The short version
We run an independent comparison site for European P2P lending platforms. Our revenue comes from two sources: affiliate links (currently Maclear) and one paid sponsor (8lends). When you click certain links and open an account, we may earn a commission. The commission costs you nothing - the platform pays it. 8lends pays a fixed fee to appear as Sponsored; it sits outside the graded list and is always labelled.
Grades are set by the methodology before we approach any platform for a partnership. We refuse requests to change a grade, add commentary or remove criticism. Several platforms on our Watchlist and Red list have offered affiliate terms; we said no because the grade does not support a recommendation.
Which links are affiliate links
Every outbound link styled as an orange button (class="bt bt-orange") carries rel="noopener nofollow noindex" and leads to an affiliate partner or paid sponsor. As of February 2026, that means:
- Maclear - affiliate commission when you register and fund an account. EUR 30 welcome bonus for you, commission for us. Graded A+ on our methodology.
- 8lends - paid Sponsored partner, always labelled. Fixed monthly fee; no grade because it sits outside the comparison framework.
All other platform links (blue buttons or text anchors) point to internal review pages or the platform's own site without affiliate tracking. We do not earn from clicks to InRento, Mintos, PeerBerry or any other platform not listed above.
How commissions work
Affiliate commissions are performance-based: we earn only if you complete a defined action (usually account registration plus a minimum deposit). The platform pays the commission from its marketing budget. Your account balance, yield and fees remain identical whether you arrive via our link or directly. You never pay extra for using an affiliate link.
The 8lends sponsorship is a fixed monthly fee, independent of clicks or sign-ups. The fee funds server costs, research time and content production. In exchange, 8lends appears in header navigation and receives Sponsored placement on relevant pages. We label it Sponsored every time and never assign it a letter grade.
How grades and partnerships interact
The grade comes first. Methodology scores every platform on five weighted checks: investor protection (30%), delivery track record (20%), yield reality (20%), ownership structure (15%) and exit options (15%). The result is a letter grade from A+ to D. Only platforms graded B+ or higher qualify for the Green list - our shortlist for core allocation.
We approach Green-list platforms for affiliate terms after the grade is published. If a platform declines or offers terms we find unsuitable, the grade stays. If a platform requests changes to its grade or review text, we refuse. Several platforms have made such requests; none succeeded.
Platforms on the Watchlist (grades C+ to C-) and Red list (grades D+ to D-) do not receive affiliate promotion, even when they offer partnership terms. We do not recommend them for core allocation, so we do not monetise them.
What the income funds
Revenue from affiliate commissions and the 8lends sponsorship covers:
- Server hosting, domain renewals and security certificates.
- Research time - reading prospectuses, licence registers, financial statements and regulator alerts for every platform.
- Monthly grade updates - checking delivery stats, yield gaps and ownership changes.
- Content production - writing guides, maintaining the earnings calculator and updating the market statistics page.
We do not accept payment for higher grades, editorial placement, removal of criticism or exclusive promotion. We do not sell investor data. We do not operate a platform, hold client money or provide regulated investment advice.
If you prefer to skip affiliate links
You can visit any platform directly by typing its name into a search engine. The grade, review and guidance we publish remain the same whether you use our link or not. We believe the grades and methodology add value independently of affiliate income - but commissions keep the site running, so we disclose them clearly and label Sponsored content every time.
Bottom line: Maclear and 8lends fund p2p-platforms.eu through affiliate commissions and a fixed sponsorship fee. Grades are set by methodology first. We refuse requests to change grades or remove criticism. Commissions cost you nothing.