Unison vs. Unlock
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Quick Verdict
Choose Unison if you want the longest possible term (up to 30 years). Choose Unlock if your credit score is below 620, you need less than $30,000, or your property is an investment property or second home.
Unison and Unlock aren't really competing for the same homeowner in most cases because they're built around different term lengths (30 years vs. 10), which is usually the bigger decision than which specific provider you pick. See Choosing a Term Length if you haven't settled that question yet. If you have, the rest of this page compares them directly.
See Your Own Numbers for Both
Enter your home details to see what Unison and Unlock would each actually cost you — plus Point, Hometap, and Splitero — side by side.
Side-by-Side Specs
| Unison | Unlock | |
|---|---|---|
| Contract term | 30 yrs | 10 yrs |
| Min Funding | $30,000 | $15,000 |
| Max Funding | $500,000 | $500,000 |
| Min credit score | 620 | 500 |
| Max Senior LTV | 70% | 75% (unconf.) |
| Max CLTV | 90% (unconf.) | 85% (unconf.) |
| Origination fee | 3.9% | 4.9% |
| Renovation adjustment | Offered | Offered |
| Manufactured homes | Not eligible | Not eligible |
| LLC / trust ownership | Not permitted | LLC not permitted; trust unconfirmed |
| Hard credit pull | No | No |
| Repayment on death | Triggered | Triggered |
| State availability | 24 states + D.C. | 26 states |
Term Length: the Real Decision Here
Unison's 30-year term and Unlock's 10-year term are designed to serve different customers. For most homeowners, selecting the appropriate term length is the most important decision in selecting the right HEI provider. If you're still working out what term length fits you, see Choosing a Term Length.
Unison's 30-Year Term Fits If
- You don't have a fixed date in mind for selling or refinancing
- You want your repayment deadline to be decades away, not years away
Unlock's 10-Year Term Fits If
- You already have a clear exit plan — a likely sale, refinance, or payoff within 10 years
- You're comfortable knowing that if you haven't settled by year 10, a sale or refinance may be required
Cost Comparison
HEIs and HEAs don't have an interest rate, so the clearest way to compare cost is the actual dollar amount you'd owe at settlement. The table below shows both providers' payoffs under the exact same scenario, so the numbers are directly comparable. Both are estimates based on each provider's published formulas, not guaranteed payoff amounts.
Scenario assumptions
- $500K home
- 700 credit score
- $50K requested
- 10% LTV
- 3.5% annual home price growth
| Exit Year | Home Value | Unison's Share | Unlock's Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $517,500 | $60,000 | $59,950 |
| Year 3 | $554,359 | $81,744 | $86,184 |
| Year 5 | $593,843 | $97,537 | $106,892 |
| Year 7 | $636,140 | $114,456 | $114,505 |
| Year 10 | $705,299 | $142,120 | $126,954 |
| Year 20 | $994,894 | $257,958 | 10-yr max term |
| Year 30 | $1,403,397 | $421,359 | 10-yr max term |
Observations
- Unison is cheaper through year 7.
- Unlock pulls ahead by year 10 — the last year its term allows.
Where Each One Leads
Where Unison Leads
- Longer repayment window. Up to 30 years vs. Unlock's 10, with no forced decision point for two extra decades.
Where Unlock Leads
- Lower credit score requirement. 500 minimum vs. Unison's 620.
- Lower minimum request. $15,000 with Unlock, vs. Unison's $30,000.
- Open to investment and second homes. Unison's eligibility is limited to primary residences, with limited exceptions it hasn't fully detailed.
- No loss-sharing restrictions. Unison restricts loss sharing for the first 36 months and never shares losses if you exit through a buyout — Unlock doesn't have either restriction.
- Pay down what you owe over time. Unlock is the only provider we track that lets you pay back a portion of what you owe before full settlement, instead of one lump sum at the end; Unison requires a single lump-sum payoff.
Which Should You Choose?
Choose Unison If
- You want the flexibility of a 30-year term with no near-term deadline, well past what Unlock's 10-year cap allows
Choose Unlock If
- Your credit score is below 620
- You're requesting less than $30,000, down to $15,000
- Your property is an investment property or second home
- You want the option to pay down what you owe gradually instead of one lump sum
In addition to the factors above, cost matters — see the cost comparison above, or run your own numbers to see what each would actually cost you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Unison or Unlock better?
Neither is categorically better — they're built around different term lengths (30 years vs. 10) that fit different situations. Unlock accepts lower credit scores, has a lower minimum request, and is open to investment and second homes. Unison offers a longer term with no forced decision point. Both use a soft credit pull only and offer a renovation adjustment, though the specific terms differ. In our scenario, Unison was cheaper through year 7, but Unlock pulled ahead by year 10 — run your own numbers to see how it lands for you.
Which has a lower credit score requirement, Unison or Unlock?
Unlock's minimum is 500; Unison's is 620. Unlock is more accessible for borrowers with lower credit scores.
Which has a lower minimum funding amount, Unison or Unlock?
Unlock's minimum is $15,000; Unison's is $30,000. Unlock is the better fit for smaller requests.
Can I use either Unison or Unlock for a home renovation?
Both offer a renovation adjustment, but the terms differ. Unison's isn't available until three years into the agreement, and requires advance notice, licensed contractors, and documentation to qualify. Unlock's has a $10,000 value-add floor, but requires following local building ordinances and obtaining any required permits.
Does either Unison or Unlock accept investment or second homes?
Unlock does; Unison is limited to primary residences, with limited exceptions it hasn't fully detailed.
Does Unison or Unlock cost less?
It depends on how long you hold the agreement. In the representative scenario illustrated above, Unison is cheaper through year 7, but Unlock pulls ahead by year 10, the last year its term allows. Run your own numbers for an exact comparison.
Get Real Offers From Both
Your actual numbers depend on your home's appraised value and your own details. The surest way to compare is a real offer from each.
Or compare all 5 in the cost calculator →