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Personal loans vs. payday loans: Which is right for you?
Before you sign on that dotted line, learn which option will be better for your finances.
Personal loans and payday loans may seem similar on the outside, but there are quite a few big differences that set these two options apart. Depending on your credit and the amount you need to borrow, you’ll want to know what you qualify for before you apply.
What are the key differences between a personal loan and a payday loan?
Personal loans and payday loans may both be useful when you need an extra boost to your finances, but that’s about where the similarities end. Loan amount, loan term and cost — among other factors — vary widely between these two options.
Loan amount. You may be able to borrow as much as $100,000 with a personal loan, though most lenders only offer around $50,000 to borrowers with excellent credit. With a payday loan, you can typically borrow anywhere from $50 to $1,000 — but some offer loans up to $5,000.
Cost. Personal loans will be cheaper overall — with interest rates that cap out at around 36% — but you’ll have to have good to excellent credit. Payday loans are generally much more expensive, but they don’t have strict credit requirements.
Loan term. Personal loans often have a minimum term of 12 months and can last as long as 7 to 10 years. Payday loans, on the other hand, have short terms of two to four weeks.
Eligibility. Personal loans offered by banks and credit unions have strict eligibility criteria, often requiring borrowers to have good credit and a strong financial background. Payday loans are much more flexible, and lenders usually only require that borrowers have a regular source of income to qualify.
Lenders. Personal loans are offered by banks, credit unions, online lenders and peer-to-peer lenders. Payday loans tend to be offered by lenders that specialize in short-term lending and check-cashing services.
Quick snapshot: Personal loans vs. payday loans
Personal loans
Payday loans
Amount
Usually between $5,000 to $50,000
Usually between $200 to $1,000
Cost
4% to 35.99%, depending on the lender and your credit score
We update our data regularly, but information can change between updates. Confirm details with the provider you're interested in before making a decision.
We update our data regularly, but information can change between updates. Confirm details with the provider you're interested in before making a decision.
The cost of each product varies widely between lenders and the state you live in.
For a personal loan, you won’t have to pay more than 36% when you borrow. This is still a high interest rate, but it’s much lower than what you’ll get with a payday loan or other short-term loan. The exact interest rate you receive — along with your terms — will be based on your credit history, if you have collateral, the amount you want to borrow and the term of the loan.
On the other hand, payday loans can have APRs with three — or even four — digits. The actual cost will depend on the state you live in. However, it’s important to note that APR represents yearly cost. Most lenders also represent the cost of a loan as a fee you pay per $100. But no matter how it’s shown, payday loans are still more expensive than personal loans.
How can I decide which type of loan is right for me?
Deciding between a personal loan and a payday loan will likely depend on the amount you need to borrow as well as your credit. Asking yourself the following questions will help you decide which is the best choice.
How much money do I need to borrow?If you need to borrow between $50 and $1,000, a short-term loan may be better because personal loans tend to have minimums between $1,000 and $2,000.
How fast do I need the money? Short-term loans usually have faster turnaround times than personal loans because less is involved in the approval process. However, many personal loan providers are moving online, so quite a few have the same processing speeds as short-term lenders.
How is my credit history? If you have good to excellent credit, you could stand to save money by getting a low-interest personal loan rather than a high-cost payday loan.
How much will it cost me? Ultimately, it comes down to your monthly payments and total repayment amount. Be sure to compare multiple options and explore those lender’s online calculators to see which is most affordable for you.
Must read: Are there any alternatives to payday loans?
There are quite a few ways to borrow a small sum of money without taking out a payday loan. These include:
Payday alternative loans. Payday alternative loans are highly regulated to keep costs down. APRs max at 28% — lower than the personal loan max of 36% — and you can borrow up to $1,000 from multiple national credit unions.
Installment loans. Installment loans are also short-term loans, but rather than repay what you borrow in one lump sum, you’ll have a few months to repay your loan. However, these can still be expensive, so read your lender’s terms carefully before borrowing.
Pay advance apps. There aren’t many pay advance apps out there — yet. But these are quickly gaining steam because they allow you to borrow money against your paycheck without the high fees associated with payday and other short-term loans.
There are quite a few big differences between personal loans and payday loans, so you’ll want to be prepared when you’re looking to borrow. You can read up on personal loans and check out our guide to payday loans to make sure you’re making the right financial decision.
Frequently asked questions
You may qualify for a payday loan even if you’re on welfare or are currently unemployed. However, most personal loan providers generally require you to be employed to qualify for a loan.
It depends. Payday lenders usually don’t send your loan information to the three main credit reporting agencies. However, they may send your loan terms and repayment information to smaller credit agencies that can be accessed by mainstream lenders when you’re applying for a loan.
Personal loan providers do report your information to the three main credit reporting agencies, and most importantly, they check your credit when you apply, which can hurt your credit score.
For both personal and payday loans, the most important thing to do is make your repayments on time. If you don’t, your credit score will likely be negatively affected.
There are five main factors that make up a credit score:
Kyle Morgan is a writer and editor for Finder who has worked for the USA Today network and Relix magazine, among other publications. He can be found writing about everything from the latest car loan stats to tips on saving money when traveling overseas. He lives in Asbury Park, where he loves exploring new places and sipping on hoppy beer. Oh, and he doesn't discriminate against buffalo wings — grilled or fried are just fine.
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