Overview
Countingup, at a glance.
Countingup is a business account app, accounts held at griffin bank headquartered in the United Kingdom. Business accounts cost from £5 a month. Opening an account takes 3–5 days.
Accounts are provided by Griffin Bank Ltd, authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the FCA and PRA (reference 970920). Eligible deposits are protected by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme up to £120,000.
Why businesses pick Countingup
- Bookkeeping, invoicing, tax estimates and VAT filing in the same app
- Three months free, and no opening fee
- FSCS protection up to £120,000 through Griffin Bank
- The first business card is free
- Decisions are usually made the same business day
- Trustpilot score of 4.2 from more than 3,000 reviews
Watch out for
- Only for UK sole traders and limited companies, with UK-resident owners
- No IBAN and no international transfers
- The price rises with the deposits you receive: £5, £12 or £20 a month
- Limited companies must be limited by shares with no more than two directors
- A foreign transaction on the card costs 3%
- Crypto, forex trading, money services, gambling, not-for-profits and some other industries are not accepted
Business fit
Will Countingup accept your business?
Four quick answers. Where your company is registered and what it does rule a provider in or out faster than anything else.
Based on Countingup's published rules
Likely fit
Countingup lists both United Kingdom companies and Startups and SMEs as accepted.
Countingup does not publish a minimum company age or turnover, so those two answers are not checked here.
This is one provider. Your profile checks all of them.
- Every provider that fits your business
- The reason behind each match
- Company age and turnover checked too
Who it works with
Accepted and not accepted.
What Countingup publishes about the businesses it takes on.
Who Countingup serves
- Startups and SMEs
- Freelancers
- Professional services
- Creative
Not supported
Industries and countries Countingup does not accept, from its own published lists.
Industries
- Trading of weapons, explosives or armaments
- Trading in cryptocurrencies & NFTs (Non-Fungible Tokens)
- Stock Market/Forex Trading
- Money Service Businesses (such as foreign exchange, loan providers, money transfers)
- Gambling and betting activities including but not limited to; casinos, prize draws, lotteries, competitions
- Trading in precious metals and stones
- Trading in bullion
- Sale or trade of cannabidiol (CBD) products
- Activities of religious organisations
- Places of Worship
- Activities of political parties/organisations
- Social/Community Clubs
- Not for Profit services
- Escort services
- Adult entertainment services
- Regulated businesses where the applicant is unable to provide the licence required to operate
Countries
- Not published
Coverage
Where can you use Countingup?
Coverage is a starting point. It does not confirm that every business in these markets is eligible.
Supported currencies
GBP only
Payment reach
Not published
Who can apply
Company incorporation countries1 countries · show list
- United Kingdom
Owner nationality
Not publishedOwner residency1 countries · show list
- United Kingdom
Company types
Sole traders, Limited companies (limited by shares)
Pricing
What does Countingup cost?
Look beyond the monthly fee. Your total cost depends on how many transfers you make, where they go and how much you convert.
Account cost
Opening fee
Free
Monthly fee
£5–20
depends on plan
Starter
Lowest cost£5 per month
£0 setup · £60 in year one
Standard
£12 per month
£0 setup · £144 in year one
Premium
£20 per month
£0 setup · £240 in year one
Transaction fees
| Cost | Listed amount | How it is charged |
|---|---|---|
| Incoming | ||
| Faster Payments (GBP) | £0.27 | Fixed fee · After 3 free transfers a month |
| Outgoing | ||
| SEPA | Not offered | Not available |
| Faster Payments (GBP) | £0.27 | Fixed fee · After 3 free transfers or Direct Debits a month |
| SWIFT / international | Not offered | Not available |
Other fees
Cards
| Cost | Listed amount | How it is charged |
|---|---|---|
| Physical card issue | Free | No charge · A replacement costs £5 |
| Card FX | 3% | Percentage of the amount |
| ATM withdrawal | £1 | Fixed fee · Per cash withdrawal |
Onboarding
From application to live account.
Opening an account typically takes three to five business days.
- 1
Apply
Start the application online or through the sales team.
- 2
Company and people
Give the company's registration details, directors and owners.
- 3
Checks
Upload the documents requested and complete identity verification.
- 4
Account live
Once approved, the account is opened and you receive its details.
Documents you need
Not published
FAQ
Your questions, answered.
Is Countingup a bank?
No. Countingup is a software company; its accounts are provided by Griffin Bank Ltd, which is authorised by the PRA and regulated by the FCA and PRA, reference 970920. Eligible deposits are protected by the FSCS up to £120,000.
How much does Countingup cost?
Three months are free, then Starter costs £5 a month, Standard £12 and Premium £20, depending on how much money you receive each month. There are 3 free transfers a month, then 27p each.
Who can open a Countingup account?
UK-resident sole traders and limited companies. A limited company must be active at Companies House, limited by shares, with no more than two directors, and every owner must live in the UK.
Which businesses does Countingup not accept?
Its list includes weapons, crypto and NFTs, forex trading, money service businesses, gambling, precious metals, CBD, religious and political organisations, not-for-profit services and adult entertainment.
Alternatives
How Countingup compares.
If Countingup is not the right fit, these providers work with similar businesses. Compare their listed licences and services below.
| Provider | Licensed in | Known for |
|---|---|---|
 CountingupThis pageBusiness account app, accounts held at Griffin Bank | Not published | AppDeposit protection |
 TideE-money institution |  | Free planNon-residents accepted |
| Starling BankBank | | Free accountDeposit protection |
 MettleBank | | Free accountDeposit protection |
 ANNA MoneyE-money account | | Free planTax tools |
Not sure which one fits? Your profile ranks them for your business, with the reason behind each.