Aspire vs Tide.
Aspire (A70/100) 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 Aspire №37 · MAS 70 /100 | T Tide №36 · FCA 70 /100 | |
|---|---|---|
| Score | ||
| Composite score Out of 100 | 70 /100 | 70 /100 |
| Fees | ||
| Monthly fee Cheapest paid tier (€0 if free) | €0 Free tier | €0 Free tier |
| FX markup Debit card abroad | 0.30% | Interbank |
| Free FX / month EUR equivalent | €0 | €0 |
| Free ATM Before fee kicks in | — | — |
| Protection | ||
| Banking licence Tier | Partner-bank MAS | Partner-bank FCA |
| Deposit guarantee Per depositor | €100,000 SG.SDIC | £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 | 4.3 ★ 1k 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 Aspire if…
The APAC-first multi-currency business-account platform for SaaS startups and e-commerce sellers — SG-HQ MAS Major Payment Institution with native multi-currency accounts (USD/SGD/EUR/GBP/IDR + HKD/AUD/IDR/MYR) plus local-currency receiving in 30+ countries and local account issuance in 6 jurisdictions (SG, HK, US, UK, EU, AU). Built for APAC startups taking USD revenue who need a SGD operating account without the friction of running Mercury (US) + a SG-bank relationship side-by-side. Stripe + Shopify + Xero integration depth makes Aspire the structural fit for SaaS / e-commerce / fintech operators in the region. MAS-licensed Major Payment Institution status is the structural anchor.
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 Aspire won 1 of 2
- Best for reach Aspire won 1 of 3
- Best for ux Tide won 1 of 2
Aspire vs Tide — FAQ
Quick answers to the four questions the search-bar asks most about a head-to-head.
Is Aspire better than Tide?
Aspire and Tide are tied 2–2 across 12 dimensions under our v3 methodology. Composite scores: Aspire 70/100 vs Tide 70/100. The right pick depends on which dimension you weight most heavily.
Is Aspire or Tide cheaper?
Monthly fee — Aspire: €0; Tide: €0. Card FX markup — Aspire: 0.30%; 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, Aspire or Tide?
Aspire holds a Partner-bank licence under MAS; deposit guarantee per depositor: €100,000. Tide holds a Partner-bank licence under FCA; deposit guarantee per depositor: £85,000. Aspire is the stronger pick on regulatory protection.
Where can I use Aspire and Tide?
Aspire 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.