Tide vs. Starling: The Ultimate Comparison (2026)

By: Money Navigator Research Team

Last Reviewed: 12/12/2025

If you are opening a new business bank account in 2026, your shortlist probably looks like this: Tide and Starling Bank.

Together, they control a massive slice of the UK small business market. Both offer slick mobile apps, both are safer than keeping cash under a mattress, and both are infinitely faster than high-street dinosaurs like Barclays or HSBC.

But they are not the same.

In fact, they appeal to two very different types of business owners.

  • Starling Bank is a fully licensed bank that focuses on being “fee-free.”

  • Tide is a financial platform focused on “speed and admin.”

We have tested both accounts to help you decide which one deserves your business.

Also Compare: 

Also Compare: 

The Verdict: Who Wins?

If you are in a rush, here is the bottom line.

Winner For
The Bank
Why?
Lowest Cost
Starling
No monthly fee AND no transfer fees.
Speed to Open
Tide
Account number in <10 mins.
Bad Credit
Tide
Soft Credit Check only (High acceptance).
Overdrafts
Starling
Offers loans & overdrafts (Status dependent).
Admin Tools
Tide
Auto-invoicing & expense cards are superior.

The “Rule of Thumb”

  • Choose Starling if: You have a clean credit history and want to pay absolutely £0 in banking fees.

  • Choose Tide if: You need an account open today, have a “thin” credit file, or want smart features like auto-invoicing to save time on admin.

 🏆 WINNER: STARLING BANK  

Round 1: Costs & Fees

This is the biggest difference between the two.

Starling Bank

Famous for being “truly free.” On their standard business account, you pay:

  • £0 Monthly Fee.

  • £0 for UK Bank Transfers.

  • £0 for ATM Withdrawals.

Visit Starling Website

Tide

Operates a “Pay-As-You-Go” model on its free plan:

  • £0 Monthly Fee.

  • 20p per Transfer (In and Out).

  • £1 per ATM Withdrawal.

Visit Tide Website

Winner: Starling Bank. Analysis: If you make 100 bank transfers a month, Starling costs you £0. Tide would cost you £20 (100 x 20p). However, if you are a freelancer who only makes 5 transactions a month, the £1 cost with Tide is negligible compared to the speed benefits.

 🏆 WINNER: TIDE  

Round 2: Eligibility (The Credit Check)

This is where Tide fights back.

Starling Bank

Acts like a traditional bank. When you apply, they perform a Hard Credit Check.

  • If you have a CCJ, a default, or no credit history (e.g., you just moved to the UK), there is a high chance you will be rejected.

  • This check leaves a permanent “footprint” on your credit report.

Visit Starling Website

Tide

Performs a Soft Credit Check only (for ID verification).

  • This does not affect your credit score.

  • Because they don't offer an overdraft on day one, their risk is lower, so they accept far more applicants.

Visit Tide Website

Winner: Tide. Analysis: If you are worried about your credit score, do not risk a rejection from Starling. Apply to Tide first.

 🏆 WINNER: DRAW  

Round 3: Features & Tools

Both apps allow you to freeze your card, view pin codes, and download statements. But they have different superpowers.

Feature
Tide (Free Plan)
Starling (Free Plan)
Winner
Monthly Fee
£0
£0
Draw
Transfer Fees
❌ CON: 20p each
✅ PRO: Free (Unlimited)
Starling
Speed to Open
✅ PRO: 5-10 Mins
❌ CON: 1-2 Days
Tide
Credit Check
✅ PRO: Soft Check (No footprint)
❌ CON: Hard Check (Footprint)
Tide
Cheque Imaging
❌ CON: No (Post only)
✅ PRO: Yes (In App)
Starling
International
❌ CON: Basic
✅ PRO: Good
Starling

Starling's Superpower

“The Real Bank Stuff” Because Starling is a regulated bank, it offers features that Tide (a fintech platform) cannot:

  • Cheque Imaging: Take a photo of a cheque to deposit it (up to £1,000). Tide requires you to post cheques.

  • Overdrafts: You can apply for an arranged overdraft.

  • Interest: Starling sometimes pays interest on business balances (rates vary).

Visit Starling Website

Tide's Superpower

“The Admin Automation” Tide wants to save you time, not just store money:

  • Invoicing: You can create and email professional invoices directly from the app. When the client pays, Tide automatically matches the payment to the invoice.

  • Expense Cards: You can issue up to 50 cards for your staff and set spending limits for each one.

Visit Tide Website

Winner: Draw. It depends on what you value. Do you need to deposit cheques (Starling)? Or do you hate doing invoices (Tide)?

 🏆 WINNER: STARLING (JUST)  

Round 4: International Banking

If you trade abroad, both options are “okay” but not amazing compared to specialists like Wise or Revolut.

Starling

  • You can open separate Euro (£2/mo) and USD (£5/mo) accounts. Transfers cost a 0.4% conversion fee plus a delivery fee.
Visit Starling Website

Tide

  • Allows you to hold multiple currencies but generally charges higher FX markups than Starling.
Visit Tide Website

Winner: Starling (Just). Analysis: Starling's multi-currency accounts are more integrated, but for serious international trade, we recommend opening a Wise Business account alongside your main bank to save on fees.

Conclusion: Which One Should You Open?

Go with Starling Bank if:

  1. You are an established business with good credit.

  2. You have high transaction volumes and want to avoid the 20p transfer fee.

  3. You still receive physical cheques.

Go with Tide if:

  1. Speed is everything: You need an account number now to put on an invoice.

  2. You are a Startup/Sole Trader: You want the easiest, friction-free setup.

  3. Credit is a concern: You want to avoid a hard credit footprint.

Still undecided? Compare them side-by-side with other providers on our Business Bank Account Comparison Table.

Sources and references

tide business bank
Visit Tide Website
starling business bank
Visit Starling Website

Frequently Asked Questions: Tide vs. Starling

Still undecided between the two giants of UK fintech? We receive hundreds of emails from business owners asking about the specific differences in safety, credit checks, and hidden costs. Here are the answers to the most common questions in the Tide vs. Starling debate.

Which bank is better for 'Bad Credit'?
  • Tide is the clear winner here. Tide performs a Soft Credit Check only, meaning they do not look at your full credit history or leave a footprint on your file. This makes them much more likely to accept you if you have a low credit score.
  • Starling, by contrast, performs a full Hard Credit Check, and will likely decline applicants with CCJs or defaults.
  • For most businesses, Starling is cheaper. Their standard account has no monthly fees and no transaction fees for UK transfers.
  • Tide also has no monthly fee, but they charge 20p per transfer (in and out) on the free plan. If you make 100 payments a month, Starling saves you £20 compared to Tide.

Yes. Both are covered by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS), protecting your deposits up to £85,000.

  • Starling: Is a fully licensed bank, so the protection is direct.

  • Tide: Is a platform that partners with ClearBank (a licensed bank). Your money is held at ClearBank, so the FSCS protection applies exactly the same way.

Yes. There is no rule against having multiple business bank accounts. Many savvy business owners open a Starling account for day-to-day “Free” banking, and a Tide account to use their superior invoicing and expense card tools. Just remember that Starling will do a hard credit check.

  • No. Only Starling Bank offers a traditional business overdraft (subject to status and credit checks).
  • Tide does not currently offer an overdraft facility, though they do offer other forms of finance such as “Cash Flow Loans” based on your turnover.
  • Tide is generally faster. Because they don't perform a hard credit check, their automated systems can approve a new account in under 10 minutes.
  • Starling is also fast, but their stricter compliance checks mean approvals can sometimes take 24–48 hours, especially for limited companies with multiple directors.

Yes. Both providers allow you to deposit cash at the Post Office.

  • Tide: Charges 0.5% of the deposit amount (min £2.50).

  • Starling: Charges 0.7% of the deposit amount (min £3.00).

  • Verdict: Tide is slightly cheaper for cash deposits.

Both integrate seamlessly with Xero, QuickBooks, and FreeAgent. However, Tide has the edge for built-in admin tools.

Tide allows you to create, send, and track invoices directly within the app (without needing separate software), whereas Starling is primarily focused on the banking side.

Yes. Because Tide does not offer an overdraft, their risk is lower. Consequently, they are much more accepting of applicants with poor personal credit history, CCJs, or discharged bankruptcies than traditional banks. As long as you pass the anti-money laundering (ID) checks, you have a high chance of approval.

  • Starling is better for this. You can open dedicated US Dollar and Euro accounts alongside your GBP account to hold foreign currency.
  • Tide allows you to hold foreign currency, but their FX rates and fees are generally considered less competitive than Starling or specialist providers like Wise.

Money Navigator Research Team

Market Research & Comparison Editors

money navigator

About the Authors: We are a team of independent market researchers passionate about helping UK business owners save money. We analyse hundreds of data points from monthly fees to hidden transaction costs to bring you transparent, side-by-side comparisons of the UK's leading financial providers.

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