Compare · Banking

Best UK business bank accounts for 2026

The right business account depends on whether you do cash, take card payments, file your own books, or want a human at a branch. Here's a plain comparison of the six accounts most UK founders short-list.

Last updated May 2026 · Independent · We don't take affiliate fees

Most 'best of' lists rank by who pays them the most affiliate commission. We don't take any, so this list ranks by what's actually best for a one-person business turning over £10k–£250k. We tested each account by opening it (or already using it).

Quick comparison answer

Our current top pick is Starling Bank. It is ranked first because it is strongest for limited companies turning over £20k+ and has the clearest overall trade-off against the criteria below.

How we picked

Our criteria

Setup speed

How fast you can open an account from a phone, ID-only, with no branch visit.

Real monthly cost

Headline fee plus typical add-ons: cash deposits, transfers, FX, card use abroad.

Bookkeeping integration

Direct feeds to FreeAgent, Xero, QuickBooks — or built-in invoicing if you don't use software yet.

Customer service

Whether you can reach a human, how fast, and how good they actually are.

#1Editor's pick

Starling Bank

The best all-rounder for limited companies.

Best for: Limited companies turning over £20k+

Price: £0/mo (free)

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What's great

Free for limited companies, no monthly fee, no transaction fees in the UK
Excellent app — instant card freezing, virtual cards, scheduled payments
Direct integrations with Xero, FreeAgent, QuickBooks
Easy cash deposit at Post Office (£3 per deposit)
FSCS-protected (it's a real bank, not an e-money firm)

Watch-outs

£7/mo for sole trader accounts (only limited companies get the free tier)
No branches if you ever need one
FX rate is interbank + nothing, but ATM withdrawals abroad are capped

Tide

Fastest setup, generous referral credit, weakest at customer service.

Best for: Brand new sole traders who want an account today

Price: £0/mo free tier, £9.99/mo Plus

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What's great

Free account opens in under 10 minutes from your phone
Built-in invoicing, expenses, and 'tax pots' for VAT/SA
Strong integrations including built-in accounting on paid tiers
Often £75–£200 credit for new sign-ups

Watch-outs

Not a bank — it's an e-money institution (no FSCS protection)
20p per transfer on the free tier
Customer service is chat-only and quality is inconsistent
Cash deposits cost £1 each plus a 3% fee

Mettle (by NatWest)

Free, FSCS-protected, with FreeAgent thrown in.

Best for: Sole traders who want free accounting software

Price: £0/mo (free)

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What's great

Genuinely free, no monthly fee
Includes FreeAgent subscription (worth £14.50/mo) — best free perk on the market
Backed by NatWest with FSCS protection

Watch-outs

Sole trader and single-director Ltds only — no multi-director, no LLPs
Card stock occasionally runs out
FreeAgent only included while you bank with Mettle

Monzo Business

The Monzo experience, for businesses.

Best for: Founders who already love Monzo personally

Price: £0/mo Lite, £9/mo Pro

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What's great

Same slick app as personal Monzo
Pro tier has Tax Pots, integrated accounting, multi-user access
FSCS-protected

Watch-outs

Free Lite tier is genuinely limited (no integrations, no tax pots)
Pro tier is £9/mo — Starling does most of this free
No branch network

NatWest / Royal Bank of Scotland

The 'serious' bank if you want a relationship manager.

Best for: Established Ltds that need lending or branches

Price: Free for 2 years, then ~£8/mo

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What's great

Full branch and ATM network
Lending and overdrafts available once you have a trading history
FreeAgent free for life with the account

Watch-outs

Application is slow — expect 2–6 weeks, ID and proof-of-address required
Standard transaction fees apply after the free period
App is fine but feels dated next to Starling or Monzo

Side-by-side

Compare at a glance

Account	Monthly fee	FSCS-protected	Accounting software	Cash deposits	Setup time
Starling	£0 (Ltd) / £7 (ST)	Yes	Integrations only	Post Office, £3 each	Same day
Tide	£0 / £9.99 / £18.99	No (e-money)	Built-in (paid tiers)	£1 + 3%	10 minutes
Mettle	£0	Yes	FreeAgent included	Post Office	Same day
Monzo Business	£0 / £9	Yes	Integrations (Pro)	Post Office, £1 each	Same day
NatWest	£0 → £8	Yes	FreeAgent free	Branches & ATMs	2–6 weeks

The verdict

If you're a limited company, open Starling. Free, slick, FSCS-protected, plugs into your accountant. It's the boring right answer.

If you're a sole trader, Mettle wins on value — the free FreeAgent subscription alone is worth ~£175/yr.

If you need to open something this afternoon, Tide does the job — just understand it isn't a bank and switch to Starling or Mettle once you have headroom.