The short answer
In our standard example ($100,000 against a $750,000 home with a $300,000 mortgage, 4% growth, settled after 7 years), Unlock and Splitero cost about the same, 15.9% a year.
Unlock is cheaper below about 8.3% annual growth; Splitero is cheaper above it (settling after 7 years).
Settle within 3 years and Splitero is cheaper; hold for 10 and Unlock is.
Side by side
| Unlock | Splitero | |
|---|---|---|
| What they call it | Home Equity Agreement (HEA) | Home Equity Investment (an option purchase agreement) |
| How you repay | Share of your home's future value, set with an exchange rate | Share of your home's future value (the Split Percentage) |
| Cash available | $15K to $500K | Up to $600K |
| Max share of home value | Not published | 25% |
| Equity you must keep | 30% after funding | Not published |
| Fee | Up to 4.9% Exchange rate and cap from a third-party review | 4.99% |
| Cost cap | 19.9% a year | 17.99% a year, compounded monthly |
| Term | 10 years | 10 to 30 years (matches your mortgage) |
| Minimum credit score | 500 | 500 |
| Shares losses if value falls | Yes, you owe a share of a lower value | Yes, you owe a share of a lower value |
Full reviews: Unlock · Splitero. Sources for every term.
Cost at different growth rates and timelines
Effective annual cost for $100,000 against a $750,000 home with a $300,000 mortgage. The cheaper of the two is highlighted.
| Growth | 3 years | 7 years | 10 years | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unlock | Splitero | Unlock | Splitero | Unlock | Splitero | |
| 0% a year | 22.6% | 22.3% | 11.5% | 11.5% | 7.9% | 7.9% |
| 2% a year | 22.6% | 22.3% | 13.7% | 13.7% | 10.0% | 10.1% |
| 4% a year | 22.6% | 22.3% | 15.9% | 15.9% | 12.2% | 12.2% |
| 6% a year | 22.6% | 22.3% | 18.1% | 18.2% | 14.4% | 14.4% |
| 8% a year | 22.6% | 22.3% | 20.4% | 20.4% | 16.5% | 16.5% |
Ten-year agreements are shown at year 10 when you'd hold longer. Open this example in the calculator, or see every provider on one chart in the 2026 cost study.
Key differences
- How you repay: Unlock: share of your home's future value, set with an exchange rate. Splitero: share of your home's future value (the split percentage).
- Time to settle: Unlock 10 years; Splitero 10 to 30 years (matches your mortgage).
- Cost cap: Unlock 19.9% a year; Splitero 17.99% a year, compounded monthly.
- How much you can take: Unlock doesn't publish a limit; Splitero up to 25% of your home's value.
Which fits you
- Your home may not appreciate much: Unlock (11.5% vs 11.5% at 0% over 7 years).
- You expect strong growth: Unlock (20.4% vs 20.4% at 8% over 7 years).
- You might settle within 3 years: Splitero (22.3% vs 22.6%).
- You need more than 10 years: Splitero, which allows up to 30 years.
Questions
Is Unlock or Splitero cheaper?
In our standard example ($100,000 against a $750,000 home with a $300,000 mortgage, 4% growth, 7 years), Unlock and Splitero cost about the same, 15.9% a year. Unlock is cheaper below about 8.3% annual growth; Splitero is cheaper above it (settling after 7 years).
Which is better if I settle early, Unlock or Splitero?
Settling after 3 years at 4% growth, Splitero costs 22.3% a year versus 22.6%.
More comparisons
Run your own numbers
Every figure here uses a standard example. The calculator runs your home, your mortgage, and your assumptions through every provider at once.
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