Defynance vs Zoya
Defynance and Zoya both offer investing. This page lines up 15 listed data points side by side, with 8 differences, so you can see exactly where they part ways before you request quotes.
Built from each provider's listed data · provider data last verified Nov 2026
At a glance
- Both are available in all 50 states.
- Defynance uses Closed-end private fund holding income share agreements (accredited investors only); Zoya uses Stock Screener.
- Shariah oversight: Defynance discloses No Public Review; Zoya discloses Named Scholar.
- HalalWallet Index: Defynance holds a B-; Zoya holds a B.
- On measurable rows, Defynance has the better listed value on 1 and Zoya on 1.
- They differ on 8 of the 15 data points we list for investing.
No editorial verdict has been written for this pair yet. The side-by-side below is the full data view; where we have written one, you'll find it under Compare.
Defynance vs Zoya: the full side-by-side
15 data points from each provider's published materials, lined up row by row. They differ on 8.
Defynance
Pays us: No. Defynance pays HalalWallet nothing. It is listed and graded on the same terms as providers that do.
Zoya
Pays us: No. Zoya pays HalalWallet nothing. It is listed and graded on the same terms as providers that do.15 of 15 rows
States covered
SameDefynance: All 50 statesZoya: All 50 states
Management fee
Defynance: Sales charge on each subscription, recurring servicing fees, a management fee on assets under management, and carried interest on profit. Amounts are in the private placement memorandum, not published.Zoya: $14.99/month or $119.99/yearMinimum investment
Defynance: $25,000 for accredited investors; $100,000 for qualified purchasers (the manager can make exceptions)Zoya: Not listed
Structure
Defynance: Closed-end private fund holding income share agreements (accredited investors only)Zoya: Stock ScreenerShariah oversight
Defynance: No Public ReviewZoya: Named ScholarShariah board / scholar
Defynance: No Public ReviewZoya: named_scholarPublished fatwa / certificate
SameDefynance: NoZoya: NoScreening standard
Defynance: Not listedZoya: AAOIFI standards
Products listed
Defynance: Defynance FundZoya: Zoya Brokerage Integration, Zoya Stock ScreenerBest for
Defynance: Not listedZoya: Monitoring existing brokerage for halal complianceProduct types
Defynance: Private FundZoya: Brokerage, Stock ScreenerAccount types
Defynance: Not listedZoya: Individual, IRA, Roth IRAFocus
Defynance: Not listedZoya: Portfolio Compliance Monitoring (Zoya Brokerage Integration) · Halal Stock Screening (Zoya Stock Screener)
HalalWallet Index grade
Defynance: B-Zoya: B EdgeFounded
Defynance: 2019 EdgeZoya: 2020
Edge marks the side with the better listed number on measurable rows (lower fee, wider coverage, higher grade). It is not a verdict - a provider can win more rows and still be the wrong fit for you.
Strengths and trade-offs
Defynance
- Returns come from a share of borrowers' income, not from interest
- Investor capital pays off interest-bearing student debt
- Quarterly distributions after the first year
- Defynance reports low volatility and returns it describes as uncorrelated with markets
- No Shariah board, scholar, fatwa or purification guidance is published
- Accredited investors and qualified purchasers only, with a $25,000 minimum
- Fee amounts are disclosed only in the private placement memorandum
- Illiquid: one-year hold, and redemption options are not yet available
- Defynance lists its own startup status and the possibility of agreements defaulting among the risks
Zoya
- Links your existing brokerage so holdings are monitored for compliance automatically
- No need to move accounts or switch brokers
- Scholar-guided methodology behind every compliance verdict
- Alerts when a linked holding's compliance status changes, so drift gets caught early
- Screens thousands of stocks for Sharia compliance
- Requires a paid plan for real use - $14.99/month or $119.99/year via app stores
- Monitoring only - it flags issues but does not trade or purify for you
- Trading pass-through covers just seven brokers; everything else is read-only tracking
- Full access costs $14.99/month or $119.99/year via app stores - pricier than Musaffa's $72/year
- A research tool, not a brokerage - trades happen elsewhere (though pass-through ordering covers seven brokers)
Products behind the numbers
Where a row shows more than one value, it is because the provider lists several investing products. Each is tagged.
Defynance
Pays HalalWallet: No. Defynance pays HalalWallet nothing. It is listed and graded on the same terms as providers that do.Zoya
Pays HalalWallet: No. Zoya pays HalalWallet nothing. It is listed and graded on the same terms as providers that do.Not sure which is right? Compare all investing providers.
Browse all Investing optionsEditorial comparisons
How do Defynance and Zoya compare for investing?
Defynance and Zoya both offer investing. This page lines up 15 listed data points side by side, with 8 differences, so you can see exactly where they part ways before you request quotes.
- Both are available in all 50 states.
- Defynance uses Closed-end private fund holding income share agreements (accredited investors only); Zoya uses Stock Screener.
- Shariah oversight: Defynance discloses No Public Review; Zoya discloses Named Scholar.
Source: HalalWallet (halalwallet.us)
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Sources and review process
This page is reviewed against HalalWallet editorial standards and source documentation.
Reviewed by: HalalWallet Editorial Team
Last reviewed: 2026-11-13
How to cite this page
Preferred format (HTML):
https://www.halalwallet.us/compare/defynance-vs-zoya, retrieved 2026-11-14).For time-sensitive claims (rates, fees, state availability), please verify directly with the provider's official documentation and note the retrieval date.
What HalalWallet is and is not
Scholars rule; we organize the evidence. HalalWallet is an independent research and comparison site for halal financial products. It is not a lender, bank, broker or adviser, and it is not a fatwa body.
What we do
- We document each product's contract, Shariah oversight, costs and availability, with the date we last checked.
- We show the range of scholarly opinion on contested questions, with sources.
What we do not do
- We do not lend, hold money, open accounts or take applications. You apply with the provider.
- We do not issue fatwas or certify any product as halal. Rulings belong to a scholar you trust.
- We do not give personal financial, legal or tax advice.
Where our role ends and who takes over · Who pays HalalWallet · HalalWallet Trust Standard, version 1.0
Before you decide, finish with three checks:
- Confirm current terms and halal compliance directly with the provider. Their quote is final.
- Read the contract structure (Murabaha, Ijara, Musharakah and so on) and any published Shariah board opinion.
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