Tide fees: worked monthly examples
Real-world monthly Tide fees for sole traders, freelancers, contractors and small companies — so you can see what 'free' actually means in practice.
Daniel Okoye maintains the comparison data behind Business Account Referral. He collects published pricing, transfer allowances, FX charges and account-protection details from provider sources, models the total cost of each plan at realistic transaction volumes, and dates every figure so readers can see when it was last verified.
Reviewed 12 October 2026 · About the team · How we review
| Business type | Typical monthly activity | Recommended plan | Indicative monthly cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sole trader (consultant) | 20 card transactions, 4 transfers in, 0 cash deposits | Free plan | £0 plan fee | Most consultants pay nothing on Tide's Free plan. Pay only for cash deposits at the Post Office (per-deposit fee) or expedited transfers if needed. |
| Freelance designer | 30 card payments, 6 invoices paid, 0 cash | Free plan | £0 plan fee | Tide invoicing on the Free plan covers most freelancers. Heavy invoicing users may upgrade to Pro or Smart for added features. |
| Contractor (limited company) | Dividends + salary, 25 card txns, 2 international | Smart (£12.49/mo) or Pro (£27.49/mo) | ≈£12.49–£27.49 plan + international transfer fees | Smart adds 30 free UK transfers, expense cards and 0% FX on card spend. Pro adds unlimited UK transfers, a business phone number and Xero connector — useful for IR35-style contractors handling client invoicing. |
| Small limited company (3 directors) | Multi-user access, ~80 card txns, ~10 cash deposits | Pro (£27.49/mo) or Max (£69.99/mo) | Plan fee + per-deposit cash fee | Pro includes unlimited UK transfers and 2 team cards. Max adds a 3rd team card, 0.5% cashback and a market-leading Instant Saver AER (rate variable, check the app). Fund float by transfer rather than cash to limit deposit fees. |
What you actually pay for
- Plan fee — Free (£0), Smart (£12.49/mo), Pro (£27.49/mo) or Max (£69.99/mo). Most low-volume users sit on Free.
- Per-transaction fees — Post Office cash deposits, ATM withdrawals beyond the free cap, and certain international transfers.
- FX — foreign currency card spend uses Tide's published FX charge.
Comparing to the REFER200 cashback
Up to £200 cashback through REFER200 typically more than offsets a year of Tide plan fees for a Pro user, and is effectively pure margin for Free-plan users. The numbers above are guidance — check Tide's pricing for the current per-item fees.
Related
- Tide fees overview — plans, ATM and cash deposit fees.
- Tide business account review.
- Best UK business bank accounts.
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.
Frequently asked questions
Is Tide really free?+
Tide's basic 'Free' plan has £0 monthly fee, with 5 free UK transfers a month included. You'll only pay per-item fees on things like Post Office cash deposits, additional transfers, and international payments. Paid plans (Smart £12.49/mo, Pro £27.49/mo, Max £69.99/mo) bundle extra features.
What does a Tide card transaction cost?+
UK card transactions on a Tide business debit card are free. International card spend incurs Tide's published foreign exchange fee — see Tide's pricing page.
Does the REFER200 cashback offset Tide's monthly fees?+
Up to £200 cashback equates to roughly 16 months of Tide Smart (£12.49/mo), about 7 months of Pro (£27.49/mo) or pure margin for users staying on the Free plan.
Are cash deposit fees waived?+
No. Tide charges per Post Office cash deposit. Plan around card payments and bank transfers where possible to reduce cash handling fees.
Where can I see Tide's exact prices?+
Always check Tide's pricing page for the current numbers — providers update fees from time to time. We link to it in our sources page.
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.