Hearth and Wisetack are both contractor financing platforms that let homeowners pay monthly instead of upfront. They target the same trades, the same job types, and the same types of customers. But they are built on completely different pricing models, and depending on your volume and how you sell, one will cost you significantly less than the other.
Here is a detailed breakdown of how they actually compare.
The Business Model Difference
Wisetack charges a per-transaction fee every time a customer finances a project. Their base rate is 3.9% per funded loan. If a customer uses promotional 0% APR financing, there are additional add-on fees on top of that: 4.9% for a 6-month promo, 6.9% for 12 months, and 9.9% for 24 months. You only pay when a loan actually funds, so there is no upfront cost or annual commitment.
Hearth charges an annual subscription. Their Pro plan runs approximately $1,799 per year (as of early 2026), with a one-time setup fee of $99. Once you are on the subscription, you can offer financing on unlimited jobs without per-transaction costs. Finance one job this year or five hundred, you paid the same annual fee.
This creates a specific break-even point. Below a certain annual financed volume, Wisetack’s pay-as-you-go model costs less. Above it, Hearth’s flat fee comes out ahead.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Feature | Hearth | Wisetack |
|---|---|---|
| Fee Structure | Annual subscription ($1,799/yr most popular) | 3.9% per funded loan |
| 0% APR Promo Fees | Included or add-on ($399/yr for credit card option) | 4.9 to 9.9% additional per loan |
| FICO Minimum | 550 | Approximately 540 to 550 |
| Maximum Loan Amount | $250,000 | $25,000 |
| Loan Terms | 2 to 12 years | 3 to 60 months |
| APR Range | 4.9 to 35.99% | 0 to 35.9% |
| Approval Speed | Up to 15 minutes | Under 60 seconds |
| Approval Rate | 70 to 85% | 74 to 80% |
| Payout Timeline | 2 to 3 business days | 1 to 2 business days |
| Trustpilot Rating | 4.3 out of 5 | 4.8 out of 5 |
| G2 Rating | Not listed | 4.6 out of 5 |
The Break-Even Math
Let us run the numbers on a real job to see where the two platforms cross over.
On a $12,000 bathroom remodel financed through Wisetack at the base 3.9% fee, the contractor pays $468. That is the cost for that single transaction.
With Hearth Pro at $1,799 per year, that same $12,000 job costs you $1,799 if it is your only financed deal of the year. Clearly Wisetack wins at low volume.
But scale up. At $45,000 in annual financed volume through Wisetack at 3.9%, you pay $1,755 in transaction fees, just barely under the $1,799 Hearth annual fee. Cross $46,000 and Hearth starts costing less. Finance $200,000 this year through Wisetack at 3.9% and you pay $7,800 in fees. Through Hearth you still paid $1,799.
The break-even is roughly $45,000 to $46,000 in annual financed volume at Wisetack’s base rate. Add promotional 0% APR options and that crossover happens even faster because Wisetack’s fees stack up on promo products.
Maximum Loan Amounts: Where Wisetack Has a Hard Ceiling
Wisetack currently caps individual loans at $25,000. That works fine for most repair and smaller replacement jobs, but it limits you on larger projects. A $35,000 master bathroom renovation, a $40,000 whole-house window replacement, or a major HVAC system install can exceed Wisetack’s ceiling.
Hearth goes up to $250,000, which covers virtually any residential project. There is a partnership between LendingClub and Wisetack announced in 2025 that may push Wisetack’s ceiling above $25,000 by mid-2026, but as of early 2026 the $25,000 cap still applies.
This matters practically: if you serve higher-ticket markets and commonly quote jobs above $25,000, Wisetack simply cannot serve those customers. Hearth can.
Approval Speed
Wisetack’s approval is almost instant. Homeowners typically get a decision in under 60 seconds through a text-based application. This is genuinely faster than Hearth’s 5 to 15 minute window and can be a meaningful advantage when you are sitting at the kitchen table and want to keep momentum in the sales conversation.
In practice, both are fast enough that approval speed rarely determines which deal closes. But Wisetack’s near-instant response does remove any awkward waiting period during an in-home presentation.
Promotional 0% APR Financing
Both platforms offer promotional 0% APR options, but the cost structures differ significantly.
Wisetack charges add-on fees per transaction for promo periods: 4.9% for 6 months at 0%, 6.9% for 12 months at 0%, and 9.9% for 24 months at 0%. These stack on top of the base 3.9% transaction fee. A $15,000 job on a 12-month 0% promo through Wisetack would cost you 3.9% plus 6.9%, or roughly 10.8% total, about $1,620 in fees.
Hearth includes a 0% APR credit card option as an add-on to their Pro subscription at approximately $399 per year extra. If you are offering promotional financing regularly, this is dramatically cheaper at any moderate volume.
Wisetack’s Strengths
Wisetack wins on simplicity and reviews. The contractor experience is highly rated, with a Trustpilot score of 4.8 out of 5 and G2 at 4.6 out of 5. The text-to-apply flow is genuinely simple for homeowners and does not require them to download anything or navigate complex forms.
Wisetack also reports an 80% plus approval rate, which is strong for a consumer financing platform. For lower-ticket service businesses, the 3.9% base fee is reasonable and the no-commitment model is appealing when you are just starting out.
The NPS score reportedly sits around 78, indicating contractors and homeowners both tend to have positive experiences with the actual product.
Which One Is Right for Your Business
Use Wisetack if you are just getting started with contractor financing and do not want an annual commitment, your typical jobs stay under $25,000, you primarily do service work and smaller repairs where the 3.9% fee is manageable, or you want the fastest possible homeowner approval experience.
Use Hearth if you finance more than $45,000 in projects per year, regularly quote jobs above $25,000, want to offer promotional 0% APR without per-loan fees adding up, need business software (quoting, contracts, invoices) bundled with financing, or want access to 18 plus lender partners to maximize approval odds across diverse credit profiles.
Many contractors start with Wisetack because there is no commitment and it is easy to set up, then add or switch to Hearth once their financed volume justifies the annual fee. Both platforms are legitimate and the difference is really just about matching the cost model to your volume and deal size.
The Bottom Line
Wisetack is the better starting point for smaller operations or lower-volume shops. Hearth is almost always cheaper for contractors who are actively pushing financing and routinely crossing $50,000 or more in financed projects annually.
Run your own numbers. Take last year’s financed volume (or a realistic estimate if you are just starting), multiply by 3.9%, and compare that to $1,799. Wherever that math lands tells you which platform saves you money.
Ready to See If Hearth Makes Sense for Your Business?
Hearth gives contractors access to 18 plus lenders at a flat annual rate with no per-job dealer fees. If you finance more than $36,000 in projects per year, the math almost always works in your favor.