Updated September 28, 2026 · BorrowCue Editorial Team
Novo vs Smartney
Novo vs Smartney: the differences
| Compare |  Novo |  Smartney |
|---|---|---|
| Loan amount | up to $50,000 | PLN 1,000 to PLN 150,000 |
| Arrangement fee | 0 (none: application, origination, servicing fees: None) | Prowizja (commission) for granting and servicing the loan, charged with interest; e.g. 7,888.64 PLN on the 34,676.56 PLN cash loan example, 0 PLN in the current 0 PLN commission promotion |
| Funding time | Instant: funds land in your Novo account instantly, same day as approval | Most customers receive the payout in about 5 minutes; 72.32% within 5 minutes |
| Rate type | Fixed | Variable |
| Eligibility | US business owners must hold a Novo business checking account; eligibility builds over about six months of account activity and is based on credit history plus real-time cash flow, final Novo determination | Ages 21-70 holding a bank account in Poland |
| Loan types | Business | Personal, Debt consolidation, Car, BusinessCovers more |
| APR | Not confirmed | 17.11% to 36.19% |
| Term | Not confirmed | 4 to 120 months |
| Representative example | Not confirmed | Cash loan DaSię Teraz: RRSO 36.19% on 8,553.12 PLN over 37 instalments of 357.64 PLN, total repayable 13,596.49 PLN |
| Origination fee (%) | 0% | Not confirmed |
| Use cases | Not confirmed | Home improvement |
Same on both: Credit check (Hard), Lender type (Direct lender), Free early repayment (Yes).
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
- Novo scores higher overall: 9.1 vs 9.0.
- Support channels: only Smartney offers Phone.
- Features: only Novo offers Credit line.
- Loan types: only Smartney offers Personal, Debt consolidation, Car.
Our verdict on each
Novo
Novo suits US business owners who already bank with it and can let eligibility build. The line reaches up to $50,000 at a fixed rate, with fees of 0 (none: application, origination, servicing fees: None) across application, origination and servicing, and approved funds land in the Novo account the same day.
Smartney
Smartney is a Polish direct lender whose speed and wide term choice suit borrowers who need cash quickly and can clear a hard credit check. Costs sit at the high end: a variable rate, and a representative example at the top of the 17.11% to 36.19% range.
Score breakdown
| Area | Novo | Smartney |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.4HigherFees of 0 (none: application, origination, servicing fees: None) for application, origination and servicing. | 8.9 |
| Offer | 8.5 | 8.9HigherDirect lender: 17.11% to 36.19% on amounts of PLN 1,000 to PLN 150,000, terms of 4 to 120. |
| Trust | 9.2 | 9.2 |
Which one suits you
Pick Novo if cost matter most.
Pick Smartney if offer and loan types matter most.
Positions in our rankings
| Ranking | Novo | Smartney |
|---|---|---|
| Business loans | 12 of 435 | 14 of 435 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Novo | Smartney |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Fixed rate | Not confirmed |
| Features | Same day funding, Credit lineCovers more | Same day funding |
| Legal entity | Novo Platform Inc. | Smartney Grupa Oney S.A. |
| Headquarters | Not confirmed | Poland |
| Support channels | Email, Help centre | Email, Phone, Help centreCovers more |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Novo | Smartney | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| APR | Not confirmed | 17.11% to 36.19%above the median | 8.99 |
| Term | Not confirmed | 4 to 120 monthshighest quarter | 60 |
| Origination fee (%) | 0%below the median | Not confirmed | 0.25% |
Median across 1005 listed lenders.
Pros and cons
Novo
Pros
- Fees of 0 (none: application, origination, servicing fees: None) for application, origination and servicing.
- Rate type is fixed and the product is fixed rate, so a budgeted payment holds.
- Free early repayment, so a strong month can clear the balance.
Cons
- Eligibility is reserved for US business owners holding a Novo business checking account.
- A hard credit check sits behind every application, with credit history and real-time cash flow both weighed.
- Support runs on email and help centre only, with no phone route for urgent questions.
Smartney
Pros
- Payouts usually land in minutes, and same-day funding is offered
- Free early repayment, so clearing part of the balance early costs nothing extra
- Amounts of PLN 1,000 to PLN 150,000 over terms of 4 to 120 cover personal, consolidation, car and business lending
Cons
- Credit checks are hard, so a rejected application can leave a mark on the credit file
- Costs sit high, with the representative example at the top of the 17.11% to 36.19% range
- The rate type is variable, so the cost can move over the term
Who each suits
Novo
Who it suits
- US business owners who keep a Novo business checking account and can let eligibility build.
- Owners who need cash the same day as approval and plan to clear the line early.
- Companies that prefer a single direct lender and one banking relationship.
Who should look elsewhere
- Businesses unwilling to open a Novo business checking account, since the account and its activity sit inside eligibility.
- Owners after a personal rather than company product, with Vivus ES at €50 to €1,400 the nearer comparison.
- Borrowers needing less, where Plazo ES at €500 to €5,000 sits closer to the need.
Smartney
Who it suits
- Borrowers with a bank account in Poland who need the money quickly
- Anyone consolidating several debts into a single instalment
- Drivers and homeowners funding a car or home improvement work
Who should look elsewhere
- Cost-first borrowers, since Monzo Flex lists 10% to 23% and Cashspace ES lists 0%
- Anyone wanting a locked instalment, because the rate type here is variable
- Borrowers who cannot pass a credit check that is hard
Current offers
Smartney
Current offer
Bonus
0 zł prowizji (Pożyczka w jednym palcu): 0 PLN commission for granting and servicing the loan
07.09.2026-31.10.2026, new customers who had no Smartney loan before, 10,000-20,000 PLN over 72-84 months, once per promotion; example RRSO 15.5%
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Country by country
| Country | Novo | Smartney |
|---|---|---|
| Poland | No | Yes |
| United States | Yes | No |
Questions about each
Novo
What is Novo, and who can borrow from it?+
Novo is a direct lender, so it lends from its own balance sheet rather than passing applications to third parties. The legal entity is Novo Platform Inc., and borrowing goes to US business owners who hold a Novo business checking account.
How much can I borrow?+
The line reaches up to $50,000, well above the €1,315.44 median in the business loan comparison. It works as a credit line rather than a single advance, so a company draws what it needs and repays as revenue arrives.
Smartney
What does a Smartney loan cost?+
The representative APR is 17.11% to 36.19% on amounts of PLN 1,000 to PLN 150,000, and the rate type is variable rather than fixed. The published example sits at the dearer end of that range, so the total repayable figure is the number to check before you apply.
Is there an arrangement fee?+
There is a commission for granting and servicing the loan, charged together with the interest rather than taken as a separate upfront payment. The current promotion waives that commission, so on a promoted loan the interest is the only charge on top of what you borrow.