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.
| 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: 16 June 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 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.