Kamino Finance vs Save (Solend): Quick Compare (2026)
Kamino Finance is a lending platform rated 9.2/10 with $2.19B TVL, best for Lending, LST collateral, leveraged staking. Save (Solend) is a lending platform rated 8.4/10 with $81M TVL, best for Stablecoin lending and isolated pools.
Need a deeper breakdown? Use editorial comparison pages and full platform reviews before you decide.
Head-to-Head Comparison
| Feature | Kamino Finance | Save (Solend) |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | 9.2/10 | 8.4/10 |
| TVL | $2.19B | $81M |
| APY | 15–30% | 3-7% on USDC |
| Best for | Lending, LST collateral, leveraged staking | Stablecoin lending and isolated pools |
| Not best for | Not ideal for users who want simple, passive staking — Kamino's Multiply and leveraged strategies carry liquidation risk. Users who don't monitor positions actively can lose capital during rapid SOL price drops. | Not ideal for users who prioritize protocol stability history — Save (formerly Solend) experienced a controversial governance incident in 2022 where a single whale's position threatened the protocol. While resolved and rebranded, risk-averse users may prefer Kamino. |
| Founded | 2022 | 2021 |
Fees Comparison
Kamino Finance Fees
| Fee | Value |
|---|---|
| Lending spread | ~0.5-1% |
| Multiply fee | 0.1% |
| Vault management fee | 10% of yields |
| Withdrawal fee | None |
Save (Solend) Fees
| Fee | Value |
|---|---|
| Lending spread | ~0.5-1% |
| No deposit/withdrawal fee | 0% |
| Liquidation penalty | 5% |
Pros & Cons
Kamino Finance
Pros
- #1 Solana lending protocol by TVL ($2.19B)
- Multiply: leverage JitoSOL/mSOL up to 3x
- Auto-managed CLMM vaults with auto-compounding
Cons
- Complex product surface area
- Multiply positions carry liquidation risk
Save (Solend)
Pros
- OG Solana lending — live since 2021
- Isolated pools reduce systemic risk
Cons
- Lower TVL than Kamino/Jupiter Lend after rebrand
When to Choose Kamino Finance
Best for: Lending, LST collateral, leveraged staking
Honest limitation: Kamino's $2.19B TVL makes it systemically important to Solana DeFi, which means a Kamino exploit would have cascading effects. The Multiply product uses leveraged positions that amplify both gains and losses.
When to Choose Save (Solend)
Best for: Stablecoin lending and isolated pools
Honest limitation: Save's $124M TVL is significantly smaller than Kamino ($2.19B) or Jupiter Lend ($1.02B), which means lower liquidity on some lending markets and potentially wider rate spreads.