We show offers we can track - that's not every product on the market...yet. Unless we've said otherwise, products are in no particular order. The terms "best", "top", "cheap" (and variations of these) aren't ratings, though we always explain what's great about a product when we highlight it. This is subject to our terms of use. When you make major financial decisions, consider getting independent financial advice. Always consider your own circumstances when you compare products so you get what's right for you. Most of the data in Finder's comparison tables has the source: Moneyfacts Group PLC. In other cases, Finder has sourced data directly from providers.
Loans like Polar Credit
Polar Credit is the new short term lender on the block, offering an ongoing line of credit to cover unexpected shortfalls. Discover other companies like Polar Credit, offering innovative short term borrowing facilities.
Online lenders that offer similar loans to Polar Credit
| Name | Established | Loan types | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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Polar Credit Credit Line | 2019 | Line of credit | More info |
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Fund Ourselves | 2016 | Peer-to-peer instalment loans | More info |
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Creditspring | 2018 | Instalment loans through a membership scheme | More info |
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Lending Stream | 2008 | Instalment loans | Go to site |
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Drafty | 2015 | Line of credit | Go to site |
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SteadyPay | 2017 | Instalment loans through a membership scheme | More info |
A closer look at these lenders
1. Fund Ourselves
Fund Ourselves (read review) is a direct lender (not a broker), which offers peer-to-peer instalment loans of up to £1,500 over terms of up to 4 months. That's £500 less than Polar Credit (although for new customers the maximum is £800) but with a lower representative APR of 1,310.4%. Peer-to-peer services bring together investors who want to lend money with borrowers who want to borrow money. In theory, peer-to-peer platforms have lower overheads and so can pass on lower interest rates.
Fund Ourselves representative example: Borrow £300 for 106 days at a rate of 176% p.a. (fixed). Representative 1,310.4% APR and total payable £452.97 in 4 monthly payments of £113.24.
2. Creditspring
Next up, Creditspring (read review) is also a direct lender, which offers instalment loans through a membership scheme of up to £1,000 over terms of up to 12 months. That's £1,000 less than Polar Credit but with a lower representative APR of 54.6%. With credit membership schemes, you pay a weekly or monthly subscription fee and can then receive low-interest or no-interest loans when needed. You'll need to have been a member for a specified amount of time (often two weeks) before you can borrow money.
Creditspring representative example: Total amount of credit £1,000 repayable over 13 months. 12 monthly membership payments of £12. Rate of interest 0% p.a. (fixed). Representative 54.6% APR. The first repayment for each advance is £83.35, due 45 days after drawing, followed by 5 monthly repayments of £83.33. Total amount payable £1,144.
3. Lending Stream
Lending Stream (visit site) is another direct lender, which offers instalment loans of up to £1,500 over terms of up to 12 months. That's £500 less than Polar Credit but with a lower representative APR of 1,333%. With instalment loans, you borrow for an agreed amount of time at a fixed interest rate, and pay back a set amount each month until the loan is cleared. You'll know in advance exactly how much your loan will cost and when it'll be cleared. Like Polar Credit, Lending Stream uses open banking as part of its approval process – analysing your bank account transactions to assess risk and affordability (you'll need to give it permission through your internet banking).
Lending Stream representative example: Borrow £200 for 6 months at a rate of 292% p.a. (fixed). Representative 1,333% APR and total payable £386.61 in 6 monthly payments of £64.44.
4. Drafty
Drafty (visit site) is a direct lender which, like Polar Credit, offers an ongoing line of credit but could let you borrow up to £3,000. That's £1,000 more than Polar Credit but with a higher representative APR of 96.2%.
Drafty Representative Example: Assumed credit limit: £1200. Representative 96.2% APR (variable). Annual interest rate 69.4% (variable).
5. SteadyPay
Finally, SteadyPay (read review) is our last direct lender, which offers instalment loans through a membership scheme of up to £1,000. That's £1,000 less than Polar Credit but with a lower representative APR of 36.4%.
SteadyPay representative example: Total amount of credit of £1,000. 52 weekly membership payments of £7. Representative APR 36.4% and total payable: £1,364.