Tide Logo
Tide Logo
Tide Logo
Tide Logo

FREELANCER BANK ACCOUNT

Launch your freelancer account in minutes, for free

Establishing your business as a freelancer? With Tide, you can open a free business bank account and start using it straight away. 

We have all the business tools you’d need to progress your business as a freelancer and beyond, and we’ll help you at every step of the way.

 Open a free account

Everything you need as a freelancer

With over 600,000 business owners trusting in Tide, we make sure you have everything you need to set up your business smoothly – saving you time and money.

£0/month

Set up an account in minutes and only pay for what you use – get low transaction and ATM fees.

Built-in accounting

Simplify taxes and avoid manual admin with accounting software built into your Tide bank account.

Earn interest on your savings

Get more out of your money with our Instant Saver Account – no limits or withdrawal fees.

Apply for credit

Fund your business growth with a loan from one of our trusted credit partners.

Safe and secure

24/7 account monitoring, ensuring your money is safe

24/7 support

Start a chat and get help in the app any time, 365 days a year.

Open a free account

Open a freelancer bank account in minutes, for free

Getting started with Tide is easy

  1. Download the app On Play Store or Apple Store

  2. Tell us about your business What’s your business name and industry

  3. Upload your ID and take a selfie We’ll securely verify who you are

  4. Get your current account approved in minutes We may ask for additional information if required

  5. You’re all set! Your account is ready to go – we’ll send your card in a couple of days

 Open a free account

Our freelancer bank account has a suite of tools, made to save you time and money

 Streamline your finances easily and access the tools you need, straight from the app. 

Payment Links

Send payment links in seconds for easy online card transactions.

Auto-categorisation

We automatically tag your income and spending. Customise the labels to suit your company.

Direct Debit

See and manage any Direct Debits easily, straight from the app.

Apple/Google Pay

Set-up Apple and Google Pay to make every payment a breeze.

International Payments

Access your IBAN number in the Tide app to send & receive international payments in a few taps.

CSV exports and more

Export your transactions in multiple formats or share with your accountant. 

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Ready to switch to Tide?

Considering switching your business account provider? We’ll make the move effortless.

  • Wave manual admin goodbye and use the Current Account Switching Service to move your existing business account

  • Switching is completely free and only takes 7 working days from the date you choose to switch

  • All we need from you is your old bank details, the rest is handled automatically, securely and fuss-free

Switch to Tide

A powerful all-in-one platform to support your business as a sole trader

Unlock smart, powerful tools designed to drive business growth and scalability.

Tide Accounting

Stay compliant for free. File your tax returns with Tide’s HMRC-recognised, Making Tax Digital-ready tools.

Learn more

Business Savings

Earn up to 4% AER (variable) on your business savings

 Learn more

Tide Card Reader

In-person card payments without the fuss. Get unlimited mobile data and get paid anywhere.

 Learn more

Business Loans

Apply for finance to keep your business growing, without impacting your credit score.

 Learn more

Our plans at a glance

Whether you’re just starting out, or want tools and features to save you time and help you grow, Tide has your business covered. Sign up for one of our paid plans today and get 1 month free*.

Free

£0.00MONTHLY

Open a free account
  • ❌ Unlimited free transfers
  • ✔️ International payments
  • ✔️ Up to 2.00% on savings
  • ❌ Enhanced team access
  • ❌ Phone support
  • ❌ 0.5% cashback with your Tide card

Smart

£12.49MONTHLY

Smart account
  • ❌ Unlimited free transfers
  • ✔️ International payments
  • ✔️ Up to 2.50% on savings
  • ✔️ Enhanced team access
  • ✔️ Phone support
  • ❌ 0.5% cashback with your Tide card

Pro

£27.49 MONTHLY

Pro account
  • ✔️ Unlimited free transfers
  • ✔️ International payments
  • ✔️ Up to 3.00% on savings
  • ✔️ Enhanced team access
  • ✔️ Phone support
  • ❌ 0.5% cashback with your Tide card

Max

£69.99 MONTHLY

Max account
  • ✔️ Unlimited free transfers
  • ✔️ International payments
  • ✔️ Up to 4% on savings*
  • ✔️ Enhanced team access
  • ✔️ Phone and dedicated member support
  • ✔️ 0.5% cashback with your Tide card

Am I eligible for a freelancer account?

Applying for a freelancer account with Tide is easy – however there are a few things to you need to check to ensure you’re eligible.

Your business must be UK-based

You can’t be in any business partnership

Your business can’t be managed by another legal entity

Open a free account

Claire PedleyThe Poured Project

Once I’d filled in the application online, the account was active in about an hour. I can’t stress how easy Tide is to use.

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Freelancer account FAQs

A freelancer bank account is a business bank account tailored to the needs of freelancers and self-employed individuals. It helps manage income, expenses, and taxes separately from personal finances.

While not legally required, having a separate bank account is highly recommended. It helps organise your finances, track business expenses, and simplifies tax preparation.

The time to open an account can vary, but many banks and digital banking platforms offer quick and easy application processes that can be completed within a few days. At Tide, most members have their account set up in minutes, though this process can take up to a few days depending on the complexity of the business. 

Fees vary by bank, but many offer low-fee or fee-free accounts for freelancers. Common fees to watch for include monthly maintenance fees, transaction fees, and charges for additional services. At Tide, you can open a freelancer bank account for free, with no monthly charges or hidden fees. You are only charged for your use, such as you get 5 free transactions, then you’re charged 20p per transaction for our free account. You can view a list of our fees here.

We understand businesses, it's all we do

We understand businesses, it's all we do

Tide is built by business owners for business owners. That’s why we’re trusted by over 2 million sole traders, freelancers, and limited companies worldwide.

 Open an account

Tide | Do what you love.
Tide Platform Limited (Tide) designs and operates the Tide website and app. Tide is not a bank. Tide is authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) under the Electronic Money Regulations 2011 under firm reference number 900843 for the issuing of electronic money and the provision of payment initiation services and account information services under the Payment Services Regulations 2017. Tide is also authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority in relation to its credit and insurance broking activities (firm reference 718743). Tide is incorporated and registered in England and Wales with company number 09595646 and registered office at 4th Floor The Featherstone Building, 66 City Road, London, EC1Y 2AL. Tide offers bank accounts powered by ClearBank® Ltd (ClearBank) (account sort code is 04-06-05). ClearBank is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority under registration number 754568. Eligible deposits with ClearBank are protected up to a total of £120,000 by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS), the UK's deposit guarantee scheme. For further information visit Home. ClearBank Ltd is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority (Financial Services Register number: 754568). Registered Address: ClearBank, Level 27, The Broadgate Tower, 20 Primrose Street, London, United Kingdom, EC2A 2EW. Eligible deposits held in the Tide Business Current Account (powered by ClearBank) are covered by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (“FSCS”) subject to eligibility. All eligible deposits at the same bank are aggregated to determine the coverage level for each depositor up to £120,000, therefore if you have any other product/services with ClearBank these will be aggregated. To find out more and to check your eligibility please visit: About us . Some of Tide’s members also hold e-money accounts powered by PrePay Technologies Limited (PPT) (account sort code is 23-69-72). PPT is an electronic money institution authorised by the FCA under the Electronic Money Regulations 2011 under firm reference number 900010 for the issuing of electronic money. PPT holds an amount equivalent to the money in Tide current accounts in a safeguarding account which gives members protection against PPT’ insolvency. Tide Cards may be issued by both Tide and PPT, who are licensed by Mastercard International for the issuance of cards. The issuer of your Tide card will be identified on your monthly card statement. Tide Capital Limited is an appointed representative of P1 Investment Services Limited which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority under firm reference number 752005 to carry out such regulated activities as are involved in the provision of Tide Investment Account. Seccl Custody Limited is the custodian of assets held in Tide Investment Account and is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (firm reference number 793200) and registered in England and Wales under No. 10430958. Registered office 20 Manvers Street, Bath BA1 1JW. Tide, the Tide logo, the Swell, and Do Less Banking are trademarks and trade names of Tide Platform Limited, and may not be used or reproduced without the consent of the owner.