Tide business cards explained: features & alternatives

If you're weighing up Tide for your business spending, it helps to know exactly what kind of card you're getting. Tide is a popular UK digital finance platform, but its everyday card works differently from a traditional business credit card, which is important to know when you're choosing how to manage company spend.

This guide explains what cards Tide offers, how they work, what credit options sit alongside them and when a dedicated business credit card might suit you better.

All Tide product details below are taken from Tide’s own website and were correct as of 21/07/26. Rates, fees and terms can change and vary by circumstances, so it's worth confirming the latest details directly with Tide before applying.

What business cards does Tide offer?

Tide offers a business current account with a linked Mastercard debit card, rather than its own business credit card. The card draws directly on the balance in your Tide account, so you're spending your own money rather than borrowing against a credit limit. 

Tide itself is not a bank but an FCA-authorised electronic money institution, providing account services in partnership with a licensed bank.

So if you're searching for a Tide credit card specifically, it's worth knowing upfront that Tide's core card is a debit card tied to your account. It is not a credit product with its own billing cycle or interest-free period.

Tide's card alongside the business account

The card is part of Tide's business account, not a standalone credit offering. Open a Tide business account and you get the account, the app and a Mastercard debit card together as one package.

Everything runs through the app, where you can view transactions, categorise spending and manage your cards. Tide offers four account plans, from a free plan to the paid Smart, Pro and Max plans, with features and fees varying by tier.

How Tide's card works

Tide's card functions as an everyday business debit card, with the account and app designed to make business spending easier to track. Here's how the main features work in practice, based on Tide's current features and terms.

Account integration and expense management

The card connects directly to your Tide business account and app, giving you real-time visibility of transactions as they happen.

You can categorise transactions, attach receipts to purchases and sync with accounting software including Xero, QuickBooks, Sage and FreeAgent to help keep your bookkeeping up to date.

Team/employee cards and fees

Tide supports additional employee cards through its Expense Cards feature, letting businesses issue cards to team members while managing spending from a central account.

• Pricing: Each Expense Card costs £5 per calendar month, with no VAT. Smart, Pro and Max plans include 1, 2 and 3 free seats respectively, with any additional cards charged at £5 per month

• Cards included: Each seat includes 1 physical card and up to 5 virtual cards

• Spending controls: Administrators can set individual spending limits, freeze or cancel cards, and monitor activity through the Tide app

• Receipt management: Team members can scan and upload receipts directly in the app to support expense tracking and bookkeeping

Foreign spending and limits

Foreign exchange treatment depends on your plan. The currency exchange fee is the one that varies most, so it's worth knowing where it applies:

• Card spend on the Free plan: A 2.75% currency exchange fee applies to non-GBP transactions, and to GBP transactions made outside the UK

• Card spend on paid plans: Smart, Pro and Max don't charge the currency exchange fee at all

• Cash withdrawals: A £1 fee applies to cash withdrawals up to £500, across all plans

• Overseas withdrawals on the Free plan: The 2.75% currency exchange fee applies on top of the withdrawal fee. On paid plans, no exchange fee is added

Some ATM providers may also charge their own fee for using the machine, separate from Tide's charges.

Credit options with Tide

Beyond the everyday debit card, Tide provides access to business credit cards, but as a broker rather than the card issuer. 

Tide connects businesses with a third-party lending partner, Capital on Tap, who provide the credit card products. So a "business credit card through Tide" means a card from Capital on Tap, not a Tide-issued card.

How Tide's debit card differs from a business credit card

The key distinction is where the money comes from. Tide's standard business card spends directly from your account balance, while a business credit card lets you borrow against an approved credit limit.

Tide's debit card:

• Purchases are paid directly from your business account balance

• There's no borrowing or separate credit limit

• No monthly credit card statement or credit card interest on purchases

Business credit card:

• Purchases are made using a credit limit provided by the card issuer

• You'll receive a monthly statement and need to repay the balance according to the card's terms

• Many business credit cards offer an interest-free period on purchases if you repay the balance in full by the due date

The two products serve different purposes, so the right choice depends on whether you want to spend existing funds or access a separate line of business credit.

When a dedicated business credit card makes more sense

An account-linked debit card covers everyday spending well. But there are scenarios where a standalone business credit card adds something extra:

1. You want a grace period on spend: A credit card's interest-free window can give you more time before payment is due, helping smooth cash flow

2. You want to earn as you spend: Many business credit cards offer cashback or rewards on every purchase, turning routine spend into savings. There can be conditions on these, and this will vary by lender. Business Credit Card providers offer cashback on “eligible spending”, so ensure it aligns with your needs.

3. You want to build a business credit profile: Using a dedicated credit card responsibly can help establish a credit history in the business's name

If any of these benefits appeal to your business, a credit card may be worth having alongside, or instead of, an account-linked card.

Funding Circle's business credit card as an alternative

If you're looking for a dedicated business credit card rather than an account-linked debit card, the Funding Circle Cashback Business credit card is one option to consider.

It includes several features that businesses looking for access to credit may find useful, including:

• Cashback on eligible spending

• Credit limits of up to £250,000, subject to eligibility

• Up to 42 days' interest-free credit, when you repay your balance in full by the due date

• No annual fee and no foreign transaction fees on purchases (Visa's exchange rates still apply).

If you're a limited company, you can check your credit limit without affecting your credit score.

FAQs

Does Tide offer a business credit card?

No: Tide's standard card is a Mastercard debit card linked to its business account, rather than a credit card. Tide also gives eligible businesses access to a business credit card through its partnership with Capital on Tap, acting as a broker rather than the card issuer.

Does Tide charge foreign transaction fees?

It depends on your plan. Tide charges a 2.75% currency exchange fee on non-GBP card transactions on its Free plan. Smart, Pro and Max plans don't charge this fee.

Can I add employee cards with Tide?

Yes. Tide supports Expense Cards for team members. On the Free plan, each Expense Card seat costs £5 per calendar month, while Smart, Pro and Max plans include one, two and three free seats respectively. Each seat includes one physical card and up to five virtual cards.

Does Tide's card offer cashback or rewards?

Tide offers 0.5% cashback on eligible card spending, but only on its Max plan. Its Free, Smart and Pro plans don't include cashback on the standard account card.

21/07/26 - While we want to help as much as we can, the information found here is provided solely for informational purposes and should not be considered financial or legal advice. To the extent permitted by law, Funding Circle does not accept any liability for any loss or damage which may arise directly or indirectly from the use of, or reliance on, the information contained here. If you have any questions, please speak to your professional adviser or seek independent legal advice.