Monzo vs Tide.
Monzo (M78/100) 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. Monzo leads Tide 4-2.
| M Monzo №08 · Central Bank of Ireland 78 /100 | T Tide №36 · FCA 70 /100 | |
|---|---|---|
| Score | ||
| Composite score Out of 100 | 78 /100 | 70 /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 | €200 /mo | — |
| Protection | ||
| Banking licence Tier | Full bank Central Bank of Ireland | Partner-bank FCA |
| Deposit guarantee Per depositor | €100,000 EU.DGS.IE | £85,000 GB.FSCS |
| Reach | ||
| Markets served Licensed jurisdictions | 2 countries | 2 countries |
| Crypto Coins available | No | No |
| Stocks & ETFs Self-directed | No | No |
| UX | ||
| Trustpilot Customer score | — | 4.3 ★ 35k reviews |
| App store iOS + Android avg | — | 4.7 ★ iOS 4.7 · And 4.6 |
| Read review → | Read review → | |
Pick Monzo if…
Pick if you bank in the UK or Ireland and value the best budgeting tools in the category.
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 Monzo won 1 of 4
- Best for protection Monzo won 2 of 2
- Best for reach Tied
- Best for ux Tide won 2 of 2
Monzo vs Tide — FAQ
Quick answers to the four questions the search-bar asks most about a head-to-head.
Is Monzo better than Tide?
Under our v3 methodology, Monzo leads Tide 4–2 across 12 dimensions. Composite scores: Monzo 78/100 vs Tide 70/100. Monzo is stronger overall, but the right pick depends on which row matters most to you — fees, protection, reach, or app quality.
Is Monzo or Tide cheaper?
Monthly fee — Monzo: €0; Tide: €0. Card FX markup — Monzo: Interbank; Tide: Interbank. Monzo 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, Monzo or Tide?
Monzo holds a Full bank licence under Central Bank of Ireland; deposit guarantee per depositor: €100,000. Tide holds a Partner-bank licence under FCA; deposit guarantee per depositor: £85,000. Monzo is the stronger pick on regulatory protection.
Where can I use Monzo and Tide?
Monzo operates in 2 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.