PeerBerry review
8
(our review)
In our latest review, investment platform PeerBerry scores an 8. The platform offers a fairly stable and high return on loans and is easy to use. For this review, we created two accounts and invested in various loans.
Content:
Note: online investing through PeerBerry carries risks, and you may lose (a part of) your investment.
What characterizes PeerBerry?
Founded in 2017 as a p2p platform, PeerBerry has financed over 2.5 billion euros in loans. It issues loans in many countries worldwide, with the largest portion going to European borrowers from countries like Poland, Lithuania, and Spain.
Although PeerBerry is relatively unknown in the Netherlands, the country ranks in the top 3, after Germany and Spain, in terms of large investors. On average, investors earn a return of 11-12 percent on the platform.
For this review, we created the account via a laptop and then tested the mobile app. PeerBerry is often compared to peer-to-peer platforms like Mintos Debitum and Bondora.
Creating an account
Creating an account on PeerBerry is straightforward. You can register through the mobile app (for Android and iOS devices) or online. You will need a camera (such as the one on your mobile phone) and an ID document to create an account.
After setting up an account with your email and a chosen password, you must provide your name, date of birth, address, and phone number. You are then prompted to activate two-factor authentication via an app on your phone, though this can be skipped during registration.
Next comes the verification process. By scanning a QR code, you can complete this step on your mobile phone. This part is handled by a partner and is in Dutch. You scan your ID and take a selfie. Afterward, you must wait until it has been verified.
Once your account is approved, you can transfer money to the platform and start investing.
PeerBerry usability
We already partially described the ease of use during registration. It also offers German, French, and Spanish options in addition to English, and the interface is user-friendly. Unfortunately, PeerBerry does not support Apple or Google Pay, requiring a manual money transfer. You may also need to wait a moment for the funds to appear in your account.
Once your balance is topped up, you can really start. The platform feels reliable, and investing is easy, both on mobile and via the online dashboard. The mobile app also supports biometric (face and fingerprint) recognition, though it may take some getting used to if you’re new to investing.
Automatic investment in projects
For investments, the platform displays the goal, interest rate, and term, along with the flag of the country where you are investing. These are the primary selection criteria for most investors. You can review all projects, but unless you are well-versed in European p2p loans, you are likely to rely on the platform’s own credit checks. PeerBerry provides a convenient Auto Invest feature for this purpose.
With the Auto Invest feature, you can choose a scheme or set your own selection criteria. You can filter by loan originator, interest rate, and region. You can also specify the maximum amount to invest per loan and whether to keep part of your funds available.
Manual investment
Most investors use automated investing, so new loans are often funded quickly. If you choose to invest manually, you can typically only select from remaining loans, often with lower interest rates. If you want to know more about the investment, you can click on the loan number for details on the borrower and repayment schedule. For real estate loans, additional information about collateral or renovation plans is also available.
Selecting the right loans can be challenging. Mistakes can happen, so it’s important to either make informed selections or maintain a well-diversified portfolio.
Customer service in English
PeerBerry offers customer service via phone, online chat, Telegram, or email. Most international platforms use English for customer service. We did not try any other languages here.
Since Dutch as no option, for this review of PeerBerry, we asked questions in English through chat and email. They respond quickly between 8:00 am and 4:00 pm CET, Monday to Friday. Questions after business hours are answered on the next working day.
Offerings
PeerBerry is a large p2p platform with loans from various countries. It does not issue loans itself but works with loan originators—financial institutions or companies that provide loans to consumers or small businesses, often with local licenses.
The largest loan originator is Aventus Group, which also founded PeerBerry. It also works with several other institutions. The top five countries for loan issuance are Kazakhstan, Moldova, Lithuania, Romania, and the Philippines. The interest rates depend on the type of loan but typically range around 9-11 percent.
You can receive updates about each new loan via the Telegram channel. This reveals that new loans are added daily, but due to the large number of investors with Auto Invest strategies, most loans are funded before they become available on the platform itself.
The number of new loans has also decreased somewhat in 2024 compared to the previous year, though there is still a good volume on the platform.
Fees
PeerBerry does not charge fees to investors. The platform earns from the fees loan originators pay to list their loans on the platform. As a new investor, you can receive an extra interest rate (+0.5% welcome bonus for 90 days after registration). Afterward, you receive loyalty bonuses based on the total investment amount in your portfolio.
Reliability and risks
Founded in 2017, PeerBerry has grown into a market leader in the p2p platform space, though it still operates without licenses. For instance, it lacks an ECSP license. Nonetheless, we consider it a reliable platform; we have been active on it for years, though we also see some risks.
Buyback guarantees
PeerBerry displays buyback guarantees (100% buyback guarantee) for most loans. It’s important to know that this guarantee is offered by the partnering loan originators, not PeerBerry itself.
The partners are usually solid companies, though many lack (banking) licenses, and not every partner is equally strong financially. The buyback guarantee sounds reassuring, but it is not a strict assurance that your investment is safe. The guarantee is typically only applied if the borrower fails to repay and only for defaults over 60 days.
Criticism on returns
Repayments are sometimes delayed, and these delays are not always accounted for in the reported return. Another drawback in reviews is that there may be longer periods with few or no investment options, sometimes resulting in high balances without returns. These factors can impact returns for most investors.
Review score: 8
In our latest review, we rate PeerBerry an 8 out of 10, making it one of the platforms we regularly use. If you seek higher returns than savings offer but don’t favor the price fluctuations of stocks or options, the relatively stable interest income from PeerBerry’s peer-to-peer loans is an attractive option.
With a potential return of up to 10%, supported by solid credit management, PeerBerry’s p2p loans are a compelling choice compared to other investments. The Auto Invest feature allows you to automatically spread your investments across many loans.
Drawbacks of PeerBerry include limited liquidity, as it lacks a secondary market. While there are sufficient loans with short terms, sometimes less than 30 days, loans cannot be resold midway. Additionally, loan delays are common, though buyback guarantees offer relief after a 60-day delay.
