Mettle (by NatWest) review
Cost-absolute sole traders who want free banking backed by a major banking group.
Overview
Mettle is NatWest Group's free digital business account, and its proposition is disarmingly simple: no monthly fee, no transfer fees, FSCS protection through NatWest, and fast onboarding. The killer combination is FreeAgent: Mettle customers get FreeAgent accounting free or heavily discounted, which pairs a £0 bank account with MTD-ready books for little or nothing — the cheapest compliant setup in small-business Britain. The trade-offs are range: Mettle is an account, not a platform — integrations beyond FreeAgent are limited, credit products are minimal, and the web experience lags the app. For a bootstrapping sole trader it is hard to argue against; for a growing company it is a starting point, not a destination.
Strengths and weaknesses
What we like
- Actually free: no monthly fee, free UK transfers
- NatWest Group backing with FSCS protection
- FreeAgent accounting free/discounted for Mettle customers — standout value
- Fast, app-first onboarding built for sole traders
- In-app invoicing and receipt capture basics
What to watch
- Limited product range — minimal lending, no savings pots depth
- Fewer third-party integrations than Starling or Tide
- Web access historically behind the app
- Not designed for teams or complex permissions
Key features at a glance
| Account type | Digital account from NatWest Group |
| Deposit protection | FSCS via NatWest — up to £120,000 |
| Monthly fee | £0 |
| Accounting tie-in | FreeAgent free/discounted — the headline |
| Standout tools | Invoicing basics, receipt capture, tax estimate pots |
| Best paired with | FreeAgent for MTD compliance |
Pricing
Free account, no monthly fee or transfer fees. FreeAgent bundled free or discounted for Mettle customers. Indicative — confirm current bundle terms.
Who Mettle (by NatWest) is for — and who should skip it
Best for
Sole traders and micro companies watching every pound, especially anyone planning FreeAgent books (our MTD wave-1 pick).
Probably not for
Growing teams needing permissions and integrations, borrowers, and anyone wanting a feature-packed platform.
Our verdict — 8.0/10
Mettle + FreeAgent is the best free stack in UK small business: near-zero cost, MTD-ready, and honest about its limits — which arrive exactly when your team does.
Mettle (by NatWest), head to head
How we review: scores reflect our editorial assessment using vendor documentation, published pricing, independent research and hands-on evaluation where noted — read our full methodology. Pricing is indicative — always confirm current plans with the vendor. We may earn commission from links on this page; it never affects our scores.