Countingup vs ANNA: Business Bank Account Comparison

Countingup and ANNA both aim to simplify everyday banking for UK startups, freelancers, and small business owners. The former combines business banking with built-in accounting software, while the latter focuses on automation and business support, with smart invoicing and tax reminders.

This guide compares ANNA against Countingup on fees, features, and use cases to help you choose the right business account for your company.

Countingup vs ANNA: At a Glance

What Countingup is Designed For

Countingup is built for businesses that want to combine banking and accounting on a single platform, reducing the need for separate tools.

Key Characteristics of Countingup

• Business current account with built-in accounting

• Automatic expense categorisation and bookkeeping

• Real-time P&L tracking

• Tax estimates generated within the app

• Invoice creation and payment tracking

• Available to UK sole traders and limited companies

Trade-Offs to Consider

• Monthly subscription fees apply

• Fewer integrations than standalone accounting platforms

• Limited advanced features for bigger businesses

• EMI model rather than a fully licensed bank

Countingup typically appeals to business owners who want to streamline admin and avoid using separate accounting tools.

What ANNA is Designed For

ANNA focuses on reducing day-to-day admin by combining banking with smart automation.

Key Characteristics of ANNA

• Business account with invoicing and expense tracking

• AI-powered admin assistant features

• Automatic invoice chasing and reminders

• Tax deadline alerts and summaries

• 24/7 UK-based customer support

• Integrations with accounting software like Xero

Trade-Offs to Consider

• Subscription fees increase depending on usage

• No fully built-in accounting system

• Some features are charged per transaction

• EMI model rather than a traditional bank

ANNA often suits freelancers and startups that want hands-on support and automation to reduce their admin workload.

How They Charge

Countingup Pricing

• Monthly subscription based on deposits or plan tier

• No free plan available beyond the trial

• Includes accounting features for the same price

• Additional fees may apply for some transactions

Countingup’s pricing works well for businesses that want banking and accounting bundled into one predictable monthly cost.

ANNA Pricing

• Tiered monthly subscription plans

• Free plan available with limitations

• Charges may apply based on usage

• Paid tiers unlock more automation and support

ANNA’s pricing suits firms that want flexibility and are willing to pay for it.

Feature Comparison: Countingup vs ANNA

Everyday Banking

• Payments and transfers: Both support Faster Payments and Direct Debits

• Account access: Mobile-first apps with online dashboards

• Business debit cards: Available with both providers

Invoicing and Admin

• Countingup: Invoice creation with accounting

• ANNA: Smarter invoicing with auto-chasing and reminders

Accounting Support

• Countingup: Fully built-in accounting software

• ANNA: Integrations with external accounting tools

Tax Support

• Countingup: Real-time tax estimates and reports

• ANNA: Tax reminders and summaries

Automation and Insights

• Countingup: Focused on bookkeeping automation

• ANNA: Broader admin automation and assistance

Regulation and Protection

Both Countingup and ANNA operate as E-Money Institutions (EMIs) in the UK.

• Customer funds are safeguarded

• Money is not used for lending

• FSCS protection is not available in the same way as traditional banks