Mettle vs Tomorrow
Side-by-side comparison — pricing, features, ratings, use cases. Find which Neobanks fits you best.
🔍 Independently researched ·
📊 Data-driven
· ⭐ Ratings from G2 (real user reviews)
60/100
Free tier
UK based freelancers, contractors, and sole traders who want a no-cost, mobile-first business bank account with built-in
💰 Pricing
🆓 Free tier available
All core features are included at no cost: no monthly fees, no UK payment fees, free electronic money transfers, no minimum balance. Some usage limits apply to card spending and ATM withdrawals, but there are no restrictions on account features.
Fee notes:
- No monthly account fee, setup fee, or closure fee
- No fee for UK Faster Payments or BACS payments
- Debit card purchases in foreign currencies incur a 2.99% non-sterling transaction fee
- ATM withdrawals in the UK are free, but ATM operator surcharges may apply
- International ATM withdrawals: likely a 2% platform fee (minimum £2) plus the 2.99% non-sterling transaction fee (check current terms)
⚠ Watch for:
- Non-sterling transaction fee of 2.99% applied to all purchases made in a foreign currency
- International ATM withdrawals may carry both a fixed fee and the non-sterling fee, resulting in higher effective costs
- Business account only supports GBP for domestic payments; international transfers require integration with third-party FX services that add their own conversion margins
- Some accounting integrations require a separate paid subscription (e.g., free with FreeAgent only while you hold a Mettle account)
🔧 Features
✓ Free Tier✓ Uk Sole Trader✓ Natwest Owned✓ Invoicing✓ Accounting
📋 Assessment
💪 Strengths
- No fees, truly free: Mettle charges no monthly fee, no minimum balance requirement, and no transaction fees for standard UK payments (including Faster Payments and Direct Debits). For a small business, this removes a predictable monthly cost, freeing up capital for growth. You can make unlimited UK transfers without worrying about per-transaction charges, which is rare among both traditional and digital banks.
- Free FreeAgent subscription: Every Mettle customer gets a complimentary FreeAgent account, normally costing around £120 a year. This is a significant saving for freelancers who need to manage their accounting, and it integrates seamlessly with Mettle—transactions appear automatically in FreeAgent, and you can create invoices directly from the accounting dashboard. This integration simplifies tax filing and financial reporting.
- Built-in invoicing and receipt capture: Mettle's app allows you to generate professional invoices in seconds, with customizable fields and the ability to schedule recurring invoices. You can also photograph receipts on the go, and Mettle uses AI to extract the total, date, and merchant, then attaches it to the corresponding transaction. This digitizes your admin, saving hours each month and making expense tracking effortless.
- FSCS protection and NatWest backing: Because Mettle is an arm of NatWest, your money is protected by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS) up to £85,000. This is a major trust advantage over many standalone neobanks that either lack FSCS protection or require a banking partner. For risk-averse freelancers, knowing their funds are safeguarded by a major UK bank is reassuring.
- FreeAgent integration with Xero support: Beyond FreeAgent, Mettle also integrates with Xero, allowing you to sync your transactions with your existing accounting setup. This flexibility is crucial for businesses that already use Xero and don't want to switch. The two-way sync ensures that payments made via Mettle are automatically reconciled, reducing manual data entry and errors.
⚠ Watch out for
- No cash deposits: If you operate in a cash-intensive business—like retail, events, or some trades—you cannot deposit cash into Mettle. The app has no facility to accept cash, meaning you'd have to keep a separate bank account and transfer money, creating extra admin and potentially delaying access to funds. For businesses that rely on cash flow, this is a major drawback.
- Eligibility restrictions: Mettle is only available to sole traders and single-director limited companies. If you have a partnership, a multi-director Ltd, a charity, or a trust, you cannot open an account. This narrow focus might be fine for many freelancers, but it excludes a substantial segment of business owners who might otherwise benefit from the free banking.
- Limited international features: Mettle doesn't offer foreign currency accounts, and international payments incur a 4.5% currency conversion fee (plus a £1.50 flat fee for non-UK transfers). For freelancers with clients abroad, this is expensive compared to specialist services like Wise or Revolut Business, which offer interbank rates and low fees. Mettle is best for domestic transactions only.
- No phone support and limited in-app help: While Mettle has an in-app chat and a comprehensive help center, there is no direct phone number to call. If you have a time-sensitive issue, the chat can be adequate, but some users may find the lack of phone support frustrating, especially in emergency situations. Response times can vary, and complex queries might require multiple interactions.
- Not suitable for businesses needing branch access: As a digital-only bank, Mettle has no physical branches. If you need to deposit cheques (though they are becoming obsolete), or prefer face-to-face banking, you'll be disappointed. Cheques cannot be paid in via Mettle; you'd need a separate NatWest account, which defeats the convenience.
🎯 Best for
UK based freelancers, contractors, and sole traders who want a no-cost, mobile-first business bank account with built-in invoicing and easy accounting integration.
🚫 Who should skip
Businesses that deal with cash, have multiple directors or partners, or need international banking features — you'll quickly outgrow Mettle.
📚 Learning curve
Minimal — the app is intuitive and similar to consumer banking apps, with a short onboarding flow and straightforward invoicing tools.
🧑⚖️ Verdict
If you're a sole trader or a single-director company that operates digitally, Mettle is an exceptional, no-cost choice—especially with the free FreeAgent subscription. However, if you need cash deposits, international banking, or phone support, look elsewhere. Bottom line: Mettle is the best free di
79/100
Free tier
Eco-conscious individuals in Germany who want a mobile-first bank account that automatically supports climate projects a
★ Best
💰 Pricing
🆓 Free tier available
Basic account with features like CO2 tracking and climate investments, but no physical card, limited ATM withdrawals, and no interest
Starting at 17 zł (subscription)
Fee notes:
- Card replacement fee: €10 for standard card, €20 for metal card
- Foreign currency conversion: 1.5% fee
- International transfer (SEPA): free, non-SEPA: €10 flat fee
- ATM withdrawal outside Eurozone: €2 per withdrawal for Future plan (max 3 free per month)
- Account closure fee: none
⚠ Watch for:
- Foreign transaction fee of 1.5% may apply even when paying in a foreign currency
- International ATM withdrawals beyond the included limits incur fees
- Interest rates are variable and may change over time
- Metal card has a higher monthly fee but the interest benefit may not outweigh it for smaller balances
🔧 Features
✓ Free Tier✓ Mobile App✓ Sustainable✓ Co2 Tracking✓ Impact Investing
📋 Assessment
💪 Strengths
- Every account balance automatically funds climate projects, regardless of your spending. This means that simply by keeping your money in the account, you're contributing to reforestation and renewable energy projects. It's a set-and-forget approach that aligns your idle cash with your environmental values.
- Automatic CO₂ tracking on transactions provides a clear, behavioral nudge toward lower-carbon choices. Each purchase is categorized and assigned an estimated carbon footprint, showing you where your biggest emissions come from. The monthly carbon summary helps you set personal reduction goals.
- Impact-linked interest rates reward sustainable usage, aligning financial incentives with environmental impact. By spending at partner businesses or making sustainable purchases, you can unlock higher interest rates on your balance—turning your spending habits into tangible financial benefits.
- A solid feature set for everyday banking: free Mastercard debit card, instant push notifications, spending analytics, and free ATM withdrawals in Germany and the Eurozone. The card is available in a CO₂-neutral variant made from recycled plastic.
- Transparent fee structure with a free Basic plan, making it accessible for those who just want a sustainable bank account without monthly fees. The paid tiers are reasonably priced compared to other premium neobanks.
⚠ Watch out for
- No free tier that also funds climate projects without a monthly fee. The Basic account has no monthly fee, but the climate project funding only kicks in with the paid Zero plan. So if you want to actively support projects, you must pay at least €3/month, which may put off budget-conscious users.
- Only available in Germany and a few other EU countries, limiting adoption for international users. The app is in German only, which can be a barrier for expats or non-native speakers.
- Lacks a physical branch network, which may be a drawback for users who need in-person services like mortgage consultations or complex account issues.
- CO₂ tracking is an estimate based on merchant category, not actual emissions. For example, a small purchase at a large retailer may be over- or under-estimated, which could mislead users who rely on the data for serious carbon accounting.
- The customer support is primarily via email and in-app chat, with no phone support during weekends. Response times can be slower during peak periods, and some users have reported issues with the chat feature in the app.
🎯 Best for
Eco-conscious individuals in Germany who want a mobile-first bank account that automatically supports climate projects and provides detailed carbon footprint tracking.
🚫 Who should skip
Anyone who needs a free bank account, lives outside the EU/Germany, or wants comprehensive business banking features.
📚 Learning curve
Minimal — the mobile app is straightforward, and the main novelty is that CO₂ tracking is automatic, so most users can start managing their finances immediately.
🧑⚖️ Verdict
Tomorrow is an excellent choice for eco-conscious individuals in Germany who want their everyday banking to actively contribute to climate action. It offers a unique mix of automatic carbon tracking, impact-linked interest rates, and transparent pricing. However, if you need in-person branch access
📊 Use Case Suitability
Higher score = better fit. Scores from editorial review.
Use CaseMettleTomorrow
Invoicing freelancers and sole traders95—
Mettle has built-in invoicing tools that let you create, send, and track invoice
Tracking expenses on the go90—
Receipt capture and automatic expense categorization help sole traders keep pers
Streamlining accounting with an accountant85—
Mettle lets you share access with your accountant and integrates with accounting
Running a single-director limited company75—
Designed for single-director companies, so it works fine for simple one-person L
Businesses that handle cash daily20—
There's no way to deposit cash into Mettle, so retail shops, cafés, or market st
Eco-conscious daily banking—95
Every account automatically funds climate projects and tracks transactions' carb
Carbon footprint tracking for personal spending—90
The built-in CO₂ tracking per transaction gives clear, itemized insight into the
Sustainable investing for beginners—85
Impact investing is integrated into the app, allowing users to start with climat
🧭 Which One Should You Pick?
Choose Mettle if...
- You are: UK based freelancers, contractors, and sole traders who want a no-cost, mobile-first business bank account with built-in
- 👍 No monthly fees, no minimum balance, and no transaction charges for standard UK payments.
- 👍 Built-in invoicing and receipt capture, saving time on everyday admin.
- 👍 FSCS protected up to £85,000 because it's backed by NatWest, adding trust versus unregulated neobank
- 💰 Free tier available
- ⚠ Trade-off: No cash deposit support, making it unsuitable for cash-heavy businesses.
Choose Tomorrow if...
- You are: Eco-conscious individuals in Germany who want a mobile-first bank account that automatically supports climate projects a
- 👍 Directly funds climate projects from every account balance, regardless of spending.
- 👍 Automatic CO₂ tracking on transactions provides a clear, behavioral nudge toward lower-carbon choice
- 👍 Impact-linked interest rates reward sustainable usage, aligning financial incentives with environmen
- 💰 From $4.35/mo
- ⚠ Trade-off: No free tier — users must pay a monthly fee, though exact pricing is not clearly
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Is Mettle really free to use?
Yes, Mettle has no monthly fees and no transaction fees for standard UK payments in pounds. You only pay for optional extras or third-party services you choose to connect.
Can I open a Mettle account if I'm a sole trader?
Yes, Mettle is specifically designed for sole traders and single-director limited companies. Partnerships and multi-director companies aren't eligible.
Is my money protected with Mettle?
Mettle is a NatWest brand and your funds are covered by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS) up to £85,000. This makes it a safer option than many other neobanks.
Can I pay in cash at Mettle?
No, Mettle doesn't support cash deposits. You can transfer money electronically via bank transfer, Faster Payments, or online transfers from another bank.
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