UK business funding comparison

Capvant vs iwoca: compare offers before you commit

iwoca lends directly and gives you a single decision; Capvant is a funding marketplace, not a lender, returning competing offers from a network of vetted partners. One short request, one soft search, no impact on your credit score.

Soft check · no impact on your credit score.²

1 requesta whole network of funders
Soft check²no credit-score impact
Competing offerscompared side by side
You chooseno obligation at any point

Capvant vs iwoca at a glance

	Capvant	iwoca
Model	A funding marketplace, not a lender	A direct lender to UK small and medium-sized businesses
Who makes the credit decision	The funding partner you choose, never Capvant	iwoca itself
What one request gets you	Several competing offers to compare side by side	One decision from one lender
Credit impact of the first step	Soft search only, no impact on your credit score	Its own process; a full application can involve a hard search
Products covered	Working capital, line of credit, term loans, equipment finance, invoice finance, Revenue Advance	Flexible, largely short-term working-capital lending
Application journey	One short request, then compare the offers that come back	A straightforward, largely online application direct to iwoca
Who it's built for	UK limited companies, LLPs and plcs	UK small and medium-sized businesses

Based on publicly stated models at the time of writing, always confirm details with any provider before proceeding.

How it works

Tell us what you need

Answer a few questions about your business and how much funding you’re after. It takes about 60 seconds.

Compare your matched offers

We match you with funding partners and bring back competing offers, a soft search with no impact on your credit score.

Get funded

Pick the offer that fits and get the funds in your account, often within a few working days.

Products you can compare with one request

Working capital

Cover payroll, stock and day-to-day running costs with flexible working capital.

Business line of credit

A revolving credit facility you draw on as you need it, paying only for what you use.

Invoice finance

Unlock cash tied up in unpaid invoices instead of waiting 30-90 days to get paid.

Revenue advance

Take a lump sum today and repay as a small share of your daily card and bank takings.

Written by Sarah Eltaweel, Head of MarketplaceCapvant funding marketplace · Reviewed July 2026

The short version: two different models

Capvant and iwoca both help UK businesses access funding, but they work in different ways. iwoca is a funding provider in its own right, so you apply to iwoca and iwoca assesses your business and makes the decision. Capvant is a marketplace, so you make one short request and we put it in front of a network of vetted funding partners who can come back with competing offers, and Capvant itself does not make the credit decision.

Neither model is automatically better. A direct provider can mean a simple, single relationship. A marketplace can mean you see more than one option from a single request. The sections below set out the differences so you can judge for yourself, and we would always suggest checking iwoca's own site for their current products, eligibility and pricing.

What iwoca is known for

iwoca is a well-established name in UK small business funding and has built a strong reputation for serving smaller companies. It is widely recognised for its focus on flexible, shorter-term working capital and for a straightforward online application. Many business owners value dealing directly with a single provider that knows its own products well.

Because iwoca sets its own criteria and makes its own decisions, the experience is self-contained, so you deal with one company from application through to drawdown and repayment. For the most accurate picture of what iwoca offers today, including products, eligibility, pricing and any credit checks involved, the best source is iwoca's own website. We are not going to put numbers in their mouth here.

How Capvant's marketplace works

Capvant takes a different route. You tell us once what you are looking for, a soft search is run that does not affect your credit score, and we present your request to a network of vetted funding partners. Those partners can respond with real, competing offers, and you choose what works or walk away. Capvant is not a lender and does not make the lending decision, the funding partner does.

The products available through the marketplace include working capital, a business line of credit, equipment finance, invoice finance, Revenue Advance and term loans. Capvant works with UK limited companies, LLPs and plcs, and we also operate in the US. Because more than one partner can look at a single request, the aim is to help you compare options side by side rather than apply to providers one at a time.

Which might suit you

If you already know iwoca, like the idea of a single direct relationship, and their product fits your need, applying to them directly is a perfectly sensible route. Some owners prefer the simplicity of one provider and one point of contact.

If you would rather see what several funding partners would offer before you commit, without making multiple separate applications, the marketplace model may suit you better. It can be useful when you are not sure which product is the right fit, for example whether working capital, invoice finance or a term loan makes most sense, because different partners may suggest different structures.

Many businesses do both. They get a sense of the market through a marketplace and also approach a provider they already know. There is no rule that says you must pick only one path.

What to compare for yourself

The fairest way to choose is to compare like for like. Whatever route you take, look past the headline and check the detail before you sign anything.

Approval is never guaranteed with any responsible funder, so treat any promise of guaranteed acceptance or a no credit check offer with caution. Reading the agreement in full is always worth the time.

The total cost of the funding, not just a monthly figure, including any fees and the representative APR or factor rate where relevant.
Whether the initial check is a soft search with no impact on your credit score, or a hard search that leaves a mark.
The product type and whether it actually fits your need: working capital, line of credit, equipment finance, invoice finance, Revenue Advance or a term loan.
Repayment flexibility, term length, and any early repayment or arrangement fees.
Eligibility, including business structure, trading history and turnover requirements.
How many real offers you can see from a single request, and whether you are free to decline at no cost.

The honest summary

iwoca is a respected, direct UK funding provider, and for many small businesses dealing with them directly is a good fit. Capvant is a marketplace that lets you make one request and compare competing offers from a network of vetted funding partners, with a soft search that does not affect your credit score and no obligation to proceed.

The two are not really rivals so much as different starting points. If you want one direct relationship, a provider like iwoca makes sense. If you want to compare your options from a single request before deciding, that is what Capvant is built for. Either way, check the current detail on each provider's own site and choose the funding that genuinely fits your business.

Which should you choose?

iwoca is a well-regarded direct lender with a reputation for flexible short-term funding, if that product and a single relationship are what you want, going direct makes sense. Capvant answers a different question: what would several vetted partners offer this business? One soft-search request shows you, with no impact on your credit score and no obligation to proceed.

Choose Capvant if…

You want to see several offers before committing to one
You want a soft search first, so comparing never touches your credit score
You are weighing different structures, line of credit, invoice finance, equipment or a term loan

Choose them if…

You specifically want iwoca's direct, flexible short-term lending
You prefer one self-contained relationship from application to repayment

iwoca, common questions

Is Capvant a lender like iwoca?

No. iwoca lends and makes its own credit decisions. Capvant is a marketplace that connects your single request to a network of vetted funding partners, and those partners make the offers and the lending decision. Capvant itself is not the lender.

Will comparing options through Capvant affect my credit score?

Making a request through Capvant uses a soft search, which does not affect your credit score. If you choose to proceed with a particular funding partner, that partner may carry out its own checks, so always confirm what is involved before you accept an offer.

Can I use both iwoca and Capvant?

Yes. You are free to approach iwoca directly and also make a request through Capvant to see what other funding partners would offer. Comparing more than one route is a reasonable way to reach a decision.

What types of funding can I compare through Capvant?

Working capital, a business line of credit, equipment finance, invoice finance, Revenue Advance and term loans, for UK limited companies, LLPs and plcs. We also operate in the US. The right product depends on your situation.

Does Capvant work with sole traders?

Capvant's UK marketplace is aimed at limited companies, LLPs and plcs rather than sole traders or consumers. If you trade through a limited company, you can make a request.

Where can I find iwoca's current rates and eligibility?

The most accurate and up to date source is iwoca's own website. We deliberately do not quote their rates or fees here, as these can change, so please check directly with them.

Compare real offers in minutes

Make one request and compare competing offers from a network of vetted funding partners. Soft check, no impact on your credit score.

Soft check · no impact on your credit score.²

Disclaimers & footnotes

1Capvant is a funding marketplace, not a lender. We match business owners with third-party funding partners; we do not make credit decisions, lend money, or set rates or terms. All funding decisions, rates, terms and approvals are made solely by the lenders in our network, subject to their criteria.
2Checking your options through Capvant does not affect your credit score. A lender may carry out a soft or hard credit search depending on the product, stage and your consent. A full hard credit check is only carried out where required by a lender before you proceed.
3Funding speed, including any reference to funding in as little as 24 hours, is typical for some products and lenders and is not guaranteed. Actual timescales depend on the lender, the product, and how quickly requested information and documents are provided.
4Funding amounts and ranges are indicative only and vary with your business profile, trading history, the lender and the market. Figures shown are not an offer of finance and do not guarantee any particular amount, rate or approval.
5Any offers, rates or repayment figures shown in illustrations or examples are for demonstration only and are not real quotes. Your actual offers, if any, are provided by lenders and are subject to approval.
6Product availability varies by market. Some products are only available in certain countries. Capvant currently serves businesses in the United States and the United Kingdom.

Capvant is a trading name of Granton Hale Capital LLC. Capvant is not a lender and does not make credit decisions, we introduce businesses to third-party funding providers. Capvant is not authorised or regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).

Capvant does not compare every lender, broker, funding product or offer available in the market. We only show options from funding partners in our network that may be relevant based on the information you provide.

Capvant may receive compensation from lenders, brokers, funding partners or referral partners when a customer is introduced, approved, funded or takes another qualifying action. This compensation does not guarantee that any lender will approve an application or offer specific terms. Capvant does not charge business owners a fee to compare funding options unless clearly stated otherwise.

If you access Capvant through a partner, introducer or embedded funding page, that partner may receive a referral fee or commission if your application results in funding. This does not increase your cost unless expressly disclosed.

Capvant is intended for business-purpose funding only. Eligibility may depend on entity type, location, trading history, revenue, industry and lender criteria. In the UK, Capvant currently focuses on limited companies, LLPs and plcs, and does not currently support sole traders or ordinary partnerships.

Information on Capvant is general information only and is not financial, legal, tax or accounting advice. You should consider whether funding is suitable for your business and seek professional advice where appropriate.

Calculators, eligibility checkers and funding-readiness tools are estimates only. They are based on limited information and assumptions, and do not represent a credit decision, quote, approval or recommendation.

Company information may be sourced from public registers such as Companies House, or from information you provide. Public register data may be incomplete, delayed or inaccurate and should not be treated as a full credit assessment.

By submitting an application or funding request, you authorise Capvant to share relevant business, owner, application and document information with funding partners, service providers and introducers where necessary to process your request, subject to our Privacy Policy.

Some US commercial financing offers may be subject to state-specific disclosure requirements. Where required, additional disclosures will be provided and must be accepted before a transaction is finalised.