Tide vs Cashplus Bank

The core trade-off

Cashplus has a niche it occupies more cleanly than anyone else: a fully licensed UK bank that accepts businesses many other banks won't, with overdraft and credit facilities built into the account from day one. Tide is the broader UK SME platform — invoicing, integrations, company formation, Instant Saver, and the REFER200 cashback offer. If you've been declined for a business account elsewhere or you specifically need access to credit alongside banking, Cashplus is the obvious answer. If you're choosing freely between providers and the credit angle isn't decisive, Tide's tooling and offer usually win.

Licence and FSCS

Cashplus has held a UK banking licence since 2021 (it converted from an e-money issuer). Eligible deposits are FSCS-protected up to £120,000 per depositor automatically. Tide is not a bank: depending on the product you receive a business bank account issued via ClearBank (a licensed UK clearing bank, FSCS-eligible) or a Tide-issued e-money account (safeguarded under e-money rules, but not FSCS-protected). For balances comfortably under £120,000, the practical difference is small; for retained earnings above that, both can be made to work with FSCS coverage if you pick the right Tide product.

Acceptance — Cashplus's edge

Cashplus is unusually inclusive. Newer businesses, those with thinner credit files, sole traders without long banking history, and businesses in sectors high-street banks dislike often get approved at Cashplus when they're declined or stalled elsewhere. Tide is also fairly inclusive for a digital provider, but if you've already had an application declined, Cashplus is the more reliable next step. Neither will accept anyone — both still do KYC and AML checks — but Cashplus's risk appetite is wider.

Built-in credit — also Cashplus's edge

Cashplus comes with built-in access to a business overdraft and a Business Credit Account — a revolving credit facility you can apply for inside the app. For a small Ltd company needing modest working-capital headroom, that built-in path is convenient. Tide offers Credit Builder and lending via partners but doesn't bundle a credit facility into the account itself; for credit, the experience is more "we'll connect you" than "it's already here".

Pricing

Cashplus's Business Go plan is free; Business Extra is £9/month and adds extra credit and free UK ATMs; Business is £69/year prepaid for moderate usage. Tide's Free plan is genuinely free with 20 UK transfers a month; paid tiers (£12.49–£69.99) add more transfers, Expense Cards and enhanced tooling. For an SME using the account heavily for credit, Cashplus's pricing structure is competitive. For a UK SME focused on invoicing and tooling, Tide tends to be cheaper for similar usage.

Tooling and integrations

Tide wins on UK SME tooling: integrated company formation, Tide Instant Saver, deeper invoicing on paid tiers, Expense Cards, and a more developed product workflow overall. Cashplus integrates with the major UK accounting platforms (Xero, QuickBooks, FreeAgent, Sage) but the account UX is more "bank account that does what it says" and less "SME finance ops platform".

Cash and ATMs

Both accept cash via the Post Office (Tide also via PayPoint), both with percentage fees. Cashplus offers free UK ATM withdrawals up to a monthly cap on the paid tier; Tide charges per UK ATM withdrawal. For a business that handles regular cash, Cashplus's licence and infrastructure are slightly more aligned, though neither is a high-street bank.

The sign-up offer

Cashplus does not run a structured sign-up cashback offer. Tide currently runs REFER200 — up to £200 cashback when you complete £100 of card spend in 30 days and deposit £5,000 into Tide Instant Saver for 30 days.

Pick Tide if…

You want broader SME tooling, integrated company formation, deeper invoicing and expense management, or the £200 REFER200 cashback. Tide is the cleaner default for most UK SMEs that don't specifically need built-in credit or wider acceptance.

Pick Cashplus if…

You've been declined for a business account elsewhere, you want a fully licensed UK bank with FSCS without going through a high-street bank's application process, or you need a built-in business overdraft and credit facility alongside the account.

Run both?

Workable. Tide for operations and the cashback, Cashplus as the secondary account for credit headroom and FSCS comfort. There's no penalty for holding both.