The short answer
- Maclear scores 4.6 on Trustpilot from 971 reviews; Mintos scores 3.7 from 4,573, 0.9 points lower.
- On our own five-criteria score Mintos leads, 80% against 65%, almost entirely because of licensing.
- Target return: Maclear 14.5-14.9%, Mintos 9-11%. Minimum: EUR 50 against EUR 50.
- Mintos suits a large, liquid core position under an EU licence. Maclear suits a smaller high-yield slice you are ready to hold to maturity.
Maclear vs Mintos: the numbers
| Maclear | Mintos | |
|---|---|---|
| Trustpilot score | 4.6 / 5 | 3.7 / 5 |
| Trustpilot reviews | 971 | 4,573 |
| 5-star share | 77% | 53% |
| 1-star share | 4% | 19% |
| Our score (rank of 19) | 65% (#10) | 80% (#1) |
| Target return | 14.5-14.9% | 9-11% |
| Minimum investment | EUR 50 | EUR 50 |
| Supervision | Swiss SRO (PolyReg), anti-money-laundering only | MiFID II, Latvijas Banka |
| Compensation scheme | None | Up to EUR 20,000 for claims against the firm |
| Buyback | No | Partial |
| Secondary market | Yes | Yes |
| Loan types | SME loans, real estate, factoring | Consumer, business, car, real estate, bonds |
| Headquarters | Wallisellen, Switzerland | Riga, Latvia |
| Founded | 2022 | 2015 |
Trustpilot figures recorded 24 Sep 2026. Our score weights investor protection 30%, execution record 25%, return honesty 20%, transparency 15%, liquidity 10% (method).
Where Maclear is stronger
- A higher target return: 14.5-14.9% against 9-11%.
- Business loans made directly by the platform, not notes on loans issued by third-party lenders.
Where Mintos is stronger
- A MiFID II licence from Latvijas Banka, with an investor scheme covering up to EUR 20,000 of claims against the firm (it never covers borrower defaults).
- A deep secondary market and a very wide choice of loans, from consumer credit to bonds.
- Ten years of history, including the 2022 originator crisis.
- Supervision: MiFID II, Latvijas Banka. Maclear has Swiss self-regulation only, no EU licence and a CNMV warning (May 2026).
What Maclear investors say
Two of the 38 Maclear reviews we checked by hand. For Mintos's reviews, see its Trustpilot page.
This is my third month investing with Maclear. They requested a review immediately after opening my account which I never do because it's unfair to judge with no real...
I have been investing in Maclear since January 2025 and I have received my first refunds on schedule. Everything has worked as promised. Monthly payments paid regularly...
Maclear or Mintos?
It depends on what you want. Mintos is stronger on a mifid ii licence from latvijas banka, with an investor scheme covering up to eur 20,000 of claims against the firm (it never covers borrower defaults). Maclear is stronger on a higher target return: 14.5-14.9% against 9-11%. On our own five-criteria score Mintos leads, 80% against 65%, almost entirely because of licensing. Many investors hold both, with the smaller share in whichever feels riskier to them.
Maclear scores 4.6 on Trustpilot from 971 reviews; Mintos scores 3.7 from 4,573, 0.9 points lower. One-star reviews make up 4% of Maclear's total and 19% of Mintos's. Maclear invites its customers to review it; read the Maclear reviews we checked by hand.
No. Mintos: MiFID II, Latvijas Banka. Maclear is a member of a Swiss self-regulatory organisation for anti-money-laundering rules, holds no EU crowdfunding licence and was named in a CNMV warning in May 2026.
Capital at risk on both platforms. Neither a licence nor a buyback protects you from every loss, and past payments do not guarantee future ones.