
Looking for a business account that actually helps you run your business (and not just store your money)?
Tide and Starling are two of the UK’s best-known options for small businesses and freelancers. Both promise quick setup, intuitive apps and low-cost banking – but their offers are quite different once you look beyond the surface.


- In this article
- Tide vs Starling at a glance
- Quick look: Tide vs Starling features
- Who are these accounts best for?
- Who can open an account?
- Eligibility criteria
- Pricing and fees
- Tide vs Starling Fees
- Features comparison
- App and user experience
- Customer support and reviews
- Security and trust
- Which is best for your business?
- Alternatives to consider
- Verdict: Tide vs Starling
This guide compares Tide’s Free, Plus and Pro accounts with Starling’s free business account (and optional Business Toolkit). We’ll explore pricing, features, eligibility, customer support, and overall value for money – so you can see which one fits your business best.
And because we’re ANNA, we’ll also show you how we stack up – especially if you’d prefer your business account to come with admin support, tax tools, and real humans on hand 24/7.
Tide vs Starling at a glance
If you just want the quick version: Starling is a fully licensed UK bank offering a free account with most features included. Tide is an e-money service (not a bank) with fast onboarding and tiered plans – the more you pay, the more you get.
Quick look: Tide vs Starling features
Feature | Starling | Tide Free / Plus / Pro |
---|---|---|
Monthly fee | £0 | £0 / £9.99 / £18.99 |
Account type | Fully licensed UK bank | E-money account (via ClearBank) |
International payments | ✅ via SWIFT | ❌ not supported |
Multi-user access | ❌ directors only | ✅ with Plus / Pro |
Cash deposits | ✅ Post Office, 0.7% | ✅ PayPoint, £2.50 per £500 |
Cheque deposits | ✅ by app or post | ❌ not supported |
Overdraft | ✅ up to £50,000 | ❌ not available |
Virtual/expense cards | ❌ | ✅ with Plus / Pro |
Accounting integrations | ✅ Xero, QuickBooks, FreeAgent | ✅ with all plans |
FSCS protection | ✅ £85,000 | ❌ (funds safeguarded, not FSCS) |
Customer support | 24/7 phone, chat, email | In-app chat and email |
Takeaway: Starling offers full banking functionality for free, while Tide gives faster onboarding and basic tools – but locks key features behind paid plans.
Who are these accounts best for?
⚡ The cheapest
If you’re after a genuinely free account with all the essentials, Starling wins hands down. It’s a full business bank account with no monthly fee and no charge for standard UK transfers or card payments.
Tide’s free plan looks attractive at first but can get expensive if you’re active – 20p per transfer after 20 free ones, plus cash deposits at £2.50 per £500. And since there’s no overdraft or cheque handling, you may quickly hit its limits.
Verdict: Starling is the cheapest long-term choice – a free account with no per-transaction surprises.
⚡ Best value for money
When you weigh what you actually get, Starling still edges ahead. Tide’s Plus (£9.99/month) and Pro (£18.99/month) plans add perks like expense cards, priority support and team access – but most businesses don’t need to pay for features that Starling includes for free.
Starling’s free plan already covers accounting integrations, multi-currency payments, and overdrafts – things you’ll never find even on Tide’s Pro tier. Unless you specifically need Tide’s in-app admin tools, Starling gives more for less.
Verdict: Starling offers the better long-term value without monthly tiers or hidden fees.
⚡ Best for sole traders
Sole traders love simplicity – and both banks deliver it, but in different ways. Tide’s quick signup and automated invoicing make it easy to start managing business income from day one. However, the free plan’s transaction fees can add up fast.
Starling’s free business account includes everything most freelancers need: bank transfers, accounting links, cheque deposits and optional tax tools via the £7/month Business Toolkit. You can start free and upgrade only if your bookkeeping gets complex.
Verdict: Starling is more cost-effective for sole traders who want full banking without extras. Tide is great if you prioritise quick setup and light admin tools.
⚡ Best for limited companies
For limited companies managing a team or shared access, Tide Pro becomes more appealing. You can assign expense cards to team members, track spending, and manage permissions in-app.
Starling, on the other hand, limits account access to company directors. That works fine for small businesses but not for larger teams with finance staff or multiple employees needing expense control.
Verdict: Tide Pro is better suited for growing limited companies that need multi-user access.
⚡ The smartest app
Both are app-first platforms with slick design. Tide’s app feels light and focused on admin – fast, functional, with helpful spending insights. It’s ideal if you like simple dashboards and instant categorisation.
Starling’s app is more complete, with traditional banking features like overdrafts, foreign payments and cheque deposits all handled seamlessly. It feels slightly more robust and professional, while Tide feels more lightweight and startup-friendly.
Verdict: Tide’s app is snappier for day-to-day admin; Starling’s feels more complete for banking.
Who can open an account?
Both focus on UK-based small businesses, but Starling – as a bank – has stricter ID checks and residency requirements. Tide is faster to open, but remember it’s not a full bank.
Tide
- Sole traders and limited companies.
Instant verification through the app. - No credit checks.
- Some industries are restricted (e.g. crypto, adult, gambling).
Starling
- Sole traders and limited companies.
- Requires ID, proof of business activity, and a quick video.
- All persons with significant control (PSCs) must live in the UK.
- Industry exclusions apply.
Eligibility criteria
Requirement | Starling | Tide |
---|---|---|
Accepted business types | Sole traders, limited companies | Sole traders, limited companies |
PSC requirements | All PSCs must live in the UK | UK-registered directors only |
Industry exclusions | Yes | Yes |
Verification process | ID, video, business docs | ID + selfie, usually instant |
Pricing and fees
Money matters – and the differences are clear: Starling stays simple, while Tide charges per tier and transaction.
Starling pricing
- One free account with most features included.
- Optional Business Toolkit for £7/month (invoicing, VAT tracking, tax tools).
- No transaction fees for UK transfers or card payments.
Tide pricing
- Free: £0/month, but 20p per transfer after 20.
- Plus: £9.99/month – includes priority support and 1 expense card.
Pro: £18.99/month – adds unlimited transfers, multi-user access and 2 expense cards. - No overdrafts or international transfers.
Value for money
- Sole traders: Starling gives more for free.
- Small limited companies: Tide Pro is good for shared access.
- Startups: Tide’s instant onboarding is convenient but adds costs over time.
Tide vs Starling Fees
Fee type | Starling | Tide Free / Plus / Pro |
---|---|---|
Monthly fee | £0 | £0 / £9.99 / £18.99 |
UK bank transfers | Free | 20p after 20 / Free / Free |
Cash deposits | 0.7% (min £3) via Post Office | £2.50 per £500 via PayPoint |
International payments | 0.4% + £5.50 via SWIFT | ❌ not supported |
Overdraft | ✅ up to £50,000 | ❌ |
Cheque deposits | ✅ via app or post | ❌ |
Expense cards | ❌ | ✅ Plus/Pro |
Accounting integration | ✅ built-in | ✅ built-in |
Bottom line: Starling wins for traditional banking and low costs. Tide makes sense for startups prioritising ease and admin simplicity.
Features comparison
Both tick the basics, but Starling includes more out of the box – Tide unlocks extras with paid plans.
Payments and transfers
Both offer UK Faster Payments, Direct Debits and standing orders.
Tide adds invoicing and automatic categorisation in its paid tiers.
Cash and cheque handling
Starling: deposit via Post Office, 0.7% (min £3); cheque deposits free by app or post.
Tide: PayPoint deposits at £2.50 per £500; no cheque support.
Cards and spend management
Starling: one debit card per director, Apple/Google Pay support.
Tide: expense and virtual cards available from Plus tier.
Invoicing and integrations
Starling: via Business Toolkit (£7/month), integrates with Xero, QuickBooks, FreeAgent.
Tide: invoicing built into all plans, more advanced on Pro.
Lending and credit
Starling: overdrafts up to £50,000; business loans available.
Tide: no overdrafts; offers loans via partners like Iwoca.
App and user experience
A good app makes or breaks your daily workflow.
App interface
Tide’s interface is bright, simple and admin-driven – with invoices, spending categories and expense capture right up front.

Starling’s app feels more “bank-like” – clean, professional, and focused on transactions and balances.

You can explore both apps yourself:
- Starling on the App Store / Google Play,
- Tide on the App Store / Google Play.
Web access and APIs
Starling offers robust web access and exports for bookkeeping.
Tide is mostly app-based, though offers limited desktop login for paid tiers.
Onboarding speed and switching
Tide can open your account in minutes.
Starling takes slightly longer but supports the Current Account Switch Service (CASS) for seamless migration from another bank.
Customer support and reviews
Support channels
Support feature | Starling | Tide |
---|---|---|
In-app chat | ✅ 24/7 | ✅ weekdays, limited hours |
Phone support | ✅ | ❌ |
Email support | ✅ | ✅ |
Support team location | UK-based | UK-based |
App Store / Google Play ratings
Both average above 4.5★. Tide often praised for simplicity; Starling for reliability.
Trustpilot score
Platform | Starling | Tide |
---|---|---|
Trustpilot | 4.3 (40k+ reviews) | 4.2 (22k+ reviews) |
Common complaints
- Starling: limited team access, occasional slow business verification.
- Tide: transaction fees and restricted support hours.
Security and trust
FSCS protection
Starling: deposits protected up to £85,000 under FSCS.
Tide: not a bank – funds safeguarded by ClearBank under FCA rules but not FSCS-protected.
Fraud prevention and controls
Both offer 3D Secure, biometric logins, and instant card freezes.
Bank stability and licensing
Starling: licensed UK bank, profitable and regulated.
Tide: FCA-regulated e-money provider; funds held in safeguarded accounts.
Which is best for your business?
- Freelancers & sole traders: Starling offers the best all-round free option.
- Startups & micro-businesses: Tide Free or Plus is quick to open and simple to manage.
- Growing limited companies: Tide Pro’s team access features are useful.
- Cash-heavy or traditional businesses: Starling’s Post Office deposits are cheaper and easier.
- International traders: Only Starling supports foreign transfers directly.
Alternatives to consider
ANNA – your business account and admin sidekick
Here’s where we do things differently.
ANNA isn’t just a business account – it’s admin support in your pocket. You get smart banking and built-in tools to handle all the admin tasks no one tells you about when you start a business.
- Create and send invoices in seconds
- Capture receipts and auto-categorise expenses
- Get VAT and Corporation Tax filed automatically
- Add your team – not just co-directors
- 4 free SWIFT payments a month on our Big Business plan
- Real humans, 24/7 – every plan, every day
And yes – ANNA starts at £0/month.
Fed up with apps that give you half the features and charge for the rest? ANNA’s the smarter, simpler alternative – combining banking and admin in one place.
Revolut Business
Ideal for global companies and freelancers. Excellent FX rates and multi-currency support, but not a licensed UK bank – no FSCS protection.
Wise Business
Best for cross-border invoicing. Low fees and global account details in multiple currencies.
Mettle by NatWest
A free, basic account backed by NatWest. Reliable but limited in features.
Monzo Business
Polished app and strong budgeting tools, but most business features are behind the £5/month Pro plan.
Verdict: Tide vs Starling
Checklist:
- Solid free banking and FSCS protection → Starling
- Instant setup and team access → Tide Pro
- Built-in admin and tax automation → ANNA Money
Whichever you choose, your business account should make running your company simpler – not harder.
Whether it’s team access, tax filing, or just smooth everyday banking, there’s an option here that fits your business perfectly.
Disclaimer: All info accurate as of October 2025. Always check official websites for the latest details.
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