A 2025 Comparison of Janover Pro and Loanbase

Both Janover Pro and Loanbase are potentially solid solutions for a commercial mortgage broker scaling up their business. While they share some similarities in connecting brokers with lenders, they take notably different approaches to the commercial real estate lending process. I'd like to go through how these platforms work (and how they compare in different aspects).

Core Focus and Target Market

Janover Pro was specifically built by brokers, for brokers. This origin story is more than just marketing — it shapes how the platform has worked since inception. Developed initially as an internal tool for Janover's own mortgage brokerage team, the platform embodies decades of real-world commercial real estate financing experience. Every feature reflects an intimate understanding of what CRE brokers actually need in their daily operations, designed by professionals who have walked (and are still walking) in those same shoes.

Loanbase positions itself more broadly as an online marketplace for CRE financing that serves both mortgage brokers and property owners/investors (often called "sponsors"). Its mission centers on making commercial financing faster and more accessible through technology, emphasizing, like Janover Pro, speed and efficiency compared to the traditional (and much slower) relationship-driven processes.

Transaction Types and Deal Range

Both platforms support a wide range of commercial real estate loan types and property categories.

Janover Pro accommodates virtually all commercial real estate loans, including agency loans (Fannie Mae/Freddie Mac), HUD multifamily financing, bridge and permanent loans, construction financing, and CMBS loans. The platform handles loan sizes from $100K to $500M or more, covering everything from small-balance deals to institutional-scale transactions across all asset classes.

Loanbase similarly covers a broad spectrum of deal sizes and property types. Users can pursue financing for smaller investments (around $1 million) up to large projects (such as $50 million construction or bridge loans). About 30% of deals on Loanbase are reportedly outside mainstream asset classes like multifamily, office, or retail, suggesting some strength in "non-traditional" assets like hospitality, self-storage, and land development.

Lender Network and Relationships

The platforms take fundamentally different approaches to lender networks, with significant implications for brokers.

Janover Pro offers access to over 7,000 active commercial originators, including approximately 10% of all U.S. banks, 35% of the top 100 credit unions, plus life insurance companies, agency lenders, debt funds, and private lenders. The platform emphasizes quality and relevance, with lenders categorized by property type preferences, geographic focus, loan parameters, and other criteria. Importantly, Janover Pro's data is kept current through direct input from lenders, who regularly update their lending criteria and contact information. This means warm, active relationships — not just a database of names.

Loanbase claims a network of approximately 25,000 lenders. However, their own website's "track record" section only mentions 4,885 lender relationships, so I naturally have a few questions about the nature and quality of their full lender database. This discrepancy suggests they might be counting potential or listed lenders rather than active, engaged financing sources. Loanbase relies primarily on algorithm-driven matching to pair loan requests with suitable lenders, an approach that prioritizes quantity and automation over relationship depth.

Platform Features and Tools

The platforms offer different feature sets reflecting their distinct approaches to the lending process.

Janover Pro provides an end-to-end deal placement toolkit with features designed by brokers who understand the nuances of CRE deals. The platform includes a sophisticated lender search interface with granular filters and AI-powered natural language search. Detailed lender profiles provide up-to-date criteria and direct contact information for lending decision-makers — not just generic information. The platform includes an offering memorandum builder for creating professional deal packages and a "deal shopping" function that allows submission to multiple selected lenders simultaneously. These tools are integrated to streamline the process while letting brokers maintain complete control of client relationships.

Loanbase emphasizes speed and automation, with a user interface that allows brokers or borrowers to input deal details and instantly search its lender database for potential matches. This provides immediate feedback, with users able to compare financing options almost instantly through the platform's proprietary matching algorithms. Once a deal is live, Loanbase provides a real-time data room/loan portal that organizes loan packages and financial details.

Business Model and Pricing

The platforms employ distinctly different business models, reflecting their market positioning.

Janover Pro operates on a subscription-based model targeted at professional CRE brokers. The service is typically on a subscription model which grants continuous access to the lender database, updates, and platform features. Multiple plan tiers are available. Importantly, Janover Pro does not take commissions or success fees on deals; brokers keep 100% of commissions earned from closed loans. The platform's revenue comes solely from subscription fees, aligning its interests with broker success (instead of transaction volume).

Loanbase uses a freemium and tiered pricing model with a lower entry point. Signing up and browsing the platform starts for free, with monetization occurring through either per-transaction fees (around $249 per closed deal) or monthly subscriptions (approximately $99 per month for individual users, higher for brokerage teams). This flexible access model allows even one-off users to utilize the platform without long-term commitments. However, it also means the platform serves two masters: occasional users as well as dedicated brokerage professionals.

Practical Application for CRE Brokers

For day-to-day broker workflows, these platforms offer different advantages.

Janover Pro serves as an extension of a broker's deal-making capabilities, allowing them to quickly identify suitable lenders for specific deals, including those they might not have known otherwise. The platform's tools help brokers present deals professionally and get them in front of multiple lenders efficiently. For smaller or independent brokers, Janover Pro levels the playing field by providing data and direct lender access comparable to what larger firms' capital markets teams might have. Even for brokers doing fewer deals per year, having access to this quality of data and tools can significantly increase deal success rates and closing timelines.

Loanbase offers some benefits in terms of speed and claimed breadth, as well. Brokers can enter loan requests and potentially get initial lender matches or quote indications within minutes. The platform might serve as a supplementary tool for difficult deals that fall outside the comfort zone of a broker's usual lenders.

Where Each Platform Works Best

Janover Pro is likely the better fit for most dedicated CRE debt brokers, especially if you:

• Want a platform exclusively designed by brokers who understand your daily challenges
• Value verified, quality lender relationships with current, accurate data
• Need comprehensive tools for the entire deal placement process
• Want complete control over client relationships and deal flow
• Appreciate a platform that evolves based on real broker feedback and needs

Loanbase might be more suitable if you:

• Only handle occasional CRE deals and prefer pay-per-transaction pricing
• Prioritize speed of initial matching over relationship quality
• Prefer a more automated, algorithmic approach to lender matching
• Don't mind potentially less verified lender data

The Bottom Line

Both Janover Pro and Loanbase offer strong solutions for commercial real estate financing, but with fundamentally different philosophies and approaches. Janover Pro was built specifically for professional brokers, by brokers, with curated data, relationship-focused tools, and a business model centered on enhancing broker capabilities. Its design reflects a deep understanding of the CRE brokerage business from the inside.

Loanbase takes a marketplace approach, emphasizing breadth, speed, and algorithmic matching, with a model that serves both brokers and direct borrowers. This broader focus may lead to a less specialized experience for dedicated brokers.

For most CRE debt brokers looking to build a sustainable practice with quality lender relationships, Janover Pro's broker-centric design and verified lender network make it the stronger choice. Even brokers with lower deal volume can benefit from having access to institutional-quality data and tools that increase their chances of success on each transaction.