WeBank vs Tide.
WeBank (W76/100) and Tide (T70/100), scored on the same six pillars and compared row-by-row. Every cell is sourced from licence registers and live pricing pages, not opinion. A close tie.
| T Tide №36 · FCA 70 /100 | W WeBank №18 · CBI 76 /100 | |
|---|---|---|
| Score | ||
| Composite score Out of 100 | 70 /100 | 76 /100 |
| Fees | ||
| Monthly fee Cheapest paid tier (€0 if free) | €0 Free tier | €0 Free tier |
| FX markup Debit card abroad | Interbank | 1.00% |
| Free FX / month EUR equivalent | €0 | €0 |
| Free ATM Before fee kicks in | — | — |
| Protection | ||
| Banking licence Tier | Partner-bank FCA | Full bank CBI |
| Deposit guarantee Per depositor | £85,000 GB.FSCS | €500,000 CN.PBoC-DIS |
| Reach | ||
| Markets served Licensed jurisdictions | 2 countries | 1 country |
| Crypto Coins available | No | No |
| Stocks & ETFs Self-directed | No | Yes |
| UX | ||
| Trustpilot Customer score | 4.3 ★ 35k reviews | — |
| App store iOS + Android avg | 4.7 ★ iOS 4.7 · And 4.6 | 4.5 ★ iOS 4.6 · And 4.5 |
| Read review → | Read review → | |
Pick Tide if…
The UK SMB-default neobank by member count. Free UK business current account with sort code + Mastercard debit, built-in HMRC tax tools and invoicing, and the deepest UK accountant-integration set (Xero, QuickBooks, Sage, FreeAgent). The product depth (invoicing, VAT estimates, tax-aside automation, accountant access, business-loan partner panel) is the strongest in the UK SMB category. EMI-licensed, not a chartered bank — the structural trade-off versus Starling Business is that Tide funds on the current account are safeguarded under EMI rules, not FSCS-deposit-insured. That is the most-misread structural fact about Tide.
Pick WeBank if…
World's largest digital bank by user count (~400M Chinese customers). First CBIRC-licensed internet-only bank in China (2014). Tencent majority shareholder; deeply integrated with WeChat. China DIS cover.
- Best for fees Tide won 1 of 4
- Best for protection WeBank won 2 of 2
- Best for reach Tied
- Best for ux Tide won 2 of 2
WeBank vs Tide — FAQ
Quick answers to the four questions the search-bar asks most about a head-to-head.
Is Tide better than WeBank?
Tide and WeBank are tied 4–4 across 12 dimensions under our v3 methodology. Composite scores: Tide 70/100 vs WeBank 76/100. The right pick depends on which dimension you weight most heavily.
Is Tide or WeBank cheaper?
Monthly fee — Tide: €0; WeBank: €0. Card FX markup — Tide: Interbank; WeBank: 1.00%. Tide wins more fee rows (1 of 4). See the Fees section of the matrix above for ATM caps and the rest.
Which is safer for deposits, Tide or WeBank?
Tide holds a Partner-bank licence under FCA; deposit guarantee per depositor: £85,000. WeBank holds a Full bank licence under CBI; deposit guarantee per depositor: €500,000. WeBank is the stronger pick on regulatory protection.
Where can I use Tide and WeBank?
Tide operates in 2 countries; WeBank operates in 1 country. Check each provider's signup page for the live country list — eligibility depends on residency, not just the licence footprint.
Want a 3- or 4-way comparison?
The dynamic compare picker handles up to four banks. Add this pair plus one or two more and we'll resolve every row.