Tide fees explained
A practical breakdown of Tide's plan pricing and the per-transaction costs that catch most people out — plus how to pick the cheapest plan for your actual volume. Last checked 12 October 2026.
Adam Short is the Editor of Business Account Referral, an independent UK guide to business current accounts, referral offers and account-opening incentives. He reviews provider pricing, product features, eligibility rules and promotion mechanics using official provider material, hands-on journey checks and structured comparison criteria.
Reviewed 12 October 2026 · About the team · How we review
| Feature | Free | Smart | Pro | Max |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly plan fee | £0 | £12.49 | £27.49 | £69.99 |
| Included UK transfers | 5/month | 30/month | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| International card FX fee | 2.75% | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| Additional current accounts | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| Team cards | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| Invoicing | 3/month | 3/month | 3/month | Unlimited |
| Instant Saver ongoing AER | 2% | 2.5% | 3% | 3.25% |
| Instant Saver introductory rate | Up to 4% AER | Up to 4% AER | Up to 4% AER | Up to 4% AER |
Checked 12 October 2026 against Tide's published pricing. Plans and pricing checked 12 October 2026 against Tide's published pricing. Rates are variable.
Headline plan fees vs total cost
Tide's headline plan fee is rarely the number that matters. What matters is your total monthly cost — plan fee plus transaction charges once you exceed an included allowance, cash-deposit charges and any international activity. More included transfers are useful, but they should be assessed alongside the paid plan’s monthly fee and features rather than treated as an automatic saving.
Start by estimating your monthly UK transfer count, cash-deposit frequency and overseas card use. Then compare the current tariff for the plans you are considering. Re-check after a few operating months: a new business’s transaction profile can change quickly, and Tide can change its pricing.
Cost checks to make before choosing a plan
The plan fee is only one part of the decision. Start with a typical month of bank transfers, cash deposits, card use abroad and invoices, then compare it with the current Tide tariff. A Free plan may be sensible at low sterling-only volume; it is less compelling if you consistently exceed the included transfer allowance, make foreign-currency card purchases or take frequent cash payments.
- Transfers: Tide’s published Free allowance is five bank transfers each month, with 20p charges for transfers outside an allowance. Smart lists 30 included transfers, while Pro and Max list unlimited transfers. Model the volume you actually expect, rather than upgrading because a paid tier sounds more complete.
- Cash: Tide’s current support guidance lists PayPoint deposits at 3% of the deposit value. It also lists Post Office deposits at £2.50 up to £500 and percentage pricing above £500 that varies by plan. A cash-led business should compare this with a provider designed for regular cash handling.
- Overseas card spending: Tide lists a 2.75% foreign-card and overseas-GBP-card fee on Free, while paid plans list 0% card FX. This can justify checking Smart, but it does not automatically make an upgrade cheaper; compare the monthly fee against your actual overseas spend.
- Euro and international payments: Tide supports EUR SEPA and SWIFT routes, but plan charges and FX mark-ups depend on the payment type and plan. Check the in-app quote and current tariff if international payments are a core workflow.
Use the worked Tide fee examples for a scenario view, then compare the result with the full Tide fee guide before choosing a plan.
UK transfers
Tide’s fee support page lists bank transfers in or out at 20p outside an applicable allowance. The plan page lists five included bank transfers on Free, 30 on Smart and unlimited transfers on Pro and Max. Confirm how the current tariff classifies your payment type before assuming it is included.
ATM withdrawals
Tide’s published fee-support page lists GBP cash withdrawals at £1 each. If your business relies on frequent cash withdrawals, compare the current ATM terms of alternatives rather than treating the monthly plan fee as the only cost.
Cash deposits
Tide’s published cash-deposit prices are concrete enough to model. PayPoint is listed at 3% of the deposit value. At the Post Office, Tide lists £2.50 up to £500; above £500 it lists 0.99% on Free and 0.5% on Smart, Pro and Max. That means a £1,000 Post Office deposit is £9.90 on Free or £5.00 on a paid plan, while a £100 PayPoint deposit is £3.00. These are provider tariffs, not a recommendation to use cash as a routine workflow.
Card transactions and overseas use
Tide lists GBP card transactions as free. On the Free plan, it lists a 2.75% fee for foreign-currency card payments, foreign-currency ATM withdrawals and GBP card payments made outside the UK; the paid plans list 0% card FX. On £1,000 of eligible foreign-currency card spend, 2.75% is £27.50 before any exchange-rate movement. Compare that with the relevant monthly plan fee and your actual travel or supplier pattern rather than assuming a paid plan is always cheaper.
International payments
Tide supports EUR SEPA and SWIFT routes. Fees, FX mark-ups and timing depend on the payment type and plan, and Tide presents a quote in the app for relevant international activity. If international supplier payments are central to your business, compare live quotes with a specialist provider before committing.
What's included beyond the plan
Tide’s product page lists invoicing, expense management, accounting connections and access to Tide Instant Saver across the product range. It lists three invoices a month on Free, Smart and Pro, and unlimited invoices on Max; extra accounts and Team Cards vary by paid tier. Check the current feature table before upgrading for a single feature.
How REFER200 fits the decision
REFER200 is a conditional partner promotion, not a fee waiver. An eligible applicant who meets Tide’s published conditions may receive up to £200, but Tide controls account approval, eligibility and reward validation. Treat any potential reward separately from your ongoing plan choice: use the REFER200 step-by-step guide for the conditions, then choose a plan on the basis of expected costs and workflows.
Worked fee examples
| Scenario | Illustrative published charge | What it tells you |
|---|---|---|
| Five monthly bank transfers | £0 excess-transfer fee on Free, assuming they are within its five-transfer allowance | The £0 plan can suit very low sterling-only volume. |
| 20 monthly bank transfers | 15 excess transfers × 20p = £3.00 on Free | Smart’s extra transfer allowance alone is worth £5 versus Free at 30 transfers, so compare its other benefits too. |
| £1,000 Post Office cash deposit | £9.90 Free; £5.00 Smart, Pro or Max | Cash handling can dominate the cost decision. |
| £100 PayPoint cash deposit | £3.00 at Tide’s published 3% rate | Occasional use is different from a cash-led daily workflow. |
| Three GBP ATM withdrawals | £3.00 at £1 each | ATM dependence should be part of the comparison. |
| £1,000 foreign-currency card spending on Free | £27.50 at 2.75% | Compare this with Smart’s monthly fee and the rest of your plan needs. |
On published plan fees and a 20p excess-transfer charge alone, Pro reaches the same transfer-only cost as Smart at about 105 monthly transfers. Max’s advertised 0.5% card cashback would mathematically equal its £69.99 fee only at about £13,998 of eligible monthly card spending, before checking any programme conditions, caps or exclusions. These are planning calculations, not promises of savings or cashback. See Tide fees: worked examples for the wider profile scenarios.
Which plan should you pick?
- Free (£0): a low-volume, mostly sterling workflow where five included transfers, cash-deposit charges and the 2.75% card-FX fee are acceptable.
- Smart (£12.49/mo): a business that values the 30-transfer allowance, additional account/team features and 0% card FX after comparing those benefits with the monthly fee.
- Pro (£27.49/mo): a business with roughly 105 or more monthly transfers on a transfer-cost comparison, or one that needs Pro’s non-transfer features.
- Max (£69.99/mo): a business that has independently checked the value of unlimited invoicing, account/team features, savings rate and any 0.5% card-cashback conditions against its real usage.
Whichever you choose, pricing is variable — Tide can change plan fees and allowances. We re-check this page monthly; the checked date is in the table above, and Tide's own pricing page is the authoritative source.
Frequently asked questions
Does Tide have a truly free plan?+
Yes — the Free plan has no monthly fee. You pay per UK transfer once you exceed the free allowance, plus the usual ATM and cash-deposit fees. For low-volume sole traders it can stay genuinely free month-to-month.
Which plan suits a new limited company?+
Smart or Pro suits most growing limited companies; Free can work for the first few months if transaction volume is low. Reassess quarterly using your actual transfer count.
Are there hidden fees?+
No hidden fees, but read the schedule of charges for ATM, cash deposit, international payment and PAYG transfer fees so the bill isn't a surprise.
Can I switch plans later?+
Yes. Plans can be upgraded or downgraded in the app. Downgrades take effect from the next billing cycle.
Does Tide charge for receiving Faster Payments?+
Tide’s support page says bank transfers in or out cost 20p outside an applicable allowance. Check the current plan tariff and how it classifies your payment type before relying on a specific charge.
What's the fee for international payments?+
Tide supports EUR SEPA and SWIFT routes. Fees and FX mark-ups depend on the payment type and plan, so check the live in-app quote and Tide’s current tariff before committing.
What happens to card FX fees?+
Tide lists a 2.75% fee on Free for foreign-currency card payments and certain overseas GBP card payments; Smart, Pro and Max list 0% card FX. Compare the current plan tariff with your actual travel and supplier pattern.
How much does cash deposit cost?+
Tide lists PayPoint deposits at 3%. It lists Post Office deposits at £2.50 up to £500, then 0.99% on Free or 0.5% on Smart, Pro and Max above £500. Check Tide’s latest tariff before depositing cash.
Does REFER200 cashback offset Tide's fees?+
REFER200 is not a fee waiver. An eligible applicant who meets Tide’s conditions may receive a reward, but Tide decides approval, eligibility and validation. Choose a plan based on its ongoing costs rather than a possible promotion.
Does Tide charge to close an account?+
No. You can close at any time. Settle any outstanding fees first and move out any remaining balance.
Key facts summary
- The current code promoted on this site is REFER200.
- The offer is described as up to £200 cashback, not a guaranteed reward.
- Eligibility and payout are controlled by Tide and the applicable offer terms.
- This website is independent and is not Tide; we may receive a referral reward.
- Last checked: 12 October 2026.
Ready to open your Tide business account?
Start with Tide’s £0/month plan, payments, invoicing and expense tools—then add REFER200 at sign-up for up to £200 cashback.
Open a modern business account with payments, invoicing and expense tools—then add REFER200 as you apply.
REFER200Offer verified 12 October 2026. Up to £200 cashback for eligible new Tide business-account customers. Tide terms and eligibility apply.
Independent introducer disclosure: this site is not Tide and is not operated by Tide. If you sign up using our link or the code REFER200, we may receive a referral reward. Tide controls account approval, eligibility and cashback validation. This is not financial advice. Always check the latest Tide terms before applying. Last checked 12 October 2026.