Updated September 28, 2026 · BorrowCue Editorial Team
CHECK24 vs Smava
CHECK24 vs Smava: the differences
| Compare |  CHECK24 |  Smava |
|---|---|---|
| APR | 0.68% to 19.92% | -0.4% to 19.9%Lower |
| Loan amount | €500 to €150,000Higher | €1,000 to €120,000 |
| Term | 12 to 240 monthsHigher | 6 to 120 months |
| Funding time | as little as 3 minutes at some banks, same day | Within a few working days; with digital account check and video ident some banks disburse the same day |
| Representative example | Ratenkredit: net loan amount 20,000 EUR, 7 years (84 months), 5.39% effective annual rate, 5.26% fixed nominal rate p.a., monthly instalment 285.14 EUR, total amount 23,951.75 EUR, Openbank Deutschland AG (BestCredit) | 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 |
| Lender type | Broker | Marketplace |
| Free early repayment | YesHas it | No |
| Loan types | Personal, Debt consolidation | Personal, Car, Debt consolidation, BusinessCovers more |
| 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 |
Same on both: Arrangement fee (0 EUR), Credit check (Soft prequal), Rate type (Fixed), Use cases (Home improvement).
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Key differences
- CHECK24 scores higher overall: 9.1 vs 8.9.
- Founded is lower at CHECK24: 1999 vs 2007.
- CHECK24 is available in 2 more countries.
- APR is lower at Smava: -0.4% to 19.9% vs 0.68% to 19.92%.
- Free early repayment: only CHECK24.
- Loan amount is higher at CHECK24: €500 to €150,000 vs €1,000 to €120,000.
- Term is higher at CHECK24: 12 to 240 months vs 6 to 120 months.
- Support channels: only CHECK24 offers Chat.
- Loan types: only Smava offers Car, Business.
Our verdict on each
CHECK24
CHECK24 suits German borrowers who would rather a broker shop fixed-rate loans for them. Personal loans and debt consolidation run 0.68% to 19.92%, with an origination fee of 0 EUR and terms of 12 to 240, while the home finance listings show an initial rate of 3.43%.
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 | CHECK24 | Smava |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.5Higher | 9.1 |
| Offer | 9.3HigherPersonal loan rates run 0.68% to 19.92% and some banks fund the same day, but a partner bank sets the final rate. | 9.1Amounts of €1,000 to €120,000, rates of -0.4% to 19.9%, no origination fee of 0 EUR and same day funding. |
| Trust | 8.7Higher | 8.5 |
From lowest to highest
| Fact | CHECK24 | Smava |
|---|---|---|
| APR | 0.68% to 19.92% | -0.4% to 19.9% |
| Loan amount | €500 to €150,000 | €1,000 to €120,000 |
| Term | 12 to 240 months | 6 to 120 months |
Feature by feature
| Loan types | CHECK24 | Smava |
|---|---|---|
| Personal | Yes | Yes |
| Debt consolidation | Yes | Yes |
| Car | No | Yes |
| Business | No | Yes |
| Use cases | CHECK24 | Smava |
|---|---|---|
| Home improvement | Yes | Yes |
Where each is licensed and available
| Country | CHECK24 | Smava |
|---|---|---|
| Germany | IHK fuer Muenchen und Oberbayern D-W-155-8YX4-05 |
Available in 1 country for both. Additional countries for CHECK24: 2.
Which one suits you
Pick CHECK24 if cost, loan amount, term, and free early repayment matter most.
Pick Smava if apr and loan types matter most.
How they place
| Ranking | CHECK24 | Smava |
|---|---|---|
| Personal loans | 92 of 1932 | 118 of 1932 |
| Debt consolidation loans | 35 of 425 | 48 of 425 |
| Mortgages | 11 of 719 | 17 of 719 |
| Remortgage deals | 10 of 351 | 14 of 351 |
| Home improvement loans | 41 of 562 | 56 of 562 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | CHECK24 | Smava |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Fixed rate | Fixed rate |
| Features | Same day funding | Same day funding |
| Legal entity | CHECK24 Vergleichsportal Finanzen GmbH | smava GmbH (HRB 97913, Amtsgericht Charlottenburg) |
| Headquarters | Germany | Germany |
| Founded | 1999Lower | 2007 |
| Support channels | Phone, Email, Chat, Help centreCovers more | Email, Phone, Help centre |
Mortgages
| Fact | CHECK24 | Smava |
|---|---|---|
| Initial rate | 3.43% | 3.2%Lower |
| APRC | 3.5% | 3.2%Lower |
| Fixed period | 10 years | 10 years |
| Maximum loan to value | 66% | 110%Higher |
| Product fee | Not confirmed | €0 |
| Purpose | Purchase, Remortgage | Purchase, Remortgage |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | CHECK24 | Smava | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| APR | 0.68% to 19.92%lowest quarter | -0.4% to 19.9%lowest quarter | 8.99 |
| Loan amount | €500 to €150,000highest quarter | €1,000 to €120,000highest quarter | €40,000 |
| Term | 12 to 240 monthshighest quarter | 6 to 120 monthshighest quarter | 60 |
Median across 1005 listed lenders.
Pros and cons
CHECK24
Pros
- Origination fee of 0 EUR on personal loans, so an indicative quote does not cost you anything.
- Amounts run €500 to €150,000 with terms of 12 to 240, so a small bill and a larger project can both be spread.
- A soft prequalification check, soft prequal, shows indicative rates before any full credit check.
Cons
- The credit check listed is a soft prequalification, soft prequal, so a full check can still follow and the bank sets the final rate.
- Loan types stop at personal and debt consolidation and the maximum loan to value is 66%, so borrowers with little equity have less room on the home finance side.
- As a broker, broker, the offer comes from a partner bank, so the rate you end up with is that bank's rather than the site's.
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
CHECK24
Who it suits
- German borrowers who would rather a broker compare personal loans and debt consolidation loans than apply bank by bank.
- Anyone planning a purchase or remortgage, since the home finance listings show an initial rate of 3.43% and a fixed period of 10.
- Home improvement borrowers, since home improvement is the listed use case, home improvement.
Who should look elsewhere
- Monzo Flex, if you want one provider from first quote to final, since its rates run 10% to 23% with no broker in the middle.
- Cashspace, whose listed rates are PHP 12 to PHP 36 and sit in a different market from German fixed-rate loans.
- Cashspace ES, which shows a rate of 0% rather than the German range of 0.68% to 19.92%.
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
CHECK24
Current offer
Bonus
Trikot-Deal bis 01.10. sichern: free jersey plus up to 400 EUR Smily cashback
on successful conclusion of a loan with selected banks by 01.10.; cashback depends on Smily level and loan amount
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 | CHECK24 | Smava |
|---|---|---|
| Austria | Yes | No |
| Spain | Yes | No |
| Germany | Yes | Yes |
Questions about each
CHECK24
What does it cost to take a loan through CHECK24?+
On personal loans the origination fee is 0 EUR, and the rates quoted by partner banks run 0.68% to 19.92%, a wide spread because each bank prices risk differently. Instalment loans sit on a fixed rate, fixed, so the monthly figure holds for the term. Read the representative example before you sign.
Will applying damage my credit file?+
The credit check listed is a soft prequalification, soft prequal, which shows indicative rates before you commit to anything. A full check can still be required by the bank that makes the final offer, so treat the first figures as a guide rather than a deal.
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.