Save (fka Solend) vs Nexo
Last updated: April 3, 2026
 |  | |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | (0) | (0) |
| Pricing | Free | Freemium |
| Health | Healthy | Healthy |
| Chain | solana only | solana only |
| Open Source | ||
| Features | 8 features | 6 features |
| Upvotes | ▲ 0 | ▲ 0 |
| Twitter Followers | 84,221 | 282,031 |
| Categories | DeFi & Yield | DeFi & Yield, Exchanges |
| Description | Decentralized lending and borrowing protocol — formerly Solend | Earn interest on SOL, borrow against crypto, and trade — all in one platform |
Pros & Cons
Save (fka Solend)
- One of the longest-running Solana lending protocols — battle-tested through multiple market cycles
- Wide asset support including liquid staking tokens enables diverse lending strategies
- Strong risk management track record — survived major market crashes without protocol insolvency
- Deep liquidity in main pools ensures competitive rates for both depositors and borrowers
- Fully decentralized governance through SAVE token and DAO
- Controversial governance incident in 2022 (attempted whale account takeover) damaged trust
- Rebrand from Solend to Save created some confusion and fragmented brand recognition
- Interest rates can spike dramatically during high-utilization periods making borrowing expensive
- Competition from newer protocols like Marginfi and Kamino has reduced market share
Nexo
- Regulated and insured
- High yield on SOL deposits
Save (fka Solend) vs Nexo: Which Should You Choose?
Overview
Save (fka Solend) Save, formerly known as Solend, is one of the original and largest decentralized lending and borrowing protocols on Solana. Rebranded from Solend in late 2024, Save allows users to deposit crypto asse... Nexo Nexo is a regulated crypto lending and earning platform supporting SOL and Solana tokens. Earn up to 16% APY on idle SOL deposits, borrow stablecoins using SOL as collateral with no credit checks, and...
Community Ratings
Both Save (fka Solend) and Nexo hold similar community ratings, suggesting users find comparable value in each. Your choice should come down to specific features, pricing, and ecosystem fit rather than overall score.
Pricing & Value
Save (fka Solend) uses a free model — Free to use. Interest rates are algorithmically determined by supply and demand. Small protocol fee on interest earned by depositors., while Nexo is freemium. Save (fka Solend) has the edge for users who want a no-cost solution, though Nexo's paid features may justify the investment for power users.
Key Features
Save (fka Solend) offers 8 features including Algorithmic lending and borrowing with dynamic interest rates based on utilization, Multi-pool architecture — main pool for blue-chips, isolated pools for newer assets, Real-time oracle pricing with dynamic liquidation thresholds for risk management, and 5 more. Nexo counters with 6 features including Earn up to 16% APY on SOL, Borrow against SOL collateral, 100+ tradeable assets, and 3 more. The right choice depends on which specific features matter for your use case — check the individual review pages for full breakdowns.
Reliability & Health
We monitor both tools around the clock for uptime, SSL validity, and response times. Save (fka Solend) currently has a healthy health status with 100.0% uptime over the last 30 days. Nexo is rated healthy. For tools you rely on daily — especially trading bots or wallets — uptime and speed are non-negotiable.
Strengths
Save (fka Solend)'s key strengths include one of the longest-running solana lending protocols — battle-tested through multiple market cycles, wide asset support including liquid staking tokens enables diverse lending strategies, strong risk management track record — survived major market crashes without protocol insolvency. Nexo stands out for regulated and insured, high yield on sol deposits, instant crypto-backed loans. On the flip side, Save (fka Solend)'s weaknesses include controversial governance incident in 2022 (attempted whale account takeover) damaged trust, while Nexo's main drawback is centralized platform.
The Verdict
Both Save (fka Solend) and Nexo operate in the defi & yield space, so this is a direct head-to-head. We recommend trying both — Save (fka Solend) is free to start and Nexo is free to start. Read user reviews on each tool's page for real-world feedback from the Solana community.