Varo Money vs Tide.
Varo Money (V82/100) 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 | V Varo Money №04 · OCC 82 /100 | |
|---|---|---|
| Score | ||
| Composite score Out of 100 | 70 /100 | 82 /100 |
| Fees | ||
| Monthly fee Cheapest paid tier (€0 if free) | €0 Free tier | €0 Free tier |
| FX markup Debit card abroad | Interbank | Interbank |
| Free FX / month EUR equivalent | €0 | €0 |
| Free ATM Before fee kicks in | — | — |
| Protection | ||
| Banking licence Tier | Partner-bank FCA | Full bank OCC |
| Deposit guarantee Per depositor | £85,000 GB.FSCS | $250,000 US.FDIC |
| Reach | ||
| Markets served Licensed jurisdictions | 2 countries | 1 country |
| Crypto Coins available | No | No |
| Stocks & ETFs Self-directed | No | No |
| UX | ||
| Trustpilot Customer score | 4.3 ★ 35k reviews | 4.2 ★ 8k reviews |
| App store iOS + Android avg | 4.7 ★ iOS 4.7 · And 4.6 | 4.6 ★ iOS 4.7 · 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 Varo Money if…
First US neobank to receive an OCC national bank charter (July 2020). Direct FDIC member — your money sits at Varo Bank, N.A., not a sponsor. Headline 5.00% APY savings rate on the first $5K with direct deposit — among the highest in the US neobank market.
- Best for fees Tied
- Best for protection Varo Money won 2 of 2
- Best for reach Tide won 1 of 3
- Best for ux Tide won 2 of 2
Varo Money vs Tide — FAQ
Quick answers to the four questions the search-bar asks most about a head-to-head.
Is Tide better than Varo Money?
Tide and Varo Money are tied 3–3 across 12 dimensions under our v3 methodology. Composite scores: Tide 70/100 vs Varo Money 82/100. The right pick depends on which dimension you weight most heavily.
Is Tide or Varo Money cheaper?
Monthly fee — Tide: €0; Varo Money: €0. Card FX markup — Tide: Interbank; Varo Money: Interbank. Tied across fee rows. See the Fees section of the matrix above for ATM caps and the rest.
Which is safer for deposits, Tide or Varo Money?
Tide holds a Partner-bank licence under FCA; deposit guarantee per depositor: £85,000. Varo Money holds a Full bank licence under OCC; deposit guarantee per depositor: $250,000. Varo Money is the stronger pick on regulatory protection.
Where can I use Tide and Varo Money?
Tide operates in 2 countries; Varo Money 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.