Updated September 28, 2026 · BorrowCue Editorial Team
Tamara vs Zmarta Norge
Tamara vs Zmarta Norge: the differences
| Compare | ||
|---|---|---|
| APR | 0%Lower | 15.52% |
| Loan amount | up to SAR 50,000 | NOK 5,000 to NOK 800,000 |
| Term | 3 to 24 months | 12 to 60 monthsHigher |
| Arrangement fee | SAR 0 (Pay in 3) | 0 NOK |
| Lender type | Direct lender | Broker |
| Eligibility | 18+ and citizen or resident of Saudi Arabia, UAE or Kuwait; 21+ and citizen of Bahrain | Age 20+, annual income over 120 000 NOK, taxed in Norway for more than 3 years, no payment remarks |
| Loan types | BNPL | Personal, Debt consolidation, Car |
| Funding time | Not confirmed | Money in account within 1-5 business days after signing |
| Representative example | Not confirmed | Nom. rate 12.9 %, effective rate 15.52 %, 75 000 NOK over 5 years, cost 30 509 NOK, total 105 509 NOK |
| Credit needed | Not confirmed | Good |
| Use cases | Not confirmed | Home improvement |
Same on both: Credit check (Hard).
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Key differences
- Tamara scores higher overall: 9.4 vs 8.8.
- Tamara is available in 2 more countries.
- APR is lower at Tamara: 0% vs 15.52%.
- Term is higher at Zmarta Norge: 12 to 60 months vs 3 to 24 months.
- Support channels: only Zmarta Norge offers Chat.
- Loan types: only Tamara offers BNPL.
- Loan types: only Zmarta Norge offers Personal, Debt consolidation, Car.
Our verdict on each
Tamara
Tamara suits Gulf shoppers who want to split a purchase and pay nothing in interest. Its APR of 0% and an origination fee of SAR 0 (Pay in 3) make it the cheapest of these brands, while a hard credit check and a 3 to 24 term window keep it a short commitment.
Zmarta Norge
Zmarta Norge suits Norwegian adults with a good credit record who want a big loan, offering borrowing of NOK 5,000 to NOK 800,000 across personal, debt-consolidation and car lending. The trade-off is the rate, and 15.52% is the number to weigh before you apply.
Score breakdown
| Area | Tamara | Zmarta Norge |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.9HigherAPR of 0% and an origination fee of SAR 0 (Pay in 3) on the interest free plan, against 9.5% to 3,696% at Solcredito MX. | 8.6APR ranks 223 of 350, so a 0 NOK fee does not make the total cheap. |
| Offer | 8.8 | 9.3Higher |
| Trust | 9.2Higher | 8.7 |
The bill, worked out
Borrow a typical amount over a typical term (estimate at the stated APR)
Tamara
0
0
Zmarta Norge
1,696.18
1,696.18
Tamara comes out 1,696.18 lower in this example.
Worked out from the stated prices and rates; your own total depends on how you use it. Facts checked September 26, 2026.
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Tamara | Zmarta Norge |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Not confirmed | Same day funding |
| Legal entity | Tamara Finance Company | Zmarta AS |
| Headquarters | Saudi Arabia | Norway |
| Founded | Not confirmed | 1999 |
| Support channels | Email, Phone, Help centre | Email, Phone, Chat, Help centreCovers more |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Tamara | Zmarta Norge | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| APR | 0%lowest quarter | 15.52%above the median | 8.99% |
| Term | 3 to 24 monthslowest quarter | 12 to 60 monthsat the median | 60 |
Median across 1152 listed lenders.
Pros and cons
Tamara
Pros
- APR of 0%, against 9.5% to 3,696% at Solcredito MX
- An origination fee of SAR 0 (Pay in 3) on the interest free plan
- Licensed by the Saudi Central Bank (SAMA) under 95/A Sh/202502
Cons
- The credit check is hard, so any application is recorded on the file
- Terms run 3 to 24, so a long repayment window is not offered
- Buy now pay later is the only product listed under bnpl, with no consolidation or credit line
Zmarta Norge
Pros
- The arrangement fee is 0 NOK, so nothing is charged to set the loan up.
- Loans run NOK 5,000 to NOK 800,000, enough for home improvement, and the lending covers personal, debt consolidation and car.
- Speed is a selling point: same day funding, with money reaching your account Money in account within 1-5 business days after signing.
Cons
- The rate of 15.52% is the sticking point, and it sits above plenty of rivals on the list.
- Applications run a hard credit search, hard, so a rejection is recorded on your file.
- Eligibility is narrow: adults, an income above a set threshold and a number of years taxed in Norway, and any registered payment remark counts against the application.
Who each suits
Tamara
Who it suits
- Adults who are citizens or residents of Saudi Arabia, the UAE or Kuwait, and adult citizens of Bahrain, splitting a purchase at a merchant
- Readers who want a regulated direct lender with nothing charged in interest on the short plan
- Shoppers with a larger basket in mind, since amounts reach up to SAR 50,000
Who should look elsewhere
- Readers who need a debt consolidation loan or a credit line, since buy now pay later is the only product under bnpl
- Anyone who wants a soft prequalification rather than a hard credit check, or who lives outside the Gulf markets Tamara serves
- Borrowers after a small personal loan, where Kviku's ceiling of up to €2,000 is a better fit, or a much larger one, where Oney Préstamos ES runs to €1,000 to €45,000
Zmarta Norge
Who it suits
- Norwegian adults with good credit who need a large sum for home improvement.
- People comfortable applying through a broker rather than going straight to a bank.
- Borrowers who want to talk to someone, with email, phone and chat on offer.
Who should look elsewhere
- Anyone chasing the lowest rate should check Monzo Flex, whose APR runs 10% to 23%.
- Readers comparing wider rate spreads can look at Cashspace, listed at PHP 12 to PHP 36.
Current offers
Tamara
Current offer
First period offer
Tamara Smart free first month: Free for the first month, then 19 SAR monthly
Tamara Smart membership subscription; pays 19 SAR monthly afterwards
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Country by country
| Country | Tamara | Zmarta Norge |
|---|---|---|
| Bahrain | Yes | No |
| Kuwait | Yes | No |
| Norway | No | Yes |
| Saudi Arabia | Yes | No |
| Sweden | No | Yes |
| United Arab Emirates | Yes | No |
Questions about each
Tamara
What does it cost to split a purchase with Tamara?+
The APR is 0% on the interest free plan, so nothing accrues on the balance. The origination fee is SAR 0 (Pay in 3) on that same plan, which means there is no separate setup charge either. Solcredito MX, by contrast, charges an APR of 9.5% to 3,696%.
Is Tamara regulated?+
Yes. In Saudi Arabia the lender is licensed by the Saudi Central Bank (SAMA), and the licence number is 95/A Sh/202502. The contracting entity is Tamara Finance Company, which is headquartered in Saudi Arabia and lends its own money rather than passing borrowers on.
Zmarta Norge
What can I use a Zmarta Norge loan for?+
Personal loans, debt consolidation and car finance are all covered, as personal, debt consolidation and car shows. Borrowing runs NOK 5,000 to NOK 800,000, and home improvement is the named use: home improvement. Repayment terms run 12 to 60, so a larger balance can be spread over a longer window instead of one short term.
What does a Zmarta Norge loan cost?+
The arrangement fee is 0 NOK, and the rate is 15.52%. The representative example pairs a nominal rate with an effective rate above it, and shows a total repaid noticeably higher than the amount borrowed. Costs build up the longer a balance is carried, so the term you pick changes the overall price.
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