Last checked: 2026-10-16
Three app-first UK business accounts, compared on monthly fees, transfer costs, cash handling and deposit protection.
All figures below were read from each provider's own published pages on the check date shown. Eligibility rules and switching offers are excluded — check the provider if either matters to you.
| Feature | Starling Bank | Monzo Business | Tide |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly account fee | £0 — no monthly fees | Lite free; Pro £9/month; Team £25/month | £0 to hold an account; paid plans Smart £12.49/month, Pro £27.49/month, Max £69.99/month |
| UK bank transfers | Free — no transaction fees on payments to or from UK bank accounts | Free, instant UK bank transfers | 20p per transfer in or out; free tier includes 5 free monthly transfers |
| Cash deposits and ATM withdrawals | Post Office deposits 0.7% (minimum £3); ATM withdrawals free up to 6 a day, £300 daily limit; cheque deposits free | Not stated on the page we checked | GBP ATM withdrawals £1; Post Office deposits £2.50 up to £500, then 0.99% (free tier) or 0.5% (paid plans); PayPoint deposits 3% |
| Deposit protection | FSCS protected (fully licensed UK bank) | FSCS protected | Eligible deposits protected up to £120,000 per depositor by the FSCS |
| Bookkeeping and tax tools | Create and send invoices for free | Free HMRC-recognised Making Tax Digital software built in as standard | Tide Accounting bookkeeping included on the Pro plan |
| Provider link | Visit Starling Bank | Visit Monzo Business | Visit Tide |
Our pick for most small businesses: genuinely free day-to-day banking with free UK transfers and invoicing, backed by a full banking licence.
Best if you want tiered plans that grow with the team, with free UK transfers and MTD software built in even on the free Lite plan.
Worth a look for side hustles that rarely move money — the account is free to hold, but per-transfer and cash fees add up fast for busy businesses.
If you take cash, compare the deposit fees line carefully — it is the biggest cost difference between these accounts. If you only need digital banking, all three have a usable free tier.