Airwallex vs Tide.
Airwallex (A77/100) 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.
| A Airwallex №14 · FCA 77 /100 | T Tide №36 · FCA 70 /100 | |
|---|---|---|
| Score | ||
| Composite score Out of 100 | 77 /100 | 70 /100 |
| Fees | ||
| Monthly fee Cheapest paid tier (€0 if free) | €0 Free tier | €0 Free tier |
| FX markup Debit card abroad | 0.40% | Interbank |
| Free FX / month EUR equivalent | €0 | €0 |
| Free ATM Before fee kicks in | — | — |
| Protection | ||
| Banking licence Tier | Partner-bank FCA | Partner-bank FCA |
| Deposit guarantee Per depositor | €100,000 SG.SDIC | £85,000 GB.FSCS |
| Reach | ||
| Markets served Licensed jurisdictions | 50 countries | 2 countries |
| Crypto Coins available | No | No |
| Stocks & ETFs Self-directed | No | No |
| UX | ||
| Trustpilot Customer score | 4.0 ★ 5k reviews | 4.3 ★ 35k reviews |
| App store iOS + Android avg | 4.5 ★ iOS 4.6 · And 4.4 | 4.7 ★ iOS 4.7 · And 4.6 |
| Read review → | Read review → | |
Pick Airwallex if…
The global multi-currency payments and operating-account platform with the broadest footprint in the SMB category — 23 currencies, local accounts in 10+ jurisdictions, local-account receiving in 60+ countries, multi-jurisdiction licensing (AU AFSL + MAS MPI + HKMA MSO + FCA EMI + US state money-transmitter), volume-based FX pricing, and issuing API for embedded card programmes. Structurally the most comprehensive cross-border AP / AR platform in the category, sitting between Wise Business (consumer-and-SMB cross-border) and Stripe (acquiring + payments) in the global-SMB stack. The embedded-finance API is the structural moat versus Aspire and Wise Business — marketplaces and SaaS platforms build payouts and card-issuing on Airwallex infrastructure rather than running multiple regional bank relationships.
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.
- Best for fees Tide won 1 of 4
- Best for protection Airwallex won 1 of 2
- Best for reach Airwallex won 1 of 3
- Best for ux Tide won 2 of 2
Airwallex vs Tide — FAQ
Quick answers to the four questions the search-bar asks most about a head-to-head.
Is Airwallex better than Tide?
Airwallex and Tide are tied 3–3 across 12 dimensions under our v3 methodology. Composite scores: Airwallex 77/100 vs Tide 70/100. The right pick depends on which dimension you weight most heavily.
Is Airwallex or Tide cheaper?
Monthly fee — Airwallex: €0; Tide: €0. Card FX markup — Airwallex: 0.40%; Tide: Interbank. 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, Airwallex or Tide?
Airwallex holds a Partner-bank licence under FCA; deposit guarantee per depositor: €100,000. Tide holds a Partner-bank licence under FCA; deposit guarantee per depositor: £85,000. Airwallex is the stronger pick on regulatory protection.
Where can I use Airwallex and Tide?
Airwallex operates in 50 countries; Tide operates in 2 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.