The specs
BluevineStripe Capital
Product typeLOCMCA
Amount range$10K – $250K$10K – $5M (varies by Stripe volume)
Cost (factor / APR)APR 6.2% – 27% (LOC)Single fixed fee (factor 1.06 – 1.20 typical); no APR / no compounding
Speed to fund1 – 3 business daysNext business day after acceptance
Min time in business12 months6 months
Min monthly revenue$10,000Stripe processing required; no public floor (algorithmically chosen)
Min credit score625+No FICO pull — underwrites entirely against Stripe payments history
Products
- Line of credit
- Invoice factoring
- Embedded merchant cash advance (Stripe + Stripe Connect platforms)
Verdicts by use case
- Can actually apply (vs invitation-only) — Winner: Bluevine. Bluevine accepts applications from any qualifying merchant. Stripe Capital is invitation-only — Stripe picks who gets offers based on payments history. You can't apply.
- Cheapest cost of capital — Winner: Stripe Capital. Stripe Capital's fixed-fee factor (1.06 – 1.20) equates to single-digit to mid-teens APR for typical holds. Bluevine LOC ranges 6.2 – 27% APR with most borrowers landing 12 – 20%. Stripe wins on cost when you get an offer, especially for high-volume A-paper Stripe users.
- Revolving / draw-and-repay capital need — Winner: Bluevine. Bluevine is a true revolving LOC — draw, repay, redraw without re-applying. Stripe Capital is one-shot; you repay an advance and re-qualify for the next. Revolving need favors Bluevine.
- Larger deal size ($300K+) — Winner: Stripe Capital. Stripe Capital underwrites up to $5M for high-volume Stripe users. Bluevine LOC caps at $250K. For sizable embedded capital, Stripe wins outright — when invited.
- Capital not tied to Stripe processing — Winner: Bluevine. Bluevine funds into your business bank account; processor-independent. Stripe Capital pulls repayment as a fixed % of all Stripe charges; pause Stripe and you owe the full balance within 60 days. Multi-processor or off-Stripe capital uses favor Bluevine.
The honest takeaway
Bluevine and Stripe Capital solve overlapping but distinct problems. The right choice depends on three things you already know about your business: how fast you need the money, how long you've been operating, and whether the capital need is one-time or recurring.
Frequently asked questions
- Stripe offered me $100K at a 1.10 factor; Bluevine pre-qualified me for $150K LOC at 11% APR — which?
- Stripe is likely cheaper on absolute cost — a 1.10 factor is a 10% total fee, paid back over ~9 – 12 months equates to roughly 18 – 22% APR. Close to the Bluevine 11% APR but usually cheaper when you account for the daily-% repayment that finishes the advance faster than Bluevine's monthly amortization. Take Stripe unless you want revolving draw flexibility — Bluevine wins on the LOC structure.
- I process $80K/mo through Stripe but Stripe hasn't offered me capital — what now?
- Bluevine if you have 12+ mo TIB and 625+ FICO. Stripe's algorithm weighs account tenure, dispute rate, fraud signals, and growth trajectory — not just volume. SaaS businesses with high churn or sudden revenue spikes routinely get skipped. Bluevine is the realistic option; don't wait indefinitely for a Stripe invitation.
- Can I have a Bluevine LOC and a Stripe Capital advance at the same time?
- Yes. Many SaaS and marketplace businesses run both — Stripe Capital funds against Stripe payments for product-specific working capital; Bluevine LOC covers payroll and off-Stripe operations. Disclose Stripe Capital on the Bluevine application. Carrying both means daily Stripe % repayment plus monthly Bluevine interest, which is workable for high-volume operators but tightens cash management noticeably.