If you’re a sole trader considering Countingup, you’re weighing banking and bookkeeping combined, no separate subscription, no manual month-end export. The app handles the account, categorises your expenses automatically, and shows you a running tax estimate in real time.
You need to look past the headline to see how the fees stack up. Your monthly subscription is deposit-tiered: starts at £3, rises automatically as you grow. Bank transfers cost 30p each, including incoming payments from clients.
Before you apply, verify all fees against Countingup’s published support page and the regulatory structure from the FCA register. Our figures reflect April 2026.
Countingup Business Account at a Glance
Our Verdict
Choose Countingup if you want tax visibility without the overhead of a separate accounting tool. The real-time profit, loss, and tax estimate is a genuine differentiator, something Tide and Mettle don’t offer inside the banking app itself.
We rate this as the clearest reason to pick Countingup over a bank-only account.
You’re paying for it at every step. Your monthly fee grows as you deposit more. Every bank transfer, outgoing to suppliers and incoming from clients, costs 30p. It accumulates in a way that flat-fee and free accounts don’t.
Recommended if your priority is automatic bookkeeping inside the same interface as your balance. Skip it if you make frequent payments, need your accountant to connect via Xero or Sage, or want FSCS deposit protection.
Best For
Choose Countingup if your main admin pain is reconciling transactions and managing Self Assessment as a sole trader or limited company. Best if you want tax visibility inside your banking app and don’t need to connect a third-party accounting platform.
Not Ideal For
Businesses making frequent transfers (30p per transfer, both directions), businesses whose accountants use Xero, QuickBooks, FreeAgent, or Sage (no direct integrations), or businesses needing an overdraft or credit facility.
Also not suitable for businesses that need FSCS deposit protection. LLPs and partnerships cannot apply.
Key Facts
Monthly fee: £3 (deposits up to £750), £9 (£750–£7,500), £18 (over £7,500). First three months free. 30p per UK bank transfer (incoming and outgoing). 30p per direct debit. £1 ATM withdrawal. 3% foreign transaction fee.
We confirmed these figures from Countingup’s published fee schedule, April 2026.
You get a debit Mastercard and built-in bookkeeping with automatic expense categorisation, receipt capture, profit/loss statements, and real-time tax estimates. HMRC-compatible tax reports. Invoicing included.
FCA-authorised e-money institution (Prepay Technologies Ltd, FRN: 900010); funds e-money safeguarded at Barclays Bank PLC, not FSCS-protected. Eligible: sole traders and LTDs only.
What Is Countingup Business Account and How Does It Work?
How the Account Works
You open a business current account from Prepay Technologies Ltd (FCA-authorised e-money institution, FRN: 900010) with automated bookkeeping built into the same app.
Transactions categorise automatically, receipts match against payments, and profit/loss and tax estimates update in real time. We confirmed FRN 900010 on the FCA register in April 2026.
Your account runs on Mastercard payment rails with a debit card for everyday spending. UK bank transfers, direct debits, and standing orders are supported.
Your funds are held in a ring-fenced safeguarding account at Barclays Bank PLC, separate from Prepay Technologies’ own funds. We confirmed this from the FCA register, April 2026.
You are not opening a bank account here. Countingup is an e-money institution: funds are e-money safeguarded, not FSCS-protected. If you hold significant working capital, a licensed bank with FSCS cover is the safer home for it.
Who the Account Is Designed For
Choose Countingup if you are a sole trader or small limited company who wants banking and bookkeeping in a single app. The target user manages their own accounts, files Self Assessment, and wants automated categorisation and tax estimates without paying separately for accounting software.
Avoid Countingup if your accountant uses Xero, QuickBooks, FreeAgent, or Sage, there are no direct integrations. Not for businesses with high transaction volumes, multi-user needs, or overdraft requirements.
How to Open an Account
You apply through the Countingup mobile app, not a web form. Download the app, complete identity verification, confirm your business structure, and receive your account details. No branch visit required.
You pay no subscription fee for the first three months. After the trial, your monthly fee is set automatically based on your average monthly deposits, no plan selection required. Confirm current eligibility and application requirements at countingup.com.
Account Plans and Pricing
Free and Paid Plans
You get no permanent free plan, just a three-month free trial. After that, your tier is set automatically by your average monthly deposit volume. Confirmed from Countingup’s published fee schedule, April 2026.
| Deposit Band (Monthly) | Monthly Fee |
|---|---|
| Up to £750 | £3/month |
| £750 – £7,500 | £9/month |
| Over £7,500 | £18/month |
Monthly Fees
After the three-month free trial: £3/month for deposits up to £750; £9/month for deposits between £750 and £7,500; £18/month for deposits over £7,500.
Tiers are set automatically, no notification, no opt-in. We verified these figures from Countingup’s published fee schedule in April 2026.
If your cash flow grows past £7,500/month in deposits, your subscription triples automatically. Budget for that before it happens. Mettle costs zero regardless of earnings. Tide charges a fixed plan. Countingup means a growing business pays more without gaining new features.
Transaction and Transfer Fees
Every UK bank transfer costs 30p, incoming and outgoing. Direct debits cost 30p each. We confirmed these from Countingup’s published fee schedule, April 2026.
The catch most sole traders miss: you pay 30p on incoming transfers too, not just outgoing. Tide charges 20p on outgoing transfers only. Mettle charges nothing on either.
At ten incoming client payments and ten outgoing supplier transfers per month, that’s £6 in transfer fees before your subscription.
Cash Deposit, ATM and Card Charges
ATM withdrawals cost £1. If you deposit cash, it costs 0.5% at Post Office (minimum £2) or 3% at PayPoint. Card purchases in sterling are free. Foreign card transactions carry a 3% fee. We confirmed these from Countingup’s published fee schedule, April 2026.
| Fee Type | Cost |
|---|---|
| Monthly account fee | £3 – £18 (deposit-tiered; first 3 months free) |
| Incoming UK bank transfer | 30p per transaction |
| Outgoing UK bank transfer | 30p per transaction |
| Direct debit | 30p per transaction |
| Card purchases | Free |
| ATM withdrawal | £1 |
| Foreign transactions | 3% |
| Cash deposit (Post Office) | 0.5% (min £2) |
| Cash deposit (PayPoint) | 3% |
Banking Features
Payments, Transfers and Direct Debits
You can send and receive UK bank transfers and direct debits, both at 30p per transaction. Standing orders are available; confirm current payment method support at countingup.com.
No CHAPS option for same-day high-value transfers, confirm available payment methods before relying on this for time-sensitive payments.
No overdraft at any level, so plan your tight cash-flow weeks accordingly. If your balance reaches zero before a client payment arrives, the account doesn’t extend to cover the gap. Cash position and tax liability sit in the same interface, but you can’t borrow to fix a shortfall.
Cards and Expense Cards
You get a debit Mastercard with the account, free on sterling card purchases and 3% on foreign card transactions , we confirmed this from Countingup’s published fee schedule in April 2026. Receipt capture is built into the app: photograph a receipt and it matches against the transaction.
Team expense cards are excluded; the account is built for single-operator use. If you need multi-user cards with spending controls, Tide offers team expense cards from its paid plans.
Accounting Integrations and Business Tools
The built-in bookkeeping is the reason you would choose Countingup over a free account: automatic expense categorisation, profit/loss statements, real-time tax estimates, and HMRC-compatible tax reports.
Invoicing is included with payment tracking inside the app. We confirmed each feature from Countingup’s published support documentation.
Xero, QuickBooks, FreeAgent, and Sage are all excluded as integrations. The built-in bookkeeping replaces those tools rather than feeding them.
If your accountant works in any of those platforms, you cannot grant a live bank feed. Data must be exported manually, removing much of the automation value.
Your tax estimate updates continuously as transactions flow through, not just at year-end. Not the same as year-end reconciliation. For a sole trader paying Self Assessment, seeing your tax liability year-round changes how you manage cash through the filing cycle.
Multi-User Access and Spending Controls
Single-user only: Countingup excludes multi-user admin access and role-based permission controls. If you need to add a bookkeeper, accountant, or second team member with their own login, Countingup does not support this. Confirm current access options at countingup.com.
Savings, Credit or Other Extra Features
Overdraft and credit facilities are excluded at every plan level. No savings pot or interest on balances. It is a transactional account with built-in bookkeeping, not a savings or lending product.
Your tax estimate and profit/loss reporting are the standout extras. HMRC-compatible reports export directly at filing time. For a sole trader who self-files, this is the primary value proposition and what distinguishes Countingup from free accounts with external accounting.
International Features
Sending International Payments
You will hit a wall on international payments with Countingup. The account is designed for UK domestic banking; international payments are not a core product feature.
Confirm current international payment support, available corridors, and any applicable fees at countingup.com before relying on this for overseas transactions.
Receiving International Payments
You cannot hold multi-currency accounts or local receiving accounts in foreign currencies on Countingup. If you regularly receive payments from international clients, this is a structural limitation. Confirm current receiving options at countingup.com.
If you receive regular international payments, Wise accepts sole traders with local receiving accounts in multiple currencies at no monthly fee. Countingup is not designed for that use case.
Foreign Exchange Fees and Currency Support
Foreign card transactions carry a 3% fee, confirmed from Countingup’s published fee schedule in April 2026. Sterling purchases are free; the 3% fee applies only to foreign currency card spend.
At £500/month in overseas card spend, that’s £15/month in FX fees; at £1,000/month, £30/month. For regular international buyers, that compounds across the year.
Starling applies no FX markup beyond the Mastercard exchange rate on foreign card spend, the difference is concrete at volume.
Eligibility and Account Limits
Who Can Apply
You can apply if you are a UK-based sole trader or UK-registered limited company; LLPs and partnerships cannot. We confirmed this from the information available at countingup.com in April 2026. Verify current eligibility criteria before applying.
Know the regulatory structure before you apply: Countingup is provided by Prepay Technologies Ltd (FCA FRN: 900010), an authorised e-money institution. Your funds are not FSCS-protected. If FSCS protection matters, Mettle (NatWest Group) and Starling both hold full UK banking licences.
Supported Business Types
You qualify if you are a sole trader or UK-registered limited company; LLPs, partnerships, and non-UK-registered businesses are excluded. We confirmed this from the information available at countingup.com in April 2026. Verify current accepted structures before applying.
If you trade as an LLP or partnership, Tide, Starling, and Mettle support a broader range of business structures. Check current eligibility with each provider before applying.
Account Limits and Restrictions
Your monthly subscription tier is set automatically based on deposit volume, no cap on deposits, but your fee increases with volume.
Transfer limits, daily spending caps, and ATM withdrawal limits were not confirmed from primary sources in April 2026. Confirm current limits at countingup.com before relying on high-value transactions.
You cannot access an overdraft at any level. No credit facility. If you need short-term credit flexibility alongside your current account, source that separately.
App, Online Banking and User Experience
Mobile App Experience
You run Countingup almost entirely from the mobile app. Banking, bookkeeping, receipt capture, invoicing, and tax estimates all live in a single mobile app. The design is built for sole traders managing their own accounts on the go.
Core app features for you include automatic expense categorisation, receipt matching, and real-time profit/loss and tax estimates. Confirm current app features and platform availability at countingup.com.
Web and Desktop Access
You can access a web dashboard, but the primary product experience is mobile-first. The web interface is more limited than the app. If you expect a full desktop banking experience, this is a constraint worth knowing before you switch. Confirm current web dashboard capabilities at countingup.com.
Ease of Day-to-Day Account Management
For a sole trader managing their own accounts, the all-in-one app reduces day-to-day admin: transactions categorise automatically, receipts match against transactions, and the tax estimate is always current. By the Self Assessment deadline, the records are already there.
The three-month free trial gives you a full business quarter to evaluate it properly.
You see whether automatic categorisation holds up under your specific transaction mix and whether the tax estimate reflects your actual position. Most sole traders know by month two.
Customer Reviews and Reputation
What Customers Like
You see positive reviews cluster around the bookkeeping automation: automatic expense categorisation, receipt capture, and real-time tax estimates. For sole traders who previously managed spreadsheets or separate accounting subscriptions, the integrated experience reduces admin meaningfully.
We could not verify a reliable current Trustpilot rating from primary sources in April 2026, we direct you to check Trustpilot directly, as ratings shift with support changes and product updates.
Common Complaints
The main risk you should weigh: support delays during identity and compliance checks dominate the negative reviews.
When your account pauses mid-week for a routine identity review, a stalled client payment is an operational problem, it hits harder for sole traders without a backup account to fall back on.
You will see account restriction complaints in Countingup reviews, the same industry-wide pattern that hits other e-money institutions. If a client pays you during an identity review hold, that invoice clears late. The cash flow gap is the real cost.
Customer Support and Service
Support Channels and Availability
You contact support through the app and email only. No phone support channel was confirmed from publicly available primary sources in April 2026. Confirm current support channels and response times at countingup.com before switching your primary banking.
Watch for the support-delay drawback flagged in negative reviews. If your business relies on same-day transfer resolution or fast account access during disputes, factor this into your planning. The impact is greater if Countingup is your only business account.
Help Centre and Self-Service Resources
You can self-serve through Countingup’s help centre and support documentation at countingup.com. Coverage includes account setup, fee schedules, bookkeeping features, and tax reporting. For straightforward queries, the help centre is a reasonable first stop.
If you have bookkeeping or tax-related questions, the in-app guidance and help centre are more developed than the generic banking support. Verify current help resources before relying on them for time-sensitive issues.
Security, Regulation and FSCS Protection
Regulation and Authorisation
Your provider is Prepay Technologies Ltd, authorised by the FCA as an electronic money institution (FRN: 900010). We confirmed its regulatory status from the FCA register in April 2026. Verify current authorisation at the FCA register before relying on this.
You sit in a different regulatory class to Starling, Monzo, and Mettle (NatWest Group), because Countingup is an e-money institution rather than a fully licensed bank. The practical consequence: your funds are not protected by the statutory FSCS deposit guarantee.
FSCS Protection or Safeguarding
Your money is not FSCS-protected with Countingup. Your funds are e-money safeguarded: held in a ring-fenced account at Barclays Bank PLC, separate from Prepay Technologies’ own funds, under the Electronic Money Regulations.
We confirmed this structure from the FCA register and Countingup’s published terms: you rely on the safeguarding arrangement, not FSCS, as your applicable protection.
If you hold everyday working balances only, the practical difference is small.
For businesses holding significant reserves in this account, understand the protection structure before committing. Mettle (NatWest Group) and Starling both hold full UK banking licences with FSCS deposit protection, worth comparing if protection level drives your decision.
Verify current safeguarding arrangements at countingup.com and the FCA register before you open an account. Requirements can change; don’t rely on third-party summaries for current status.
Security Features
You are protected by FCA e-money institution requirements, since Countingup is FCA-authorised under that framework.
Specific in-app security features, two-factor authentication, card freezing, transaction alerts, were not confirmed in detail from publicly available primary sources in April 2026. Verify current security features at countingup.com.
Pros and Cons
Pros
Cons
- Banking and bookkeeping in one app, no separate accounting subscription
- Real-time profit, loss, and tax estimates updated as transactions flow through
- Automatic expense categorisation and digital receipt capture
- HMRC-compatible tax summary reports for Self Assessment
- Three-month free trial before any subscription fees apply
- Invoicing included with payment tracking inside the app
- Debit Mastercard included; sterling card purchases free
- 30p per bank transfer, both incoming and outgoing, not just outgoing
- Monthly fee scales with deposits: £3, £9, or £18 automatically
- E-money safeguarded at Barclays, not FSCS-protected
- No connections to Xero, QuickBooks, FreeAgent, or Sage
- No overdraft facility at any level
- Restricted to sole traders and LTDs: LLPs and partnerships can’t apply
- Limited international payment capability
- Single-operator account: no multi-user access
Who Countingup Business Account Is Best For
Best Use Cases
Countingup works best if your main admin pain is bookkeeping and Self Assessment. If you want tax visibility inside your banking app, don’t need your accountant to pull a Xero feed, and make a moderate number of monthly transfers, the integrated proposition is genuinely useful.
The three-month free trial gives you a full business quarter to test whether automatic categorisation holds up under your specific transaction mix.
If it does, you save the subscription you’d otherwise pay for Xero or QuickBooks. If it doesn’t match your workflow, you find out before you commit.
When to Consider Alternatives
Consider Mettle if you want a free account with full FreeAgent accounting software included and FSCS protection via NatWest. Better protection, stronger accounting, no transaction fees, the trade-off is separate software rather than integrated banking.
Tide is your alternative if your accountant uses Xero, QuickBooks, FreeAgent, or Sage. Tide connects directly to all four from its free plan, offers built-in invoicing, and charges 20p per outgoing transfer only (not incoming). More flexible for businesses that need accounting integration.
ANNA is worth considering if you want AI-powered tax and expense automation with invoicing. The closest structural competitor to Countingup. Pay As You Go pricing suits low-volume businesses; fees compound at higher volumes.
Countingup Business Account vs Alternatives
Countingup vs Mettle
Mettle is cheaper than Countingup: free, with FreeAgent accounting software included and FSCS protection through NatWest. No transaction fees on UK bank transfers. Better accounting software, better protection.
The trade-off is integration versus separation. Countingup keeps banking and bookkeeping in one app, one login, no export.
Mettle pairs free banking with a separate FreeAgent account. If you want the combined experience, Countingup has the edge. For better protection and no transaction fees, Mettle wins.
Countingup vs Tide
Tide is cheaper to open than Countingup, with built-in invoicing and direct integration with Xero, QuickBooks, FreeAgent, and Sage from the free plan. 20p per outgoing transfer (not incoming). More feature-rich for businesses that invoice clients and need accounting integrations.
You decide whether you want bookkeeping inside the banking app (Countingup) or routed through third-party software (Tide). If your accountant uses Xero or Sage, Tide is the stronger choice. If you manage your own books inside one app, Countingup has the edge.
Countingup vs ANNA
ANNA offers AI receipt scanning, automatic tax calculations, and built-in invoicing with Pay As You Go pricing from £0. The closest structural competitor to Countingup: both offer tax automation and bookkeeping alongside banking.
ANNA’s Pay As You Go model suits low-volume businesses; Countingup’s deposit-tiered subscription suits businesses with moderate, predictable deposit volumes. Both are e-money safeguarded, not FSCS-protected. Compare current fees at each provider before deciding.
We have a full comparison across all options in our best business bank accounts guide.
Final Verdict: Is Countingup Business Account Worth It?
Countingup is worth it if you’re a sole trader or small LTD who wants banking and bookkeeping in one app, manages your own Self Assessment, and makes a moderate number of monthly transfers.
The real-time tax estimate is a genuine differentiator; no comparable account offers this inside the banking interface.
Weigh the case against before you apply. If you make frequent transfers, the 30p per transaction (incoming and outgoing) adds up fast.
If your accountant uses Xero, QuickBooks, or Sage, the lack of integration removes the main automation value. If FSCS deposit protection matters, Mettle or Starling are the fit.
Use your three-month free trial to verify both. Test whether automatic categorisation holds up under your transaction mix. Calculate your likely monthly fee at your typical deposit volume.
If the numbers work and the bookkeeping delivers, Countingup earns its subscription. If not, Mettle, Tide, or ANNA are the stronger alternatives.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Countingup FSCS Protected?
No. Countingup is provided by Prepay Technologies Ltd (FCA FRN: 900010), an electronic money institution. Your funds are safeguarded at Barclays Bank PLC in a ring-fenced account, protected under the Electronic Money Regulations in the event of Prepay Technologies insolvency, but not covered by the £120,000 Financial Services Compensation Scheme statutory guarantee. We confirmed the regulatory structure from the FCA register in April 2026. If FSCS protection matters to you, Mettle (NatWest Group) and Starling both hold full UK banking licences with statutory deposit cover.
How Much Does Countingup Cost Per Month?
The first three months are free. After that, your monthly fee depends on how much you deposit each month: £3 for deposits up to £750, £9 for deposits between £750 and £7,500, and £18 for deposits over £7,500. The tier is set automatically based on your deposit volume, no plan selection required. We verified these figures from Countingup’s published fee schedule, April 2026. Confirm current pricing at countingup.com before applying.
Does Countingup Charge for Incoming Transfers?
Yes. Both incoming and outgoing UK bank transfers cost 30p each. This is different from most competitors: Tide charges 20p on outgoing transfers only; Mettle charges nothing on either. For a business invoicing ten clients per month, that’s £3 in fees just receiving money, before any outgoing payments. We confirmed this from Countingup’s published fee schedule, April 2026.
Does Countingup Integrate With Xero or QuickBooks?
No. Countingup uses its own built-in bookkeeping system and doesn’t connect directly to Xero, QuickBooks, FreeAgent, or Sage. The account is designed to be the entire accounting system for a sole trader, not a data source that feeds another platform. If your accountant works in one of those tools, you’ll need to export data manually. For direct integrations, Tide connects to Xero, QuickBooks, FreeAgent, and Sage from its free plan.
Can a Limited Company Open a Countingup Account?
Yes. Countingup is available to sole traders and limited companies registered in the UK. LLPs and partnerships are not listed as eligible business structures. We confirmed the current eligibility from the published information available in April 2026. Confirm the current criteria at countingup.com before starting your application.
Does Countingup Have an Overdraft?
No. Countingup doesn’t offer an overdraft or any credit facility. If your balance reaches zero before a client payment arrives, the account doesn’t extend to cover the gap. For short-term credit flexibility, Starling offers a business overdraft subject to eligibility and credit assessment.
How we reviewed Countingup
What we assessed. We evaluated Countingup on pricing, contract terms, features, and eligibility. These are the factors that matter most to UK small businesses considering this provider.
Data sources. Countingup’s pricing page, terms, and product docs were checked directly in April 2026. No comparison sites, no press releases, no affiliate material. FCA register cross-checked for regulatory status.
Update cadence. We re-verify this page at least monthly, and whenever a provider changes pricing, eligibility, or terms. The verification date on the page reflects the most recent full review. Some links on this page are affiliate links, see our editorial policy.