Tide vs Starling Business: at a glance
| Feature | Tide | Starling Business |
|---|---|---|
| Provider type | Fintech (powered by ClearBank, a licensed UK bank) | Licensed UK bank (Starling Bank Ltd) |
| Money protection | FSCS up to £120,000 (via ClearBank, subject to eligibility) | FSCS deposit protection (up to £120,000) |
| Free plan available? | Yes — Tide Free | Yes — Starling Business (free core account) |
| Monthly fee (entry paid plan) | £12.49/month (Smart) | No paid plans — all features on one free account |
| Outbound transfers (free plan) | 20p per transfer | Free (unlimited) |
| Cash deposits | Post Office + PayPoint (charged) | Post Office (charged) |
| Cheque deposits | Yes (by post) | Yes (by post) |
| Built-in invoicing | Yes — all plans | Yes (basic) |
| Receipt capture | Yes | Yes (via integrations) |
| Expense cards for team | Yes — from Smart plan | Yes |
| Instant Saver / savings | Yes — interest-bearing | Yes — savings spaces |
| Accounting integrations | Xero, FreeAgent, QuickBooks, Sage | Xero, FreeAgent, QuickBooks |
| International payments | Yes — 2.75% FX fee (Free/Smart) | Yes — ~0.4% FX fee |
| Company formation | Yes | No |
| Current sign-up offer | Up to £200 cashback with REFER200 | Check Starling directly |
Bank status and money protection
Starling Business is provided by Starling Bank Ltd, a fully licensed UK bank. Business account funds are held as deposits and covered by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS) up to £120,000 per eligible depositor.
Tide is not itself a bank, but Tide Business Current Accounts are powered by ClearBank, a licensed UK bank. Eligible deposits in the Tide business current account can receive FSCS protection up to £120,000 per eligible depositor, per banking licence — the standard UK FSCS deposit-protection limit (increased from £85,000 to £120,000 on 1 December 2025). This is subject to eligibility and FSCS aggregation rules.
On FSCS protection alone, Tide's standard £120,000 FSCS limit via ClearBank is the same as Starling's £120,000 limit. The FSCS aggregation rules mean you should check whether you already hold deposits with ClearBank through another provider, as those balances count toward your £120,000 limit. For most businesses with a modest working balance, the practical difference between the two providers is limited.
Fees and pricing compared
The headline difference at the free tier is transfers. Starling Business offers unlimited free outbound transfers; Tide Free charges 20p per transfer. For a business sending 50 transfers per month, that is £10/month in transfer fees on Tide Free — enough to make Starling materially cheaper for transfer-heavy businesses that do not need Tide's bundled admin tools.
The calculation shifts when you factor in invoicing software. Tide's built-in invoicing and receipt capture are included on all plans. A business that would otherwise pay £15–30/month for standalone invoicing software may find Tide's Smart plan (£12.49/month) cheaper in total than Starling plus a separate invoicing subscription.
| Charge | Tide Free | Tide Smart (£12.49/m) | Starling Business (Free) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly fee | £0 | £12.49 | £0 |
| Outbound transfers | 20p each | Included (allowance) | Free (unlimited) |
| Incoming transfers | Free | Free | Free |
| Cash deposits (Post Office) | £1 per deposit | £1 per deposit | £1 per deposit |
| FX fee | 2.75% | 2.75% | ~0.4% |
| Expense cards | £5/month each | 1 included | Available |
| Invoicing | Included | Included | Basic (included) |
Invoicing and admin tools
Tide's built-in invoicing is one of its strongest differentiators. You can create, send and track invoices directly within the Tide app, with automatic payment matching when a client pays. Receipt capture and expense categorisation are also built in.
Starling Business offers basic invoicing functionality and integrates well with Xero, FreeAgent and QuickBooks. Its product centre of gravity is clean everyday banking rather than deep admin tooling. Businesses that already use dedicated accounting software will find both providers offer good integrations; the advantage of Tide's built-in invoicing is most relevant to businesses that do not already have a separate invoicing tool.
International payments and FX
Starling Business has a significantly better FX rate than Tide at equivalent plan levels. Starling charges approximately 0.4% on international payments; Tide charges 2.75% on the Free and Smart plans. For a business making regular international payments, this difference is meaningful.
Neither Tide nor Starling offers multi-currency accounts. For businesses trading internationally at volume, Wise Business or Revolut Business are stronger options on FX specifically.
Who should choose Tide vs Starling Business?
| Business type | Better choice | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| New limited company wanting formation + banking | Tide | Company formation built into Tide account opening; Starling does not offer this |
| High-transfer-volume business (50+ transfers/month) | Starling | Unlimited free transfers vs Tide's 20p per transfer |
| Sole trader needing built-in invoicing | Tide | Tide's invoicing is more developed; saves a separate subscription |
| Business wanting FSCS deposit protection | Tide or Starling | Tide via ClearBank (£120k); Starling (£120k) |
| Business holding a very large cash reserve | Tide | £120k FSCS limit via ClearBank is higher than Starling's £120k |
| Business with existing invoicing software | Starling | Free transfers + FSCS; no need to pay for Tide's bundled tools |
| Business making regular international payments | Starling | ~0.4% FX vs Tide's 2.75% on lower plans |
| Cash-handling business | Tide | Post Office + PayPoint; Starling offers Post Office only |
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 was already the right choice for your business. If Starling is the better fit — because of its unlimited free transfers, FSCS protection, or better FX rates — take Starling. The cashback is a one-off; the fee structure and protection model apply every month.