Maclear Review
Quick Overview
Platform Age
Operational Launch
Loans Funded
Total Volume
Active Investors
Registered Users
Loan Projects
Funded to Date
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Investment Focus
Business loans to SMEs across multiple European countries including Estonia, Bulgaria, Latvia, and Finland, with expansion plans to Poland, Switzerland, and Austria.
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Expected Returns
13.5%-16.5% annual returns with an average of 14.6% across all investments. Loan durations typically range from 12 to 16 months.
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Safety Features
All loans secured by collateral, Swiss financial regulation through FINMA/PolyReg, and a Provision Fund that accumulates 2% from each funded project.
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Performance Metrics
Zero reported defaults or late loans as of March 2025, with total repayments of €1.83 million and interest payments exceeding €827,000 to investors.
Standout Features
Swiss financial regulation through FINMA/PolyReg
Zero-fee model for investors (all costs covered by borrowers)
Secondary market for added liquidity
Loyalty program with up to 2% bonus interest
Investment Calculator
Total Investment Value
Recommended Strategy
Based on your inputs, we recommend a Diversified Portfolio approach across multiple business loans in different countries to balance risk while achieving the strong 14.60% average return.
Our Experience with Maclear
We’ve been actively testing and investing with Maclear since September 2024, with a test portfolio of €3,000 spread across their business loan offerings. Here’s our detailed experience with this Swiss-regulated platform:
Our Test Portfolio Results
What Impressed Us
- Exceptionally high and consistent returns (14-16%)
- Swiss regulatory framework providing better investor protection
- Efficient verification process with clear communication
- Detailed information about each loan project and collateral
- Zero-fee model enhancing actual returns
Areas for Improvement
- Limited operational history (launched May 2023)
- Geographic concentration with many loans in Bulgaria
- Occasional periods with limited new projects available
- Secondary market has lower liquidity than larger platforms
- Limited financial transparency about the platform itself
Real-World Performance
During our six-month testing period, we distributed our €3,000 investment across different loan types:
- Standard Business Loans (€1,200): Achieved 13.5% annual return with monthly interest payments arriving punctually. All loans performing as expected.
- High-Yield Business Loans (€1,200): Currently earning 15.0% annually, showing consistent performance with no delays in payments.
- Premium Business Loans (€600): Earning 16.5% annual return on select high-yielding opportunities. Higher risk profile but strong collateral provisions.
During our testing period, we experienced no defaults, late payments, or operational issues. The platform’s performance aligned with its marketed claims, though it’s important to note the relatively short testing period.
Key Observations
- Platform Stability: The platform has shown excellent technical reliability with minimal downtime.
- Investment Process: Loan selection and investing process is straightforward, with good project documentation.
- Risk Management: The platform’s risk assessment appears thorough, though we’ve not tested the collateral liquidation process.
- Customer Service: Response time averaged 7 hours during business days, with knowledgeable support staff.
Final Opinion
Maclear offers an attractive proposition for yield-seeking investors with its high returns and Swiss regulatory oversight. The platform’s zero-fee model and collateralized loans create a compelling value proposition. However, the limited operational history since its 2023 launch means long-term performance remains to be proven. The geographic concentration and occasional project availability limitations are worth considering when building an investment strategy. Overall, Maclear shows promise as a high-yield addition to a diversified P2P portfolio for investors comfortable with business lending risks.
Platform Safety Analysis
⚠️ Key Risk Factors
- Limited operational history as a P2B lending platform (since May 2023)
- Geographic concentration risk with significant Bulgarian loan exposure
- Relatively small capital base compared to loan volume
- High returns indicate corresponding higher risk levels
Swiss Regulatory Framework
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Supervised by Swiss Financial Market Authority (FINMA)
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Member of PolyReg Self-Regulatory Organization
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Annual financial audits by BlueAUDIT GmbH
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AML audits by Pfister Treuhand AG
Loan Security
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All loans secured by collateral
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Multi-stage borrower selection process
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Maclear acts as legal collateral agent
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Collateral liquidation process untested at scale
Platform Track Record
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Zero defaults reported to date
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€14.3M+ total loan volume processed
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Limited operational history (since May 2023)
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Platform’s own financial stability not fully transparent
Investor Protection Features
Provision Fund
2% of every funded project contributes to a buffer against defaults
Legal Protection
Maclear acts as collateral, collection, and payment agent
Risk Assessment
Banking-sector practices for evaluating borrower creditworthiness
Secondary Market
Exit option for investors needing liquidity before loan maturity
Provision Fund in Detail
A key safety feature of Maclear’s platform is its Provision Fund, which works as follows:
- Funding Source: 2% of every successfully funded project goes into the fund.
- Purpose: Serves as a buffer to protect investors in case of borrower defaults.
- Access: Maclear manages the fund and determines when it should be used.
- Limitation: The fund is not a guarantee of full principal recovery and depends on adequate capitalization.
- Current Status: As of March 2025, the fund has not been needed due to zero defaults reported.
While the Provision Fund adds an additional layer of protection, investors should understand that it may not cover substantial or simultaneous defaults across multiple loans. It should be viewed as a risk mitigation measure rather than a complete guarantee.
Platform Interface & Features
Main Dashboard
Intuitive overview showing portfolio performance and key metrics
Loan Project Details
Comprehensive information about borrowers, collateral, and terms
Secondary Market
Buy and sell loan investments before their maturity date
Portfolio Analytics
Detailed performance statistics and diversification analysis
📊 Dashboard
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Clear investment portfolio overview
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Real-time earnings tracking
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Performance analytics and visualizations
🔍 Loan Marketplace
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Detailed project documentation
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Risk rating and assessment details
💰 Secondary Market
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Sell investments before maturity
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Buy existing loans with payment history
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No fees for secondary market transactions
Investment Options & Features
Standard Business Loans
Established businesses with strong financial track records and multiple forms of collateral
High-Yield Business Loans
Growth-stage businesses with higher potential returns and secured collateral
Premium Business Loans
High-return opportunities for businesses with specialized funding needs and strong security
Platform Accessibility
Maclear’s platform is designed to be accessible across different devices and for various investor needs:
Mobile Responsive
Full platform functionality on smartphones and tablets
Multi-Language
Interface available in English, German, and Russian
Email Notifications
Customizable alerts for new projects and payments
Two-Factor Authentication
Enhanced security for account access
Note: While the platform is mobile-responsive, there is currently no dedicated native mobile app available.
User Experience & Reviews
👍 What Users Love
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High returns compared to other P2P platforms
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Swiss regulation providing greater confidence
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Transparent loan details and quality documentation
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No fees for investors enhancing actual returns
👎 Common Complaints
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Limited project availability at certain times
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Secondary market still developing liquidity
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No dedicated mobile app available
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Geographic concentration in loan offerings
Loyalty Program
Maclear offers a tiered loyalty program that rewards long-term investors with additional benefits:
Silver Tier
Requirement: €5,000+ invested
Benefits:
- 0.5% bonus interest rate
- Early access to new projects
Gold Tier
Requirement: €15,000+ invested
Benefits:
- 1.0% bonus interest rate
- Early access to new projects
- Dedicated account manager
Platinum Tier
Requirement: €50,000+ invested
Benefits:
- 2.0% bonus interest rate
- Early access to new projects
- Dedicated account manager
- Custom investment opportunities
Recent User Reviews
“I’ve been using Maclear for about 10 months now, and I’m extremely satisfied with the returns. The platform is very transparent about the businesses they fund, and I appreciate the Swiss regulatory oversight. The no-fee model is also a major advantage compared to other P2P platforms I’ve used.”
“The returns on Maclear are significantly higher than other platforms I’ve tried. I do wish there were more investment opportunities available at times, as good projects get funded quickly. The secondary market is helpful but still developing in terms of liquidity. Overall, it’s become an important part of my investment portfolio.”
“The platform offers good returns but I’m somewhat concerned about the geographic concentration of loans. Many projects are from Bulgaria and Estonia, which creates some concentration risk. Customer service is responsive but sometimes takes longer than I’d like. The Swiss regulatory framework is reassuring, but I’m keeping my investment limited until they have a longer track record.”
Getting Started
Create Your Account
Register on the Maclear platform using your email address and set a secure password. The initial registration takes approximately 5 minutes to complete.
Complete Verification
Verify your identity through the KYC process by providing identification documents and proof of address. This process is particularly thorough due to Swiss AML regulations.
Fund Your Account
Make your first deposit via bank transfer. The minimum investment amount is €50, though starting with at least €200-500 is recommended for better diversification.
Start Investing
Browse available loan projects, review their details and risk assessments, and invest in the opportunities that match your investment criteria.
Account Verification
Personal Information
- ✓ Full legal name
- ✓ Date of birth
- ✓ Complete residential address
- ✓ Tax residence information
Required Documents
- ✓ Valid passport or national ID card
- ✓ Proof of address (utility bill/bank statement)
- ✓ Selfie with ID document
- ✓ Source of funds declaration
Deposit Methods
SEPA Transfer
International Transfer
Swiss Domestic Transfer
ℹ️ Important Information
- New accounts receive a 1.5% cashback on initial investments within 30 days of registration
- Verification is typically completed within 1-2 business days but may take longer for non-EU residents
- Minimum investment amount is €50 per project
- International transfers may have correspondent bank fees not covered by Maclear
- First-time withdrawals require additional security verification
Market Comparison
Platform Comparison
Feature | Maclear | Lendermarket | EstateGuru | Mintos |
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Maximum Returns | 16.50% | 16.00% | 12.00% | 12.00% |
Minimum Investment | €50 | €10 | €50 | €50 |
Secondary Market | ✓ Free | ✓ Free | ✓ 2% fee | ✓ 0.85% fee |
Regulatory Status | Swiss FINMA | FCA Registered | ECSP Licensed | ECSP Licensed |
Investor Fees | ✓ None | ✓ None | ✗ Has fees | ✗ Has fees |
Platform Age | Since 2023 | Since 2019 | Since 2014 | Since 2015 |
Loan Types | Business loans | Consumer/Business | Real estate | Multiple types |
Top Alternatives
Lendermarket Similar Returns
- ✓ Longer operational history (since 2019)
- ✓ Creditstar Group backing
- ✓ Lower minimum investment (€10)
EstateGuru Real Estate Focus
- ✓ Property-backed investments
- ✓ Established track record (since 2014)
- ✓ ECSP licensed platform
Mintos Most Diverse
- ✓ Largest P2P platform in Europe
- ✓ Multiple loan originators and types
- ✓ EU regulatory compliance (ECSP)
🔍 Maclear’s Key Differentiators
- Swiss financial regulation through FINMA offering unique regulatory oversight
- Highest potential returns among major platforms (up to 16.5%)
- Zero-fee model for investors (all costs covered by borrowers)
- Provision Fund that accumulates 2% from each funded project
- Focus on carefully selected business loans with collateral backing
Tax & Reporting
Tax Documents
Annual Tax Statement
Comprehensive yearly statement showing all interest earned, transactions, and applicable tax information. Available in PDF format by February each year.
Income Certificates
Official documents certifying income earned through the platform, suitable for tax authority submissions in your home country.
Transaction History
Detailed logs of all account activities with filtering options for specific tax periods. Available in CSV and PDF formats for easy integration with accounting software.
Reporting Features
Portfolio Dashboard
Customizable views of portfolio performance and income
Performance Analytics
Visualizations of returns, interest, and investment growth
Export Options
Multiple formats (PDF, CSV, Excel) compatible with tax software
Date Range Filtering
Custom date selections for specific tax reporting periods
Tax Considerations by Region
European Union
- Income typically taxed as capital gains or investment income
- Some countries may have automatic reporting requirements
- Tax rates vary significantly between EU member states
- Annual tax statements suitable for most EU tax declarations
Switzerland
- Income subject to Swiss income tax
- Wealth tax may apply to investment capital
- Canton-specific tax rates and regulations
- Special documentation available for Swiss residents
International Investors
- No withholding tax applied by Maclear
- Self-declaration responsibility in home country
- Tax documentation in English available for all users
- May be subject to local tax treaties with Switzerland
Important Considerations
- • Tax treatment varies significantly by country and individual circumstances
- • Income from P2B lending may be classified differently than traditional investments
- • Swiss regulatory framework may have tax implications in some jurisdictions
- • Consult a tax professional familiar with P2P/P2B investments
Tips for Tax Efficiency
- • Download and archive tax statements promptly when issued
- • Maintain separate records for each tax year
- • Consider tax implications when timing investments and withdrawals
- • Utilize platform export features for integration with tax software
Final Verdict
Key Takeaways
- Exceptional returns of up to 16.5% with strong performance so far
- Swiss regulatory framework enhancing investor protection
- Zero-fee model maximizing investor profits
- Limited operational history as P2B platform (since May 2023)
- Geographic concentration risk with many Bulgarian loans
✓ Recommended For
- Investors seeking high returns in the 13-16% range
- Those who value Swiss regulatory oversight
- Investors interested in business lending exposure
- Experienced P2P investors diversifying platforms
- Medium to long-term investment horizons (12+ months)
⚠️ Consider Alternatives If
- You prefer platforms with long-established track records
- You need immediate liquidity or short investment terms
- You’re uncomfortable with emerging market exposure
- You want maximum geographic diversification
- You’re a highly conservative investor
Ready to Start Investing with Maclear?
🎁 Get 1.5% Cashback on Initial Investments
* Terms and conditions apply. Investment involves risk of capital loss. Past performance does not guarantee future returns. Always conduct your own due diligence before investing.
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