Whether you’re a fledgling start-up or an established business looking to switch business bank accounts, use our comparison tool to make the right choice for your UK-based company.
>>Read our main page on the best business bank accounts
Tide Free Business Account
£50 cashback with promo code EXPERT£50
Pros
- One of the best Apps in the sector
- No Monthly or Annual Fees
- Easy Invoice Creation Functionality
Cons
- Post Office Deposits Cost £1
- 20p charge for transfers between accounts
- 3% charge for cash deposits at Paypoints
Eligibility Criteria
- You must be at least 18 years old.
- You must have a UK residential address.
- You must be the director of an active company registered with UK Companies House or a sole trader/freelancer registered with HMRC.
- Charities/trusts and other high-risk industries are not eligible.
- Businesses operating from outside the UK are excluded.
FSCS Protection: Yes, Tide is FSCS protected.
Trustpilot Score: 19,375 Reviews with an average rating of 4.1/5
Revolut Business Basic Account
Pros
- Ecommerce – Easy integration with Ecommerce via Apps and Plugins
- International payments – Send and receive money from 200 countries
- Block cards or set accounting limits with a tap
Cons
- Available for Limited Companies Only
- Accounts do not support cash or cheque deposit
- No physical branches
Eligibility Criteria
- You must be at least 18 years old.
- Your business must have a physical presence in the EEA and Switzerland.
- You must be a sole trader, freelancer, limited company, partnership, LLP or PLC.
- Charities/trusts and other high-risk organisations are not eligible.
- Businesses operating from outside the supported countries are excluded.
FSCS Protection: No, Revolut is not protected by the FSCS.
Trustpilot Score: 151,826 reviews with an average rating of 4.2/5
Cashplus Business Go Account
No annual fee!
Pros
- Business Credit Builder Add-On
- Overdrafts of up to 2k
- Pay in via any Post Office
Cons
- £2 ATM Use
- No physical branches
Eligibility Criteria
- You must be at least 18 years old and have a UK residential address.
- You must be a sole trader, director of a limited company, a charity or a partnership based in the UK.
- Sole traders cannot be registered at UK Companies House. Limited companies must have no more than 4 PSCs registered with Companies House.
- High-risk organisations are not eligible.
- Businesses operating from outside the UK are excluded.
FSCS Protection: Yes, Cashplus is FSCS Protected.
Trustpilot Score: 10,291 Reviews with an average rating of 3.6/5
ANNA Money Business Pay as You Go Account
Pros
- Instant Invoice Generation
- Good customer service via Live Chat
- Xero Integration
- Easy VAT submission to HMRC via App
Cons
- You can apply from outside the UK, but only if you’re a UK resident
- Anna carry out an identity check for new acccounts but not a credit check
Eligibility Criteria
- You must be at least 18 years old.
- You must be a sole trader, a director of a limited company (and listed on Companies House) or a partner in a Limited Liability Partnership (LLP).
- You must have a UK residential address.
- Charities/trusts and other high-risk businesses are not eligible.
- Businesses not based in the UK are excluded.
FSCS Protection: No, ANNA is not FSCS Protected.
Trustpilot Score: 2,896 Reviews with an average rating of 4.6/5
Card One Money Business Account
Pros
- Speedy Application
- No charges for failed payments
- UK Call centre
Cons
- Application fee is £55
- There isn’t any overdraft
- Withdrawals and transfers come with a cost
Eligibility Criteria
- You must be at least 18 years of age.
- You must reside within the UK.
- Your business must be registered within the UK.
- Businesses operating outside the UK are excluded.
- Companies that are listed as directors are not eligible.
FSCS Protection: No, Card One Money is not FSCS Protected.
Trustpilot Score: 849 Reviews with an average rating of 4.5/5
Wise Business Account
Pros
- Typically one of the most cost-effective providers
- 80% of payments are settled within 24 hours, and 35% of the total are instant
- complete transparency on all fees
Cons
- No bank branches
- No cash deposits or transactions
- No credit or business loan facilities are available
Eligibility Criteria
- You must be 18 years of age or older.
- Almost all businesses are eligible, but you must provide proof of address for the account representative.
- Your business must operate within the supported countries.
- high-risk companies and charities/trusts operating outside certain countries are not eligible.
FSCS Protection: No, Wise is not FSCS Protected.
Trustpilot Score: 217,184 reviews with an average rating of 4.3/5
Exclusive Offer
Get started with three months free
Pros
- 3 months free trial
- Fast sign up
- Simple and streamlined
- Share data easily with your accountantant
Cons
- Not as comprehensive as some competitors
- No free account
- Not FCSC protected as it’s an e-money account
Eligibility Criteria
- You must be at least 18 years old.
- You must be either a sole trader or the director of a limited company.
- You must be a UK resident.
- Other business types are not eligible.
- Businesses operating outside the UK are excluded.
FSCS Protection: No, Countingup is not FSCS protected.
Trustpilot Score: 2,342 Reviews with an average rating of 4.4/5.
Pros
- Multi-currency account with local details in 12 markets
- Collect and settle payments with competitive FX rates
- Issue virtual company and employee cards
- Integrate with accounting tools and marketplaces
Cons
- Limited Physical Presence
- Service Availability in Some Countries
Eligibility Criteria
- You must be over 18 years old
- You must be a business operating within one of the supported countries/regions
- Your business must be registered and have a physical address.
- Charities and other high-risk organisations are not eligible
FSCS Protection: Yes, Airwallex is FSCS Protected
Trustpilot Score: 1,053 Reviews with an average rating of 3.7/5
Pros
- Overdraft facility
- 600 UK branches
- Easy Integration with accounting software like Xero, QuickBooks and Sage
- 24/7 online and mobile account management
- A range of lending options
- Virtual assistant
- Cheque book on request
Cons
- Monthly fee (after 12 months) on all accounts
- Maximum turnover requirements on some HSBC accounts
- Support only operates within working hours
Eligibility Criteria
- You must be at least 18 years old and a tax resident in the UK (except Channel Islands and the Isle of Man).
- You must be a sole trader or the sole director and sole shareholder of your company.
- Your annual turnover must not exceed £6.5m and you must have under 50 employees.
- Businesses operating in the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man and from outside the UK are excluded.
FSCS Protection: Yes, HSBC is protected by the FSCS.
Trustpilot Score: 8,660 reviews with an average rating of 1.6/5
Cynergy Bank Business Current Account
Pros
- Earn a solid rate of interest for a current account below £25,000 (2.50% AER)
- No monthly fee for 12 months and only £25pm after that
- Super-fast setup time (15 minutes)
- Accounting software integrations are available
Cons
- There is a monthly fee of £25 after the first 12 months
- Fees apply for cash, CHAPS, SWIFT, and SEPA transactions
- Cash deposits are only available at UK HSBC branches
Eligibility Criteria
- The business must be based in the UK and registered with Companies House if required.
- Eligible entities include sole traders, partnerships, limited liability partnerships, and limited companies.
- Businesses may have up to 10 named individuals, including partners, directors, and shareholders. Shareholders who own 10% or more of the business must be included.
- Charities or trusts are not eligible.
- Businesses not based in the UK are excluded.
FSCS Protection: Yes, Cynergy Bank is FSCS Protected
Trustpilot Score: 2,540 ratings with an average rating of 3.5/5
Metro Bank Business Bank Account
Great for
- Security and fraud prevention: FSCS-protected with additional security measures in place
- Integrating with existing or new accounting software
- Getting access to in-branch setup and support
But be aware that
- If the account balance drops below £6,000 there are additional monthly and transaction charges that apply
- No 24/7 customer support is available with Metro Bank (opening times for customer support are 8am-8pm)
- You can’t apply for this account if your business has more than £2mil turnover
Eligibility Criteria:
- You must be over 18 years’ old.
- Your business must not exceed £2mil for this account.
- You must be one of the following: sole trader, limited company, limited guarantee, or limited liability partnership.
- Charities or trusts are not eligible.
- Businesses not based in the UK are excluded.
FSCS Protection: Yes, Metro Bank is FSCS protected.
Trustpilot Score: 2,540 ratings with an average rating of 3.5/5
Mettle by NatWest
Pros
- Quick application process
- Free to join and use
- Issuing invoices is easy
- App includes expense management functionality
- Good integration with all major accountancy software providers
- If you lose your card, it’s simple to free it from within the APP.
Cons
- You can’t pay out more than £10,000 per day
- There isn’t any overdraft or credit card available
- Cheque deposits are not available
- International payments are not available
Eligibility Criteria
- You must be a UK resident and at least 18 years of age.
- You must be a sole trader or a limited company with a maximum of two owners.
- You must have a main account balance not exceeding £1m.
- Businesses operating from outside the UK are excluded.
- PLCs, charities and high-risk organisations are not eligible.
FSCS Protection: Yes, Mettle is protected by the FSCS.
Trustpilot Score: 3,767 reviews with an average rating of 4.6/5
Monzo Business Lite Account
Pros
- Top-rated 24/7 support
- Budget and transaction categories to help manage spending habits
- Digital receipts for creating and storing important business information
Cons
- Basic version, fewer features than Pro
- No automatic allocation of funds to a “tax pot”
- No integration with accounting software like Quickbooks, Xero, or FreeAgent on Lite account
Eligibility Criteria
- You must be at least 16 years of age.
- You must be a sole trader or the director of a limited company registered with Companies House, you must be based in the UK.
- You must be a tax resident in the UK only.
- LLPs, PLCs, charities and high-risk organisations are not eligible.
- Businesses operating from outside the UK are excluded.
FSCS Protected: Yes, Monzo is protected by the FSCS.
Trustpilot Reviews: 32,061 reviews with an average rating of 3.9/5
Pros
- Overdraft and Credit Card Options
- No Minimum monthly charge
- Free Access to ‘Free Agent’ Accounting Software
Cons
- International banking comes with fees
- Customer Reviews are fairly mixed
Eligibility Criteria
- You must be aged 18+ and be a UK resident.
- You must be a sole trader or the owner/director of your company.
- You must have an annual turnover of less than £2m.
- Businesses operating from outside the UK are excluded.
- High-risk organisations are not eligible.
FSCS Protection: Yes, Natwest is protected by the FSCS.
Trustpilot Score: 6,301 with an average rating of 1.4/5
Starling Business Bank Account
Pros
- No monthly fees or fees overseas
- Integrations with Quickbooks, Xero & FreeAgent
- Phone and App based customer service 24/7
- Pay Cash in via Post Office
Cons
- There are no branches
- Starling charges for paying in money
- You can’t earn interest
- Depositing cash comes with a fee
Eligibility Criteria
- All directors with access to the account must be at least 16 years old and UK residents.
- You must be either a sole trader or the director of a limited company or LLP registered with Companies House.
- The business must not be a holding company, dissolved, or in liquidation.
- Businesses operating from outside the UK are excluded.
- Charities/trusts and high-risk businesses are not eligible.
FSCS Protection: Yes, Starling is protected by the FSCS.
Trustpilot Score: 40,054 with an average rating of 4.3/5
Pros
- Overdafts
- Online, telephone or APP based banking
- M Account for Business comes with No monthly account fee as well as free day-to-day online banking
Cons
- All accounts other than the M Account carry monthly charges
- Fees apply for depositing cash or transacting internationally
- Less locations than the bigger high street banks
Eligibility Criteria
- You must be 18 years old and be a UK resident.
- You must be the owner/director of your business, which must be based and operate in the UK (except Channel Islands, Isle of Man & NI).
- You must have a maximum annual turnover of no more than £6.5m.
- Businesses operating from the Channel Islands, Isle of Mann, NI or outside of the UK are excluded.
- Charities, those holding clients’ money and high-risk organisations are not eligible.
FSCS Protection: Yes, Virgin Money is protected by the FSCS.
Trustpilot Score: 7,453 reviews with an average rating of 1.9/5
Why Compare Business Bank Accounts with Business Expert?
When starting or running a small business, choosing the right business bank account is crucial but can be overwhelming. There are many options to consider from traditional banks, online banks, and fintech companies. This is where using a comparison service like Business Expert can be extremely helpful.
Here are some key reasons why comparing business bank accounts on Business Expert is beneficial:
- Saves You Time: Instead of spending hours researching different business accounts on multiple bank websites, you can simply enter your business details on Business Expert and instantly see a list of recommended accounts based on your needs. This streamlined approach saves you significant research time.
- Comprehensive Options: Business Expert provides extensive coverage, comparing business accounts from over 30 top banks and fintechs. This includes the major high street banks as well as specialist business account providers. You get a complete overview in one place.
- Tailored Recommendations: The smart comparison tool asks you questions about your business to deliver personalized recommendations suited to your specific requirements, size and sector. This prevents you from becoming overwhelmed with irrelevant options.
- Detailed Account Information: Business Expert provides in-depth details on each account’s features, fees, interest rates, and small print. You can easily compare costs, benefits and policies across providers to make an informed decision.
- User Reviews: Real customer reviews on Business Expert provide transparent feedback on service quality and experience with various providers. This helps you select an account from a reputable bank that matches your needs.
- Quick & Easy Account Opening: Once you’ve chosen an account, Business Expert allows you to complete the application seamlessly online and start the account opening process rapidly.
Using Business Expert to compare and open a business bank account simplifies the entire process while ensuring you make the right choice for your company’s banking needs.