Tide vs Qonto.
Tide (T70/100) and Qonto (Q51/100), scored on the same six pillars and compared row-by-row. Every cell is sourced from licence registers and live pricing pages, not opinion. Tide leads Qonto 6-2.
| Q Qonto №70 · Payment institution license 51 /100 | T Tide №36 · FCA 70 /100 | |
|---|---|---|
| Score | ||
| Composite score Out of 100 | 51 /100 | 70 /100 |
| Fees | ||
| Monthly fee Cheapest paid tier (€0 if free) | €9 /mo | €0 Free tier |
| FX markup Debit card abroad | 1.70% | Interbank |
| Free FX / month EUR equivalent | €0 | €0 |
| Free ATM Before fee kicks in | — | — |
| Protection | ||
| Banking licence Tier | Payment inst. | Partner-bank FCA |
| Deposit guarantee Per depositor | Safeguarded EU.DGS.FR | £85,000 GB.FSCS |
| Reach | ||
| Markets served Licensed jurisdictions | 8 countries | 2 countries |
| Crypto Coins available | No | No |
| Stocks & ETFs Self-directed | No | No |
| UX | ||
| Trustpilot Customer score | 4.8 ★ 50k reviews | 4.3 ★ 35k reviews |
| App store iOS + Android avg | 4.5 ★ iOS 4.8 · And 4.3 | 4.7 ★ iOS 4.7 · And 4.6 |
| Read review → | Read review → | |
Pick Qonto if…
Pick if you run an EU SME and need multi-currency invoicing, accounting integrations, and proper receipts.
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 2 of 4
- Best for protection Tide won 2 of 2
- Best for reach Qonto won 1 of 3
- Best for ux Tied
Tide vs Qonto — FAQ
Quick answers to the four questions the search-bar asks most about a head-to-head.
Is Qonto better than Tide?
Under our v3 methodology, Tide leads Qonto 6–2 across 12 dimensions. Composite scores: Qonto 51/100 vs Tide 70/100. Tide is stronger overall, but the right pick depends on which row matters most to you — fees, protection, reach, or app quality.
Is Qonto or Tide cheaper?
Monthly fee — Qonto: €9; Tide: €0. Card FX markup — Qonto: 1.70%; Tide: Interbank. Tide wins more fee rows (2 of 4). See the Fees section of the matrix above for ATM caps and the rest.
Which is safer for deposits, Qonto or Tide?
Qonto holds a Payment inst. licence under Payment institution license (France, 2018); EU passport across served markets; filed for full French banking license in July 2025; deposit guarantee per depositor: Safeguarded. Tide holds a Partner-bank licence under FCA; deposit guarantee per depositor: £85,000. Tide is the stronger pick on regulatory protection.
Where can I use Qonto and Tide?
Qonto operates in 8 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.