Countingup Business Account: Review of Features and Fees

If you’re looking to save time on business admin, Countingup could be the solution for you. It’s a UK business current account with built-in accounting tools, so you can tackle bookkeeping, tax and everyday banking all in the one place. It’s specially designed for small businesses, including freelancers, contractors and limited companies with up to two directors¹.

But is it the right option for your business? Read on for our handy Countingup business account review, including the lowdown on features, fees and how it works internationally. We'll also present you a greater option for UK businesses that trade internationally: Wise Business.

💡Learn more about Wise Business

Countingup business bank account features¹

So, what can you do with Countingup? For starters, there’s a business current account which comes with a contactless debit card. All transactions are automatically categorised and you can give your accountant access. You can even manage your money on the move using the Countingup app.

Your account also comes with the following features:

• Built-in accounting software
• Automated tasks such as taxes and bookkeeping
• File VAT returns directly to HMRC
• Live business insights - such as tax estimates, unpaid invoices and profit/loss reports
• Invoicing and billing
• Receipt capture through the Countingup app - for easy expenses
• Payment link capabilities
• Accept payments through their partner Stripe
• Ability to connect your accountant, via the Accountant Hub

Countingup pricing and fees

Now we come to the important part - what are the Countingup business account fees? The good news is that Countingup offers a free 3-month period², so you can test it out without paying a monthly fee.

Let’s take a look at the main fees and charges that will apply after the initial free period:²

Aside from the monthly fee, the transaction fees are charged from day one.

Countingup international payments³⁴

Countingup accounts do not currently have an International Bank Account Number, so do not support overseas payments directly³.

However, Countingup has an international payments partner, CurrencyFair, which you are directed to via the app when you need to send money abroad.

CurrencyFair charges a flat fee of 3 EUR⁴ (or currency equivalent) to send and receive an international payment. At the time of writing, on average customers also pay 0.53% of the amount exchanged. You can send and receive to and from over 150 countries and 20 currencies. To avoid SWIFT fees or SEPA fees (Europe) they also provide some local bank account capabilities in some popular currencies.⁶

You can also accept international card payments with Countingup's payment gateway partner, Stripe, in over 135+ currencies. However, these include service and FX markups per transaction. See Stripes pricing for more details.

Who can open a Countingup account⁵?

Countingup is app-based with no physical branches, so you'll need a smartphone to access the app, provide a UK mobile number, email address and either a passport, driving licence or European ID card.

Businesses must meet the following critiera:

• Be a sole trader or the director of a limited company
• Are at least 18 years old
• A UK resident

For limited company accounts, your business must:

• Be actively registered with Companies house
• Be limited by shares
• Have a maximum of 2 directors (including you). Countingup are currently unable to support larger businesses with more directors
• Have all Persons of Significant Control be UK residents
• Have all shares held by individuals (not by a holding company/business).

There are also some business types Countingup do not support currently. These include:

• Partnerships
• Charities
• Community Interest Company (CIC)
• Charitable Incorporated Organisations (CIO)
• Trusts
• Company limited by guarantee/Private limited company by guarantee

Additionally, there are some industry restrictions such as Money Service Businesses, Gambling, Places of Worship and more. To see complete industry criteria, see Countingup's eligibility information.

Is Countingup right for your business?

Countingup is best suited for UK sole traders or small limited companies, who want bookkeeping and banking capabilities all within one app. With the combination of accounting tools and a business current account in one platform, it could save you a lot of time depending on your businesses needs.

With its current capabilities, it may be less suitable for businesses that require:

• Multi-user access
• Multiple cards
• International transfer and payments, at a larger scale
• Phone support or physical branch needs

Whatever you decide, just make sure you do your homework and check out the other options out there before making your decision. The free 3-month period could be handy for giving Countingup a road test, to see if it works for your business before you start handing over a monthly fee.

Consider streamlining business payments with Wise Business

If you are looking for an everyday business account to manage payments, it's worth also considering Wise Business. With Wise you can also trade internationally with ease, including the ability to hold multiple currencies, sending and receiving with transparent, low fees, and more.

Here are some of the great features you unlock with a Wise Business account:

• Hold and exchange 40+ currencies
• Get local bank details for 8+ currencies to receive payments conveniently (only with Wise Business Advanced)
• Send money with low, transparent fees, to 140+ countries
• Exchange funds with the mid-market exchange rate whenever you send or spend money
• International debit and expense cards for you and your team
• Add and manage user permissions so key team members can view your account
• Batch payments tool, a powerful API, and cloud accounting integrations
• Option to earn a return in the money you hold in GBP, EUR and USD with Wise Interest (Capital at risk)

Get started with Wise Business 🚀

*Disclaimer: The UK Wise Business pricing structure is changing with effect from 26/11/2025 date. Receiving money, direct debits and getting paid features are not available with the Essential Plan which you can open for free. Pay a one-time set up fee of £50 to unlock Advanced features including account details to receive payments in 22+ currencies or 8+ currencies for non-swift payments. You’ll also get access to our invoice generating tool, payment links, QuickPay QR codes and the ability to set up direct debits all within one account. Please check our website for the latest pricing information.

Sources used for this article:

Sources checked on 30/Jan/2026