Glossary
Glossary for loans and mobile plans
Short explanations of common loan and mobile-plan comparison terms, written to improve overview before you choose.
Role
Comparison service
Contact
support@findvalue.app
Payment
Commercial placements are labelled
Updated
June 26, 2026
How to use the glossary
The glossary is built to give quick context before you review the figures in a comparison. It is not personal advice.
Start with the term in the card
If a loan or mobile card uses a term you are unsure about, look it up before continuing the comparison.
Read cost together with terms
Interest, fees, monthly price, data allowance, and fixed term make most sense when reviewed together.
Always confirm with the provider
The explanations help you understand, but final prices, rates, and agreement terms are set by the provider.
Find a term quickly
Jump directly to the terms you want to understand before comparing loans or mobile plans.
Effective interest
Effective interest shows the loan cost as a combined percentage, including nominal interest and mandatory fees. It is more useful for comparison than nominal interest alone, but the figure can be based on a representative example. Always check effective interest in the personal offer from the lender before signing.
Nominal interest
Nominal interest is the interest rate before fees are included. It can help explain the rate level, but it does not show the full loan cost. When comparing loans, nominal interest should be read together with effective interest, setup fee, monthly fee, duration, and total repayment.
Total repayment
Total repayment is the amount you may repay across the full loan period. It is affected by loan amount, interest, fees, and duration. A low monthly payment can still mean higher total repayment if the duration is long, so the total should be reviewed together with monthly cost.
Representative loan example
A representative loan example shows how a loan can look with a specific amount, duration, rate, fees, and total repayment. The example is useful for orientation, but it is not a personal offer. Your final terms are set by the lender after assessment.
Duration
Duration is the period over which you repay the loan. A longer duration can reduce monthly payment, but it can also increase total repayment. A shorter duration can increase monthly payment, but often reduces total cost if rate and fees are otherwise equal.
First-year total
First-year total is used for mobile plans and shows what the plan may cost in the first year, often including monthly price, start cost, and campaign periods. This can make it easier to compare plans where the monthly price changes after an introductory period.
Fixed term
A fixed term means you may be bound to the plan for an agreed period. A plan without a fixed term can be more flexible, while a plan with a fixed term may have other benefits or campaign terms. Always check the cost of changing or ending the agreement.
EU/EEA roaming
EU/EEA roaming describes mobile-plan use in EU and EEA countries. Many plans include this use, but data limits, speed, and fair-use rules can vary. Use outside the EU/EEA, on ships, or on aircraft can have different prices.
Data allowance
Data allowance shows how much mobile data is included in the plan. The right amount depends on actual usage, Wi-Fi, streaming, tethering, and travel. Too little data can lead to extra cost or reduced speed, while too much data can make the price unnecessarily high.
eSIM
eSIM is a digital SIM that can be activated on compatible devices without a physical SIM card. It can be practical for travel, work/private use, or fast activation. eSIM does not make a plan better by itself; price, data, coverage, roaming, and terms still need comparison.