant Saver, subject to terms.	In-app customer support and fraud helpline.	Businesses that need essential banking and make relatively few UK transfers.
Smart	£12.49/month	30 UK bank transfers included each month.	No cashback; 2.5% variable AER on Tide Instant Saver, subject to terms.	Priority in-app support and weekday phone support.	Businesses that need more transfers, team tools and accounting connections.
Pro	£27.49/month	Unlimited UK bank transfers, subject to Tide's fair-use policy.	No card cashback; 3% variable AER on Tide Instant Saver, subject to terms.	Priority in-app support and weekday phone support.	Growing businesses that want unlimited transfers, Tide Accounting and more team capacity.
Max	£69.99/month	Unlimited UK bank transfers, subject to Tide's fair-use policy.	0.5% cashback on eligible card purchases and 3.25% variable AER on Tide Instant Saver, subject to terms.	Priority in-app support, extended phone support and priority callbacks.	Scaling teams that need more included cards, payroll/admin tools and enhanced support.

Choosing a plan: work from your likely monthly cost

Free may be practical when you need essential banking and only a few UK transfers. It is not automatically the best value for every sole trader or small company. For example, a business making 12 UK transfers a month will use all five included Free-plan transfers; compare the resulting transaction charges with Smart’s £12.49 monthly fee and 30 included transfers. Add the value of any team cards, accounting tools, FX usage and support you genuinely need rather than choosing solely on the headline fee.

Account type and protection

Tide is not a bank. Tide Business Current Accounts powered by ClearBank may have eligible deposits protected through the FSCS, subject to the scheme rules and aggregate limits. Legacy Tide e-money accounts issued by PPS/PPT use safeguarding instead, which is different from deposit protection. Check the issuer and account type on your statement and the current Tide documentation before relying on a particular protection regime.

Eligibility, features and limitations

Tide says eligible UK sole traders and limited companies can apply, subject to its identity, business and industry checks. Its app offers business banking, payment tools, accounting connections, invoicing and team features that vary by plan. It may be less suitable if you need extensive branch services, high-volume cash handling or a multi-currency-first account. A business credit card is a separate borrowing product: compare its cost and eligibility independently rather than treating a current-account debit card as credit.

Tide referral code REFER200

The approved partner offer uses referral code REFER200 for a maximum benefit of Up to £200. It describes a £75 stage after qualifying Tide card spend and a £125 stage after the eligible Instant Saver deposit requirements. See our Tide REFER200 guide for the verified offer table, timing and troubleshooting route. Tide terms and eligibility apply.

Get the Tide offer

Check live terms before applying

Tide offer terms, account features, fees and eligibility can change. Check the latest provider terms before applying. Some transfers, cash deposits, withdrawals, paid plans and add-ons may involve fees.

Sources and review record

Last reviewed: 28 August 2026. The provider’s documents are authoritative.

FAQs

Sophie Lin

Expenses & Tax Editor

Sophie writes our HMRC, VAT, mileage and expense-policy guides. She works with UK accountants to keep guidance accurate and current.

AAT-trained bookkeeper
Specialises in UK expense compliance & HMRC rules

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