Updated October 13, 2026 · BorrowCue Editorial Team
Aiful vs Smava
What sets them apart
| Compare |  Aiful |  Smava |
|---|---|---|
| Funding time | As fast as 9 minutes; bank transfer 24 hours a day, 365 days a year | Within a few working days; with digital account check and video ident some banks disburse the same day |
| Lender type | Direct lender | Marketplace |
| Free early repayment | YesHas it | No |
| Loan types | Personal, Cash advance, Debt consolidation, Secured, Business | Personal, Car, Debt consolidation, Business |
| APR | Not confirmed | -0.4% to 19.9% |
| Loan amount | Not confirmed | €1,000 to €120,000 |
| Term | Not confirmed | 6 to 120 months |
| Arrangement fee | Not confirmed | 0 EUR |
| Credit check | Not confirmed | Soft prequal |
| Representative example | Not confirmed | Ratenkredit: EUR 50,000 net loan, 60 months, 8.70% effective annual rate, 60 monthly instalments of EUR 1,022.73, total EUR 61,363.57, Vereinigte Volksbank Raiffeisenbank eG |
| Rate type | Not confirmed | Fixed |
| Eligibility | Not confirmed | At least 18 years old, main residence in Germany, current account at a German bank, regular income, sufficient creditworthiness |
| Credit needed | Not confirmed | Fair |
| Use cases | Not confirmed | Home improvement |
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Key differences
- Founded is lower at Aiful: 1967 vs 2007.
- Free early repayment: only Aiful.
- Support channels: only Aiful offers Chat.
- Support channels: only Smava offers Email, Phone.
- Loan types: only Aiful offers Cash advance, Secured.
- Loan types: only Smava offers Car.
Our verdict on each
Aiful
Aiful is a consumer finance company known for card loans and cashing services that accepts WEB complete applications around the clock. It serves borrowers seeking varied borrowing methods and sole proprietors exploring dedicated business loans while screening and timing shape the final pace.
Smava
Smava suits German borrowers who want one comparison across personal, car, consolidation and business loans, plus home finance, without paying a setup fee. It scores 6 overall, with -0.4% to 19.9% on loans and 3.2% on home finance, but early repayment is not free.
Score breakdown
| Area | Aiful | Smava |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.2Higher | 9.1 |
| Offer | 8.5 | 9.1HigherAmounts of €1,000 to €120,000, rates of -0.4% to 19.9%, no origination fee of 0 EUR and same day funding. |
| Trust | 9.5Higher | 8.5 |
Feature by feature
| Loan types | Aiful | Smava |
|---|---|---|
| Personal | Yes | Yes |
| Debt consolidation | Yes | Yes |
| Secured | Yes | No |
| Car | No | Yes |
| Business | Yes | Yes |
| Cash advance | Yes | No |
Which one suits you
Pick Aiful if free early repayment matter most.
Pick Smava if offer matter most.
Availability and regulation
| Country | Aiful | Smava |
|---|---|---|
| Germany | Not confirmed | |
| Japan | Kinki Local Finance Bureau (Director) 近畿財務局長 近畿財務局長(15)第00218号 | Not confirmed |
Additional countries for Aiful: 1. Additional countries for Smava: 1.
How they place
| Ranking | Aiful | Smava |
|---|---|---|
| Personal loans | 1105 of 1920 | 122 of 1920 |
| Debt consolidation loans | 383 of 425 | 52 of 425 |
| Business loans | 313 of 438 | 19 of 438 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Aiful | Smava |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Not confirmed | Fixed rate |
| Features | Same day funding | Same day funding |
| Legal entity | Aiful Corporation | smava GmbH (HRB 97913, Amtsgericht Charlottenburg) |
| Headquarters | Japan | Germany |
| Founded | 1967Lower | 2007 |
| Support channels | Chat, Help centre | Email, Phone, Help centre |
Mortgages
| Fact | Aiful | Smava |
|---|---|---|
| Initial rate | Not confirmed | 3.2% |
| APRC | Not confirmed | 3.2% |
| Fixed period | Not confirmed | 10 years |
| Maximum loan to value | Not confirmed | 110% |
| Product fee | Not confirmed | €0 |
| Purpose | Not confirmed | Purchase, Remortgage |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Aiful | Smava | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| APR | Not confirmed | -0.4% to 19.9%lowest quarter | 8.99 |
| Loan amount | Not confirmed | €1,000 to €120,000highest quarter | €40,000 |
| Term | Not confirmed | 6 to 120 monthshighest quarter | 60 |
Median across 1152 listed lenders.
Pros and cons
Aiful
Pros
- WEB applications stay open every hour of every day
- Borrowing methods vary to match different customer needs
- Business lending covers sole proprietors plus group corporate options
Cons
- Fastest times shift with application timing and screening status
- Corporate borrowing sits with group offerings rather than direct lineup
Smava
Pros
- Loan amounts run €1,000 to €120,000 with terms of 6 to 120
- Loan types cover personal, car and debt consolidation in one comparison
- A soft prequalification credit check (soft prequal) means you can check rates before a full application
Cons
- Free early repayment: no, so paying a loan off early carries a cost
- Credit needed is fair, and eligibility also requires a German bank account and regular income
- A marketplace, so the rate you get depends on which partner bank responds and the final offer comes from them
Who each suits
Aiful
Who it suits
- Borrowers seeking flexible card based borrowing
- Sole proprietors seeking business capital
- Applicants preferring fully WEB based applications
Who should look elsewhere
- Borrowers needing products beyond card and business lending
- Borrowers who want face to face service
Smava
Who it suits
- Adults in Germany with a current account at a German bank and regular income
- Anyone consolidating debts, funding a car or improving a home who wants to compare offers rather than one lender
- Borrowers who want a fixed rate over 6 to 120 on a personal loan
Who should look elsewhere
- People who want to repay a loan early at no cost
- Borrowers without regular income or a German current account
- Anyone needing a variable-rate loan, since the model is fixed rate
Current offers
Aiful
Current offer
First period offer
Max 30 days interest-free (0 yen interest) for first-time Aiful users: Interest 0 yen for up to 30 days
アイフルのご利用がはじめての方限定（諸条件あり）
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Smava
Current offer
Bonus
500 EUR Amazon.de voucher on taking out a loan: 500 EUR Amazon.de voucher
Loan of at least EUR 30,000 concluded via the 'Zum Kreditvergleich mit Gutschein' button only; voucher sent by email after the 14-day withdrawal period has passed; restrictions apply per amazon.de/gc-legal
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Discount code
Cheaper-goes-does-not-exist guarantee: One-off compensation of the difference if a comparable domestic bank offer is cheaper
Applies to loans brokered via smava; amount follows the offers received in the smava credit comparison, stated without hidden conditions
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Country by country
| Country | Aiful | Smava |
|---|---|---|
| Germany | No | Yes |
| Japan | Yes | No |
Questions about each
Aiful
What loan types does Aiful provide?+
Aiful provides card loans and cash advances for personal borrowing needs. It also offers dedicated business loans for sole proprietors and separate group products for corporate borrowers. Various borrowing methods support different customer needs across the lineup.
What WEB application availability does Aiful offer?+
Aiful accepts WEB complete applications around the clock throughout the year. Customers can complete the process using a smartphone for identity confirmation without requesting postal card delivery. Timing and screening status influence how quickly each request moves forward.
Smava
What does Smava charge for setting up a loan?+
There is no origination fee on the personal loan: the arrangement fee is 0 EUR, and the product fee is €0. What you pay instead is interest on the borrowed amount, which is priced at -0.4% to 19.9% for your own profile.
How much can I borrow and over what term?+
Loan amounts run €1,000 to €120,000, and terms run 6 to 120. The rate model is fixed, so the figure you are offered is set at the start and does not drift with market moves.