Provider comparison
Stream vs Salary Finance
Side-by-side comparison from the PerkIQ directory. Cover, pricing, regulator status, and fit at a glance.
Stream, formerly Wagestream, and Salary Finance both offer financial wellbeing through the workplace, but in different ways. Stream centres on earned wage access, letting staff draw pay they have already earned before payday, alongside savings and coaching. Salary Finance offers salary-linked loans, savings and financial education.
- Earned wage access. Employees access pay they have already earned before payday.
- Workplace savings. Savings for employees through the app.
- Financial coaching. Coaching to help employees with money.
- No change to payroll cycle. Works alongside the employer's existing pay dates.
- Salary-linked loans. Loans repaid through payroll, typically at lower interest than traditional lenders.
- Savings. Savings for employees through payroll.
- Financial education. Guidance and tools to help employees with money.
- Advance. Access to pay ahead of payday (not regulated lending).
- Formerly Wagestream
- Earned wage access
- Workplace savings
- Used by Asda, Bupa, Co-op
- FCA-authorised
- Salary-linked loans
- Savings and education
- Acquisition by Stream announced
Which should you choose?
Stream may suit you if flexible access to earned pay is the main need, which is often the case for hourly and shift workers.
Salary Finance may suit you if helping employees with the cost of borrowing and building savings is the priority. Its loans are repaid through payroll.
Both work alongside payroll. Stream has announced it will acquire Salary Finance, subject to FCA approval, so check the current position with both.
Pick the right one with data, not a sales pitch
Score your benefits stack with PerkIQ and you'll see which of these (or another provider entirely) closes the biggest gaps for your team.
Information on this page is editorial, gathered from public sources and the providers' own materials, and does not constitute financial advice or a recommendation. For a quote, contact each provider directly or speak to an FCA-authorised broker. PerkIQ is not a reseller and earns no commission on provider sign-ups.