Will comparing on PrimeCompare affect my credit score?

No. Browsing and comparing on PrimeCompare does not affect your credit score. Lenders may perform their own credit and affordability checks when you submit an application directly on their site.

What do I typically need to apply for a loan?

Most South African short-term lenders require a valid SA ID, an active South African bank account, proof of income (payslip or 3 months bank statements), and a working cell number or email address. Requirements vary by lender and loan amount.

What is the difference between personal loans and business funding on PrimeCompare?

Short-term personal loans (up to R8,000) are for individual cash needs — emergency expenses, bridging before payday. Business funding via Merchant Capital (R50,000 to R5,000,000) is for SMEs needing working capital for stock, cash flow or growth. Choose based on who needs the money and what it will be used for.

How fast can I get a loan decision?

Decision speed depends on the lender and your profile. Many short-term lenders use automated decisioning and can approve a complete application within minutes. Payout timing after approval varies by lender and your bank — same-day and next-day options exist for approved applications submitted on business days.

Compare loans and business funding in South Africa — fast, simple, secure

Q: Does PrimeCompare provide loans?

No. PrimeCompare is a comparison platform, not a lender. We connect users to partner lenders' official websites where you apply directly. PrimeCompare does not approve loans, set interest rates, or make credit decisions.

Q: Is PrimeCompare free to use?

Yes. Comparing options on PrimeCompare is completely free. We may earn a referral commission from lender partners when you apply through our links, at no extra cost to you. You always review the lender's fees and total repayment before submitting.

Answer three questions below and see only the lenders whose criteria you actually meet.

Compare loan options Check business funding

Short-term loans up to R8,000 · Personal loans to R250,000 · Business funding R50K–R5M

PrimeCompare is not a lender. Partners pay us — never at extra cost to you. Full disclosure · Is this site legit?

6NCR-registered lending & funding partners

80+In-depth loan & funding guides

R500–R5MRange compared, short-term to business funding

Aug 2026Rates & criteria last reviewed

Which lenders will actually consider you?

Nothing is submitted or stored. This is not a credit check.

Criteria are taken from each lender's published requirements and confirmed partner terms. Approval always depends on the lender's own affordability assessment under the National Credit Act — no comparison site can approve you. Links to lenders are paid placements; see our disclosure.

Short-term loan options

Need cash urgently? Start with these trusted short-term lenders first.

Fast approval

Lime Loans

Best for quick personal cash

Provided by Century Financial Services

Get fast cash up to R8,000
Quick online application
Fast approval decisions

Typical requirements: SA ID, active SA bank account, proof of income and recent bank statements.

What to expect: You apply on the lender’s site and receive a decision based on their checks.

Check your eligibility

🔒 We compare regulated lenders (NCR-registered) · No upfront fees · Approval subject to checks. Verify NCR

Instant decision

Fasta

Best if you earn R7,500+ with a clean record

NCR-registered · NCRCP10591

Borrow up to R15,000
Repay over 1 to 6 months
Paid out seconds after approval, 24/7

Typical requirements: SA ID, 3 months’ bank statements, net income of R7,500+ and no adverse credit listings.

What to expect: Not suitable if you are under debt review or blacklisted. Start with Lime Loans instead.

Check your eligibility

🔒 NCR-registered direct lender · No upfront fees · Approval subject to affordability and credit checks.

Multiple lenders

Zolos

Best if you are employed and earn R10,000+

Loan matching service · not a lender itself

One short form, matched to lenders that fit your profile
See your loan offers on screen straight away
Choose the offer that suits you

Eligibility: Formal employment, R10,000+ monthly income and age 18–60.

What to expect: You create a Zolos account with your SA ID number, then choose an offer. Approval is up to the lender.

See your offers

🔒 Approval subject to the lender’s affordability and credit checks.

Compare multiple lenders

UApply Loans

Best for comparing lenders if you are employed with a clear credit record

One application path for multiple lender options
Requires formal employment and a clear credit record
Useful if you want to compare instead of applying blind

Eligibility: UApply requires formal employment and a clear credit record. If you are blacklisted, under debt review or have recent defaults, start with Lime Loans above instead.

Best use case: Users who want more than one possible lender path before choosing.

Compare lenders

🔒 Comparison-style application path · Multiple lender matching angle · Approval subject to partner checks.

Or apply directly with a single lender below if you already know what you want.

Best for urgent personal cashStart with Wonga, Lime Loans or FASTA if you need a smaller amount and a fast online application.

Best for comparing optionsUse UApply only if you are employed with a clear credit record and want to see several lenders at once.

Business funding sits belowMerchant Capital and FundingHub are grouped separately below because they suit SMEs better than short-term personal cash.

Before you apply

PrimeCompare is a comparison site — not a lender. When you click “Apply”, you’ll be redirected to the provider’s secure website. We may earn a commission from partners at no extra cost to you. Always read the lender’s fees, repayment terms and eligibility criteria.

No upfront fees: Legit lenders won’t ask for a “release fee” before paying out.
Borrow responsibly: Only apply if you can afford repayments.
Privacy: We don’t collect bank login details on PrimeCompare.

Merchant Capital business funding in South Africa — working capital that adapts to your sales

Access working capital for stock, growth, or cash‑flow gaps. Repay through a percentage of daily card sales — no fixed monthly instalments. Subject to approval and affordability checks.

💳 Repay via card sales %

💰 Funding up to R5M

⚡ Potential fast payout

🧾 No upfront fees

View details & requirements → Apply on Merchant Capital →

You’ll be redirected to Merchant Capital’s secure application portal.

More business funding options

If Merchant Capital is not the right fit, compare these secondary business funding options for South African SMEs. See our full business funding comparison.

Business Funding

FundingHub (Business Funding)

Best for SME funding enquiries

Funding solutions for South African SMEs
Tracked application via PrimeCompare referral link
Typical requirements: trading 6+ months, min annual revenue R500,000

If your business doesn’t meet the criteria, the application may be declined — you can reapply once eligible.

Check business funding

Applications are screened by a lender panel. Approval is not guaranteed and requires employment plus a clear credit record.

Business Funding

Lula (Business Funding)

Best for fast, flexible SME funding up to R5M

Fixed-term funding or a revolving cash flow facility
Funding from R10,000 up to R5,000,000
Typical requirements: trading 12+ months, min annual turnover R500,000, min monthly revenue R40,000

Fixed monthly cost quoted upfront — no interest-rate calculations, no early repayment penalties.

Check business funding

Disclosure: PrimeCompare may earn a referral commission if an application is approved.

Choose the right path first

Not every lender fits every need. Start by choosing the option that matches why you need money — this helps users compare faster and click the right partner the first time.

Personal cash

Short-term loans

Best for urgent everyday needs when you need a fast, smaller personal loan solution.

Quick online application
Smaller amounts
Fast lender decision flow

Compare personal lenders →

Business growth

Business funding

Best for stock, cash flow, equipment, or expansion if you run an established SME.

Higher funding ranges
Business-focused criteria
Better for growth than personal credit

View funding option →

Card machine sales

Merchant cash advance

Best for businesses with card turnover that want repayments linked to daily sales instead of fixed monthly instalments.

Repay via card sales %
Flexible cash-flow friendly model
Good for retail and hospitality

Check eligibility →

Need guidance

Not sure what to choose?

Use PrimeCompare like a guide: compare by speed, funding type, and what you need the money for before applying.

Match need to lender
Reduce wasted applications
Choose with more confidence

See how it works →

How to choose the right option

People convert better when the decision is simple. Use this quick flow before clicking apply.

Choose your need

Personal cash, business funding, or merchant cash advance.

Compare the fit

Look at speed, paperwork, amount, and whether the lender suits personal or business use.

Apply on the lender site

PrimeCompare sends you to the provider’s secure site to complete the application.

⚠ Avoid loan scams (quick safety check)

PrimeCompare is a comparison site. We’ll only redirect you to partner lenders’ official websites — but scams exist online. Use these red flags to stay safe.

No upfront fees: Be cautious of anyone asking for a “release fee” or deposit before payout.
Protect your banking: Never share OTPs, PINs, or full online-banking passwords.
Official channels only: Avoid WhatsApp-only “agents” requesting payments or personal documents.
Read the full costs: Confirm total repayment, fees, and due dates before you submit.

Helpful links: Disclosure · Disclaimer

How it works

PrimeCompare helps users narrow the choice before they click. Compare the category, choose the best-fit provider, then continue on the lender’s secure application page. Always review the lender’s terms, costs and eligibility before submitting any information.

1) Compare

Pick the option that fits your needs.

2) Apply

You’ll be redirected to the lender’s site.

3) Get a decision

Approval & terms are set by the lender.

Contact

Need help or want business funding? Email our funding desk and we’ll get back to you.

businessfunding@primecompare.co.za Business hours: Mon–Fri

Browse Loans by Amount

Jump straight to the loan size you need — each page compares NCR-registered lenders, typical costs and approval requirements for that amount. Or start at the complete loans South Africa hub for the full picture.

R2,000 loan R3,000 loan R5,000 loan Up to R8,000 R10,000 loan R15,000 loan R20,000 loan R50,000 loan

Not sure how much you qualify for? Use the personal loan calculator or read how much can I borrow in South Africa. Borrow responsibly — see our responsible borrowing guide.

Frequently asked questions

Clear answers to common questions — so you can compare and apply with confidence.

Does PrimeCompare provide loans?

No. PrimeCompare is a comparison platform. We link you to partner lenders’ official sites where you can apply directly.

Is PrimeCompare free to use?

Yes. We may earn a commission from partners at no extra cost to you. You always review the lender’s fees and total repayment before submitting.

Will comparing affect my credit score?

Browsing and comparing on PrimeCompare does not affect your credit score. Lenders may perform their own checks during the application process.

What do I typically need to apply?

Usually a South African ID, an active SA bank account, proof of income, and recent bank statements. Requirements vary by lender.

How fast can I get a decision?

It depends on the lender and your profile. Many providers aim for fast decisions, but timing is not guaranteed and terms are set by the lender.

🔒 Secure & private

⚡ Fast decisions

🇿🇦 South African partners

How PrimeCompare works — and what we will not do

The things worth knowing before you compare a credit product on this site.

NCR-registered lenders only

Every lender listed on this site is registered with the National Credit Regulator. You can verify any of them yourself on the NCR register.

We never handle your money or your application

PrimeCompare does not lend, does not take payment and does not process applications. You apply on the lender's own site, and the credit agreement is between you and them.

We tell you when we earn

If you apply through a link on this site, PrimeCompare may earn a referral fee. It costs you nothing extra and it does not change the rate you are offered or the order lenders appear in.

Costs are quoted against the NCA caps

Initiation fees, monthly service fees and interest are capped by the National Credit Act. Where we show a cost, it is worked against those caps — not against a figure a lender gave us. See how we review lenders.

No reviews until they are real

You will not find customer star ratings or testimonials on this site. We do not collect reviews yet, so we show none. When PrimeCompare has genuine, independently published reviews, they will appear here with a link to the source.

Comparing here does not affect your credit score

Reading and comparing on PrimeCompare records nothing against your credit profile. A credit enquiry only happens once you submit a formal application on a lender's own site.