Drafty loans review 2024

Designed as an alternative to expensive payday loans and overdrafts, a Drafty credit line lets you access a pot of cash from £50 to £3,000 to use as and when you need it.

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Read Terms and Conditions here

Warning: Late repayment can cause you serious money problems. For help, go to moneyhelper.org.uk.

Please note: High-cost short-term credit is unsuitable for sustained borrowing over long periods and would be expensive as a means of longer-term borrowing.

What is Drafty?

Drafty is a direct lender (not a broker) authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. It offers borrowers ongoing access to a line of credit of up to £3,000 that they can borrow against quickly and easily when necessary.

Drafty is a part of GAIN Credit LLC, a popular US-based lender that also owns Lending Stream. Launched in 2015, it markets itself as an innovative and flexible alternative to expensive short term loans or overdrafts.

How does Drafty work?

Unlike regular short-term loans, Drafty actually offers a line of credit account in which you only pay interest on the credit you use. How long you borrow is up to you, as long as you pay the minimum monthly repayment. Also, there are no late fees or no early repayment fees.

Drafty says it aims to send the cash from your credit line to your bank within 90 seconds.

Is Drafty a payday loan

No, it’s not. However, it is designed to fulfil a similar function – namely, a means to borrow relatively small amounts of money quickly when you find yourself a little short.

With a representative APR of 96.2%, it’s cheaper than traditional payday loans – falling below the Financial Conduct Authority’s 100% APR threshold for “high-cost short-term credit”.

Key features of a Drafty line of credit

If you’re approved for a Drafty line of credit, you’ll be given a credit limit and access to the facility either on Drafty’s website or via the Drafty app.

Product NameDrafty Line of Credit
Available Amounts£50 to £3,000
Representative APR96.2%
New customer maximum£3,000
Loan termsOpen-ended line of credit
Maximum APR1,721%
Soft search eligibility checktick
Employer contacted during applicationcross
Funding speedDrafty says it aims to send the cash from your credit line to your bank within 90 seconds.
Repayment period optionsMonthly
Default repayment methodContinuous payment authority
Additional repayment methodsOnline payment
Repay early at any pointtick
Parent companyGAIN Credit
FCA registration number689378

Pros and cons of a Drafty credit line

Pros

  • No hidden fees
  • Fast funding
  • Only pay interest on what you use
  • Convenient once set up
  • More competitive rate than many payday loans

Cons

  • May be harder to get approved for than some payday loans
  • Be wary of only making minimum repayments and letting your debt drag on
  • Because the line of credit is always there and available, you might be tempted to borrow when you otherwise wouldn’t

Am I eligible for a Drafty Credit line?

You should only apply for a Drafty credit line if you’re certain you can meet the repayment terms. You must also meet the following criteria:

ResidencyUK resident
Minimum age18
Min. income£1,250 a month (you must be paid monthly to be considered for a line of credit)
Additional eligibility notesYou must have an active bank account and debit card.

How do I pay back my Drafty credit line?

Like most short-term credit providers, Drafty uses a continuous payment authority (CPA) to collect minimum monthly repayments from your bank account. You can also make additional payments (or even pay off the credit line in full) at any time without being charged a fee.

Drafty customer reviews

Drafty has received positive reviews from customers, according to review platform Trustpilot. It currently has an “excellent” rating of 3.9 out of 5, based on more than 10,100 reviews (updated February 2024). Many customers praised their helpful customer service and quick loan application process. Negative reviews highlighted their high APRs.

How do I apply for a Drafty line of credit?

  1. Complete the simple online application form by answering some basic questions about yourself and your employment. In some circumstances, you may be asked to verify some details or submit further documents by phone, email, or fax. Drafty will not tell your employer about your application.
  2. Drafty gives you a quick decision based on your affordability and credit checks. If it’s a “yes”, you’ll be able to access your Drafty account through the website and app.
  3. You are told how much is available for you to borrow. Choose how much you want, and Drafty sends the money to your bank in under 90 seconds. Your first withdrawal must be for a minimum of £50, and subsequent withdrawals must be for a minimum of £100.

Does Drafty do a credit check?

Yes. As a responsible lender, Drafty runs a “hard” search of your credit file as part of its affordability analysis. However, it also states that it’s interested in more than just your credit history and reviews your unique situation in considering your application.

From then on, you won’t be subject to further “hard” credit checks, but as long as your account remains open, Drafty can monitor your credit situation without harming your credit file in any way. So, if your financial circumstances change significantly, Drafty will probably know about it.

Does Drafty affect your credit score?

When you first apply for the credit line, Drafty runs a search of your credit file. These have a small (and usually short-lived) negative impact on your credit score.

If you go on to borrow money using your credit line and make at least the minimum monthly payments on time, your credit score should benefit, as you’re demonstrating that you use credit responsibly.

Customer support information

You can contact Drafty by email at info@drafty.co.uk with any queries or by phone on 0203 808 4440 (Call charges apply. Standard charges from BT landlines, mobiles and other providers may vary.)

Option to change repayment datetick
Repay early at any pointtick
Repaying early can reduce overall interesttick
Phone number0203 808 4440 (Call charges apply. Standard charges from BT landlines, mobiles and other providers may vary.)

Is Drafty any good?

If you’ve used payday loans in the past and think you might again in the future, Drafty is likely to be a significantly cheaper option.

While a fixed-term loan can be easier to budget for, products like Drafty’s innovative credit line offer the flexibility to borrow as much or as little as you need, as and when you need it. So it’s quick and convenient.

Provided you have the good self-discipline to only use the facility occasionally, for unexpected and unavoidable costs, and don’t let the debt drag on, it’s a smart way to borrow.

It’s not the only alternative to a payday loan – you may wish to consider a credit-builder credit card, an authorised overdraft, or any of the options outlined by the government’s MoneyHelper.

Other frequently asked questions

We show offers we can track - that's not every product on the market...yet. Unless we've said otherwise, products are in no particular order. The terms "best", "top", "cheap" (and variations of these) aren't ratings, though we always explain what's great about a product when we highlight it. This is subject to our terms of use. When you make major financial decisions, consider getting independent financial advice. Always consider your own circumstances when you compare products so you get what's right for you. Most of the data in Finder's comparison tables has the source: Moneyfacts Group PLC. In other cases, Finder has sourced data directly from providers.
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Chris Lilly is Head of publishing at finder.com. He's a specialist in personal finance, from day-to-day banking to investing to borrowing, and is passionate about helping UK consumers make informed decisions about their money. In his spare time Chris likes forcing his kids to exercise more. See full bio

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Chris has written 617 Finder guides across topics including:
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