What are the best alternatives to Tide for business banking?

Why consider alternatives to Tide?

Tide is one of the UK’s most popular business banking apps, particularly among sole traders, freelancers, and small limited companies. Its appeal is clear: free basic account, quick onboarding, a Mastercard, accounting integrations, and a credit line powered by iwoca. For many early-stage businesses it works well.

But Tide has limitations. It is an e-money institution, not a fully licensed bank — which means deposits aren’t FSCS-protected in the traditional sense. Customer support is app and email only, with no phone line. Account freezes and onboarding rejections are a recurring complaint. And for businesses that grow beyond the basics, rival products offer more depth in areas like international payments, credit facilities, or professional accounting tools.

This guide compares six alternatives across the spectrum of business banking needs.

Top Tide alternatives

1. Starling Bank — Best for a full banking relationship

Starling is the benchmark against which all UK digital business accounts are measured. It is a fully licensed bank — PRA and FCA regulated — meaning deposits are FSCS-protected up to £85,000. The free business current account includes a sort code, account number, Mastercard debit card, and best-in-class accounting integrations with Xero, QuickBooks, and FreeAgent. Business overdrafts and loans are available by application.

Fees: Free standard account; no foreign transaction fees on the Mastercard.

Key features: FSCS protection; Spaces (ring-fence funds); instant payment notifications; business overdraft available; marketplace integrations.

Pros: Fully licensed bank; FSCS protection; no monthly fee; strong app; 24/7 in-app support (with phone available); no foreign transaction fees.

Cons: No cash deposits (post office only); lending products less developed than specialist lenders; no multi-currency accounts.

Best for: Any business that wants the security of FSCS-protected deposits and a genuine banking relationship, particularly those who find Tide’s e-money status or customer service inadequate.

2. Revolut Business — Best for international and multi-currency

Revolut Business offers accounts in 25+ currencies, interbank-rate foreign exchange, global transfers, and expense management tools. For UK businesses with international suppliers, overseas customers, or staff abroad, Revolut Business can save thousands of pounds annually in FX fees compared to traditional bank rates — and compared to Tide, which offers only basic international functionality.

Fees: Free plan available; paid plans from £19/month (Grow) to £79/month (Scale).

Key features: 25+ currency accounts; interbank FX rates; bulk payments; multi-user expense management; integrations with accounting software.

Pros: Best-in-class multi-currency; low FX costs; strong expense management on higher plans; crypto and stock features; virtual cards.

Cons: Not a licensed bank (e-money institution — no FSCS protection); customer support has mixed reviews; some advanced features require paid plans; not ideal as sole banking provider.

Best for: E-commerce businesses, importers, exporters, and businesses with international teams where FX costs and multi-currency account management are a priority.

3. Mettle — Best for freelancers and sole traders using FreeAgent

Mettle is a free business current account from NatWest, designed specifically for sole traders and small businesses. Its standout feature is a free FreeAgent subscription — a full cloud accounting package normally costing £19+/month — included with the account. For businesses already using or considering FreeAgent, this alone makes Mettle worth considering.

Fees: Free; includes free FreeAgent subscription.

Key features: Free FreeAgent accounting software; Mastercard; receipt scanning; tax estimation tool.

Pros: Free FreeAgent subscription (significant value); NatWest backing; clean, simple app; receipt scanning; corporation tax and VAT estimation built in.

Cons: Limited to sole traders and small limited companies; no overdraft or lending; limited customer support options; not suitable for complex businesses; e-money institution.

Best for: Freelancers, consultants, and sole traders who use or want to use FreeAgent and want a clean, simple account with their accounting software included.

4. ANNA Money — Best for invoicing-led businesses

ANNA Money (Absolutely No Nonsense Admin) combines a business current account with integrated invoicing, automatic payment chasing, VAT calculation, and tax management tools. Where Tide’s value is in banking plus credit, ANNA’s value is in banking plus admin automation — a different value proposition that suits service businesses and consultants with high invoicing volume.

Fees: Free plan (limited); from £11.90/month (Business); £49.90/month (Director).

Key features: Integrated invoicing; automatic payment chasing; VAT return preparation; expense categorisation; Mastercard.

Pros: Built-in invoicing eliminates separate invoicing software; automatic payment chasers save time; VAT and tax tools in the same app; credit card available on higher plans.

Cons: Paid plans required for full functionality; less competitive as a pure banking product; smaller user base than Tide, Starling, or Revolut; e-money institution.

Best for: Small service businesses, consultants, and sole traders where invoice management and payment chasing is a significant time drain and an integrated banking and invoicing tool would simplify operations.

5. Monzo Business — Best for simple SME banking with FSCS protection

Monzo Business offers a free or paid business current account from Monzo, a fully licensed UK bank. Like Starling, it provides FSCS-protected deposits, a sort code and account number, and a polished mobile app. Its budgeting pots (similar to Starling’s Spaces) make it easy to ring-fence tax reserves and expense budgets. A business credit line is available by application on the paid plan.

Fees: Free (basic); £9/month (Pro plan with additional features).

Key features: FSCS protection; budgeting pots; Mastercard; accounting integrations; credit line on Pro plan.

Pros: Fully licensed bank; FSCS protection; strong app design; budgeting pots for tax and expenses; no foreign transaction fee on the Mastercard.

Cons: Credit product less developed than Tide + iwoca integration; some features locked behind paid plan; no phone support (chat and email only).

Best for: Businesses that want the simplicity and design quality of a Monzo personal account applied to their business banking, with FSCS protection and basic lending access.

6. Cashplus — Best for businesses with adverse credit or complex onboarding

Cashplus is a licensed UK bank that accepts a wider range of businesses than most digital accounts, including those with adverse personal credit history, recent CCJs, or directors who have been declined elsewhere. It has been operating since 2005 — longer than any other challenger bank in this comparison — and has built a reputation for accepting businesses that fall through the net of newer digital banks.

Fees: From £9.95/month (business account).

Key features: Licensed bank (FSCS protection); debit Mastercard; business credit card available; accepts adverse credit; longer track record than rivals.

Pros: FSCS-protected deposits; accepts businesses declined elsewhere; credit card available; long-established; multiple account types.

Cons: Monthly fee on all accounts (no free tier); app less polished than Starling, Monzo, or Revolut; fewer accounting integrations; not the first choice for healthy businesses with standard requirements.

Best for: Business owners with adverse personal credit history who have been rejected by Tide, Starling, or Monzo during onboarding, and still need a functional business banking account with FSCS protection.

Comparison table

How to choose the right alternative

Choose Starling if FSCS protection and a full banking relationship are your priorities — it is the strongest all-round option for most UK SMEs.

Choose Revolut Business if your business trades internationally and you want to save money on FX and manage multi-currency accounts from a single dashboard.

Choose Mettle if you are a sole trader or small limited company already using FreeAgent, or plan to — the free subscription pays for itself quickly.

Choose ANNA Money if you generate invoices regularly and want the convenience of invoicing, payment chasing, and banking in a single app.

Choose Monzo Business if you want the design quality and simplicity of Monzo’s consumer app applied to your business banking, with FSCS protection included.

Choose Cashplus if you have been declined by other digital banks due to adverse credit history and need a licensed, FSCS-protected business account that works.

For credit alongside your account, note that Tide’s built-in credit line (powered by iwoca) is one of its strongest differentiators — if that is the primary reason you are with Tide, consider whether Starling or Monzo Business plus a separate iwoca or Capital on Tap application meets your needs just as well.