The Best Esketit Alternatives (2026)

Since its operational launch in 2021, Esketit has been one of the most popular and fastest-growing platforms in the P2P lending space. The decisive factors for this development have been an experienced founding duo, established and profitable loan originators, high liquidity, and competitive interest rates.

However, a series of actions and decisions in recent months has led to significant dissatisfaction among a broad base of investors. In particular, the effects caused by the relocation from Ireland to Croatia should be questioned. More about this in the upcoming section.

The goal of this article is to present five suitable Esketit alternatives for investors. These alternatives are divided into three different categories:

• Three Esketit-like alternatives (similar business model, risk and return profile)
• One stable Esketit alternative (focus on safety and liquidity)
• One high-yield Esketit alternative (for return-seekers with low risk aversion)

Finding good alternatives in the P2P lending space is not always easy. However, with active investment experience since 2017, a P2P portfolio of over EUR 200,000, and a broad network of industry decision-makers, I can identify and assess solid alternatives with different risk profiles.

---

Why looking for an Esketit Alternative?

As already hinted in the first section, Esketit went through a negative spiral in 2025. The problem areas at a glance:

Loan Originators: In March 2024, the two AvaFin shareholders (who are also the majority owners of the Esketit platform) have sold their controlling stake to the South African Capitec Bank. One year later, in June 2025, the loan originator group exited from Esketit entirely. Due to the temporary shutdown of JMD Investments (now reactivated), Esketit now consists primarily of a collection of young fintech startups associated with the shareholders, but lacking substantial market experience.

Regulation: In 2025, Esketit repeatedly emphasized its ambition to become a regulated P2P platform. While this intention was well received by the investor community, the decision in favour of Croatia completely counteracted it. The shareholder overlaps between the platform, and their loan originators (conflict of interest) likely plays a significant role in this regard.

Loan Terms: The uncommunicated consequences of the relocation to Croatia have certainly caused the greatest dissatisfaction among investors. Esketit, known and appreciated for its high liquidity (via secondary market and fast withdrawals via automated strategies) has tied the funds of investors who invested via the Irish entity to the maturity of the underlying loans until further notice. An early exit is therefore no longer possible for the affected investors.

Communication: All factors combined are frustrating enough on their own. However, what stands out is this: there has been no proper explanation, justification, or apology to date. Esketit is leaving its investors in the dark and, with this communication strategy, is risking a lasting loss of trust among investors.

---

Platform-like Esketit Alternatives

This section focuses on P2P platforms that follow a similar business model and whose risk and return profile is comparable to Esketit.

PeerBerry: The Esketit Alternative from Croatia

PeerBerry is also an unregulated P2P platform based in Croatia. Below is a brief overview of the platform:

PeerBerry is one of the biggest P2P lending platforms in Europe. The popularity of the Croatia-based company is primarily driven by two factors: a large and established fintech partner in the background (Aventus Group), which accounts for most of the volume on the platform, and outstanding crisis management, which was demonstrated especially during the COVID-19 pandemic and the war in Ukraine.

With this combination in place, PeerBerry and its partners managed to repay nearly EUR 52 million in war-affected loans within three years. This achievement remains unmatched in the P2P market to this day.

In essence, the Aventus Group is for PeerBerry what Esketit lost with the departure of the AvaFin Group: a large and profitable partner in the background that drives the platform’s growth and stability.

While Esketit has become a playground for many young fintech startups, PeerBerry is struggling with the consequences of its success. Its strong popularity, combined with a stable portfolio size, leads to significant investor dissatisfaction due to non-invested funds.

Anyone who cannot handle cash drag and is not willing to invest heavily on PeerBerry in order to benefit from the perks of the loyalty status (better access to loans) will likely not be satisfied with PeerBerry in the long run.

More information can be found in my PeerBerry review.

---

Income Marketplace: The Esketit Alternative from Estonia

Income Marketplace is an unregulated P2P lending marketplace based in Estonia. Below is a brief overview of the platform:

In recent years, Income Marketplace has earned a reputation as a small but reliably performing P2P marketplace. Unlike Esketit, there are no shareholder overlaps between the platform and the loan originators. As a result, control over its partners is less pronounced.

With a recovery ratio of less than 1%, Income Marketplace demonstrates that effective risk management can also work with external partners.

Beyond the legal framework, the above-average expected returns and high liquidity have also been key characteristics in recent years. Similar to Esketit, however, these factors have gradually declined at Income Marketplace as well.

What Income Marketplace still lacks in direct comparison with Esketit is the size and volume needed to operate sustainably and profitably.

Nevertheless, the Estonian marketplace offers some very interesting options for expanding one’s P2P lending portfolio. My personal investment on Income surpassed the EUR 25,000 mark in 2025.

More information can be found in my Income Marketplace review.

---

Afranga: The Esketit Alternative from Bulgaria

Afranga is a regulated P2P marketplace from Bulgaria. Below is a brief overview of the platform:

Afranga was founded in December 2020 as a financing platform for the lending business of the Bulgarian company Stik-Credit JSC. Similar to Esketit, the initial motivation was to support its own lending activities.

Similar to Esketit though, a small shift over the past years has occurred. In September 2023, Afranga obtained a license to operate as a European crowdfunding service provider. By 2025, a number of external loan originators had joined the now regulated Afranga marketplace.

Unlike Esketit’s international focus, Afranga primarily concentrates on the European markets. Through the financing of buyback-guaranteed business loans, the platform primarily funds consumer loans within the European Economic Area.

In terms of liquidity, Afranga can only score to a limited extent. An announced secondary market is expected to launch in 2026. However, the platform – which has not yet faced any issues with loan repayments – offers a fairly competitive profile regarding expected returns.

Anyone not yet invested should definitely take a closer look at this Bulgaria-based Esketit alternative.

More information can be found in my Afranga review.

---

The Stable Esketit Alternative

This category presents an Esketit alternative that offers investors significantly more security while sharing similar characteristics with Esketit, particularly in the area of liquidity.

Mintos: The Esketit Alternative from Latvia

Mintos is a regulated P2P lending marketplace from Latvia. Below is a brief overview of the platform:

Measured by assets under management and the number of registered users, Mintos is a flagship for P2P lending in Europe. The platform has experienced many good years over the last decade but has also had to navigate some critical periods.

In general, the risk profile at the platform level is very manageable. Since August 2021, Mintos has held an Investment Brokerage license issued by the Latvian central bank. This license, among other things, protects investor accounts up to EUR 20,000 through the investor compensation scheme against embezzlement or platform insolvency. Additionally, Mintos is legally required to keep investors’ financial instruments and uninvested funds separate from its own assets.

Unlike Esketit, Mintos offers a significantly broader range of investment opportunities. This includes various asset classes (loans, ETFs, real estate, bonds, etc.) as well as different issuers. However, it is important not to rely only on diversification but to examine each alternative in detail.

For those who prioritize liquidity and are willing to accept lower returns, Mintos Smart Cash allows investments in a money market fund managed by BlackRock. The expected return, which is tied to the central bank’s interest rates, generally serves as a secure hedge against inflation. Funds can be accessed on a daily basis.

Mintos has some specific features that investors should be aware of. However, in terms of platform security and options for short-term investment, there are few better alternatives.

More information can be found in my Mintos review.

---

The High-Yield Esketit Alternative

The final Esketit alternative is aimed at investors who focus more strongly on returns and have a lower risk aversion.

Lendermarket: The Esketit Alternative from Ireland

Lendermarket is a regulated P2P platform in Ireland. Below is a brief overview of the platform:

Lendermarket was established in 2016 by the Creditstar Group to broaden the financing of its own lending companies. Since 2022, external loan originators have also been represented on the platform. Thus, the marketplace character is fully present just as with the other Esketit alternatives presented in this article.

What distinguishes Lendermarket at its core is the significantly higher expected return, which is among the most attractive in the entire market. Loans with 16% interest, combined with regular and high cashback campaigns, are highly appealing to investors focused on maximizing returns.

For years, the high returns were accompanied not only by significantly higher risk but also by limited liquidity over a long period, specifically due to pending payments.

The issue of pending payments has now been resolved, but investors should still take this into account, especially when investing in loans from the Creditstar Group.

The loan offerings on Lendermarket are as diverse as on Esketit. On both P2P platforms, which for a long time shared their business base in Ireland, the buyback obligation of the loan originators has so far been honoured.

More information can be found in my Lendermarket review.

---

Conclusion and Recommendation

If one looks solely at overlapping features, PeerBerry is certainly the platform most similar to Esketit. However, Income Marketplace and Afranga also share many commonalities with the now Croatia-based P2P platform.

For those who prefer more security and stability, Mintos is worth considering. For slightly higher returns, accompanied by greater risk, Lendermarket is a viable option.

If the right Esketit alternative has not yet been found, my P2P Platform Review page cover additional options.