Relay vs Tide.
Relay (R71/100) 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. Relay leads Tide 3-2.
| R Relay №31 · FDIC 71 /100 | T Tide №37 · FCA 70 /100 | |
|---|---|---|
| Score | ||
| Composite score Out of 100 | 71 /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 | — | — |
| Protection | ||
| Banking licence Tier | Partner-bank FDIC | Partner-bank FCA |
| Deposit guarantee Per depositor | $250,000 US.FDIC | £120,000 GB.FSCS |
| Reach | ||
| Markets served Licensed jurisdictions | 1 country | 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 4.8 · And 4.6 | 4.7 ★ iOS 4.7 · And 4.6 |
| Read review → | Read review → | |
Pick Relay if…
The Profit-First-aligned multi-checking neobank — 20 real checking accounts (not virtual envelopes) and 50 debit cards under one login, with granular multi-user roles. Where Mercury / Bluevine / Novo all give you one operating account plus virtual sub-pockets, Relay gives you 20 separately-FDIC-mapped checking accounts that auto-transfer between each other on percentage- or amount-based rules. That is the structural fit for Mike Michalowicz's Profit First method (Income / Profit / Owner's Pay / Tax / OpEx envelopes), and Relay has been the official Profit First banking platform since 2023. Sponsor bank is Thread Bank (TN-chartered) with a $3M sweep — Thread's May 2024 FDIC consent order was terminated December 2025 with no customer-funds incident at Relay.
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 Tied
- Best for protection Relay won 1 of 2
- Best for reach Tide won 1 of 3
- Best for ux Tied
Relay vs Tide — FAQ
Quick answers to the four questions the search-bar asks most about a head-to-head.
Is Relay better than Tide?
Under our v3 methodology, Relay leads Tide 3–2 across 12 dimensions. Composite scores: Relay 71/100 vs Tide 70/100. Relay is stronger overall, but the right pick depends on which row matters most to you — fees, protection, reach, or app quality.
Is Relay or Tide cheaper?
Monthly fee — Relay: €0; Tide: €0. Card FX markup — Relay: Interbank; Tide: Interbank. Tied across fee rows. See the Fees section of the matrix above for ATM caps and the rest.
Which is safer for deposits, Relay or Tide?
Relay holds a Partner-bank licence under FDIC; deposit guarantee per depositor: $250,000. Tide holds a Partner-bank licence under FCA; deposit guarantee per depositor: £120,000. Relay is the stronger pick on regulatory protection.
Where can I use Relay and Tide?
Relay operates in 1 country; 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.