Who is the best company formation agent in the UK?
There’s no single best option: it depends on whether you want the lowest price, the most support after incorporation, or to do it yourself. This page compares four ways to register a UK limited company in 2026 - 1st Formations, Companies MadeSimple, Tide, Your Company Formations, and directly with Companies House. We cover pricing, ID verification, banking, address services, non-resident support and what happens after your company is formed.
Top company formation options
Need a quick overview? Compare the key features of the leading ways to form a UK company.
Trustpilot rating
4.8 out of 5
4.8 out of 5
4.4 out of 5
N/A
4.8 out of 5
Google rating
4.9 out of 5
4.1 out of 5
2.3 out of 5
N/A
4.9 out of 5
Pricing
from £39.99
(with accounting service)
from £104.99
from £14.99
(with a Tide bank account)
£100
from £102.48
UK based customer support
In-app and email support only
General enquiries, no formation advice
Choice of business bank accounts
Address services & mail forwarding
No business address service for general mail
Companies House ID verification included
Printed company documents
Support for non-residents
No UK address services, no bank referrals
Supports multiple directors and shareholders
Accounting service
Digital tools only
Compliance services & annual filing support
Company changes & updates
No PSC or registered office changes
Name changes only
No PSC change service
Mobile app
Customer Portal
Certified B-Corp
Certified carbon neutral
Living wage employer
Comparisons at a glance
Here's a quick recap of where each company formation option stands out and where services may fall short, based on the table above.
Broadest service range, no mobile app
The widest set of services after incorporation: address and mail, compliance, company changes, and an in-house accounting service, with a choice of 10 bank accounts and support for non-residents. The £39.99 price, including the Companies House fee, depends on taking the accounting subscription; a standard formation is £102.99 all-in. No mobile app, and no printed documents.
Established agent, higher entry price
One of the longest-running UK agents, with strong address and mail services, printed documents as standard, a customer portal and non-resident support. The main trade-off is price: the entry package costs more than the other agents here. No accounting service and no mobile app.
Cheapest all-in price, banking first
At £14.99 including the Companies House fee, Tide is the lowest-cost route in this comparison, and the only one with a mobile app. It’s built around the Tide bank account, so there’s no choice of bank, no printed documents, and it isn’t available to non-residents. Address, accounting and company-change services are narrower than the specialist agents'.
Lowest-touch option, no support
Registering directly at Companies House costs £100 and works for UK and overseas applicants alike, with identity verification through GOV.UK One Login. You get the registration and nothing else: no address service, no bank referral, no compliance help, and no advice if an application is rejected. Suits founders who already know the process.
Low-cost agent with the core services
Competitive pricing with the fee included, strong Trustpilot and Google scores, address and mail services, printed documents as standard, and non-resident support. ID verification for more than four people may carry a charge, and there’s no in-house accounting service or mobile app.
Ratings reflect our assessment based on publicly available information and are intended as a general guide only.
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One-on-one company formation comparisons
Discover how each option stacks up. See how 1st Formations compares with other ways to form a UK company and find the right match for your business journey.
1st Formations vs Companies MadeSimple
See feature depth, support, and address services side by side.
1st Formations vs Tide
Discover the differences between specialists vs app-based providers.
1st Formations vs Companies House
Form your company with support built in, or register it yourself at Companies House.
1st Formations vs Your Company Formations
Explore what's included: services, document handling, and support.
How to choose the right company formation option
Choosing how to form your company is about more than the registration itself. Think about what you'll need in the first year: a registered office, a bank account, your first confirmation statement, your accounts. The options above differ most on price today, the services included, and how much support you get after Companies House says yes.
1st Formations has formed over one million companies and supports businesses beyond incorporation, with address, compliance and accounting services to help you manage, protect and grow your company.
Why founders choose 1st Formations
A trusted partner from day one. Starting a business is just the beginning. We've helped over
a million entrepreneurs take that first step and continue to support them as they grow.
Unbeatable prices from £39.99
Get more for your money with our unbeatable £39.99 company formation offer and a full package that delivers exceptional value. Enjoy outstanding quality, excellent service, exclusive benefits, and access to one of the UK's leading customer rewards programmes.
Support you can rely on
Our knowledgeable team is here to support you at every stage of your company formation journey, including post-company formation support. Our trained specialists provide friendly, reliable guidance, helping you move forward with confidence.
Fast, stress-free company formation
Setting up your company doesn't need to be complicated. Complete your application online in around 15 minutes and most Companies House approvals are issued within 24 hours. We make the process simple, so you can spend less time on paperwork and more time building your business.
Trusted by more than one million founders
We've helped more than one million entrepreneurs across the globe turn their business ideas into reality. 1st Formations is the UK's top-rated company formation provider, and we're proud to combine industry-leading expertise with exceptional service, reflected in more than 28,000 excellent customer reviews.
Prestigious UK business address
A premium address at 71-75 Shelton Street, Covent Garden, can help enhance your business's professional image. With registered office, director's service address, and business address solutions available, it's an effective way to establish a credible London presence.
Business with purpose
Our commitment goes beyond company formation. 1st Formations is the only certified B Corp company formation agent, supporting local charities, championing educational opportunities for women and girls, partnering with universities, and investing in initiatives that create lasting social value.