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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

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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 accounting admin with 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 business account in minutes

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. 

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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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Why Switch to Tide? 

  • Make manual admin a thing of the past – use the Current Account Switching Service to move your existing business account to Tide effortlessly.

  • Switching is completely free, and Tide takes care of everything, so you don’t have to.

  • Simply enter your old bank details – the rest is handled automatically, reliably, and without hassle.

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

Make completing Self Assessments and VAT returns seamless with Tide Accounting.

Learn more

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Business Savings

Earn up to 4.22% AER* (variable) on your business savings

Learn more

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Tide Card Reader

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

Learn more

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Business Loans

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

Learn more

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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 3 months free*.

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Free

£0.00+ VAT MONTHLY

Open a free account
  • Unlimited free transfers
  • ✔️ International payments
  • ✔️ Up to 2.78% on savings
  • Enhanced team access
  • Phone support
  • Legal helpline
  • 0.5% cashback with your Tide card
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Smart

£12.49+ VAT MONTHLY

Smart account
  • Unlimited free transfers
  • ✔️ International payments
  • ✔️ Up to 3.29% on savings
  • ✔️ Enhanced team access
  • ✔️ Phone support
  • ✔️ Legal helpline
  • 0.5% cashback with your Tide card
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Pro

£24.99+ VAT MONTHLY

Pro account
  • ✔️ Unlimited free transfers
  • ✔️ International payments
  • ✔️ Up to 3.81% on savings
  • ✔️ Enhanced team access
  • ✔️ Phone support
  • ✔️ Legal helpline
  • 0.5% cashback with your Tide card
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Max

£69.99 +VAT / month

Max account
  • ✔️ Unlimited free transfers
  • ✔️ International payments
  • ✔️ Up to 4.12% on savings
  • ✔️ Enhanced team access
  • ✔️ Phone and dedicated member support
  • ✔️ Legal helpline
  • ✔️ 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.

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 20p per transaction for our free account. You can view a list of our fees here.

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 1 million sole traders, freelancers, and limited companies worldwide.

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