Ranking 2022 of the BestCrowdlending platforms
This ranking of the best crowdlending platforms in Europe is based on a set of 50 criteria. Thus, each platform is given an overall rating out of 100 (a score that determines its position in this P2P ranking) :
But as each platform is very different in many ways, I have also evaluated them according to 5 key characteristics :
Return on capital
Security of loan originators
Solidity of the P2P platform
Market liquidity
Level of diversification
Each of these 5 elements is scored between A+ (maximum rating) and E (minimum rating).
I would like to draw your attention to the fact that this is a personal tool that I am making available to visitors to the blog. I am not a financial advisor and do not intend to become one. For more information, please read this disclaimer.
I plan to expand this P2P ranking at the rate of one new platform per month with the objective of twenty platforms by the end of the year (each platform analysis requires a lot of work).
As soon as a new platform joins this P2P ranking, I communicate it only on my Twitter account.
And now let’s go to the ranking (updated on 18 September 2022) !
Robocash is the best platform I have invested in so far. It offers very attractive returns and is very strong thanks to Robocash Group backing. This allows Robocash to benefit from an efficient network of loan originators. The only downside is that the interface is not totally intuitive at first. Apart from that, it’s all good ! A well-deserved number one position difficult to challenge by other platforms.
Lendermarket is the platform of the Creditstar group, well known for having offered its loans to Mintos investors for several years. But Creditstar has decided to open its own crowdlending platform and thus offer attractive rates (up to 16%). Lendermarket still needs to consolidate its organisation and make its market a little more liquid, but I bet it is on the right track !
During the last few years, PeerBerry has become a major player in crowdlending. The platform has been able to offer large and secure loan volumes. PeerBerry has a large number of loan originators that operate in a wide variety of countries. Finally, the platform is making a profit since its launch, early 2018. However, we would like them to have their accounts audited.
Esketit is the platform that the CreamFinance group decided to use to exit from Mintos. As a result, the loans offered are not only comfortably secured, but they also offer good levels of return. The company’s strength score is expected to increase in the near future with the publication of its operational results. I bet that its score (which is quite high for such a young platform) will increase a lot.
Viainvest is very solid and well secured in terms of the investments offered. Regulated and duly audited, the platform makes profits and benefits from a very strong group guarantee. Nevertheless, it has some weaknesses, notably yields that cap at 11% and a relatively undiversified market. It is a platform made for people looking for secured investments but ready to invest a little under the market rates.
Afranga is backed by a single lending company : StickCredit, which is also its creator. Personally, I like this type of crowdlending organisation. And this is all the more true because the platform is solid and the loans are well secured. As far as returns are concerned, they are at the level of the market. A small regret : the lack of diversification sometimes leads to some cash-drag.
Because of the size and strength of its market and the diversification provided by its many lending companies, Mintos maintains a honourable position in this ranking. But now its rates are very low. And it should be noted that Mintos is still not making a profit due to investments but also due to an enormous staff. Also do not forget that many lending companies have defaulted in the past.
One could say that Iuvo is quite a small platform but the platform is doing well and improving every year. Although the returns in euros are not as high as others (around 11% in my case), one can turn to investments in other more profitable currencies. I also appreciate its financial transparency despite the fact that it is not yet making a profit. Iuvo is a platform I trust (patience !).
Swaper is one of the platforms that offers the most attractive rates in Europe (14% on all its loans and 16% from €5K invested). Backed by the Wandoo Finance group, the platform has resisted the crisis well. Swaper would benefit from better communication with investors and greater financial transparency. The platform also promised us more geographical diversification.
Twino is an old and extremely solid platform (regulated and audited), thanks in part to the group to which it belongs. The lending companies offering the investments are solid and its market offers good liquidity for those who do not wish to commit their funds for too long. Its weak point is the limited returns, which do not exceed 10% (and no cash-back). This is the reason why I do not invest on it.
Finbee offers to invest in consumer and business loans in Lithuania at attractive rates. But only some loans are secured with collateral, so we need to look carefully at the cases we want to invest in. Interesting point: Finbee and the loan companies are making profits, so mechanically so are the investors. And if necessary, it is possible to sell on the secondary market.
Debitum is a crowdlending platform with many qualities : it is audited and regulated and offers loans at 12%. It has never had any default on a loan. But we would like to see it grow more quickly in terms of volumes financed and number of subscribers (a loyalty programme would be welcome). Above all, it needs to improve the security of listed loans. Hopefully, Debitum has some margins of progress.
This crowdlending platform is certainly one of the smallest in terms of volumes funded each month. As a consequence, in order to stand out, Nibble offers investments with high returns but high risks. The platform is structured within a group, a bit like Robocash. However, it still has a lot of development and strengthening to do. Once done, Nibble should become an interesting player in crowdlending.
Heavyfinance is rather atypical as it offers to finance agricultural activities, a key sector in Europe. The platform is still young but very professional (its founder is also behind Finbee), regulated by the Central Bank of Lithuania and present in several European countries. Heavyfinance does not offer a buy-back guarantee but does offer collateral when financing machinery, for example.
The founder of this platform has a very good expertise which he shares widely on social networks. But Income is still too young and fragile for my taste. On one hand, the loans are not secure enough for investors, and on the other hand they do not offer higher returns than the market average. The platform has certainly a bright future coming but, at this stage, it has yet to be built.
