UK business loan lender comparisons
Same applicant, two lenders, different answers. These head-to-head pages show how UK SMB lenders compare on the things that actually matter: factor rate or APR, ticket size, decision speed, sector appetite, and how the criteria are scored. Start with the comparison closest to your situation; we link out to the underlying lender reviews and our lender criteria matrix for cross-cutting reads.
| Comparison | What it covers |
|---|---|
| Allica Bank vs OakNorth | Two challenger banks competing on the same £250k+ commercial-loan territory. Underwriting style, asset focus, decision speed. |
| Bizcap vs JPM Capital | Fast-decision MCA territory. Speed, factor rates, callback cadence, and who beats whom on different turnover bands. |
| Capify vs 365 Business Finance | Two long-running MCA providers. Where each wins on retail vs hospitality vs ecommerce profiles. |
| Funding Circle vs Allica Bank | Unsecured term loan vs secured commercial loan. When the rate gap is worth the security ask. |
| Funding Circle vs OakNorth | Direct-lender term loans head to head. Ticket size, sector appetite, and the actual decision the underwriter is making. |
| iwoca vs Capify | Working capital flex (iwoca) vs MCA against card takings (Capify). Different products, similar use case. |
| iwoca vs Funding Circle | The two most-recognised UK SMB direct lenders. Flex line vs term loan, and when each is the wrong choice. |
| iwoca vs Tide loans | Standalone flex line vs business-banking-bundled lending. Decision quality, repayment shape, and product depth. |
Frequently asked questions
What does a head-to-head comparison page cover?
Each page puts two UK SMB lenders side by side on the factors that decide the deal: product type, ticket band, factor rate or APR, decision speed, eligibility and sector appetite. It shows where each lender wins for a given applicant rather than naming one overall winner.
How should I choose which comparison to read?
Start with the pairing closest to your situation in the table below. If you are weighing a flex line against a term loan, or a bank against a fintech, the relevant head-to-head sets out the trade-offs. Each page links out to the full lender reviews.
Is there a cross-lender view rather than just pairs?
Yes. The lender criteria matrix compares minimum turnover, trading history, ticket size and decision speed across every reviewed UK SMB lender at once, which is useful when you want to scan eligibility floors before picking a specific head-to-head.
Cross-cutting comparisons
- Lender criteria matrix, minimum turnover, trading history, ticket size and decision speed across all reviewed UK SMB lenders.
- Best business loan rankings for specific use cases, "best for startups", "best for declined applicants", "best for halal", etc.
- All lender reviews, methodology-led, dated, named author.
More head-to-head pages added as we research; suggest a comparison via contact.