Capify vs OakNorth: Which UK Business Finance Provider in 2026?
OakNorth edges this matchup in our 2026 UK panel review, scoring 4.2 of 5 against Capify on 4.0. OakNorth runs sme term loan + bridging at £500k to £50m+ on bespoke; Capify runs merchant cash advance + term loan at £3.5k to £500k on factor rate 1.15 to 1.45. That said, the right answer depends on ticket size, trading history and sector. Capify beats OakNorth for hospitality, retail and salon ltds with strong card-machine flow. Read the side-by-side, then jump to the "when X wins" sections for the buyer-fit logic.
Side-by-side
| Capify | OakNorth | |
|---|---|---|
| Product type | Merchant cash advance + term loan | SME term loan + bridging |
| Ticket range | £3.5k to £500k | £500k to £50m+ |
| Typical rate | Factor rate 1.15 to 1.45 | Bespoke |
| Decision time | Same day | 7 to 14 business days |
| Soft search at quote | Yes | No (hard search) |
| Ltd-only? | No | Yes |
| FCA regulated | Yes | Yes |
| Best for | Hospitality, retail and salon Ltds with strong card-machine flow; Post-decline files where mainstream term lenders blocked on credit history; Sub-12-month trading Ltds with 6+ months of card history | £500k+ tickets backed by clear acquisition, growth or property story; Established Ltds with strong financials and time for a proper underwrite; Commercial real estate and acquisition finance deals |
| Overall rating | 4.0 / 5 | 4.2 / 5 |
| Last reviewed | 2026-05-10 | 2026-05-10 |
When Capify wins
- Repayments scale with daily card sales, which we match to seasonal applicants who cannot service a fixed monthly burden.
- More accommodating on credit history than mainstream term-loan lenders, which is why declined-by-Funding-Circle files often route here first.
- Same-day decisions and funding, which matters for HMRC pressure and supplier-pay deadlines.
- Specialism in hospitality and retail, so SIC-code routing in the matcher leans heavily on Capify for those verticals.
Best for
Hospitality, retail and salon Ltds with strong card-machine flow, Post-decline files where mainstream term lenders blocked on credit history, Sub-12-month trading Ltds with 6+ months of card history.
Watch outs
- Factor rate disguises true APR, which we translate at matcher stage so the applicant sees the all-in cost.
- Tied to card-machine sales, so B2B service Ltds with no card terminal route to invoice finance or asset finance instead.
- Daily repayment model can pinch cashflow for seasonal businesses, route to a Funding Circle term loan if monthly is essential.
When OakNorth wins
- PRA-regulated UK bank, useful when applicants want a deposit-taking institution behind the deal.
- Proprietary credit modelling means we can route some files OakNorth will engage with that mainstream banks would refuse.
- Significant facility size available, so £1m to £50m+ tickets stay on the panel rather than going off-panel.
- Strong record on commercial real estate and acquisition finance, which we lean on for property-backed and acquisition-led applicants.
Best for
£500k+ tickets backed by clear acquisition, growth or property story, Established Ltds with strong financials and time for a proper underwrite, Commercial real estate and acquisition finance deals.
Watch outs
- Not self-serve, so the matcher flags that a real banker has to engage and the applicant has to commit time.
- Headline rates not published, so the matcher cannot give an indicative rate before the conversation.
- Not interested below £500k, route smaller tickets to Allica, Aldermore or Funding Circle.
FAQ
Capify or OakNorth: which is the better UK business finance provider in 2026?
OakNorth scores higher overall in our 2026 UK panel review at 4.2 of 5 versus 4.0 for Capify. That said, the right answer depends on what your file looks like. Capify is the stronger pick for hospitality, retail and salon ltds with strong card-machine flow, while OakNorth is the stronger pick for £500k+ tickets backed by clear acquisition, growth or property story. If your file sits in one of those buckets, ignore the headline rating and pick the right fit.
What does each product look like, Capify vs OakNorth?
Capify offers merchant cash advance + term loan between £3.5k to £500k at factor rate 1.15 to 1.45, with a same day decision window. OakNorth offers sme term loan + bridging between £500k to £50m+ at bespoke, with a 7 to 14 business days decision window. Capify uses a soft search at quote. OakNorth runs a hard credit search at full application. Verify live commercials before signing because lender pricing moves and bespoke rates are common above £100k tickets.
Which is weakest for what?
Capify is the wrong answer for b2b ltds with no card flow, route to invoice finance or asset finance. OakNorth is the wrong answer for sub-£500k tickets, route to allica, aldermore or funding circle. If either of those describes your file, look at the side-by-side table for the alternative route, or run the eligibility checker and the matcher will surface the right shortlist from the FundBiz specialty panel.
Can FundBiz help me choose between Capify and OakNorth?
Yes. We are independent of either lender. The FundBiz specialty panel covers MCA, asset finance, commercial mortgage, bridging, VAT loan, R&D advance and post-decline routes. Tell us ticket size, trading history, sector and any prior declines. We match you against the panel lenders most likely to approve, and if your file needs a post-decline route we surface that explicitly rather than burning credit-file footprint with repeated mainstream applications.
Am I eligible to apply via FundBiz?
FundBiz works with limited companies, LLPs and partnerships of 4 or more partners. Sole traders and partnerships under 4 partners are out of scope and routed elsewhere. Both Capify and OakNorth sit on our panel for the entity types we serve. Trading history requirements vary by lender, so the matcher pre-screens before sending the file across.
Related comparisons
Other UK specialty finance head-to-heads involving Capify or OakNorth:
Check eligibility in two minutes
Tell us ticket size, trading history and sector. We match you against the FundBiz specialty panel: MCA, asset finance, commercial mortgage, bridging, VAT loan, R&D advance and post-decline routes. Limited companies, LLPs and partnerships of 4+.
Check eligibility →Reviewed by Oliver Mackman, Director. Last reviewed: 2026-05-10. Editorial by Best Business Loans Ltd (16833937).