Countingup review
Updated September 28, 2026 · VaultCue Editorial Team · Facts checked September 26, 2026
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Our verdict
Countingup is a digital-only account built for businesses and freelancers, aimed at people who do their banking from a phone. It earns a place for that focus, but the monthly fee of £5 to £20 puts it ahead of the free alternatives.
Key facts
- Best for
- A business or freelancer who wants a digital-only account that takes UK payments.
- Monthly fee
- £5 to £20↗
- Deposit protection
- FSCS up to GBP 85,000↗
- Currency conversion fee
- 3%↗
- Local account details
- UK-sort-code↗
- Free ATM withdrawals
- £0↗
- Transfer fee
- 3 free per month, then 27p per transfer (transfers in/out and Direct Debits out)↗
- Legal entity
- Counting Ltd trading as Countingup↗
- Headquarters
- United Kingdom↗
- Founded
- 2017↗
- Support channels
- Email, Chat, Help-centre↗
- Audience
- Business, Freelancers
- Features
- Digital-only
- Official website
- countingup.com
Facts checked September 26, 2026, 5 sources
Apps and profiles
- Get the app
- Google Play
- Elsewhere
- TrustpilotLinkedInXfacebook.com
Pros and cons
Pros
- Aimed at business and freelancer, so the account is built around business money rather than personal banking.
- Balances are protected under FSCS up to GBP 85,000.
- A UK sort code is included through uk sort code, which keeps incoming payments simple.
- Some transfers each month are free, then a small charge applies per transfer, covering transfers in and out plus Direct Debits out.
Cons
- Currency conversion runs at 3%, putting it at 262 of 312 brands on that fee.
- The account is digital only, so there is no branch for anyone who needs cash in hand, and the free cash machine allowance is £0.
- Help runs on email, chat and help centre, so there is no phone line when a payment fails.
Who it suits
- UK businesses and freelancers, the stated business and freelancer for the account.
- Anyone who wants paying in, receipts and bookkeeping handled in the same place as the balance.
- People comfortable managing everything in an app, since the account is digital only.
Who should look elsewhere
- PayPal Colombia suits anyone who wants a free monthly fee, since its monthly fee is $0 against £5 to £20 here.
- Plazo ES charges €0 monthly, so it suits anyone who does not need an account built for business and freelancer.
- Skrill has a monthly fee of €0, so it suits anyone keeping running costs down rather than paying £5 to £20.
Safety of your money
Counting Ltd trading as Countingup is authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority in the UK, reference 948100. Balances are covered by FSCS up to GBP 85,000. The regulator and the scheme are the two things to check here, since both sit above the app you use day to day.
How Countingup compares
8.4 vs 8.7
8.4 vs 8.6
8.4 vs 8.0
8.4 vs 8.9
8.4 vs 9.1
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8.4 vs 8.7
8.4 vs 9.0Its monthly fee is €0 against £5 to £20 here, so the cost gap is the clearest reason to look.
8.4 vs 8.7
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8.4 vs 8.1- 8.4 vs 8.1
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8.4 vs 9.1
Where Countingup is available
- Available
- Gibraltar, United Kingdom
- Licence in United Kingdom
- Financial Conduct Authority (948100), checked September 26, 2026
- Licence in Gibraltar
- Gibraltar Financial Services Commission, checked September 26, 2026
Countries from the brand (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
Frequently asked questions
What does Countingup cost each month?+
The monthly fee is £5 to £20. Transfers come as part of the account: some are free each month, then a small charge applies per transfer on transfers in and out plus Direct Debits out. Currency conversion is charged separately at 3%.
Is my money protected at Countingup?+
Balances sit under FSCS up to GBP 85,000. Countingup is authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority in the UK, reference 948100, so the provider itself can be checked against the regulator's record.
Is there an app or a branch?+
The account is digital only, so the app does all the work and there is no branch to visit. Paying in, keeping receipts and chasing invoices happens in the same place, which suits a business owner who lives on their phone.
Who is the Countingup account built for?+
It is built for business and freelancer, and payments come with uk sort code, so incoming money reaches the account the way UK businesses expect. The rest of the service, including help, runs through the app.
How do I get help from Countingup?+
Support runs on email, chat and help centre, which covers a help centre, email and chat. A phone line is not among the channels, so a failed payment gets handled in writing rather than on a call.
Can I withdraw cash with a Countingup account?+
The free cash machine allowance is £0, and the account is digital only. Cash handling is not part of the offer, so anyone who needs notes and coins will want another account alongside it.
What does it cost to convert currency?+
Conversion runs at 3%, and Countingup sits at 262 of 312 brands on that fee. A business that pays suppliers or invoices clients in another currency should work that into its margin before committing.
Which cheaper alternatives are there?+
PayPal Colombia charges a monthly fee of $0, Plazo ES €0 and Skrill €0, all lighter than the £5 to £20 here. The account focus on business and freelancer is what you trade for that saving.
Sources
- countingup.com checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Headquarters
“Registered Office 20-22 Wenlock Road, London, N1 7GU”
- countingup.com/about-us checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Founded
“Countingup was founded in 2017 by a team of industry experts, led by former Clearbooks CEO Tim Fouracre”
- countingup.com/business-account checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Audience
“Built for small business owners ... Limited companies, Sole traders, Freelancers, Contractors”
- countingup.com/contact-us checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Support channels
“Try visiting our help centre ... The quickest way to get in touch is by sending us a message in-app ... Email us at support@countingup.com”
- countingup.com/pricing checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Free ATM withdrawals, Deposit protection, Legal entity, Local account details, Monthly fee, Transfer fee, Licences
“ATM withdrawal £1 per withdrawal”
- countingup.com/small-businesses/eligibility checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Features
“Countingup is app-based and has no physical branches. To open and use your account, you need a smartphone with the Countingup app installed”
- countingup.com/spending-abroad checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Currency conversion fee
“A 3% foreign transaction fee applies to clear the transaction when you use your business card to pay in a foreign currency”
Compiled from 7 source pages, checked September 26, 2026. We did not open an account.
Not confirmed yet: Licence type, Currencies.
Related by the facts
Guides
Countingup
A business or freelancer who wants a digital-only account that takes UK payments.