Fire vs Tide: what each publishes
As of October 17, 2026, Tide takes these industries by its own published rules: Adult, with conditions. We hold no such rule from Fire.
Not a ranking: the two names are in alphabetical order. The free check applies every provider’s rules to your own answers.
Where it takes companies from
Policy by industry
| Industry | Fire | Tide |
|---|---|---|
| Adult | No published rule | With conditions |
| Crypto | No | No |
| iGaming | No published rule | No |
| Unlicensed financial services | No | No |
| Forex and CFD | No published rule | No |
| AI and SaaS | No published rule | No published rule |
| Marketplace | No published rule | No published rule |
Where owners must live
Fire
No published rule
Tide
No published rule
Rules about countries
Fire
We onboard businesses incorporated in the United Kingdom or Ireland with directors/owners resident and/or citizens of the EU & UK (and other countries available on request).
We onboard businesses incorporated in the United Kingdom or Ireland with directors/owners resident and/or citizens of the EU & UK (and other countries available on request).
Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom
Tide
No published rule
Fees
Fire
| Plan | Account opening | Monthly | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fire Business Account (UK company) | GBP 0 set-up fee ('Set Up Fee') | GBP 10 a month ('Monthly Fee') | · Source |
| Fire Business Account (Irish or other EU company) | EUR 0 set-up fee ('Set Up Fee') | EUR 10 a month ('Monthly Fee') | · Source |
Tide
| Plan | Account opening | Monthly | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free | Not stated | GBP 0 a month ('No plan fee') | · Source |
| Smart | Not stated | GBP 12.49 a month, or GBP 99.99 a year paid annually; VAT not charged ("We won't charge you VAT on your paid plan") | · Source |
| Pro | Not stated | GBP 27.49 a month, or GBP 219.99 a year paid annually; VAT not charged ("We won't charge you VAT on your paid plan") | · Source |
| Max | Not stated | GBP 69.99 a month, or GBP 559.92 a year paid annually; VAT not charged ("We won't charge you VAT on your paid plan") | · Source |
Closing an account
Fire
15.2 We may close the Business Account or any part of the Fire Services associated with it on giving you 90 days prior notice.
Tide
22.2. We may terminate the Tide Membership Terms by giving you at least ninety (90) days’ prior written
notice and include a written statement of our reasons and the justification for such termination except where
we are not permitted to provide such reasons pursuant to applicable law or regulation or the prevention and
detection of a crime.
Licence
| Licensee | Fire | Tide |
|---|---|---|
| Licensee | Fire Financial Services Limited (Fire-UK) · EMI authorised by the FCA (FRN 900983) · Fire Financial Services Limited (Fire-EU, Ireland) · payment institution authorised by the Central Bank of Ireland (C58301) | Tide Platform Ltd · EMI authorised by the FCA (FRN 900843) · accounts provided by ClearBank Ltd (UK bank, FRN 754568) |
| Regulator | FCA / Central Bank of Ireland · | FCA · |