Tide vs Starling vs Monzo: which business account is best?

Tide, Starling and Monzo all offer a free business account, so the right one depends on what you pay for beyond the basics: transfers, cash deposits, accounting tools and team cards. Starling has no monthly fee and free UK transfers; Monzo’s free Lite plan adds paid tiers at £9 and £25 a month; Tide’s free plan includes 5 transfers a month, with paid plans from £12.49. This page compares the three on their own pricing pages, checked on 6 November 2026, and does not pick a winner.

Quick comparison

The headline difference is what the free tier covers.

None of the three pricing pages said whether monthly fees include VAT. Fees change often, so check before you apply.

Starling business account

Starling charges no monthly fee and nothing for UK bank transfers in or out. Its business account page lists cash deposits at the Post Office at 0.7% with a £3 minimum, while cheques are paid in free. Spending and withdrawing abroad carries no Starling fee, and you can send payments to 34 countries.

Starling’s limited company account is for companies and LLPs registered at Companies House. Every person with significant control must be a UK-resident individual, the applicant must be a director and a PSC, and general partnerships are not supported. Sole traders use a separate sole trader account.

Starling is a licensed UK bank and displays FSCS protection on its page. Tap to Pay card acceptance costs 1.6% a transaction with no subscription.

Monzo Business plans

Monzo has three tiers. Its plans page lists:

All three include FSCS protection on eligible deposits up to £120,000. Monzo’s page did not list cash deposit fees.

Monzo builds free MTD for Income Tax software, powered by Sage, into every plan. It is for sole traders and landlords, sends quarterly updates and the year-end return, and is HMRC-recognised. Monzo says it does not support accruals accounting, VAT filing or working with an accountant. Our Monzo Business review covers it in more depth.

Tide plans

Tide has four plans, priced monthly on its pricing page:

Lite charges a 2.75% fee on card spending abroad; the paid plans charge 0%. Cash and cheque deposits and ATM withdrawals are listed as included on every plan, with no fee shown. The Tide Instant Saver paid from 1.75% AER on Lite to 3.51% AER on Max when we checked.

Tide is not a bank. It says current and savings accounts are provided by ClearBank and eligible deposits are FSCS-protected up to £120,000. Some members hold e-money accounts issued by PrePay Technologies (sort code 23-69-72), which are safeguarded but not FSCS-covered. Check which you have in the app.

Is my money protected?

Money held in a UK bank account is protected by the FSCS up to £120,000 per eligible person per firm. The FSCS says it cannot protect e-money or payment services firms. If you hold more than £120,000, spread it across banks with separate licences.

Which applies to you?

• If you make many UK transfers and want no monthly fee, Starling and Monzo Lite both include free UK transfers; Tide Lite caps them at 5 a month.
• If you pay in cash often, compare Starling’s 0.7% fee with Tide, which lists cash deposits as included, and ask Monzo for its current charge.
• If you are a sole trader or landlord joining Making Tax Digital, Monzo includes a free HMRC-recognised MTD tool.
• If your company has a corporate shareholder or non-UK PSC, Starling’s limited company account will not accept you.
• If you want accounting integrations, Monzo’s are on Pro and Team; see business bank accounts and accounting integration.

What to do now

1. Count your monthly transfers and cash deposits for the last three months.
2. Price each account on that usage, not the headline fee; our business bank account fees guide shows how.
3. Check FSCS status on the account you are offered.
4. Use the Current Account Switch Service if moving; see how to switch business bank account.

Frequently asked questions

Is Tide FSCS protected?

Tide says current and savings accounts provided by ClearBank are FSCS-protected up to £120,000. Some members still hold e-money accounts with PrePay Technologies, which are safeguarded rather than FSCS-protected.

Does Starling charge a monthly fee for business accounts?

No. Starling’s business account has no monthly fee and no fee for UK bank transfers. Cash deposits at the Post Office cost 0.7%, with a £3 minimum.

How much does Monzo Business Pro cost?

Monzo Business Pro costs £9 a month, with the first month free. Team starts from £25 a month and Lite is free.

Which of the three has free Making Tax Digital software?

Monzo includes free HMRC-recognised MTD for Income Tax software, powered by Sage, for sole traders and landlords. The Starling and Tide pages we checked did not list a built-in MTD tool.

Can a limited company open any of these accounts?

Yes, all three accept limited companies. Starling requires every PSC to be a UK-resident individual with no corporate shareholders.