If you’re a sole trader or LTD currently paying for accounting software, Mettle changes the calculation. Zero banking fees plus a free FreeAgent subscription means your combined monthly cost for both tools, banking and VAT-ready bookkeeping , is £0.
The limitations are specific: no overdraft, no built-in invoicing inside the Mettle app, and only sole traders and LTDs can apply.
Crucially, Mettle is an e-money institution, not a bank: funds are safeguarded, not FSCS-protected. We reviewed Mettle’s pricing and terms directly from mettle.com in April 2026.
Your bank feed connects to FreeAgent automatically, so your invoices, VAT records, and expense receipts are already organised when your tax return is due.
Mettle Business Account at a Glance
Our Verdict
Choose Mettle if you need clean, zero-cost banking and were planning to pay for accounting software anyway. The free FreeAgent subscription changes the cost comparison: you get banking and accounting for nothing.
You should skip Mettle if your business needs overdraft, credit facility, or multi-currency accounts. The account doesn’t stretch, and there’s no paid plan to upgrade to.
If your accountant currently bills you for FreeAgent separately, Mettle removes that cost from day one. If you pay suppliers and contractors by bank transfer each month, your transfer fees with Mettle are zero regardless of volume.
Best For
Your combined monthly cost for banking and FreeAgent accounting is £0 if you fit the profile: sole trader or LTD with clean, recurring income. Best suited to consultants, freelancers, and small service businesses that invoice clients regularly and want banking and accounting integrated from day one.
Not Ideal For
Businesses that need an overdraft or credit facility, LLPs and partnerships (cannot apply), businesses needing built-in invoicing inside the banking app, or those requiring FSCS deposit protection. Also not suited to businesses with significant international payment needs.
Key Facts
Monthly fee: £0. UK bank transfers: free. FreeAgent accounting subscription: included free. International transfers, ATM charges, and cash deposits: confirm at mettle.com. We confirmed these figures from mettle.com in April 2026.
Sole traders and limited companies only. FCA-authorised e-money institution backed by NatWest Group. Funds are e-money safeguarded, not FSCS-protected. Debit card included. Trustpilot rating: confirm current rating at trustpilot.com.
What Is Mettle Business Account and How Does It Work?
How the Account Works
You get a UK sort code and account number, a Mastercard debit card, and Faster Payments for domestic transfers, all at no cost.
Mettle is a mobile-first business current account issued by an FCA-authorised e-money institution backed by NatWest Group. We confirmed this structure from mettle.com in April 2026.
Your transactions flow to FreeAgent automatically, no separate Open Banking authorisation required. Because both Mettle and FreeAgent are NatWest Group products, the connection is native. When a client payment lands, FreeAgent reconciles it against the invoice without manual input.
Only one plan exists, and it costs £0. No premium tier, no paid upgrade, no credit facility at any level. What you open is what you keep.
Who the Account Is Designed For
If you want zero-cost banking with accounting software built in, Mettle is designed for that profile: sole traders and limited companies with clean, predictable cash flow.
Consultants, freelancers, and small service businesses that invoice clients and need their books organised for tax are the core fit.
Skip Mettle if your cash flow is irregular and you need an overdraft to bridge payment gaps. A project-based sole trader invoicing on the 1st with 30-day terms has weeks between raising an invoice and receiving payment. Without an overdraft, there is nothing to cover that gap.
LLPs and partnerships cannot apply. Mettle is limited to sole traders and limited companies. Starling and Tide both accept LLPs if that structure applies to your business.
How to Open an Account
Your application is app-based with no branch visit required. You need photo ID for identity verification; if applying as a limited company, have your Companies House registration details ready.
No minimum trading history requirement is stated. Confirm current document requirements at mettle.com before starting.
Once your account is open, the FreeAgent connection is set up through the Mettle app. You’re not configuring a separate integration, the link between Mettle and FreeAgent is built in as part of the account structure.
Account Plans and Pricing
Free and Paid Plans
The standard account is free at £0 per month. The free FreeAgent accounting subscription is included with the account , not a restricted trial, but the full product. We confirmed this from mettle.com in April 2026.
Mettle+ is an optional add-on at £4 per month. It adds quote creation on the go, automatic quote-to-invoice conversion, and automated client reminders.
If your workflow is invoice-heavy, Mettle+ may reduce admin. For straightforward banking and bookkeeping, the free account covers the core use case.
Monthly Fees
Monthly account fee: £0. If you were planning to pay for FreeAgent separately, that cost disappears entirely.
FreeAgent normally costs around £19/month for sole traders when purchased directly. Confirm the current offer at mettle.com, as inclusion terms can change. We confirmed this from Mettle’s published terms in April 2026.
Transaction and Transfer Fees
Your UK domestic payments are free in both directions. No per-transfer charge applies on outgoing Faster Payments, regardless of volume. We confirmed this from Mettle’s published pricing in April 2026.
If you pay 50 suppliers, contractors, or staff in a month, your transfer fees with Mettle are zero. The same volume with Tide’s free plan costs £10. At 100 payments , payroll plus suppliers, that’s £20 Mettle doesn’t charge.
Cash Deposit, ATM and Card Charges
You need to verify international transfer fees, ATM withdrawal charges, and cash deposit rates at mettle.com directly. We could not confirm exact figures from publicly available primary sources in April 2026.
Card payments for in-store and online purchases are included with your Mastercard debit card. Confirm current spending limits and any card charges at mettle.com.
| Fee Type | Cost |
|---|---|
| Monthly account fee | £0 |
| Incoming UK Faster Payment | Free |
| Outgoing UK Faster Payment | Free |
| FreeAgent accounting subscription | Free (included with account) |
| International transfers | Confirm at mettle.com |
| ATM withdrawals | Confirm at mettle.com |
| Cash deposits | Confirm at mettle.com |
Banking Features
Payments, Transfers and Direct Debits
Your UK domestic payments are free in both directions via Faster Payments. Direct debit support availability should be confirmed at mettle.com. No overdraft facility is available at any level. When your balance reaches zero, that is the limit.
If you pay suppliers and contractors by bank transfer each month, your transfer fees with Mettle are zero regardless of how many payments go out. At 100 outgoing transfers, you save £20 compared to Tide’s free plan.
Cards and Expense Cards
Your Mastercard debit card is included at no extra cost. It works for in-store and online purchases. Confirm current spending limits and any overseas card fees at mettle.com.
You need to verify whether additional expense cards and multi-user card controls are available at mettle.com before applying, these were not confirmed from publicly available primary sources in April 2026. If team expense card management is a requirement, check current capability first.
Accounting Integrations and Business Tools
Your FreeAgent subscription is included free with the account. Because both Mettle and FreeAgent are NatWest Group products, the integration is native: transactions flow to FreeAgent automatically without a separate Open Banking setup.
We verified the FreeAgent integration from Mettle’s published features in April 2026.
FreeAgent gives you invoicing, expense tracking, VAT returns, Self Assessment preparation, and Making Tax Digital compliance. When a client payment lands, FreeAgent reconciles it against the invoice. Your P&L and tax position update without touching a spreadsheet.
If your accountant uses Xero, QuickBooks, or Sage rather than FreeAgent, confirm at mettle.com whether a separate connection is available. If Sage compatibility matters to you, Tide is the free challenger with a confirmed direct Sage bank feed.
Multi-User Access and Spending Controls
If your business needs to give team members separate card access or set per-user spending limits, verify current capability at mettle.com before applying, multi-user access and spending controls were not confirmed from publicly available primary sources in April 2026.
Savings, Credit or Other Extra Features
You must source credit elsewhere if your business needs it: no overdraft or credit facility is available on any plan. A Savings Pot is available paying 0.95% AER (variable) on balances from £10 up to £1m, there is no lending product at any level.
We confirmed the savings rate from Mettle’s published terms in April 2026. Verify the current rate at mettle.com before relying on it.
If you need short-term credit flexibility, even a small one, choose a different account. Starling offers a business overdraft subject to eligibility and credit assessment, a feature Mettle doesn’t provide at any level.
International Features
Sending International Payments
Check mettle.com directly for international transfer availability and charges before you send an overseas payment. We couldn’t confirm exact capabilities or fees from publicly available primary sources in April 2026.
If international payments are a regular part of your business, compare before committing. Mettle’s strength is domestic UK banking with accounting integration built in, not international payment infrastructure.
Receiving International Payments
Confirm at mettle.com whether you can receive payments in currencies other than GBP. We couldn’t confirm multi-currency receiving capability from publicly available primary sources in April 2026.
Foreign Exchange Fees and Currency Support
You need to verify FX rates and currency support at mettle.com before relying on these routes, FX fees and supported currency corridors were not confirmed from primary sources in April 2026.
If multi-currency management or regular international transfers are central to your business, choose an account designed for that. Starling charges no markup beyond the Mastercard exchange rate for overseas card spending, confirmed from Starling’s published terms in April 2026.
Eligibility and Account Limits
Who Can Apply
You can apply if you’re a sole trader or limited company registered in the UK. LLPs and partnerships cannot apply. We confirmed the current eligibility from mettle.com in April 2026, verify current criteria before starting your application.
Your funds are e-money safeguarded under FCA e-money regulations , held separately from Mettle’s own funds. Mettle is an FCA-authorised e-money institution backed by NatWest Group.
This is contractual protection, not the statutory FSCS deposit guarantee. NatWest Group backing does not extend FSCS coverage to Mettle account holders.
Supported Business Types
Only sole traders and UK-registered limited companies can apply. LLPs, general partnerships, and non-UK-registered businesses are excluded. We confirmed this from mettle.com in April 2026.
If your business is an LLP or partnership, choose Starling: it accepts LLPs and provides zero-fee domestic transfers with FSCS protection. Tide also accepts LLPs.
Account Limits and Restrictions
You need to confirm spending limits, transfer ceilings, and balance caps at mettle.com before the account is live, these were not confirmed from publicly available primary sources in April 2026. This matters particularly if you process high-value payments.
If your business needs credit access at any level, source that separately before you switch, no overdraft is available. Mettle does not extend credit to cover gaps between invoicing and receipt of payment.
App, Online Banking and User Experience
Mobile App Experience
Your account management, payment initiation, and FreeAgent access all run through the app, iOS and Android. We confirmed the mobile-first product design from mettle.com in April 2026; verify current app features and platform availability before applying.
If you need a finance team dashboard or multi-user platform, choose a different account, the app is designed for sole traders and small LTDs managing their own accounts. That is the product scope.
Web and Desktop Access
If desktop access is essential to your workflow, verify this before committing, web and desktop access was not confirmed from publicly available primary sources in April 2026. Confirm at mettle.com whether a web dashboard is available alongside the mobile app.
Ease of Day-to-Day Account Management
Day-to-day management involves checking your balance, initiating transfers, and reviewing your FreeAgent books from the same app. For a sole trader or small LTD with straightforward cash flow, that covers the core workflow without switching between tools.
The practical overhead is low if you match the product profile: simple UK banking plus FreeAgent. If you need multi-user access, expense cards, or complex international payments, Mettle adds friction rather than reducing it.
Customer Reviews and Reputation
What Customers Like
Mettle holds a Trustpilot rating of 4.6 out of 5 based on more than 6,300 reviews as of April 2026, an “Excellent” score for a business banking product. Positive feedback clusters around account simplicity and FreeAgent value.
If you would otherwise pay for FreeAgent separately, the account is a clear win: banking and bookkeeping at zero monthly cost. For freelancers and small LTDs, the combination of zero fees and native accounting is the core appeal.
Common Complaints
The risk is operational: application delays and account restrictions during identity checks mirror the industry-wide pattern for regulated challenger accounts. This is not unique to Mettle, but the consequence is concrete.
If your account is paused mid-week for identity review, a stalled supplier payment is an operational problem when cash flow is tight. Read the review patterns on Trustpilot before committing your main trading account.
Customer Support and Service
Support Channels and Availability
Your support options are in-app messaging and a help centre. We confirmed these channels from mettle.com in April 2026. Phone support availability was not confirmed, verify current channels at mettle.com if direct support access is important to your business.
If your account is paused for a compliance check during a time-sensitive payment run, support response time is not an abstract concern. Factor this into your planning before switching your main trading account.
Help Centre and Self-Service Resources
Your day-to-day questions are covered by the help centre: account setup, FreeAgent integration, and common banking topics. For most sole traders and small LTDs, the self-service resources cover the core workflow. Verify current documentation coverage at mettle.com.
Security, Regulation and FSCS Protection
Regulation and Authorisation
You can verify current FCA authorisation on the FCA register. Mettle holds FCA authorisation as an electronic money institution , confirmed from the FCA register in April 2026.
NatWest Group ownership does not extend FSCS deposit protection to your account. Mettle is a distinct entity from NatWest, it operates under NatWest Group’s compliance infrastructure but the NatWest Group banking licence does not cover Mettle account holders.
FSCS Protection or Safeguarding
Your funds are e-money safeguarded: held separately from Mettle’s own funds under FCA e-money safeguarding regulations. This is contractual protection, not the statutory FSCS deposit guarantee. No FSCS coverage applies, NatWest Group backing does not change this.
The distinction matters if you hold working capital. With Starling, you get the statutory FSCS guarantee up to £120,000 per eligible depositor (effective 1 Dec 2025). With Mettle, you have contractual e-money safeguarding. Not the same as FSCS.
You need to verify current safeguarding arrangements at mettle.com and the FCA register before opening. Do not rely on third-party summaries for current status.
Security Features
You need to verify specific in-app security features at mettle.com, two-factor authentication, card freezing, and transaction alerts were not confirmed in detail from publicly available primary sources in April 2026. FCA e-money institution requirements apply as a baseline.
Pros and Cons
Pros
Cons
- No monthly fee and no transaction fees on standard UK payments
- Free FreeAgent subscription included: invoicing, VAT, Self Assessment, MTD
- Native FreeAgent integration, transactions sync automatically, no separate Open Banking setup required
- Zero-fee structure applies at any transaction volume, no cap or threshold
- Mobile-first account with iOS and Android apps
- NatWest Group backing: established compliance infrastructure
- E-money safeguarded, not FSCS-protected: no statutory deposit guarantee
- No built-in invoicing inside the Mettle app, invoicing runs through FreeAgent
- No overdraft and no credit facility at any level
- Restricted to sole traders and LTDs: LLPs and partnerships can’t apply
- International transfer fees and ATM charges: confirm at mettle.com
- Fewer native banking features than Starling or Tide
Who Mettle Business Account Is Best For
Best Use Cases
Mettle works best for sole traders and small LTDs that invoice clients regularly and want banking and accounting integrated from day one. The fit is clearest when you’re already paying for FreeAgent or planning to, you open Mettle and the combined cost is zero.
Your P&L and tax position update without touching a spreadsheet, FreeAgent reconciles each client payment against the invoice automatically. If you make 50 or 100 outgoing bank transfers a month, your transfer fees are zero regardless.
When to Consider Alternatives
Consider Starling if you need an overdraft, FSCS deposit protection, or support for LLPs. Starling is free, holds a full UK banking licence, and offers an overdraft subject to eligibility. More features than Mettle, but no free accounting software included.
Consider Tide if you want built-in invoicing inside the banking app and your accountant uses Sage. Tide charges 20p per outgoing transfer, but includes invoicing and a direct Sage bank feed that Mettle lacks.
Monzo suits you if you want a polished mobile-first account with FSCS protection and tax pots. Monzo’s free plan covers core banking; paid plans add more features. No free accounting software included.
Mettle Business Account vs Alternatives
Mettle vs Starling
The gap is FSCS protection and overdraft access: Starling holds a full UK banking licence and offers both; Mettle is an e-money institution with no overdraft. Both are free for domestic UK banking.
The trade-off: Starling has more features and statutory deposit protection. Mettle includes free FreeAgent accounting, which Starling doesn’t. If you would otherwise pay for FreeAgent separately, Mettle’s zero combined cost is the sharper deal for the right business profile.
Mettle vs Tide
You pay 20p per outgoing transfer for built-in invoicing and a direct Sage bank feed that Mettle lacks. At 50 payments per month, that’s £10. At 100, it’s £20. Mettle charges nothing.
If you invoice clients regularly and your accountant uses Sage, Tide is the better fit. If you want zero-fee banking and are happy with FreeAgent for accounting, Mettle is simpler and cheaper. Different tools for different operational needs.
Mettle vs Monzo
Your choice here is FSCS protection versus bundled accounting: Monzo offers a free plan with FSCS deposit protection and a polished mobile app; Mettle is free at every level and includes FreeAgent. Monzo does not include accounting software.
Choose Monzo if FSCS protection and a clean consumer-style mobile banking experience matter more than bundled accounting. Choose Mettle if zero-fee banking with FreeAgent included is the priority.
For a full market comparison, see our best business bank accounts guide.
Final Verdict: Is Mettle Business Account Worth It?
Mettle is worth it if you’re a sole trader or LTD that wants zero-cost banking and would otherwise pay for FreeAgent accounting separately. The free FreeAgent subscription changes the cost comparison: you get banking and bookkeeping for nothing, with transactions reconciling automatically.
Skip it if your funds need FSCS protection, you require an overdraft, or your business is an LLP or partnership. Starling or Tide fit those better.
The zero-fee structure is not the only question. The real question is whether FreeAgent is the accounting tool your business actually needs, and whether the absence of an overdraft is a constraint you can absorb. If yes to both, Mettle is the cleaner choice.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Mettle Truly Free?
Yes. Zero monthly fees, zero transaction fees on UK payments. FreeAgent is included free. For international transfers, ATM withdrawals, and cash deposits, confirm current charges at mettle.com.
Is Mettle FSCS Protected?
No. Mettle is an FCA-authorised e-money institution backed by NatWest Group. Your funds are e-money safeguarded, held separately from Mettle’s own funds under FCA e-money safeguarding regulations. This is contractual protection, not the statutory FSCS deposit guarantee. NatWest Group backing does not extend FSCS coverage to Mettle account holders. We confirmed this from Mettle’s published terms and the FCA register in April 2026.
What Does the Free FreeAgent Subscription Include?
Full invoicing, expense tracking, VAT return preparation, Self Assessment, and Making Tax Digital compliance. Transactions sync automatically from your Mettle account. Confirm current features at freeagent.com before applying.
Can an LLP Apply for Mettle?
No. Mettle accepts only sole traders and limited companies. If your business is an LLP, Starling is the free alternative with zero domestic transfer fees and FSCS protection. Tide also accepts LLPs.
Does Mettle Have an Overdraft?
No. Mettle doesn’t offer an overdraft or any credit facility. If your business needs short-term flexibility , covering a cash flow gap between invoicing a client and receiving payment, Mettle isn’t the right account. Starling offers a business overdraft subject to eligibility and credit assessment.
What Accounting Software Does Mettle Connect To?
Mettle is built around FreeAgent, which is included free with the account. Because both products are NatWest Group, the integration is native: transactions flow to FreeAgent automatically without a separate Open Banking setup. If you use Xero, QuickBooks, or Sage rather than FreeAgent, confirm at mettle.com whether a separate connection is available. If Sage compatibility is essential, Tide is the free challenger with a confirmed direct Sage bank feed.
How we reviewed Mettle
What we assessed. We evaluated Mettle on pricing, contract terms, features, and eligibility. These are the factors that matter most to UK small businesses considering this provider.
Data sources. Mettle’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. We have no affiliate relationship with Mettle, see our editorial policy.