Tide vs Revolut Business: at a glance
| Feature | Tide | Revolut Business |
|---|---|---|
| Provider type | Tide is not a bank; ClearBank-powered current accounts and PPT e-money accounts | E-money institution |
| Money protection | FSCS up to £120,000 (via ClearBank, subject to eligibility) | Safeguarding under e-money regulations |
| Free plan available? | Yes — Tide Free | Yes — Revolut Business Basic |
| Monthly fee (entry paid plan) | £12.49/month (Smart) | £19/month (Grow) |
| Outbound transfers (free plan) | 20p per transfer | 5 free/month, then charged |
| Multi-currency accounts | No (GBP primary) | Yes — hold 25+ currencies |
| FX fee | 2.75% (Free/Smart), 0% (Max) | 0.4% (paid plans), fair usage limit applies |
| Cash deposits | Post Office & PayPoint (charged) | Very limited / not available in UK |
| Built-in invoicing | Yes | Yes |
| Expense cards for team | Yes | Yes |
| International payments | Yes — standard FX conversion | Yes — multi-currency, competitive FX |
| Company formation | Yes | No |
| Current sign-up offer | Up to £200 cashback with REFER200 | Check Revolut directly |
The core difference: domestic admin vs international payments
Tide and Revolut Business are both app-based with no branch network, but they differ in their protection structure. Tide Business Current Accounts are powered by ClearBank (a licensed UK bank), and eligible deposits can receive FSCS protection up to £120,000. Revolut Business is an e-money institution that safeguards customer funds under the Electronic Money Regulations — a different but regulated protection mechanism. The main difference between the two is product focus.
Tide is built around UK domestic business admin: invoicing, receipt capture, cash deposits via Post Office and PayPoint, company formation, and accounting integrations. Its FX capability exists but is not its strength.
Revolut Business is built around international money movement: multi-currency accounts that let you hold and receive in 25+ currencies, competitive FX rates on paid plans, and spend management tools designed for teams operating across borders. Its UK domestic admin tools are adequate but not as deep as Tide's.
FX and international payments compared
For a business that invoices international clients and wants to receive payment in EUR, USD or other currencies without converting immediately, Revolut's multi-currency accounts are a genuine advantage. Tide does not offer multi-currency holding — all balances are in GBP.
For a business that makes occasional international payments but trades primarily in GBP, Tide's FX capability is adequate. The 2.75% FX fee on Tide Free and Smart is higher than Revolut's paid-plan rates, but the absolute cost on occasional payments is modest.
| Feature | Tide | Revolut Business |
|---|---|---|
| FX fee (free plan) | 2.75% | 1% (fair usage limit applies) |
| FX fee (entry paid plan) | 2.75% (Smart) | 0.4% (Grow, £19/m) |
| FX fee (top plan) | 0% (Max, £69.99/m) | 0% (Enterprise) |
| Multi-currency accounts | No | Yes — hold 25+ currencies |
| Receive in foreign currencies | GBP only | Yes — local account details in multiple currencies |
| SWIFT international transfers | Yes | Yes |
| SEPA transfers (EUR) | Yes | Yes |
| Best for | Occasional international payments | Regular or high-volume international trading |
Cash deposits: a critical difference
Tide supports cash deposits via the Post Office and PayPoint networks, both charged per deposit. This is a meaningful practical capability for businesses that handle cash — tradespeople, market traders, hospitality businesses.
Revolut Business has historically had very limited or no straightforward cash deposit route in the UK. If your business regularly banks cash, this is a hard filter: Revolut is not a viable primary account for cash-handling businesses, regardless of its other strengths.
Fees compared
Revolut Business's paid plans are significantly more expensive than Tide's at equivalent tiers, but they include more generous FX allowances and multi-currency features that justify the cost for internationally active businesses. For a UK-domestic business with no international payment needs, Tide's lower plan prices represent better value.
| Plan | Tide price | Revolut Business equivalent | Revolut price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free tier | £0 (Tide Free) | Basic | £0 |
| Entry paid plan | £12.49/m (Smart) | Grow | £19/m |
| Mid-tier plan | £27.49/m (Pro) | Scale | £79/m |
| Top plan | £69.99/m (Max) | Enterprise | Custom pricing |
Who should choose Tide vs Revolut Business?
| Business type | Better choice | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| UK-domestic business with modest transfer volume | Tide | Lower plan costs; better admin tools for UK businesses |
| Business trading internationally at volume | Revolut Business | Multi-currency accounts, competitive FX, lower FX fees on paid plans |
| Business invoicing international clients in foreign currencies | Revolut Business | Receive in local currencies without immediate conversion |
| Cash-handling business | Tide | Post Office and PayPoint cash deposits; Revolut has very limited UK cash deposit capability |
| New limited company wanting formation + banking | Tide | Company formation built into account opening |
| Business needing built-in invoicing | Tide | More developed invoicing tools |
| Business with large team and multi-currency expenses | Revolut Business | Better multi-currency expense management |
The REFER200 offer in this comparison
The REFER200 cashback of up to £200 applies specifically to opening a Tide account. It pays £75 after £100 of qualifying card spend within 30 days, and £125 after depositing £5,000 into Tide Instant Saver within 7 days of opening and holding it for one month.
The offer is worth having if Tide already fits your business. It should not pull you away from Revolut Business if your primary need is multi-currency accounts or competitive FX for regular international trading — the ongoing FX savings on Revolut's paid plans will outweigh a one-off £200 cashback for a business with meaningful international payment volumes.