Comparison

HMRC vs Tesco Bank

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

HMRC

Manage your taxes, benefits, and savings securely and easily. This free app allows you to check your tax code, claim refunds, and manage National Insurance details. It offers quick setup and paperless messaging options.

Highlights
  • Quick setup with biometric login
  • Check tax code and pay
  • Claim tax refunds
  • Check State Pension details
  • Make Self Assessment payments
  • Manage Child Benefit
  • Find National Insurance number
  • Go paperless
Features
Read full description

Take control of your money and tax with the HMRC app It’s secure, free to download, and easy to use. Get on it, and join millions of people already saving time with the HMRC app. Key Features: - Quick setup: sign in using face recognition, fingerprint scan, or a six-digit PIN - Stay in control: check your tax code and see your pay before it even shows in your bank, so you know you're paying the right amount - Claim a tax refund: find out if you’re due any tax back from us and quickly claim a refund if you’re owed one - Check your State Pension: see how much State Pension you could get, when you can get it and how to increase it, if you can - Self Assessment: a safe and secure way to make Self Assessment payments and get information you'll need to file - Child Benefit support: claim, manage, and update your Child Benefit details - National Insurance: find and save your National Insurance number so you have it when you need it - Go paperless: opt to receive key messages from HMRC online Download the HMRC app today and stay on top of your money and taxes

About

Tesco Bank

Manage your Tesco Bank accounts and Clubcard spending on the go. Track transactions, make repayments, and transfer money securely. Activate new cards or block lost ones with ease.

Highlights
  • Secure login with Face ID/Touch ID
  • Detailed transaction viewing
  • Searchable transaction history
  • Credit card repayment management
  • Money transfers between accounts
  • Card activation and blocking
Features
Read full description

Join our 2.4 million customers managing their money on the go with our Mobile Banking App. Register in minutes using your Tesco Bank account details and start managing your money on the go. With the app, you can: - View your card PIN securely in the app whenever you need it. - Log in quickly and securely using Face ID, Touch ID, a 5-digit passcode, or your security number and password. - View your transactions in detail — see what’s pending and what’s settled, so you always know what’s happening with your money. - Search and sort your transaction history to find what you need fast. - Set up and manage your credit card repayments by Pay by Bank, Direct Debit, or debit card. - Transfer money between your Tesco Bank accounts and complete balance or money transfers in seconds. - Activate your new cards or block a credit card that’s been lost or stolen. - Easily check your interest rate to make sure you’re getting the most from your savings. - Compare new rates and reinvest your Fixed Rate Saver in a few simple steps.

Screenshots

HMRC4 screens
Tesco Bank4 screens

Verdict

The call

HMRC and Tesco Bank both sit at 4.8 stars, but that hides the real split: 49% of HMRC's written reviews are positive against 28% of Tesco Bank's. HMRC also leads on device support (3 vs 1). On price, rating, ratings volume and update cadence there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.8 for HMRC against 4.7 for Tesco Bank. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 609 and 210 respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 49% of HMRC's written reviews are positive against 28% of Tesco Bank's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly monthly. Both last shipped on November 6, 2026.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
HMRC versus Tesco Bank: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterHMRCTesco Bank
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.8 (609 ratings) — better4.7 (210 ratings)
Positive reviews48.7% of reviews — better27.8% of reviews
Number of ratings609 — better210
Update frequencyMonthlyMonthly
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFreeFree
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone
Requires iOS15.0 — better16.6
Further details — not scored
Size34 MB295 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperHMRCTesco Bank

Customer experience

HMRC

All ratings607 ratings
Positive95.2%
Neutral1.6%
Negative3.1%
Written reviews914 reviews
Positive48.7%
Neutral4.7%
Negative46.6%

Tesco Bank

All ratings211 ratings
Positive91.5%
Neutral4.7%
Negative3.8%
Written reviews209 reviews
Positive27.8%
Neutral9.1%
Negative63.2%

User reviews

HMRC

From 609 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 👍 Easy to use
  • 🚀 Straightforward payment process
  • 💡 Useful information and updates
  • 🔒 Secure authentication

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Frequent login issues and app crashes
  • 🤔 Confusing navigation and UI
  • ⚠️ Lack of communication about tax changes
  • 🕰️ Slow and unresponsive app

Tesco Bank

From 210 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 👍 Easy to use app
  • 🚀 Great credit card banking experience
  • 💡 Useful features like roundup savings
  • 👍 User-friendly interface
  • 👍 Simple and informative app design

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Frequent app crashes
  • 🐛 Issues with authorizing payments
  • 🐛 Inconsistent transaction tracking
  • 🐛 Unreliable balance updates
  • 🐛 Forced paperless option

Bugs and requests

HMRC

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • Endless login loops and redirects
  • App freezing and becoming unresponsive
  • Inconsistent behavior after app updates
  • Issues with Face ID and biometric authentication

Requested features

4 requests
  • Improved notification system for tax updates
  • Ability to view and manage tax details in-app
  • Better integration with banking apps for payments
  • More user-friendly design and navigation

Tesco Bank

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • App crashing when authorizing payments
  • Inability to view PIN
  • Disappearing account data after updates
  • Inconsistent login and registration process

Requested features

4 requests
  • Dark mode option
  • Biometric login support for iPad
  • Improved transaction history and balance tracking
  • Faster payment processing and updates

In-app purchases

None

HMRC

No in-app purchases

None

Tesco Bank

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is HMRC free?
HMRC is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Tesco Bank free?
Tesco Bank is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, HMRC or Tesco Bank?
HMRC is rated higher. HMRC averages 4.8 out of 5 from 609 ratings, while Tesco Bank averages 4.7 from 210 ratings.
Do HMRC or Tesco Bank have ads?
Neither HMRC nor Tesco Bank shows ads.
Which is updated more often, HMRC or Tesco Bank?
HMRC ships an update monthly, and Tesco Bank monthly. Most recently, HMRC was updated on November 6, 2026 and Tesco Bank on November 6, 2026.

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