Best Free Business Bank Accounts for UK Small Businesses
A £0 monthly fee can be a great place to start when every pound matters. We compare genuinely free-to-maintain business accounts for sole traders, freelancers and small companies, then explain the transaction fees that can still catch you out.
Six free business accounts worth comparing
All six have a £0 monthly account option. That does not mean every transfer, cash deposit or extra feature is free, so the right choice depends on how you actually run your business.
Tide Free
Best for sole traders and small companies wanting simple digital business banking.
- £0 monthly plan fee
- 5 bank transfers included each month
- 20p per transfer after the allowance
- Cash and cheque deposit options available
- New business current accounts are provided by ClearBank
Starling Business
Best for businesses wanting everyday banking with no monthly subscription.
- No monthly account fee
- Free UK bank transfers
- 24/7 support
- FSCS protection on eligible deposits
- Cash deposits available, but fees apply
Monzo Business Lite
Best for sole traders and small companies that want simple app-first banking.
- Lite plan is free
- Free instant UK bank transfers
- Full UK business current account
- FSCS protection on eligible deposits
- Paid Pro and Team upgrades available
Mettle by NatWest
Best for sole traders and very small companies wanting banking plus accounting support.
- No account-maintenance fee
- FreeAgent included if activity conditions are met
- FSCS protection on eligible funds
- Post Office cash deposits cost £2.75
- Built for sole traders and limited companies with up to two owners
Zempler Business Go
Best for sole traders and small businesses that still need Post Office cash banking.
- £0 monthly fee
- 3 free payments and transfers each month
- 35p per transfer after the allowance
- Cash deposits at UK Post Offices
- FSCS protection on eligible deposits
ANNA Free
Best for sole traders who want invoicing and tax tools alongside their account.
- £0 monthly fee
- Unlimited outgoing transfers
- First £1,000 incoming each month included
- 0.95% on incoming payments above that allowance
- E-money account, not a conventional bank account
Free monthly fee does not mean free banking
Transaction charges can matter far more than the monthly fee for some businesses.
| Account | Monthly fee | Transfers | Cash deposits | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tide Free | £0 | 5 included, then 20p | Available, fees apply | General small-business use |
| Starling Business | £0 | Free UK transfers | £3 or 0.7%, whichever is higher | Everyday digital banking |
| Monzo Lite | £0 | Free instant UK transfers | Available, limits/fees apply | App-first businesses |
| Mettle | £0 | No standard transaction fee | £2.75 per Post Office deposit | Self-employed + FreeAgent |
| Zempler Go | £0 | 3 included, then 35p | £4 minimum or 0.55% | Cash-handling SMEs |
| ANNA Free | £0 | Unlimited outgoing; incoming allowance applies | Check current methods/fees | Admin-heavy sole traders |
What does a free business bank account actually mean?
For most providers, “free” means there is no fixed monthly account-maintenance fee on the entry-level plan. It does not mean every transfer, cash deposit or extra service is free.
That distinction matters when you are running a real business. A plumber receiving ten customer transfers a week, a café paying cash in every evening and a freelance designer getting three invoices paid each month will all use their accounts differently. The cheapest account for one could be expensive for another.
Before choosing, count the transfers you make, whether you bank cash, how often you withdraw money, whether you send money abroad and whether you need accounting software or extra cards. Compare the cost of that behaviour, not just the headline £0 fee.
Tide Free
Tide’s Free plan has no monthly plan fee and currently includes five bank transfers each month before the standard 20p transfer fee applies. That is a sensible structure for freelancers, contractors and small firms making a modest number of monthly payments.
New Tide Business Current Accounts are provided by ClearBank. Eligible deposits can qualify for FSCS protection subject to scheme rules.
Starling Business
Starling offers a business current account with no monthly fee and free UK bank transfers. It is a licensed UK bank, so eligible deposits receive FSCS protection.
The main catch for cash-taking businesses is deposits. Starling currently charges £3 or 0.7% of the amount deposited, whichever is higher.
Monzo Business Lite
Monzo Business Lite is free and includes a full UK business current account and free instant UK bank transfers. Monzo then offers Pro at £9 per month and Team from £25 per month if you later need invoicing, accounting integrations or team controls.
Mettle by NatWest
Mettle’s standard account has no maintenance fee. Eligible customers can also get FreeAgent included by making at least one transaction each month from the Mettle account.
Mettle currently charges £2.75 per Post Office cash deposit and £1 for ATM withdrawals. It is available to sole traders and limited companies with up to two owners, although only one owner can access the account.
Zempler Business Go
Zempler Business Go has no monthly fee and includes three free outgoing payments and transfers each month before the current 35p fee applies. It supports cash deposits at Post Offices, currently charged at £4 minimum or 0.55% of the amount deposited.
ANNA Free
ANNA’s Free plan is £0 per month. It currently includes unlimited outgoing transfers and the first £1,000 of incoming payments each month, with a 0.95% charge on incoming payments above that allowance.
ANNA is different because its proposition is heavily built around admin, invoicing and tax tools. Its main account is an e-money product rather than a conventional bank deposit.
Why Revolut Business is no longer in our free-account ranking
The old version of this page listed Revolut Business as a free account. That is no longer accurate. Revolut Business Basic now starts from £10 per month, so it does not belong in a current ranking of £0 monthly-fee accounts.
Revolut Business can still be useful for incorporated businesses working internationally. See our Revolut Business guide if that is your priority.
Why Countingup is no longer classed as free
Countingup now gives new customers a three-month free trial, after which subscriptions start from £5 per month and rise according to monthly deposits. It may still suit businesses wanting banking and accounting together, but it is not a permanent £0 monthly-fee account.
What happened to Cashplus?
Cashplus is now Zempler Bank. Rather than padding this page with two versions of the same provider history, we list the current Zempler Business Go account.
Which free account is best for a sole trader?
For most sole traders, Tide, Starling, Monzo Lite and Mettle are the first four worth comparing. Zempler becomes more interesting if you handle cash, while ANNA is useful if invoicing and business admin are eating into your working week.
Frequently asked questions
Can I really get a business bank account with no monthly fee?
Yes. Tide Free, Starling Business, Monzo Business Lite, Mettle and Zempler Business Go all currently have £0 monthly-fee options. ANNA also has a £0 pay-as-you-go business account, although it is an e-money account rather than a conventional bank account.
Are free business bank accounts actually free?
Usually only in the sense that there is no monthly subscription. Transfers, cash deposits, ATM withdrawals, international payments, extra cards or premium features can still carry charges.
Is Revolut Business free?
No. Revolut Business Basic currently starts from £10 per month.
Which free account is best if I take cash?
Zempler Business Go is one to compare because it supports Post Office cash deposits, although fees apply. Starling, Mettle and Tide also provide cash-deposit routes with their own charges.
Bottom line
If keeping fixed costs down is the priority, there are several credible £0 business accounts for UK sole traders and small companies. Tide, Starling and Monzo Lite are strong general starting points. Mettle becomes very attractive if FreeAgent saves you a separate software bill. Zempler deserves attention if you bank cash. ANNA is more specialist, but can make sense if business admin is costing you more time than banking itself.
For a broader comparison including paid accounts and traditional banks, see our business bank account comparison. If you are opening your first account, see our guide to opening a business bank account.
How we checked this page
Pricing and product information was checked against official provider information in September 2026. Fees and eligibility can change, so always confirm the current tariff before applying.
Important: this page provides general comparison information, not personal financial, legal or tax advice.
