Want to open a business account but not sure which one? We compared 10 best UK business accounts based on their Trustpilot reviews, fees, features, speed of onboarding, and customer support – so you can find the right fit for your business.
Select your business type or features that are important to you and we’ll show you the most relevant accounts – ranked by how well they fit you, not by who pays us most.
Compare business accounts best for:
Sole traders don’t legally need a separate business account, but the tax and admin savings make it worthwhile. Key factors: low or no monthly fee, ease of setup (no complex documents), fully automated, built-in accounting.
| Account | Monthly fee | Time to open account | Accounting | Invoicing | Free Trial | FSCS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 ANNA Moneye-money | £0 – £22.90 | ~10 mins | Fully automatedBuilt-in | Yes | Yes | Yes |
 StarlingBank | £0 – £7 | Same day | via Xero + QuickBooks | Yes | Yes | Yes |
 MonzoBank | £0 – £25 | Same day | via Xero + Sage | Yes | Yes | Yes |
 Tidee-money | £0 – £69.99 | Same day | BasicBuilt-in | Yes | Yes | Yes |
For sole traders, the main criteria are price and simplicity. Built-in tax tools save a lot of time and money. ANNA is the only account that offers built-in Auto Accountant that fully automates tax calculation and filing to HMRC.
Among UK business accounts, ANNA consistently scores the highest on Trustpilot. Here’s why customers rate it above the big banks.
It's a genuine great business account that does your taxes for you and customer support is always on standby if you need anything or have any questions. Would definitely recommend to anyone looking to open a business account
There’s no single best business account – it depends on how your business operates. These are the criteria we use on this page, and the ones you should check before opening any account.
The headline monthly fee is rarely the full picture. A "free" account charging 20p per transfer can cost more than a £5/month flat-rate plan that bundles transfers in. Look at the per-transfer fee, cash deposit charge, FX margin, and whether additional users cost extra.
Whether the bank offers a business overdraft, the interest rate, and how eligibility is assessed. Most digital and challenger banks don’t offer overdrafts at all – if short-term credit access matters, this narrows the field to high street banks.
How and where you can pay physical cash in, the fee per deposit, and any daily or monthly limits. Digital banks route cash through Post Office or PayPoint counters, typically charging 0.5–1.5% per deposit with caps of £500–£2,000 per day.
The FX rate applied to outgoing transfers, the per-transfer SWIFT fee, and whether you can hold balances in foreign currencies. High street banks typically charge 2–4% on foreign exchange – on a £50,000 invoice, that’s £1,000–£2,000 in fees alone.
Whether the account integrates with accounting software (VAT tracking, receipt capture, HMRC-ready reporting) or needs a third-party package to fill those gaps. Built-in tools are the difference between 30 minutes and 5 hours of month-end admin.
Some accounts have maximum turnover thresholds or require a minimum trading history – which can exclude sole traders or larger businesses. A declined application can leave a footprint on your credit file, so check the criteria before applying.
In-app chat, phone availability, and how effectively support can resolve account issues. For a personal account slow support is an inconvenience; for a business, a frozen payment or blocked card is a trading emergency.
Whether you get a Mastercard or Visa business debit card, how quickly it arrives, virtual card availability for immediate online spend, and Apple/Google Pay support. Most accounts now include a contactless Mastercard as standard.
Whether balances are FSCS-protected (up to £85,000, for accounts held with a bank) or safeguarded (for e-money accounts, where funds are ring-fenced rather than FSCS-covered). It changes what happens to your money if the provider fails.
A full side-by-side comparison of the key features across all accounts we cover. Scroll horizontally on mobile.
| Feature | e-money | StarlingBank | MonzoBank | Tidee-money | RevolutBank | BarclaysBank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pricing | ||||||
| Monthly fee | £0 – £59.90 | £0 | £0 – £25 | £0 – £69.90 | £10 – £90 | £8.50 |
| Free trial | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes |
| Transfer fee (UK) | 20p / Free on plan | Free | Free | 20p / Free on plan | 20p / Free on plan | Free |
| Protection and compliance | ||||||
| FSCS protected | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Features | ||||||
| Built-in invoicing | Unlimited | Yes | Limited | Limited | No | No |
| MTD for Income Tax | Yes | Yes | Via Sage | Yes | No | No |
| Receipt capture | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Multi-user access | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Cash & international | ||||||
| Cash deposits | Via Post Office | Post Office | PayPoint | Post Office | Via banks | Branch |
| FX fee (outgoing) | 0.5% | 0.4% | Up to £9 fix + 1.8% var | 0.6% / Free on plan | 0.6% / Free on plan | 0.6% over allowance |
| Multi-currency account | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes | Yes |
Most accounts look similar on paper. What differs is which criteria they’re optimised for – and which one matters most depends entirely on how your business operates.
Retail, hospitality, market stalls
Digital banks charge 0.7–3% per cash deposit with daily caps of £500–£2,000. At £5,000/week that’s £180+/month in fees – more than any subscription. Only high street banks with branch access make sense here.
New sole trader or limited company
High street banks can take weeks and often require a business plan or 6 months of trading history. Digital banks can have you open in minutes with no prior record. If you need to start getting paid now, this narrows the field immediately.
Overseas suppliers or clients in foreign currencies
High street banks charge 2–4% FX. On £50,000 of annual overseas payments that’s £1,000–£2,000/year in banking fees. Revolut and Starling offer near-zero rates. This one factor can override everything else in the comparison.
No bookkeeper or accountant on retainer
Built-in tools are worth more than a lower monthly fee if you’re filing your own Self Assessment or VAT returns. Time saved on year-end reconciliation easily outweighs a £10–15/month plan.
Larger working capital, seasonal cash flow gaps
FSCS protection (up to £85,000) and access to overdrafts or business loans favour established banks. Most e-money accounts ring-fence funds rather than offering FSCS cover, and rarely lend – so bank status matters here.
A dedicated business account isn’t always legally required, but there are clear practical reasons to have one – and a few things to watch out for.
Most business accounts are built around payments. ANNA business account is built around running a small business – the features below reflect that difference.
Create and send professional invoices in seconds, track outstanding payments, and get notified when you’re paid – without a separate app.
Snap a photo of any receipt and ANNA categorises the expense automatically. No more shoebox at year-end.
ANNA calculates your likely income tax and VAT bill in real time as money moves through your account.
ANNA is one of the only business accounts fully ready for Making Tax Digital for Income Tax – submitting quarterly updates directly to HMRC.
Open an account in under 5 minutes from your phone. No branch visit, no weeks of waiting – just a working account with a card on the way.
Sync with Xero, QuickBooks and FreeAgent. All transactions are categorised and ready to reconcile.
Open an account in 5 minutes · No monthly fee for 3 months
Full in-depth reviews for every account we compare – fees, features, eligibility, and who it’s best for.
