By: Money Navigator Research Team
Last Reviewed: 06/02/2026
FACT CHECKED
Quick Summary
Tide’s Free, Smart, Pro and Max plans are mainly “bundles” that change:
- The monthly membership fee
- How many transfers are included before per-transfer charges apply
- Which add-ons/tools are included (for example, team access, accounting, payroll, and Max cashback)
The “worth it” question is usually not about the headline monthly fee on its own, but about whether your real-world activity triggers charges on Free/Smart that a higher tier removes, or whether you actually need the included tools on paid tiers.
This article is educational and not financial advice.
The four Tide plans in plain English
Tide publishes the current plan grid on its plans and pricing page. In broad terms:
Free: No membership fee, but more activity is “pay as you go” (for example, fewer free transfers, and FX fees for foreign-currency card spending shown on Tide’s pricing grid).
Smart: Adds a monthly fee and increases the included allowance for transfers, plus extra features (team access, legal helpline, and other plan items listed on Tide’s grid).
Pro: Higher monthly fee, with “unlimited free transfers” shown on Tide’s grid (still subject to Tide’s fair use policy) and more included allowances for team/admin features.
Max: Highest monthly fee, includes “unlimited free transfers” (fair use policy still applies), adds Max-only items such as cashback on eligible card spend shown on Tide’s Max materials, plus broader included tools on the plan grid.
Because plan inclusions and fee schedules can change, the most reliable approach is to treat any comparison as a snapshot and cross-check against Tide’s current documents such as plans and pricing and Tide’s contractual documents (for example the Paid Plan Terms and Conditions).
The cost drivers that typically matter most
1) UK transfers: free allowance vs per-transfer charging
Tide’s help centre describes the baseline transfer charging as 20p per bank transfer (in or out), with plan-based free transfer allowances applying for some tiers (and older help wording sometimes refers to the free tier as “Lite”). Tide sets this out on its page about how much a Tide account costs.
Tide’s plan grid then differentiates the tiers by the number of transfers included: the pricing table shows:
- 5 free transfers per month on Free
- 30 free transfers on Smart
- Unlimited free transfers on Pro and Max (subject to Tide’s fair use policy) on plans and pricing
Where “unlimited free transfers” applies, Tide also publishes a separate explanation of constraints under its fair use policy.
Practical impact: the more frequently a business uses bank transfers for suppliers, payroll runs, or internal cash movement, the more the plan choice can shift costs from per-transfer fees to a fixed monthly fee.
The key detail is that “unlimited” is not the same as “no constraints”, because fair use terms can change how Tide treats unusually high transfer activity.
2) Foreign-currency card spending: FX fee vs no FX fee (as shown by Tide)
On Tide’s plan grid, the difference for card FX is explicit: Tide shows 2.75% FX fees on the Free tier and 0% FX fees on Smart/Pro/Max for “foreign currency card transactions” on its plans and pricing. Tide also describes FX charging for Free plan members on its how much does Tide cost page, which references the Free-plan foreign currency fee.
Practical impact: businesses that spend in foreign currencies (subscriptions, travel, ad platforms, overseas suppliers taking card payments) often see the plan decision show up most clearly here: the same behaviour can trigger a percentage fee on Free but not on paid tiers, based on Tide’s published grid.
3) International transfers: transfer fee and FX fee can both vary by tier
Tide separates UK transfers from transfers “to/from foreign bank accounts” on its plan grid. On plans and pricing, Tide shows:
Free: per-transfer fee plus a higher FX fee for foreign bank transfers,
Smart: per-transfer fee applies above the included allowance plus a lower FX fee,
Pro/Max: no transfer fee shown, but an FX fee remains (per Tide’s grid).
Practical impact: for international payments, the plan choice may change two parts of the cost base: whether a transfer fee applies, and what FX fee percentage applies. Where international payments are regular and operationally important, it’s usually the consistency of the fee rules (and how they map to your own transaction pattern) that matters more than the plan label.
4) Cash deposits, PayPoint, and cheque deposits
Tide’s plan grid includes cash-deposit and cheque-deposit pricing. For example, Tide shows different Post Office cash deposit rates between Free and paid tiers, and also shows PayPoint and digital cheque deposit charges on plans and pricing. Tide also summarises deposit charging on its how much does Tide cost help page.
Practical impact: if a business handles cash regularly, the plan can alter the percentage cost of depositing funds (and minimum charges can matter more than percentages for smaller, frequent deposits).
5) Team and controls: expense cards, team access, and additional accounts
On Tide’s plan grid, the paid tiers include increasing allowances for Expense Cards, additional accounts, and team access (numbers vary by tier).
Tide also states the incremental pricing for expense cards, and the plan-based included quantities, in its help article on how much Expense Cards cost. Tide’s plan grid also flags a monthly charge that can apply to additional accounts beyond the allowance on plans and pricing.
Practical impact: the plan decision can be less about “banking” and more about internal controls: who needs to spend, what permissions they need, and whether the account structure is being used to separate pots for tax, payroll, projects, or client funds.
6) Included tools: invoicing, Tide Accounting, payroll, and support level
Tide’s plan grid includes tool and support differences – examples include:
- Invoice limits (Max showing “Unlimited”)
- Tide Accounting being “free” for some tiers
- Payroll being included on Max
- Support differences (chat vs prioritised support) on plans and pricing.
Practical impact: paid tiers can be more cost-effective if the included tools replace other paid software you already use, but less relevant if your business already has those workflows elsewhere.
Tide Plans Compared
| Feature | Free | Smart | Pro | Max |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly fees | Free | £12.49 | £24.99 | £69.99 |
| UK card transactions | Free | Free | Free | Free |
| Foreign currency card transactions | 2.75% FX fee | 0% FX fees | 0% FX fees | 0% FX fees |
| Transfers to/from other bank accounts | 5 free transfers per month | 30 free transfers | Unlimited free transfers | Unlimited free transfers* |
| Transfers to/from foreign bank accounts | 20p/transfer + 1.5% FX fee | 20p/transfer above free limit + 0.5% FX fee | No transfer fee + 0.5% FX fee | No transfer fee + 0.5% FX fee |
| Transfers via CHAPS** | £15 per transfer | 2 free transfers, then £15 each | 2 free transfers, then £15 each | 5 free transfers, then £15 each |
| ATM withdrawals | £1 | £1 | £1 | £1 |
| Cash deposits at the Post Office | 0.99% (minimum £2.50) | 0.5% (minimum £2.50) | 0.5% (minimum £2.50) | 0.5% (minimum £2.50) |
| Cash deposits at a PayPoint | 3% | 3% | 3% | 3% |
| Digital cheque deposits | 70p + 20p standard transfer fee | 70p + 20p standard transfer fee | 70p + 20p standard transfer fee | 70p + 20p standard transfer fee |
| Linked Instant Saver Interest*** | £0k-£75k: 2.27% AER | £0–£100k: 2.78% AER, Above £100k: 0% | £0–£100k: 3.09% AER, £100k–£150k: 3.29% AER, Above £150k: 0% | £0–£100k: 3.09% AER, £100k–£500k: 3.29% AER, £500k–£1m: 3.60% AER, Above £1m: 0% |
| Additional accounts | Not available* | 1 free additional account | 2 free additional accounts | 3 free additional accounts |
| Expense Cards | £5/month per card | 1 free expense card | 2 free expense cards | 3 free expense cards |
| Virtual debit card | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Team Access | Free read-only access | 1 team member with enhanced access | 2 team members with enhanced access | 5 team members with enhanced access |
| Invoicing | Send 3 free invoices per month | Send 3 free invoices per month | Send 3 free invoices per month | Unlimited |
| Payment links | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Tap to Pay | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Free integration with third party accounting software | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Tide Accounting | From £13.99 | From £13.99 | Tide Accounting free | Admin Extra free |
| Payroll software**** | £12 + VAT/month | £12 + VAT/month | £12 + VAT/month | Included |
| Benefits and rewards | Basic member perks | Enhanced rewards | Enhanced rewards | Enhanced rewards and 0.5% cashback on card purchases |
| Support | Chat support | Prioritised chat and phone support | Prioritised chat and phone support | Prioritised chat and phone support, dedicated member support and priority callback on weekends |
| Legal help | Not available | 24/7 legal helpline with trademark filing & disputes support | 24/7 legal helpline with trademark filing & disputes support | 24/7 legal helpline with trademark filing & disputes support |
| Credit Flex | Subject to eligibility | Subject to eligibility | Subject to eligibility | Subject to eligibility |
| Inbound SWIFT payments | £1 for transactions <£100 | £5 for transactions ≥£100 | Included in 25 free transfers, standard fee then applies | Free | Free |
Tide Plans Accurate on: 6th Feb 2026
* Additional accounts that are already open and beyond the respective plan's limit will have a fee of £4.99 per month per account.
** Payments above £250k are routed via CHAPS. Payments below £250k are routed via FPS by default, with the option for members to choose CHAPS.
*** All new members get our boosted rate of up to 4% AER, free for the first 4 months. After this period, your rate adjusts to your chosen plan.
**** Our payroll software is only included with the Max plan and covers 2 team members only. To add more team members, there is a £2 charge per person.
Summary Table
| Scenario | Outcome | Practical impact |
|---|---|---|
| Low transfer volume and mainly GBP card spend | Free tier may keep costs low, but per-use fees still apply where triggered | Costs tend to be “spiky” (small per-transfer fees add up only if activity increases) |
| Regular supplier transfers and operational payments | Higher tiers increase included transfers and reduce per-transfer exposure | Monthly fee becomes a predictable line item; fair use constraints still matter for “unlimited” tiers |
| Frequent foreign-currency card spending | Tide shows Free plan FX fees but 0% FX fees on paid tiers for foreign-currency card transactions | FX fees can become the dominant cost driver if spend is consistent and sizeable |
| International bank transfers | Tide’s grid shows different transfer fees and FX fees by tier | Plan choice changes the shape of international payment costs (fixed vs variable components) |
| Multiple spenders or delegated finance ops | Paid tiers add included expense cards and enhanced team access | Internal controls (who can do what) become a deciding factor, not only pricing |
| Need for invoicing, accounting add-ons, or payroll tooling | Higher tiers include more of these tools (per Tide’s plan grid) | The plan’s “value” depends on whether those tools replace separate subscriptions |
| Want cashback features shown for Max | Max adds cashback on eligible card purchases per Tide’s Max materials | Cashback is conditional and feature-specific; the membership fee remains a guaranteed cost |
| Cash-handling business using Post Office/PayPoint | Plan grid shows different cash deposit rates and minimums | Deposit patterns (frequency and size) can matter more than headline percentages |
Scenario Table
| Scenario-level | Process-level (how Tide applies it) | Outcome-level (what you see) |
|---|---|---|
| Upgrade from Free/Smart to a higher tier mid-month | Tide describes pro-rata billing mechanics in its paid plan documentation | Membership fees may be calculated for remaining time; plan features can change during the cycle |
| Downgrade from Pro/Max to a lower tier | Downgrades can apply at renewal/end of cycle depending on the rules in the plan documents and app flow | Some inclusions may persist until the cycle ends; allowances reset based on the new tier |
| Cancel a paid plan | Cancellation typically moves the account back to the free tier at the end of the billing cycle (details vary by terms) | Included tools/allowances can stop when the paid period ends; historical charges may remain payable |
| Exceed “unlimited free transfers” in a way that breaches fair use | Tide states it can restrict “free transfers” and charge standard rates under its fair use policy | A tier that normally removes transfer fees can revert to per-transfer charging for affected activity |
| Hold more additional accounts than your plan includes | Tide’s plan grid flags charges for additional accounts beyond the allowance | A monthly charge can apply per additional account above your tier’s limit |
| Pay VAT on membership fees (historic vs current) | Tide states that, from 1 October 2025, VAT no longer applies to paid plans (and warns some UI text may lag) | Fees may display inconsistently in some screens; contractual position is what Tide publishes in help/terms |
| Choose a tier expecting “product protection” changes | Plan tier does not define whether an account is a bank account vs e-money account | Protections depend on the underlying account type/provider, not the membership name |
Tide Business Bank Account
Tide’s plan tiers sit on top of the underlying account product. A useful way to frame the decision is to separate:
- The account itself
- The membership tier (Free/Smart/Pro/Max) that changes allowances and included tools
For an overview of Tide in the wider UK business account landscape, see our Tide hub page at Tide business bank accounts.
For the definitive current plan grid (fees, allowances, and included tools), Tide’s own reference point is plans and pricing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Tide presents the membership fees as monthly fees on its plan grid, and it also publishes separate help content about VAT treatment. The cleanest approach is to treat Tide’s plan grid as the “headline” and then cross-check any VAT or invoicing nuance in Tide’s help and contractual documents, because pricing tables often simplify the presentation.
Tide also states that, from 1 October 2025, VAT no longer applies to its paid plans (Smart, Pro, Max) and notes that some app/web screens may still show VAT while updates roll through. Tide explains this on its help page Why do you charge VAT?, and the UK’s standard VAT rate is set out on VAT rates.
Tide’s help centre describes a baseline fee of 20p for bank transfers (in or out). Separately, Tide’s plan grid shows that Smart/Pro/Max have monthly free transfer allowances, with Pro and Max shown as “unlimited free transfers” (subject to fair use).
The interaction of those two concepts is: the per-transfer fee exists, but allowances can mean it doesn’t apply to a given transfer, depending on your tier and whether the allowance is exceeded.
The important edge case is where a plan has a free allowance but activity goes beyond it (for example, Smart’s monthly allowance), or where “unlimited” is constrained by terms (fair use). Tide summarises the baseline fee on How much will a Tide account cost? and publishes its constraints in What is Tide’s fair use policy?.
Tide distinguishes between types of payments (for example, Direct Debits and Faster Payments) and also distinguishes receiving vs sending. What “counts” is ultimately defined by Tide’s own help content and is best read as an operational definition, not a general banking concept, because different providers classify transactions differently.
A common edge case is assuming that any movement of money is a “transfer” for allowance purposes. In practice, Tide-specific classifications (and plan-specific allowances) are what matter – especially around scheduled payments, inbound payments, and whether certain payment rails are included.
For a Tide-specific explanation focused on how the allowance resets and what is included, see Tide free transfer allowance: what counts and when it resets.
Tide’s plan grid separates CHAPS pricing from general “transfers to/from other bank accounts” and shows different CHAPS inclusions by tier (for example, a number of free CHAPS transfers on paid tiers, then a per-CHAPS fee). That means CHAPS is not simply “another transfer” in pricing terms, even if it feels like one operationally.
The edge case is budgeting CHAPS as if it were covered by the same allowance as Faster Payments. Tide’s own plan grid is the correct reference for this because it shows CHAPS as its own row with its own thresholds and fees. Tide lists this on plans and pricing.
Plan changes often have two moving parts:
- When the features become available
- How the billing is calculated across the month
Tide describes membership billing mechanics (including pro-rata concepts) in its paid plan documentation, and the in-app experience can reflect those mechanics.
The practical edge case is expecting an upgrade to act like a “start next month” switch. Depending on the plan and timing, the fee can be calculated for remaining time and features can change during the current billing cycle.
For a plain-English explanation of timing and pro-rata behaviour, see Upgrading your Tide plan: when new pricing starts and what’s pro-rated, alongside Tide’s Paid Plan Terms and Conditions.
Downgrades are often applied at renewal/end-of-cycle in membership systems, but the exact behaviour depends on the provider’s terms and the implementation in the app.
Tide’s own documentation describes how downgrades and renewals operate across a calendar month and what happens to plan features when moving down a tier.
The edge case is where a business has used included allowances (for example, additional accounts or expense cards) and then moves to a tier with a lower allowance.
The commercial impact can show up as new monthly charges or restricted access after the downgrade takes effect. For the practical mechanics, see Downgrading a Tide plan: what changes immediately vs at renewal.
Membership plans typically remain active until the end of the paid period, but this is a terms-driven question rather than a general rule. Tide’s plan documentation sets out renewal and cancellation logic and whether refunds apply, and the in-app cancellation flow generally mirrors those rules.
The important edge case is confusing “cancellation” with “immediate reversal”. Even where a cancellation is processed immediately, the paid period can continue until the end of the cycle, and there may be no pro-rata refund once a paid period has begun (depending on the terms and promotion).
For a Tide-specific walkthrough, see Cancelling a Tide paid plan: when billing stops and what access remains.
In Tide’s plan grid, Pro and Max show “unlimited free transfers”, but Tide also publishes a fair use policy that describes circumstances where free transfer access can be removed and standard rates applied.
In other words, “unlimited” is presented as an allowance for typical usage rather than a promise that any volume or pattern is always free.
The edge case is unusually high volumes or patterns that look inconsistent with typical business payment behaviour. That can matter for businesses with high-frequency transfer activity (for example, marketplace models, high transaction counts, or complex internal sweeping).
Tide’s stated constraints are on What is Tide’s fair use policy?, and we cover how “unlimited” can be practically constrained in Tide unlimited transfers: fair use explained.
Tide’s plan grid increases the number of included expense cards and the number of team members with enhanced access as tiers go up.
Tide also publishes a specific help article about expense card pricing and included quantities by plan, which is useful because it isolates one of the most operationally important “team” features.
The edge case is that team controls are not only about cost; they change who can do what. A plan may be purchased for governance reasons (segregating duties, limiting spending, enabling delegated approvals) rather than “banking” reasons.
Tide’s plan grid is on plans and pricing, and expense card pricing is set out on How much do Expense Cards cost?.
Plan tier and “protection type” are separate concepts. The membership tier changes allowances and tools; it does not, by itself, define whether funds are held in a bank account (with potential FSCS deposit cover) or in an e-money structure (where safeguarding rules apply instead of FSCS deposit cover).
The edge case is assuming that paying for a higher plan “upgrades” protection. What matters is the underlying account type and provider. Tide states it is not a bank and is authorised by the FCA under the Electronic Money Regulations; the FCA record for Tide Platform Limited is on the FCA Register entry for Tide Platform Limited.
For the FSCS deposit limit change and what FSCS covers for deposits, see FSCS deposit protection limit increase, and for a Tide-focused explainer on safeguarding vs FSCS deposit cover, see Safeguarding vs deposit cover: EMI protections vs FSCS bank accounts.
A Tide “plan” is best understood as a pricing and tooling wrapper around a core account: a higher tier can convert variable charges (per-transfer and FX fees shown on Tide’s grid) into a fixed monthly membership fee and unlock operational controls (team permissions, extra accounts, expense cards, invoicing/accounting/payroll inclusions).
That means “value” is rarely a single-number comparison – because the same plan can be cost-efficient for one business pattern (high transfers or FX card spend) and cost-inefficient for another pattern (low activity, existing tooling already in place).
The recurring constraint is that allowances are definitions, not vibes: what counts as a “transfer”, what “unlimited” means under fair use, and what is or is not included (CHAPS, international transfers, cash deposits, add-ons) is set by Tide’s published grid and supporting terms.
In practice, the cleanest way to reduce surprises is to separate the decision into:
- Which activities your business actually performs
- Which plan rows on the fee grid those activities trigger
Sources & References
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