Mettle

Mettle is a free business account backed by NatWest, built for sole traders and small limited companies, with free FreeAgent accounting software and FSCS protection up to £120,000.

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At a glance

Mettle is provided by National Westminster Bank plc, so eligible deposits are FSCS-protected up to £120,000. The account is free, with no monthly fee, and includes free FreeAgent accounting software worth over £150 a year, tax calculation tools and Making Tax Digital support.

Free

£120,000

FSCS protection limit

No monthly fee

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What is Mettle?

Mettle is a business current account built for the self-employed, provided by National Westminster Bank plc and backed by NatWest. It’s aimed squarely at sole traders and small limited companies (up to two owners, though only one can access the account), combining everyday banking with built-in tax tools and free access to FreeAgent accounting software. It’s app-only, available on iOS and Android, with no branch network.

Is Mettle free?

Yes. There’s no monthly account fee and no charge for maintaining the account. The only optional paid extra is Mettle+ at £4 a month, which adds the ability to create and send quotes and convert them to invoices in-app. A handful of other services carry small fees, including cash deposits via the Post Office (£2.75 each), card cash withdrawals (£1 each) and replacement cards if lost or damaged (£5).

Key features

Free FreeAgent accounting software, worth over £150 a year, with at least one transaction a month
Invoicing, with payment matching and late payment chasing
Automatic tax calculation and a running tax timeline, via FreeAgent
Auto-categorised transactions and digital receipt capture
Pots and a Savings Pot for ring-fencing money
Apple Pay and Google Pay support

Pricing

Mettle has one free core account, plus a single optional paid add-on.

Mettle - £0/month

The essentials, free:

No monthly account fee
Invoicing, receipt capture and transaction categorisation
Free FreeAgent accounting software (with monthly account activity)
Pots and Savings Pot

Mettle+ - £4/month

For creating quotes:

Everything in the free account, plus
Create and send quotes
Convert quotes to invoices in-app

Pros and cons

Pros:

Genuinely free account, backed by NatWest with FSCS protection up to £120,000
Free FreeAgent accounting software, worth over £150 a year
Built-in tax calculation and Making Tax Digital support via FreeAgent
Auto-categorised transactions and digital receipt capture
Real, UK-based human support

Cons:

App-only, no branch network
Not available to partnerships, LLPs or larger limited companies - up to two owners only
FreeAgent stays free only with at least one transaction a month from your Mettle account
Quotes require the £4/month Mettle+ add-on
Mettle itself isn’t HMRC-recognised MTD software - filing happens through the connected FreeAgent account

Who is Mettle best for?

Mettle suits a sole trader or small limited company that wants a genuinely free, NatWest-backed account with tax tools and free accounting software built in. The free FreeAgent access is the standout feature, easily worth more than the account itself, provided you keep at least one transaction moving through your Mettle account each month. If you need multi-user access, work as a partnership or LLP, or want invoicing and quoting fully bundled without an extra fee, it’s worth comparing against Starling or Tide.

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Frequently asked questions

Is Mettle actually free?

Yes, there’s no monthly account fee. The only optional paid feature is Mettle+ at £4 a month for creating and sending quotes. A few incidental services, like Post Office cash deposits and card cash withdrawals, carry small per-use fees.

Is my money protected with Mettle?

Yes. Mettle’s business bank account is provided by National Westminster Bank plc, a fully licensed UK bank, so eligible deposits are FSCS-protected up to £120,000.

Does Mettle handle Making Tax Digital for Income Tax?

Not directly. Mettle itself isn’t HMRC-recognised MTD software, but every Mettle account comes with free access to FreeAgent, which is HMRC-recognised for MTD for VAT and MTD for Income Tax, and syncs automatically with your Mettle transactions.

How do I get FreeAgent free with Mettle?

FreeAgent is included at no extra cost as long as you make at least one transaction a month from your Mettle account. If you go a month with no activity, or close your Mettle account and keep using FreeAgent, FreeAgent’s normal fees apply.

Can a partnership or LLP open a Mettle account?

No. Mettle is only available to sole traders and limited companies with up to two owners (though only one person can access the account) - not partnerships or LLPs.

Compare business banking for sole traders

Mettle is one option among several worth comparing. Browse the full Business Banking directory to compare it against Starling, Tide, Monzo Business, Revolut Pro and Wise.

Prices and offers correct at time of publication. Always check the Mettle website for current pricing and promotional terms before signing up.