Updated September 28, 2026 · BorrowCue Editorial Team
Acorn Finance vs Plazo ES
Where Acorn Finance and Plazo ES differ
| Compare |  Acorn Finance |  Plazo ES |
|---|---|---|
| APR | 6.99%Lower | 24.19% |
| Loan amount | $1,000 to $100,000 | €500 to €5,000 |
| Term | 24 to 240 monthsHigher | 48 months |
| Arrangement fee | 0% on loans over $40,000; some lenders charge 1-6% on loans under $40,000 | 0 EUR |
| Credit check | Soft prequal | Hard |
| Funding time | as soon as within one business day | Money available about 10 minutes after sign-up; approval answer arrives in minutes |
| Representative example | $10,000 over 84 payments of $161 at 8.94% interest rate and $0 fees | Línea de crédito revolving 1.500 EUR, TIN fijo 21,86%, TAE 24,19%, 48 monthly instalments of 47,15 EUR, total due 2.263,20 EUR |
| Lender type | Marketplace | Direct lender |
| Free early repayment | YesHas it | No |
| Eligibility | US nationwide; minimum credit score around 560; funds for home improvement expenses; contractors must be licensed and in good standing | Over 18, DNI/NIE or European passport, resident in Spain, demonstrable income, good credit history |
| Origination fee (%) | 1% to 6% | 0%Lower |
| Loan types | Personal, Credit line, Secured, Debt consolidationCovers more | Personal, Credit line |
| Credit needed | Poor | Good |
Same on both: Rate type (Fixed), Use cases (Home improvement).
We earn a commission when you sign up through links on this site. Partner status can affect where a brand appears in our rankings.
Key differences
- Plazo ES scores higher overall: 8.9 vs 8.8.
- Founded is lower at Acorn Finance: 2018 vs 2021.
- APR is lower at Acorn Finance: 6.99% vs 24.19%.
- Free early repayment: only Acorn Finance.
- Origination fee (%) is lower at Plazo ES: 0% vs 1% to 6%.
- Term is higher at Acorn Finance: 24 to 240 months vs 48 months.
- Support channels: only Plazo ES offers Chat.
- Loan types: only Acorn Finance offers Secured, Debt consolidation.
Our verdict on each
Acorn Finance
Acorn Finance suits US borrowers funding a home improvement who want a fixed rate and cash released quickly. Its headline rate starts at 6.99%, the arrangement fee is waived on larger loans, and free early repayment means a project that finishes under budget costs less.
Plazo ES
Plazo ES suits Spanish residents with a good credit history who want a small personal loan or a revolving credit line funded within minutes. Its 24.19% annual cost is high next to cheaper lenders, so the total repaid over 48 instalments is the figure to weigh.
Score breakdown
| Area | Acorn Finance | Plazo ES |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.1HigherOrigination fees run 1% to 6% and the arrangement fee is waived only once a loan is large enough. | 8.724.19% annual cost sits well above cheaper lenders, and free early repayment is not offered. |
| Offer | 9.3 | 9.5HigherA personal loan and a credit line under personal and credit line, with funding within minutes of sign-up. |
| Trust | 8.2 | 8.7Higher |
Positions in our rankings
| Ranking | Acorn Finance | Plazo ES |
|---|---|---|
| Personal loans | 866 of 1920 | 20 of 1920 |
| Lines of credit | 217 of 328 | 1 of 328 |
| Home improvement loans | 395 of 562 | 10 of 562 |
What we checked
Acorn Finance
- acornfinance.com: 21 facts, checked September 26, 2026
Plazo ES
- plazo.es: 21 facts, checked September 26, 2026
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Acorn Finance | Plazo ES |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Fixed rate | Fixed rate |
| Features | Same day funding, Credit line | Credit line, Same day funding |
| Legal entity | Headway Sales Inc. DBA Acorn Finance | IDFinance Plazo, S.L.U. |
| Headquarters | United States | Spain |
| Founded | 2018Lower | 2021 |
| Support channels | Email, Phone, Help centre | Email, Chat, Phone, Help centreCovers more |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Acorn Finance | Plazo ES | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| APR | 6.99%below the median | 24.19%highest quarter | 8.99% |
| Term | 24 to 240 monthshighest quarter | 48 monthsbelow the median | 60 |
| Origination fee (%) | 1% to 6%above the median | 0%below the median | 0.25 |
Median across 1152 listed lenders.
Pros and cons
Acorn Finance
Pros
- Headline rates from 6.99% sit well below the 12% median across the site
- Free early repayment, so a project that comes in under budget costs less
- Checks are soft prequalification (soft prequal), so a first quote does not carry a full hard search
Cons
- Origination fees of 1% to 6% can add to the headline rate on smaller loans
- Loans are tied to home improvement, so money is released towards a home improvement project rather than freely
- Credit of poor is expected, so a minimum score still applies and some applicants are declined
Plazo ES
Pros
- The approval answer arrives in minutes and the money is available in your account shortly after you sign up, so a cost that cannot wait can be covered the same day.
- The origination fee is 0 EUR on the personal loan and the credit line, so the cost sits in the rate rather than in a setup charge.
- The rate is fixed, so an instalment does not rise when market rates move.
Cons
- The annual cost of 24.19% sits well above 12% for the median brand on the site, so the interest does most of the work in what you repay.
- Free early repayment is not offered, so clearing the balance ahead of schedule does not bring the cost down, while 81.2% of the brands compared do offer it.
- Applications run a hard credit check, so an outcome here can also weigh on other credit applications you make.
Who each suits
Acorn Finance
Who it suits
- US borrowers planning a renovation who want predictable fixed payments
- Anyone who prefers a soft prequalification check before a full application
- Borrowers who expect to finish early and repay without penalty
Who should look elsewhere
- People needing money for something other than home improvement
- Anyone outside the US, since the licences it holds are all US state licences
- Borrowers who want a rate locked in before a hard credit check is run
Plazo ES
Who it suits
- Adults living in Spain with a DNI/NIE or a European passport, demonstrable income and a good credit history.
- Borrowers who want both a personal loan and a revolving credit line from the same firm, since the range covers personal and credit line.
- People who can carry a 24.19% annual cost and value money in the account within minutes of signing up.
Who should look elsewhere
- Readers chasing a lower annual cost, since Monzo Flex quotes 10% to 23% against 24.19%.
- Borrowers who plan to finish early, since free early repayment is not offered here while most of the site comparison does offer it.
- Anyone needing a sum above €500 to €5,000, where Cashspace at PHP 12 to PHP 36 is set in a different currency and market.
Current offers
Plazo ES
Current offer
Bonus
Cashback on purchases with the Plazo card: Up to 15% cashback at favourite brands
Only when paying with the Plazo card; subject to meeting eligibility conditions and validity of the offers
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Country by country
| Country | Acorn Finance | Plazo ES |
|---|---|---|
| Spain | No | Yes |
| United States | Yes | No |
Questions about each
Acorn Finance
What is the lowest rate Acorn Finance offers?+
The headline rate starts at 6.99%. What you are offered depends on your credit file and the partner lender, so the rate quoted after you apply may sit higher. The spread of rates across the site runs from 6.13% at the lower end to 24.92% at the upper end.
Are there fees on top of the interest rate?+
Origination fees of 1% to 6% can apply, and the arrangement fee is waived only once your loan is large enough, so a smaller loan may carry both. Repaying early costs nothing extra, because free early repayment is part of the deal.
Plazo ES
What does borrowing from Plazo ES cost?+
Plazo ES charges an annual cost of 24.19% on a fixed basis, and the origination fee is 0 EUR, so there is no setup charge to add. The published representative example is a revolving credit line repaid in 48 monthly instalments, and the total due comes to noticeably more than the amount drawn. That gap is the real cost to weigh.
Is Plazo ES a regulated lender?+
Plazo ES is a direct lender listed with Banco de España under 6899, so a Spanish supervisor is responsible for how it conducts that business. A loan is a borrowing contract rather than a savings account, so what you owe comes from the published terms, and the register entry is the detail worth checking before you sign.
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