About Tide
Tide is one of the UK's most popular business financial platforms, designed for sole traders, freelancers and small limited companies. You can open an account from your phone in minutes, then manage invoicing, expense categorisation, and integrations with accounting software in one place. It even offers a free company formation service. Note Tide is an e-money platform (accounts are safeguarded rather than FSCS-protected), with tiered plans and per-transaction fees for cash/transfers on lower tiers.
Pros
- Fast, app-based account opening
- Invoicing and expense tools built in
- Free company formation option
- Great for sole traders and small firms
Cons
- E-money (safeguarded, not FSCS-protected)
- Per-transaction fees on lower tiers
- No lending/overdraft like big banks
Best for
Sole traders and small businesses wanting quick, app-first banking