Clearco vs Wayflyer: Which Revenue-Based Lender Is Best for UK E-commerce in 2025?
Comparing Clearco and Wayflyer for UK e-commerce funding? Discover how each stacks up on fees, flexibility, data tools, and use cases to find your ideal financing partner.
Abdus-Samad Charles
Head of Content
Clearco vs Wayflyer: UK Business Funding Analysis
This interactive dashboard compares two leading alternative funding providers for UK e-commerce businesses. Both offer revenue-based financing (non-dilutive capital) with flexible repayment structures. Navigate through the tabs to explore key metrics including fee structures, funding limits, customer satisfaction ratings, and repayment timelines. Note: Clearco ceased direct UK operations in 2022, partnering with Outfund, while Wayflyer maintains an active UK presence.
Both providers use flat-fee structures instead of traditional interest rates. Clearco charges 6-12% depending on use-case
(lower for marketing/inventory), while Wayflyer typically charges 5-10% based on business risk assessment. Wayflyer's average
fee is slightly lower at ~7%, making it marginally more cost-effective. Neither charges origination fees, monthly fees, or
penalties for early repayment, though Clearco offers prorated fee rebates for early invoice funding payoffs.
Wayflyer offers a wider funding range with lower minimums (£4k vs £8k) and higher maximums (£16M vs £8M), making it accessible
to both smaller startups and larger enterprises. Wayflyer's Scaler program specifically targets businesses with £15M+ annual
revenue for multi-million pound advances. Both providers scale funding capacity as businesses grow and successfully repay,
effectively creating revolving credit facilities that expand with business performance.
Wayflyer significantly outperforms in customer support, with UK clients frequently praising their dedicated account managers
by name. While both providers offer fast funding, Wayflyer's combination of automated tech with high-touch service creates
a partnership feel rather than a transactional relationship. Clearco excels in platform automation and self-service
capabilities, but some customers reported operational issues with payment collections and support responsiveness during its UK operations.
Wayflyer maintains an exceptional 4.9/5 Trustpilot rating with 92% five-star reviews, demonstrating consistent customer satisfaction.
Clearco's 4.4/5 rating is still positive, but with 14% one-star reviews compared to Wayflyer's 6%, indicating more variable experiences.
The review disparity largely stems from customer service differences: Wayflyer's personalized approach versus Clearco's more automated
model. Click the chart to toggle between provider data and compare their review distributions directly.
Both providers dramatically outpace traditional banks, which can take weeks or months for business loan approvals. Clearco offers
2-minute funding capacity estimates using proprietary AI scoring, while Wayflyer typically provides conditional offers within 4 hours.
Wayflyer edges ahead in disbursement speed (24 hours vs 48 hours) and uniquely offers instant access via virtual debit cards through
Stripe Issuing, allowing businesses to start spending immediately. This speed is critical for time-sensitive opportunities like
seasonal inventory purchases or flash advertising campaigns.
While fixed fees seem straightforward, the effective APR varies dramatically based on repayment speed. Quick repayment (2-4 months)
results in high effective APRs (27-54%), making these products expensive for short-term needs. However, the flexibility advantage
is crucial: unlike fixed-term bank loans, slower repayment during low-sales periods doesn't trigger defaults or additional fees.
Both providers' fees remain constant regardless of duration, offering downside protection that traditional debt lacks. The model
works best when funds generate ROI quickly—inventory that sells within the season or ads with strong ROAS.
