Tide vs Wise.
Tide (T70/100) and Wise (W68/100), 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 Wise №42 · FCA 68 /100 | |
|---|---|---|
| Score | ||
| Composite score Out of 100 | 70 /100 | 68 /100 |
| Fees | ||
| Monthly fee Cheapest paid tier (€0 if free) | €0 Free tier | €0 /mo |
| FX markup Debit card abroad | Interbank | Interbank |
| Free FX / month EUR equivalent | €0 | €0 |
| Free ATM Before fee kicks in | — | €200 /mo |
| Protection | ||
| Banking licence Tier | Partner-bank FCA | E-money inst. FCA |
| Deposit guarantee Per depositor | £85,000 GB.FSCS | Safeguarded GB.FSCS |
| Reach | ||
| Markets served Licensed jurisdictions | 2 countries | 160 countries |
| Crypto Coins available | No | No |
| Stocks & ETFs Self-directed | No | Yes |
| UX | ||
| Trustpilot Customer score | 4.3 ★ 35k reviews | 4.3 ★ 220k reviews |
| App store iOS + Android avg | 4.7 ★ iOS 4.7 · And 4.6 | 4.5 ★ iOS 4.7 · And 4.2 |
| 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 Wise if…
Pick if FX and multi-currency receiving accounts dominate your usage — not for stocks or crypto.
- Best for fees Wise won 1 of 4
- Best for protection Tide won 1 of 2
- Best for reach Wise won 2 of 3
- Best for ux Tide won 1 of 2
Tide vs Wise — FAQ
Quick answers to the four questions the search-bar asks most about a head-to-head.
Is Tide better than Wise?
Tide and Wise are tied 3–3 across 12 dimensions under our v3 methodology. Composite scores: Tide 70/100 vs Wise 68/100. The right pick depends on which dimension you weight most heavily.
Is Tide or Wise cheaper?
Monthly fee — Tide: €0; Wise: €0. Card FX markup — Tide: Interbank; Wise: Interbank. Wise 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 Wise?
Tide holds a Partner-bank licence under FCA; deposit guarantee per depositor: £85,000. Wise holds a E-money inst. licence under FCA; deposit guarantee per depositor: Safeguarded. Tide is the stronger pick on regulatory protection.
Where can I use Tide and Wise?
Tide operates in 2 countries; Wise operates in 160 countries. 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.