Mercury vs Tide.
Mercury (M70/100) 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. Mercury leads Tide 4-3.
| M Mercury №32 · FDIC 70 /100 | T Tide №36 · FCA 70 /100 | |
|---|---|---|
| Score | ||
| Composite score Out of 100 | 71 /100 | 70 /100 |
| Fees | ||
| Monthly fee Cheapest paid tier (€0 if free) | €0 Free tier | €0 Free tier |
| FX markup Debit card abroad | 1.00% | Interbank |
| Free FX / month EUR equivalent | €0 | €0 |
| Free ATM Before fee kicks in | — | — |
| Protection | ||
| Banking licence Tier | Partner-bank FDIC | Partner-bank FCA |
| Deposit guarantee Per depositor | $250,000 US.FDIC | £85,000 GB.FSCS |
| Reach | ||
| Markets served Licensed jurisdictions | 1 country | 2 countries |
| Crypto Coins available | No | No |
| Stocks & ETFs Self-directed | Yes | No |
| UX | ||
| Trustpilot Customer score | 4.4 ★ 1k reviews | 4.3 ★ 35k reviews |
| App store iOS + Android avg | 4.6 ★ iOS 4.7 · And 4.5 | 4.7 ★ iOS 4.7 · And 4.6 |
| Read review → | Read review → | |
Pick Mercury if…
Pick if you run a US LLC or C-Corp and want $5M sweep FDIC coverage. Personal accounts not supported.
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 Mercury won 1 of 2
- Best for reach Tied
- Best for ux Tied
Mercury vs Tide — FAQ
Quick answers to the four questions the search-bar asks most about a head-to-head.
Is Mercury better than Tide?
Under our v3 methodology, Mercury leads Tide 4–3 across 12 dimensions. Composite scores: Mercury 70/100 vs Tide 70/100. Mercury is stronger overall, but the right pick depends on which row matters most to you — fees, protection, reach, or app quality.
Is Mercury or Tide cheaper?
Monthly fee — Mercury: €0; Tide: €0. Card FX markup — Mercury: 1.00%; 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, Mercury or Tide?
Mercury holds a Partner-bank licence under FDIC; deposit guarantee per depositor: $250,000. Tide holds a Partner-bank licence under FCA; deposit guarantee per depositor: £85,000. Mercury is the stronger pick on regulatory protection.
Where can I use Mercury and Tide?
Mercury operates in 1 country; 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.