Is Capital On Tap better than Tide Business Credit?

For established UK Limited Companies that want rewards and higher credit limits, Capital On Tap is better — 1% unlimited cashback, up to £250,000 credit limit, and a 7,500-point welcome bonus with code 2REFY893A52. Tide Business Credit is better for sole traders and newer companies already using Tide for banking.

Can sole traders get the Tide Business Credit Card?

Yes, sole traders with an active Tide bank account in good standing can apply for the Tide Business Credit Card. Capital On Tap does not accept sole traders.

Which has the lower APR — Capital On Tap or Tide?

Tide's published representative APR is 19.5% variable. Capital On Tap advertises rates as low as 13.86% variable APR, which is not representative or guaranteed; compare the personalised rates in your offers to see which would cost less if you carry a balance.

Does Tide Business Credit have a welcome bonus?

No. Tide Business Credit offers no welcome bonus, cashback, or rewards. Capital On Tap offers a 7,500-point welcome bonus (worth £75) with referral code 2REFY893A52, credited after your first card transaction, plus 1% unlimited ongoing cashback.

Can I have both Capital On Tap and Tide Business Credit?

Yes. They are separate products from different companies. Many UK SMEs bank with Tide and use Capital On Tap as their main spending card to earn 1% cashback and the 7,500-point welcome bonus with code 2REFY893A52.

Will applying for Capital On Tap affect my Tide account?

No. They are separate companies. Capital On Tap says it makes an initial soft search on the applicant's personal credit file and a hard search on the business file once the credit agreement is signed. That does not affect your Tide banking relationship.

Comparisons

Capital On Tap vs Tide Business Card: Better in 2026?

By Afshin · 18 April 2026 · 8 min read · Updated 2026-07-28

Capital On Tap and Tide Business Credit are two of the UK's most-applied-for business credit options in 2026. They look superficially similar — both offer no annual fee, fast onboarding, and strong app experiences — but they're built for very different types of business. Here's the head-to-head.

Quick verdict: which to choose

If you're a Limited Company that pays your statement in full each month and wants a meaningful welcome bonus and ongoing rewards, Capital On Tap wins outright. If you're a sole trader (Capital On Tap doesn't accept you) or a brand-new Limited Company already using Tide for banking, Tide Business Credit is the simpler path even though it offers no rewards.

Fees and APR side-by-side

Both cards have no annual fee. Capital On Tap advertises rates as low as 13.86% variable APR; this is its lowest advertised rate, not a representative or guaranteed rate, and your personalised rate may be higher. Tide Business Credit's representative APR is 19.5% variable. Compare the rates in your own offers before deciding which is cheaper if you carry a balance. Capital On Tap advertises no FX fees; the previous comparison listed Tide's USD FX fee as 1.5%, which readers should confirm against Tide's current terms.

Annual fee — Capital On Tap £0 / Tide £0
APR — Capital On Tap advertises as low as 13.86% variable (not representative or guaranteed) / Tide 19.5% representative variable APR
USD FX fee — Capital On Tap advertises no FX fees / Tide 1.5%
Cash withdrawal fee — Capital On Tap advertises no ATM fee / Tide 3% (min £1.50)

Rewards and welcome bonus

This is where Capital On Tap pulls ahead decisively. Capital On Tap offers 1% unlimited cashback on all spend, or the option to collect 1 point per £1 redeemable for Avios at British Airways. The welcome bonus is 7,500 points (worth £75) with referral code 2REFY893A52, credited after your first card transaction.

Tide Business Credit offers no rewards, no cashback, no points, and no welcome bonus. Tide's view is that the card is a credit utility, not a rewards product — you bank with Tide and the card sits alongside.

Credit limits

Capital On Tap offers limits from £2,000 up to £250,000, decided based on your business turnover, trading history, and credit profile. Most new approvals start between £5,000 and £25,000, growing in 4–6 month review cycles.

Tide Business Credit offers limits from £1,000 up to £15,000 — meaningfully smaller. Tide's product is designed for short-term cash flow, not large-scale spend.

Eligibility differences

Capital On Tap lists active UK Ltd, LLP and PLC businesses among its eligible structures. The application asks for average monthly turnover, but public pages differ on a numeric minimum; confirm current criteria with the issuer. The other published criteria include applicant and business CCJ and industry requirements. Sole traders are not among the listed eligible structures.

Tide Business Credit accepts Limited Companies, LLPs, and sole traders provided you have an active Tide business bank account in good standing. The minimum trading history is 6 months.

Integration and app experience

Capital On Tap integrates natively with Xero, FreeAgent, and Sage — every transaction syncs automatically with categorisation. The app is functional but standalone (you don't have to bank with Capital On Tap).

Tide Business Credit is fully integrated with Tide's own banking, invoicing, and bookkeeping tools. If your accounting already lives in Tide, the card data is already in the same place.

Frequently asked questions

Is Capital On Tap better than Tide Business Credit?: For established UK Limited Companies that want rewards and higher credit limits, Capital On Tap is better — 1% unlimited cashback, up to £250,000 credit limit, and a 7,500-point welcome bonus with code 2REFY893A52. Tide Business Credit is better for sole traders and newer companies already using Tide for banking.
Can sole traders get the Tide Business Credit Card?: Yes, sole traders with an active Tide bank account in good standing can apply for the Tide Business Credit Card. Capital On Tap does not accept sole traders.
Which has the lower APR — Capital On Tap or Tide?: Tide's published representative APR is 19.5% variable. Capital On Tap advertises rates as low as 13.86% variable APR, which is not representative or guaranteed; compare the personalised rates in your offers to see which would cost less if you carry a balance.
Does Tide Business Credit have a welcome bonus?: No. Tide Business Credit offers no welcome bonus, cashback, or rewards. Capital On Tap offers a 7,500-point welcome bonus (worth £75) with referral code 2REFY893A52, credited after your first card transaction, plus 1% unlimited ongoing cashback.
Can I have both Capital On Tap and Tide Business Credit?: Yes. They are separate products from different companies. Many UK SMEs bank with Tide and use Capital On Tap as their main spending card to earn 1% cashback and the 7,500-point welcome bonus with code 2REFY893A52.
Will applying for Capital On Tap affect my Tide account?: No. They are separate companies. Capital On Tap says it makes an initial soft search on the applicant's personal credit file and a hard search on the business file once the credit agreement is signed. That does not affect your Tide banking relationship.

Ready to apply?

Potential reward: 7,500 points worth £75 with code 2REFY893A52

Use the referral link; it carries the code. Check that the code appears in the application and enter it manually only if it is missing. Any reward is subject to current terms. See the full referral guide.

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