The specs
CrediblyShopify Capital
Product typeMulti-productMCA
Amount range$5K – $600K$200 – $2M (varies by store volume)
Cost (factor / APR)Factor 1.11+ (MCA); APR varies (term)Single fixed fee (factor 1.10 – 1.18 typical); no APR / no compounding
Speed to fundAs fast as 4 hours2 – 5 business days after acceptance
Min time in business6 months3 months
Min monthly revenue$15,000~$5,000+ in Shopify processed sales typical floor
Min credit score550+No FICO pull — underwrites entirely against Shopify sales history
Products
- MCA
- Working capital LOC
- Short-term term loan
- Embedded merchant cash advance (Shopify stores only)
Verdicts by use case
- Can actually apply (vs invitation-only) — Winner: Credibly. Credibly accepts applications from any qualifying merchant. Shopify Capital is invitation-only — you can't apply, Shopify picks who gets offers based on store sales history. Most Shopify stores never see an offer.
- Cheapest cost of capital — Winner: Shopify Capital. Shopify Capital's fixed-fee factor (1.10 – 1.18) is materially cheaper than Credibly's 1.20+ typical factor on comparable file grades. Shopify wins on cost when you get an offer.
- No FICO pull / impaired credit — Winner: Shopify Capital. Shopify Capital underwrites against Shopify sales history with no FICO pull. Credibly requires 550+ FICO. Strong-Shopify-history merchants with damaged personal credit are Shopify-only.
- Larger deal size ($300K+) — Winner: Credibly. Credibly underwrites up to $600K. Shopify Capital tops out around $2M but offer amount is capped at ~1× annualized Shopify processing — most stores see $5K – $50K offers. For sizable capital not tied to Shopify volume, Credibly wins.
- Capital not tied to Shopify processing — Winner: Credibly. Credibly funds into your business bank account; processor-independent. Shopify Capital terminates if you pause Shopify Payments or move processors. Multi-processor or off-Shopify capital uses favor Credibly.
The honest takeaway
Credibly and Shopify 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
- Shopify offered me $25K at a 1.13 factor; Credibly pre-approved me for $40K at 1.28 factor — which?
- Shopify, on cost. A 1.13 factor totals 13% in fees vs Credibly's 28% — over $6K cheaper on $25K. Take Shopify unless you specifically need the larger $40K Credibly is offering for capital deployment outside the Shopify ecosystem (e.g., wholesale, tradeshow inventory bought off-Shopify). Run the actual capital plan first.
- I run a Shopify store but Shopify hasn't offered me capital — what now?
- Credibly. Shopify's algorithm weighs sales consistency, refund rate, dispute rate, and store tenure — not just revenue. New stores (under 3 mo), high-refund stores, or stores with chargeback flags routinely get skipped. Credibly's 6-month TIB floor accepts most established Shopify stores; it's the realistic option when waiting for a Shopify offer isn't productive.
- Can I have both a Credibly MCA and a Shopify Capital advance at the same time?
- Technically yes, but Credibly's contract often has anti-stacking language that flags any new advance — Shopify Capital counts. Disclose during underwriting. Carrying both means Credibly's fixed daily ACH plus Shopify's % of daily sales — two repayment streams that on volatile sales weeks can consume 20 – 30% of daily revenue. Workable for high-volume stores but tightens cash management noticeably.