What Tide does

Tide Platform Limited is a UK-headquartered fintech operating an all-in-one business management platform for small and medium enterprises (SMEs), sole traders, and freelancers. The company provides a free FSCS-protected business current account (powered by ClearBank) as the core product, layered with over 30 modular add-ons spanning invoicing, expense management, business credit (£1,000 to £20M), asset and invoice finance, payroll (acquired from Onfolk), accounting (with HMRC Making Tax Digital integration), insurance (embedded via Admiral Business), payments acceptance (Adyen, Mastercard, Tap to Pay on iPhone, POS card readers), international payments, company formation, mobile plans (via Gigs), and a Cash ISA for sole traders. The platform is built on a cloud-native, mobile-first architecture leveraging Open Banking APIs (under FCA authorisation FRN 900843), with banking-as-a-service provided by ClearBank and PrePay Technologies, and card issuance by Mastercard.

The business operates a freemium-plus-transaction-fee model: no monthly fee for the core account, with paid Smart/Pro/Max subscription tiers offering enhanced features, plus revenue from credit referral and origination fees, insurance commissions, payment processing margin, and embedded lending partnerships (notably YouLend). Geographic footprint spans the UK (900,000 SME members, 15% UK SME market share), India (1.1M+ members since December 2022 launch, now the largest market by customer count), Germany and France (launched June 2025 with EUR 50M+ in credit disbursed), Luxembourg (EU HQ), and Lithuania (tech centre). India operations are supported by a £500M five-year investment commitment starting 2026, targeting 2,300 employees and 800+ jobs.

Tide achieved unicorn status in September 2025 following a $120M funding round led by TPG's The Rise Funds with Apax Digital participation, valuing the company at $1.5B. The company is transitioning toward an "AI-first" platform positioning, having appointed former Klarna VP Bernie Miles as Chief Data and Technology Officer. With 1,001-5,000 employees globally and over £290M in equity funding raised to date plus £100M in debt facilities, Tide is positioning itself as a horizontal operating system for SMEs across multiple geographies, monetising primarily through embedded financial services rather than core account fees.

Name

Tide

Legal name

Tide Platform Limited

Website

https://tide.co

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

Tide is a UK-headquartered fintech providing an all-in-one mobile-first business management platform for SMEs, sole traders, and freelancers, combining a free FSCS-protected current account with credit, payments, payroll, accounting, insurance, and embedded financial services across the UK, India, Germany, and France.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

SME Banking Platform

NAICS

Software Publishers (5132), Computing Infrastructure Providers, Data Processing, Web Hosting, and Related Services (51821)

SIC

Miscellaneous Business Credit Institution (6159), Mortgage Bankers & Loan Correspondents (6162), Services-Prepackaged Software (7372)

akta.pro primary industry

Digital Wallet Infrastructure (Tokenization, Wallet-as-a-Service) (FSAMAEAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

BNPL Consumer Apps & Wallets (Discovery, Management) (FSAGAIAG), Equipment & Asset Finance (SME) (FSAKAGAF)

Keywords

• SME banking platform
• Business current accounts
• Business lending services
• Company formation services
• SME financial management

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Software

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Subscription Plans: Tiered subscription model with Smart, Pro, and Max plans offering escalating features. Company formation service from £1 with one-off fee of £14.99. No monthly recurring fees for basic account.
2. Credit and Loan Products: Business loans (£1,000 to £20 million), Credit Flex short-term loans, Start Up Loans, Asset Based Loans, Invoice Finance, Merchant Cash Advance, Revenue Based Finance, Working Capital Loans, and Revolving Credit Facility. Secured £100 million debt facility from Fasanara Capital to fund credit expansion.
3. Insurance Broking: Embedded insurance products including Employers' Liability, Public Liability, Professional Indemnity, Business Equipment, Goods in Transit, Tool Insurance, and Contract Works, delivered in partnership with Admiral Business.
4. Payment Processing: Transaction fees from card payments, POS card reader transactions, Tap to Pay, QR payment codes, and payment links. Revenue share with payment infrastructure partners (Adyen, ClearBank, Mastercard).
5. Embedded Finance / BNPL: B2B BNPL product (Credit Flex) and embedded lending partnerships. YouLend partnership expanded to Germany allowing ~1,000 financing applications with EUR 7 million funding processed monthly since June 2025.
6. Payroll Software: HMRC-recognised payroll software (formerly Onfolk, acquired October 2024) offered as part of subscription tiers. Simplifies payday processing with MTD-ready integration.
7. International Payments: Cross-border payment services generating transaction fees for currency conversion and international transfer services.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion4 records

Distribution channels8 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Tide is a UK-based business management platform that provides small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with a free FSCS-protected business current account (powered by ClearBank), integrated accounting and payroll software, invoicing, expense management, business loans (from £1,000 to £20 million), embedded insurance, mobile plans, and international payments through a single mobile-first app. Core value is delivered via a self-serve platform that consolidates banking, credit, compliance (HMRC Making Tax Digital), and administrative workflows for sole traders, freelancers, and limited companies.

Product overview

Tide is a UK-based business management platform for SMEs offering a comprehensive suite of financial and administrative services. The core product is a free Business Current Account with FSCS protection powered by ClearBank, integrated with HMRC Making Tax Digital-ready accounting tools. The platform operates a platform-plus-modules architecture, where businesses gain access to the core account and can add specialized services including business loans (from £1,000 to £20 million through 80+ lenders), asset and property finance, invoice finance, merchant cash advance, and working capital solutions. Administrative tools include Tide Accounting (free MTD software), Tide Payroll (HMRC-recognised payroll acquired from Onfolk), company formation, and invoicing. Payment acceptance features cover Tap to Pay on iPhone (via Adyen), POS card readers, virtual cards, and expense management. Recent additions include embedded insurance (Admiral Business partnership), mobile plans (Gigs partnership), Tide Rewards loyalty programme, and international payments. The platform has expanded internationally with operations in India (1.1 million members), Germany, and France, and holds FCA authorization for electronic money, payment services, and credit/insurance broking.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Tide Payroll: HMRC-recognised payroll software designed to make payday hassle-free and fast, integrated from the acquisition of Onfolk
• Tide Accounting
• Credit Flex
• Tide Insurance

Products and services

• Business Current Account Free business bank account for SMEs with FSCS protection up to £120,000 via ClearBank, including free HMRC-recognised MTD accounting tools, built-in invoicing, virtual cards, and integrated business management.
• Tide Instant Saver Account Business savings account offering up to 4% AER (variable) on business deposits, FSCS-protected up to £85,000, integrated with the Tide business current account.
• Cash ISA for Sole Traders Easy access cash ISA for UK sole traders offering 3.25% AER variable rate, £20,000 annual contribution limit, FSCS protection up to £85,000, with instant penalty-free access to funds.
• Business Loans Business financing from £1,000 to £20 million, including term loans, startup loans, and access to over 80 lenders through the platform's comparison and application service.
• Asset Finance Financing solutions for business assets including vehicle finance, machinery finance, and asset refinance options to help businesses acquire necessary equipment.
• Property Finance Commercial mortgages and property financing solutions for small businesses looking to purchase or refinance commercial property.
• Invoice Finance Invoice discounting and factoring services to improve cash flow by unlocking funds tied in unpaid invoices from business customers.
• Merchant Cash Advance Revenue-based financing that repays through a percentage of future card sales, providing flexible funding without fixed monthly repayments.
• Working Capital Loans Short-term financing to manage day-to-day operational cash flow needs, helping businesses bridge gaps between income and expenses.
• Revolving Credit Facility Flexible credit line that businesses can draw upon as needed, paying interest only on the amount used, with funds becoming available again as repayments are made.
• Credit Flex Short-term loan facility and B2B BNPL product available to UK SMEs for working capital and cash flow management, supported by Fasanara Capital debt facility.
• Company Formation UK company registration service with incorporation from £1 (one-off £14.99 fee), including free business bank account and MTD tools, with certificate of incorporation within 1 business day.
• Tide Payroll HMRC-recognised payroll software for managing employee payments, pension contributions, and compliance, integrated with the Tide business account.
• Tide Accounting Free HMRC-recognised, Making Tax Digital-ready accounting software for filing tax returns and automated bookkeeping, integrated with the business account.
• Tide Insurance Embedded insurance products offered in partnership with Admiral Business, including Employers' Liability, Public Liability, Professional Indemnity, business equipment, goods in transit, tool insurance, and contract works.
• Tide Mobile Plans Global mobile phone plans for small businesses, powered by Gigs integration, embedded directly in the Tide app as the first business banking provider to offer mobile services.
• Tide POS Card Reader Physical card reader for in-person payments with unlimited mobile data, enabling businesses to accept card payments anywhere with competitive transaction rates.
• Tide Rewards Cashback and rewards programme helping small businesses save money on everyday spending through discounts and cashback on business purchases, integrated into expense management workflow.
• Partner Credit Services (PCS) Credit services launched in France as part of Tide's European expansion, enabling SME financing through embedded lending partnerships.

Quantifiable outcome

• 2 million+ members globally, with 1.1 million in India and 900,000 in UK representing 15% market share
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

Yes

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration9 records

AI capability1 record

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• GigscoreTechnology or Integration · 9 March 2026Tide launched mobile plans globally as the first business banking provider, powered by Gigs. The partnership embeds phone services for small businesses within Tide's app, expanding the all-in-one business management platform.
• Admiral BusinesscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 28 November 2025Tide Insurance launched in partnership with Admiral Business to offer tailored insurance products for SMEs (Employers' Liability, Public Liability, Professional Indemnity), integrated within Tide's app. Addresses underinsurance issues by leveraging existing platform data to simplify and speed up insurance applications.
• YouLendcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 6 November 2025YouLend and Tide expanded their embedded SME financing partnership from UK to Germany since June 2025, processing ~1,000 financing applications with EUR 7 million funding monthly in Germany. Addresses challenges German SMEs face in accessing external financing.
• AdyencoreTechnology or Integration · 26 June 2025Tide set to launch business accounts in Germany with Adyen providing payment infrastructure. Tide and Adyen united to enhance small business payments with Tap to Pay on iPhone (launched October 2024).
• SagecoreTechnology or Integration · 26 March 2025Tide partnered with Sage to offer a new tax and accounting product integrated within Tide's platform, expanding financial management capabilities for UK SMEs beyond existing Xero, FreeAgent, and QuickBooks integrations.
• OnfolkcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 18 October 2024Tide acquired Onfolk, a UK SME payroll solution, integrating it into Tide's platform and rebranding it as Tide Payroll. The acquisition strengthened administrative offerings for small businesses and was announced October 18, 2024.
• Funding OptionscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 29 November 2022Tide acquired Funding Options, a UK marketplace for SMEs seeking business finance (subject to FCA approval). The deal aims to create a large SME credit marketplace, improving access to funding and reducing delays. Tide planned to operate Funding Options as a separate brand.
• ClearBankcoreTechnology or IntegrationClearBank provides the underlying banking infrastructure for Tide's FSCS-protected business current accounts (eligible deposits protected up to £120,000). Sort code 04-06-05. ClearBank is authorised by the PRA and regulated by the FCA (Registration 754568).
• MastercardcoreTechnology or IntegrationMastercard partnership for Tide debit and expense cards. Cards may be issued by both Tide and PrePay Technologies (PPT), both licensed by Mastercard International for card issuance.

Scale indicators14 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Direct peers

• Starling Bank: UK digital challenger bank offering business current accounts, lending, and integrated expense tools to SMEs. Closest direct competitor to Tide in the UK SME segment, with a chartered UK banking license giving it stronger balance-sheet lending capability.
• Revolut Business: Global fintech offering business accounts, expense management, multi-currency payments, and lending to SMEs and freelancers. Competes head-to-head with Tide in the UK and EU with broader geographic reach and larger consumer cross-sell base.
• Monzo Business: UK neobank offering business current accounts and integrated financial tools for sole traders and limited companies. Targets the same UK SME and freelancer segment as Tide, with a chartered UK banking license and strong consumer brand.
• Wise Business: UK-headquartered fintech offering multi-currency business accounts and cross-border payments to SMEs and freelancers. Overlaps with Tide's international payments and expense management proposition, particularly for SMEs with cross-border needs.
• Mercury: US digital banking platform for startups and small businesses offering business accounts, payments, treasury, and credit. Highly comparable business model and target customer to Tide, though focused on US market with stronger startup-segment positioning.
• Found: US small business banking and self-employed tax platform combining business banking with bookkeeping and tax tools. Directly comparable to Tide's all-in-one SME proposition (banking + accounting + tax) though focused on US sole traders and freelancers.

Regional players

• Razorpay: India-based fintech offering business banking (RazorpayX), payments, and lending to SMEs and startups. Direct competitor to Tide in India where Tide has 1.1M members, with stronger payment-gateway heritage and broader SMB software integrations.
• Open Financial Technologies: India-based neobank offering business banking, automated bookkeeping, and payroll to SMEs. Competes with Tide in India by integrating banking with back-office software, similar platform-plus-modules architecture.

Broad incumbents

• HSBC Kinetic: HSBC's mobile-first UK business banking proposition for SMEs and freelancers, including invoicing, expense management, and international payments. Represents incumbent-bank response to neobanks like Tide, with deeper balance sheet but less differentiated digital experience.
• NatWest Bankline / Mettle: NatWest's digital business banking brand targeting UK SMEs and freelancers, alongside traditional business banking. Incumbent-bank competitor to Tide in the UK SME market with deeper capital base but slower product cadence.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/TideBusiness
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@tidebusiness
• Facebookfacebook.com/tidebanking
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/tide-banking
• Instagraminstagram.com/tidebusiness

Compliance6 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds13 records

Investors21 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A2 records

Investments1 record

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Tide