Driven
4.95
Updated
Sep, 2026
Our Score
Cost
10.0/10
Experience
9.8/10
Flexibility
10.0/10
Support
9.9/10
Smarter Loans
3.6
Updated
Sep, 2026
Our Score
Cost
7.8/10
Experience
6.9/10
Flexibility
7.5/10
Support
6.4/10
Loan Details
Minimum Loan Amount
The minimum loan amount is the smallest sum a lender allows borrowers to apply for.
$10,000
$5,000
Maximum Loan Amount
The maximum loan amount is the largest sum available to qualified borrowers from the lender.
$300,000
$500,000
Minimum Loan Term
The minimum loan term is the shortest repayment period offered by the lender.
3 months
6 months
Maximum Loan Term
The maximum loan term is the longest repayment period available for a given loan.
2 years
5 years
Minimum APR
The minimum APR represents the lowest possible interest rate available to qualified applicants.
3.99%
9.99%
Maximum APR
The maximum APR represents the highest potential interest rate a borrower could receive.
49.99%
35%
Minimum Processing Time
The minimum processing time is the fastest period in which a lender can review and approve a loan.
1 hour
24 hours
Maximum Processing Time
The maximum processing time is the longest duration a lender may take to finalize a loan decision.
24 hours
48 hours
Startups
Startups are newly established businesses that may qualify for loans designed to support early growth, cover initial expenses, or fund expansion opportunities.
Yes
Yes
Same-Day Approval
Startups are newly established businesses that may qualify for loans designed to support early growth, cover initial expenses, or fund expansion opportunities.
Yes
No
Same-Day Funding
Same-day funding means approved funds are deposited into your account on the same day as approval.
Yes
No
Bankruptcy Friendly
Same-day funding means approved funds are deposited into your account on the same day as approval.
No
Yes
Consumer Proposal Friendly
Consumer proposal-friendly loans are open to borrowers currently under or who have completed a consumer proposal.
No
Yes
Debt Consolidation Friendly
Debt consolidation-friendly loans allow borrowers to combine multiple debts into a single manageable payment.
No
Yes
Flexible Repayment
Flexible repayment allows borrowers to choose or adjust repayment schedules to fit their budget.
Yes
Yes
Loan Requirements
Minimum Credit Score
The minimum credit score is the baseline score required to qualify for a loan.
600
300
Maximum Credit Score
The maximum credit score typically accepted or considered for the best loan terms.
900
900
Minimum Monthly Income
The minimum monthly income is the lowest income required each month to qualify for a loan.
$10,000
$5,000
Minimum Yearly Income
The minimum monthly income is the lowest income required each month to qualify for a loan.
$120,000
$60,000
Minimum Time in Business
The minimum time period your business must have been operating before applying.
6 months
6 months
Minimum Age
The minimum age is the youngest age at which an applicant is eligible to apply for a loan.
18
18
Canadian Bank Account
A Canadian bank account is required to verify identity and receive approved loan funds.
Yes
Yes
Deposit Methods
Bank Deposit
Bank deposit means loan funds are sent directly to your Canadian bank account.
Yes
Yes
E-Transfer Deposit
E-transfer deposit means funds are delivered quickly via secure Interac e-Transfer.
Yes
Yes
Revolut Deposit
Revolut deposit allows funds to be sent directly to your Revolut digital banking account.
No
No
Paypal Deposit
PayPal deposit means funds are transferred to your linked PayPal account for easy access.
No
No
Wise Deposit
Wise deposit means your loan funds are transferred through the Wise money transfer platform.
No
No
Fees
Membership Fee
A membership fee is a one-time or recurring charge required to access the lender’s services.
$0
$0
Missed Payment Fee
A missed payment fee is charged when a scheduled loan payment is not made on time.
$0
$0
Platform
Broker
A broker connects borrowers with multiple lenders to find suitable loan options.
No
Yes
Direct Lender
A direct lender provides loan funds directly without involving third-party brokers.
Yes
No
Website
The website is the lender’s online platform for applying, managing, or learning about loans.
Yes
Yes
Mobile App
The mobile app allows borrowers to apply for and manage their loans conveniently from a phone.
No
No
24/7 Support
24/7 support ensures customer assistance is available at any time, day or night.
No
No
Chat Support
Chat support lets borrowers communicate with customer service through live or automated online chat.
No
No
Online Application
An online application allows you to apply for a loan digitally from any device.
Yes
Yes
Overview of Driven vs Smarter Loans
Driven is a business loan lender and Smarter Loans is a comparison site for financial services includuing business loans in Canada. Both of these brands are great options to get quotes from if you’re looking for a business loan.
Is Driven better than Smarter Loans?
Driven might be better than Smarter Loans if you want a quicker process getting your loan. Driven is a direct business loan lender whereas Smarter Loans is a comparison website who will connect you to a lender.
Is Driven cheaper than Smarter Loans?
The price for borrowing through Driven and a lender Smater Loans connects you to would be similar.
Pros and cons of Driven vs Smarter Loans
Some pros of getting a quote through Driven vs Smarter Loans are:
- Access competitive rates
- Loans are offered to a variety of business industries
- Lines of credit and equipment financing is available
Here’s some cons to consider when looking for business loans with Driven or Smarter Loans:
- There are minimum revenue requirements for getting a business loan
- Smarter Loans isn’t a business loan lender, they’re an online comparison site who can connect you to a lender
Key differences between Driven and Smarter Loans
The key difference between Driven vs Smarter Loans is that Driven is a business loan lender and Smarter Loans is an online financial services comparison site who can connect your application with a lender.
