Ethex vs Abundance
Community shares and bonds from social enterprises, versus fixed-rate loans to councils for green projects
Ethex and Abundance both let individuals put money into social and environmental projects from small amounts, and both offer an Innovative Finance ISA. They differ in what you invest in and in how they're regulated.
Ethex is a not-for-profit platform listing withdrawable community shares in community benefit societies and bonds from social enterprises, and it carries out its own due diligence before listing an offer. It isn't FCA-authorised: it operates under the Enterprise Scheme exemption, and its ISA and payments are run by ShareIn, which is. Abundance is directly authorised by the FCA, and its open offers are fixed-rate loans to UK councils for green projects.
Since Triodos Crowdfunding closed in September 2026, its investors and new Triodos-originated offers have moved to Ethex.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Feature | Ethex | Abundance |
|---|---|---|
| Operator | Ethex Investment Club Ltd (Co. no. 07432030) | Abundance Investment Ltd (Co. no. 07049166) |
| FCA status | Community Shares. Also: Enterprise Scheme exemption (FSMA 2000) | Directly authorised (FRN 525432) |
| Who can invest | Retail investors (restricted), high-net-worth and sophisticated investors | Retail investors (restricted) |
| Minimum | £50 | £5 |
| What you buy | Shares and bonds, held in your name | P2P loans and bonds, held in your name |
| Returns | 5–8% a year (target, as of Sep 2026) | 4.2–4.55% a year (historic average, as of Sep 2026) |
| Investor fees | Account: none (No fees to open an account or invest) |
|
| Selling early | No secondary market currently operated; IFISA-qualifying bonds must remain technically transferable but no trading facility exists on-site. Investors should expect to hold to maturity/term with no guaranteed exit. | Early exit only by listing on the Abundance marketplace; no fees to buy or sell, but a sale is not guaranteed and price may be below par, especially if rates change. Otherwise hold to maturity (usually 5 years). |
| ISA, pension and tax wrappers | Innovative Finance ISA | Innovative Finance ISA |
| Auto-invest | — | — |
| FSCS protection | Not covered | Not covered |
| Founded | 2013 | 2012 |
| Scale | £135m raised (Sep 2026) | £135m raised (Sep 2026) |
Generated from Other.'s facts files, which are checked against the FCA Register, Companies House and each platform's own site. Dates show when a figure applies.
Key Differences
1. Regulation. Abundance is directly authorised by the FCA. Ethex isn't: it operates under the Enterprise Scheme exemption, with its ISA and payments run by FCA-authorised ShareIn. Investments through Ethex aren't covered by the FSCS or the Financial Ombudsman Service.
2. What you invest in. Ethex offers cover community energy, housing, fair finance and other social enterprises, as shares or bonds with a forecast return set by each offer. Abundance's council loans are all fixed-rate, and the risk sits mainly with the council.
3. Income. Abundance pays interest every six months. On Ethex, interest or dividends depend on each offer's terms, and returns on community shares aren't guaranteed.
4. Selling early. Ethex doesn't run a secondary market, so expect to hold to the end of the term; community shares can sometimes be withdrawn, subject to the society's rules. Abundance runs a marketplace where you can list investments for sale, with no fees but no guaranteed buyer.
5. Fees. Neither platform charges investors a fee to open an account or invest.
Who Is Each Platform Best For?
Ethex
- Investors who want to back community energy and social enterprises
- Former Triodos Crowdfunding investors, whose holdings are now on Ethex
- Investors who don't need to sell before the end of the term
Abundance
- Investors who want fixed interest from lending to councils
- Investors who prefer an FCA-authorised platform
- Investors who want the option to sell on a marketplace
Verdict
Choose Abundance if you want fixed-rate lending to councils through an FCA-authorised platform, with a marketplace to sell early. Choose Ethex if you want to back a wider range of community and social enterprises, including former Triodos offers, accepting forecast rather than fixed returns, no secondary market and a platform that isn't itself FCA-authorised.
Disclaimer: Your capital is at risk. Community shares, bonds and loans to councils are not covered by the FSCS, and it may be hard or impossible to sell early. Forecast returns are not guaranteed. This comparison is information, not financial advice.
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