Alternatives to Tide loans (Funding Options)

4 UK business loan alternatives to Tide loans (Funding Options), compared on product type, ticket band, rate, decision speed and eligibility.

Tide loans (Funding Options) vs the 4 alternatives

Tide loans (Funding Options) compared with 4 alternatives, last reviewed 2026-05-08
	Tide loans (Funding Options)	iwoca	Funding Circle	Fleximize	Capify
Product	Broker / aggregator (not a direct lender)	Flexi-loan / line of credit	Term loan	Term loan with flex features	Merchant cash advance + term loan
Ticket	£500 to £20m (panel-priced)	£1k to £500k	£10k to £500k	£5k to £500k	£3.5k to £500k
Rate	Varies by panel lender	From 2% per month	6.9% to 26.9% APR	From 0.9% per month	Factor rate 1.15 to 1.45
Decision	24 hours to 5 days	Same day to 24 hours	1 to 3 business days	24 to 48 hours	Same day
Soft search	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Rating	3.9	4.4	4.3	4.0	4.0

iwoca

Same day to 24 hours · From 2% per month

iwoca is a UK flexi-loan and line-of-credit provider founded 2011, FCA regulated, tickets £1k to £500k with same-day to 24-hour decisions. The draw-as-you-go structure makes iwoca the best mainstream option for working c

Best for: Working capital and cash-flow gaps, Newer Ltd companies (12 months+).

Funding Circle

1 to 3 business days · 6.9% to 26.9% APR

Funding Circle is the largest UK SME term-loan platform, founded 2010, FCA regulated, with tickets from £10k to £500k and decisions in one to three business days. The published rate range (6.9% to 26.9% APR) is wide, so

Best for: Established Ltd companies, Working capital £25k-£250k.

Fleximize

24 to 48 hours · From 0.9% per month

Direct lender with flex features (top-ups, payment holidays, reduced repayments during slow months). Underwriting more accommodating than mainstream term lenders for sub-2-year trading. Per-month rate hides effective APR

Best for: Seasonal businesses needing payment flex, 12 to 24 month-trading Ltd companies.

Capify

Same day · Factor rate 1.15 to 1.45

Specialist in merchant cash advance against card-machine takings. Fast, accommodating on credit history, but the factor-rate model makes effective APR opaque. Best fit for hospitality and retail with strong card-machine

Best for: Hospitality, retail, salons, Strong card-machine flow.

Frequently asked questions

What are the main alternatives to Tide loans (Funding Options)?

The closest UK alternatives are iwoca, Funding Circle, Fleximize and Capify. Each is compared above on product type, ticket band, typical rate, decision speed and eligibility so you can match a lender to your deal size and credit profile.

How does Tide loans (Funding Options) compare on ticket size and rate?

Tide loans (Funding Options) offers broker / aggregator (not a direct lender) from £500 to £20m (panel-priced) at a typical Varies by panel lender. The alternatives in the table span different ticket bands and rate ranges, so the right fit depends on how much you need to borrow and your trading profile.

How quickly does Tide loans (Funding Options) make a decision?

Tide loans (Funding Options) typically reaches a decision in 24 hours to 5 days. Decision times for the alternatives are listed in the comparison table; faster is not always cheaper, so weigh speed against rate and ticket fit.

Does Tide loans (Funding Options) do a soft-search quote?

Tide loans (Funding Options) runs a soft-search quote, so checking eligibility leaves no mark on your credit file. Among the alternatives, iwoca, Funding Circle, Fleximize, Capify offer a soft-search quote.

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Last reviewed: 2026-05-08. Editorial by Oliver Mackman.