Funding Circle vs Swoop Funding: UK Business Finance Comparison 2026
See how Funding Circle compares to Swoop Funding side by side, then get three tailored quotes to weigh alongside them. Free, no obligation, and nothing to pay if you decide not to proceed.
Start here: what fits your business?
These are different products rather than like-for-like invoice finance rivals (Funding Circle: business term loans and flexipay (not invoice finance); Swoop Funding: funding marketplace (loans, grants, invoice finance)). UK businesses still weigh them side by side, so the real question is which job you need doing, not which is the better invoice finance line. Funding Circle typically takes 48 hours (funds, after acceptance) to set up; Swoop Funding matches you to a panel funder (its stated speed: payment usually within 48 hours of submitting an invoice). Funding Circle does not publish a minimum turnover figure, Swoop Funding needs £30k minimum turnover.
Side-by-side
Full reviews: Funding Circle · Swoop Funding
| Compared on | Funding Circle | Swoop Funding |
|---|---|---|
| Product type | Business term loans and FlexiPay (not invoice finance) | Funding marketplace (loans, grants, invoice finance) |
| Min turnover | Not published | £30k |
| Advance rate | N/A (term loan, not advance against ledger) | Up to 95% (funder dependent) |
| Typical fee | Rates starting at 6.9% per year (business loans) | Funder rates via marketplace matching |
| Confidential available? | N/A | Yes, via panel funders |
| Factoring available? | N/A | Yes, via panel funders |
| Setup speed | 48 hours (funds, after acceptance) | Payment usually within 48 hours of submitting an invoice |
Sources for these figures: Funding Circle: founding date · Funding Circle: loans from 6.9% per year, funds typically within 48 hours · Funding Circle: business loan £10,000 to £750,000, up to 6 years, one-off completion fee (checked 1 November 2026) · Funding Circle: £18 billion lent to over 135,000 UK businesses · Funding Circle: "If a personal guarantee is required or there are any offer conditions, these will also need to be completed" · Swoop Funding: advance up to 95%, £30k minimum turnover, payment usually within 48 hours, "a credit broker, not a lender" · Swoop Funding: "We introduce applicants to a panel of lenders"; "offers from mainstream banks as well as alternative lenders"
When Funding Circle wins
- Established large-scale UK SME lending platform.
- Fixed repayments make budgeting predictable.
- No debtor notification and no ledger management.
- Fast online application and decisioning.
Best for
One-off growth or capital projects, Predictable fixed-repayment borrowers, Businesses without a strong sales ledger.
Watch outs
- Not invoice finance: a term loan, not a ledger advance.
- Funding does not scale automatically with sales.
- May require a personal guarantee.
When Swoop Funding wins
- Marketplace comparing invoice finance against loans, grants and equity.
- Introduces you to a panel of mainstream banks and alternative lenders.
- Single profile reused across multiple funding types.
- Good for owners weighing several funding options.
Best for
Owners comparing funding types, Businesses also exploring grants or equity, Digital-first applicants.
Watch outs
- A marketplace and broker, not a direct lender.
- Final terms and speed depend on the matched funder.
FAQ
Funding Circle or Swoop Funding: which fits your business in 2026?
They do different jobs (see the product types above), so pick by the job you need doing.
How do Funding Circle and Swoop Funding price their facilities?
Pricing: Funding Circle, rates starting at 6.9% per year (business loans); Swoop Funding, funder rates via marketplace matching. Get a written quote from each on the same invoices and compare the total cost.
Can I get a confidential facility with either Funding Circle or Swoop Funding?
Funding Circle is not an invoice finance facility, so confidential invoice discounting does not apply. Swoop Funding is not a lender itself, but confidential invoice discounting is available through the funders on its panel, who set the terms.
Who is each one not suited to?
Funding Circle is a poor fit for funding that flexes with turnover. Swoop Funding is a poor fit for direct-lender relationship seekers. If that describes your business, you can get free quotes through our quote form.
Can Market Invoice help me choose between Funding Circle and Swoop Funding?
Yes. marketinvoice.co.uk is an independent comparison and introducer service operated by Best Business Loans Ltd (company 16833937), and is not tied to either provider. Share your turnover, sector and debtor profile and we pass your details to one or more of the finance partners we work with, who come back to you with quotes, with no obligation to proceed.
Related
Sources
- Figures for Funding Circle come from its own website.
- Figures for Swoop Funding come from its own website.
- Funding Circle: founding date
- Funding Circle: loans from 6.9% per year, funds typically within 48 hours
- Funding Circle: business loan £10,000 to £750,000, up to 6 years, one-off completion fee (checked 1 November 2026)
- Funding Circle: £18 billion lent to over 135,000 UK businesses
- Funding Circle: "If a personal guarantee is required or there are any offer conditions, these will also need to be completed"
- Swoop Funding: advance up to 95%, £30k minimum turnover, payment usually within 48 hours, "a credit broker, not a lender"
- Swoop Funding: "We introduce applicants to a panel of lenders"; "offers from mainstream banks as well as alternative lenders"
Get free quotes
Tell us monthly turnover, sector, debtor profile and whether the facility needs to be confidential. We pass your details to one or more of the finance partners we work with, who come back to you with quotes. Free, and no obligation to proceed.
Get my quotes →Best Business Loans Ltd (16833937), directed by Oliver Mackman, owns and operates Market Invoice. Last updated: .
Compare Funding Circle and Swoop Funding quotes
Free, no obligation. Tell us about your business and we pass your details to one or more of the finance partners we work with, who come back to you with quotes.
Step 1 of 3 · Your business
Free to you. We may be paid by the finance partners we introduce you to. This could be a fee or commission, depending on the partner and the finance arranged. It does not change what you pay. See our privacy policy.
How we make money: Market Invoice is an independent comparison service, not a lender. We may be paid by the finance partners we introduce you to. This could be a fee or commission, depending on the partner and the finance arranged. It does not change what you pay. How we are funded.
Disclosure: marketinvoice.co.uk is an independent invoice finance comparison and introducer service operated by Best Business Loans Ltd (company number 16833937). It is a separate business and is not connected to Kriya, Allica Bank or to any provider named on this page. We may be paid by the finance partners we introduce you to. This could be a fee or commission, depending on the partner and the finance arranged. It does not change what you pay. Invoice finance for limited companies is not a regulated activity, so this comparison is general information rather than regulated financial advice. Figures are indicative; larger facilities are commonly priced bespoke, so confirm terms directly with the provider before you sign.