Funding Circle vs Start Up Loans:Which is more popular?
In September 2026, Funding Circle had more branded searches than Start Up Loans among business lenders in the United Kingdom. Funding Circle had about 33,100 branded searches, while Start Up Loans had 4,400. Funding Circle made up 39.5% of all business lender searches we track, and Start Up Loans accounted for 5.3%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about business lenders, both Funding Circle and Start Up Loans appeared in all five answers. Funding Circle was mentioned before Start Up Loans in three out of five answers.
Who do people search for more?
Funding Circle, about 8 searches for every 1 for Start Up Loans
Who does AI mention more?
Both are mentioned in every answer we collected.
Who does AI recommend more?
Funding Circle, named ahead of Start Up Loans in 3 of 5 answers
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Top business lenders in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews
In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, both Funding Circle and Start Up Loans showed up in all five answers. Funding Circle was listed before Start Up Loans in three of them.
Most recommended by AI
Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.
- Funding Circle1st
iwoca2nd
Start Up Loans3rd
NatWest4th
Allica Bank5th
Fleximize6th
Mentioned by AI
Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.
- Funding Circle5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
- iwoca5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
- Start Up Loans5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
- NatWest3 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
- Allica Bank2 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
- Fleximize1 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
See every answer about business lenders
5 answers
Asked ChatGPT
“Which business lender should I use in the UK?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What are the best business lenders in the UK?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What's the best business lender in the UK for startup funding?”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“best business lender”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“small business loans uk”
Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in United Kingdom on October 19, 2026.
Is Funding Circle or Start Up Loans more popular in search?
This chart shows how often people search Google for Funding Circle and Start Up Loans by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all six business lenders we track, month by month, from searches in United Kingdom.
Share of searches by month for Funding Circle, Start Up Loans. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of searches table
| Month | Funding Circle | iwoca | Allica Bank | Start Up Loans | Fleximize | NatWest |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | 36.8% | 24.7% | 26.4% | 7.3% | 2.7% | 2.1% |
| Nov 2025 | 36.7% | 24.5% | 26.3% | 7.3% | 2.6% | 2.6% |
| Dec 2025 | 37.2% | 24.9% | 27.1% | 6% | 2.6% | 2.2% |
| Jan 2026 | 36.6% | 24.5% | 26.3% | 7.3% | 2.7% | 2.7% |
| Feb 2026 | 36.3% | 24.3% | 26.4% | 7.2% | 3.2% | 2.5% |
| Mar 2026 | 36.7% | 24.6% | 26.7% | 7.3% | 2.7% | 2.1% |
| Apr 2026 | 32.4% | 21.7% | 34.7% | 6.5% | 2.9% | 1.9% |
| May 2026 | 35.1% | 23.4% | 31.2% | 5.7% | 2.5% | 2.1% |
| Jun 2026 | 37.7% | 25.3% | 27.4% | 5% | 2.7% | 1.8% |
| Jul 2026 | 37.8% | 25.4% | 27.2% | 5% | 2.7% | 1.8% |
| Aug 2026 | 33.6% | 27.5% | 24.4% | 10% | 2.4% | 2% |
| Sep 2026 | 39.5% | 26.5% | 23.9% | 5.3% | 2.9% | 1.9% |
How has the Funding Circle and Start Up Loans comparison changed over the last 12 months?
3 findings
- Funding Circle was ahead of Start Up Loans in every measured month of the 12 months ending September 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Funding Circle’s share of searches among business lenders in the United Kingdom moved from 36.8% to 39.5%, and its estimated monthly branded searches held steady at 33.1K.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Start Up Loans’ share of searches among business lenders in the United Kingdom moved from 7.3% to 5.3%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 6.6K to 4.4K.
How did search popularity change for United Kingdom business lenders in September 2026?
2 changes
In September 2026, Funding Circle gained share of searches among business lenders in the United Kingdom, from 33.6% to 39.5%.
In September 2026, Start Up Loans lost share of searches among business lenders in the United Kingdom, from 10% to 5.3%.
How are branded searches counted?
3 search terms
Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Funding Circle’s and Start Up Loans’ names. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for these branded terms can be used to understand whether interest in the brands is growing, holding steady, or fading.
Funding Circle
1 branded search term
- funding circle
Start Up Loans
2 branded search terms
- start up loans
- startup loans
Other head-to-heads among business lenders
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