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 16 June 2026.
| Feature | Free | Smart | Pro | Max |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly fee | £0 | £12.49/mo | £27.49/mo | £69.99/mo |
| Best for | New sole traders, low volume | Growing freelancers / Ltd | Established SMEs | High-volume businesses |
| Free UK transfers / month | 5 | 30 | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| International card FX | 2.75% FX fee | 0% FX | 0% FX | 0% FX |
| Team / expense cards | — | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| Tide Instant Saver AER | Standard tier | Higher tier | Higher tier | Top tier (market-leading) |
| 0.5% cashback on card spend | — | — | — | Yes |
| Invoicing | Basic | Enhanced | Enhanced | Enhanced |
| Xero connector | — | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| CHAPS payments | — | 2 | 2 | 5 |
Plan pricing changes occasionally — verify the current numbers on tide.co before applying. We re-check this page on the date above.
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 per-transaction fees once you exceed your free allowances. A Free plan can quietly become more expensive than Smart if you make a lot of UK transfers, and a Pro plan can be cheaper than Smart for high-volume users because the larger included allowance avoids per-transfer fees.
The honest rule of thumb: estimate your monthly UK transfer count. If it sits comfortably under the Free allowance, stay on Free. If you'd pay more than the Smart fee in PAYG fees, upgrade. Re-evaluate every few months — your volume changes, and so does Tide's pricing.
UK transfers
Sending money via Faster Payments is free up to your plan's monthly allowance, then around 20p per transfer. Direct debits and standing orders count toward your transfer allowance. Receiving payments is free.
ATM withdrawals
Tide charges a per-withdrawal fee for UK ATMs. If your business handles regular cash and you want free ATMs, Starling is the comparable account that doesn't charge.
Cash deposits
Cash can be deposited at PayPoint or the Post Office. PayPoint charges a percentage of the deposit with a small minimum; Post Office is similar but capped. Fine for occasional deposits, expensive as a routine workflow. Cash-heavy businesses are usually better served by a high-street bank or a dedicated cash-handling solution alongside Tide.
Card transactions
UK card spend on your Tide Mastercard is free. Foreign card spend incurs a small FX markup on the Mastercard rate — fine for occasional travel, not the best primary tool for heavy international card spend (Wise debit and Revolut Business win there).
International payments
Tide routes international payments via partners. Pricing depends on the corridor and currency. For one-off payments to Europe it's fine; for regular international supplier payments, run quotes against Wise and Revolut Business before committing.
What's included beyond the plan
Invoicing, expense categorisation, Xero/QuickBooks/FreeAgent integrations and access to Tide Instant Saver are included across plans. The paid plans buy more capable invoicing (read receipts, branded templates), more team expense cards, more included transfers and priority support.
How REFER200 changes the maths
REFER200 effectively underwrites your first year of Tide fees for most users. £200 cashback covers roughly 16 months of Smart (£12.49/mo) or about 7 months of Pro (£27.49/mo). If you're already going to open a Tide account, structuring the sign-up around REFER200 makes financial sense — see how to use REFER200.
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?+
No. Incoming UK payments are free across all plans.
What's the fee for international payments?+
Tide routes international payments via partners. Pricing varies by corridor and currency — for regular international flows, run quotes against Wise or Revolut Business before committing.
Is the Mastercard FX rate competitive?+
Tide applies a small markup on the Mastercard rate for foreign card spend. Fine for occasional travel; not the best primary tool for heavy international card spend.
How much does cash deposit cost?+
PayPoint charges a percentage of the deposit (with a small minimum). Post Office is similar but capped. Both are fine for occasional cash; expensive for routine cash handling.
Does REFER200 cashback offset Tide's fees?+
Effectively yes — £200 covers many months of Smart or Pro fees for most users. It's not a formal fee waiver, but the net cash impact is similar in year one.
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: 16 June 2026.
Ready to open a Tide account?
Use referral code REFER200 at sign-up to claim up to £200 cashback when you meet the qualifying steps.
Up to £200 cashback
Use referral code below when opening your Tide business account.
REFER200Up to £200 cashback. T&Cs apply. Tide determines account approval, eligibility and cashback validation. Last checked 16 June 2026.
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 16 June 2026.