Tell us what you need
Amount, purpose, a rough idea of your credit, and how you get paid. No Social Security number, no bank login, no documents at this stage.
About 2 minutesFree to check · No effect on your credit score
See your real loan options before anyone runs your credit.
Tell us how much you need and what it's for. We match you with licensed lenders who work with your credit and your state, usually in about two minutes. If a lender wants to make you an offer, they contact you. If none fit, we tell you that too.
Rather talk to a person?
(800) 236-7761
Toll-free. Weekdays 7am to 10pm, weekends 9am to 6pm Central.
Funds can arrive as soon as the next business day once a lender approves you. How it works
Licensed lenders onlyEvery lender in our network holds the licenses its state requires. No tribal-loophole lenders, no offshore shops.
About two minutesFour short steps. Most people see whether a lender is interested the same day, often within minutes.
No hit to your score to checkMatching uses a soft inquiry. A lender only runs a full credit check if you choose to continue with their offer.
Every rate in writingBefore you sign anything, the lender shows you the APR, total cost, and payment schedule. Federal law requires it; we hold them to it.
Loan types
Seven kinds of loans. One honest page on each.
Every guide covers what it costs, who it fits, what the law allows in your state, and what to try first if there's a cheaper way.
Cash advance
Small amounts, fast. For a bill that can't wait for payday.
Payday loans
Due on your next paycheck. Legal in some states, capped or banned in others.
Bad credit loans
Lenders who look at income and banking history, not just a score.
Installment loans
Fixed payments on a fixed schedule. The most predictable way to borrow.
Debt consolidation
Roll several balances into one payment, ideally at a lower rate.
Refinance
Replace an auto or home loan with a better one. Worth it when rates drop or credit improves.
Title loans
Borrow against a paid-off vehicle. Fast, high cost, and you can lose the car.
Compare all costs
Every loan type side by side: typical APR, fees, terms, and funding speed.
How it works
Three steps. You stay in control at every one.
Lenders review your request
Licensed lenders in our network who serve your state and your credit profile see your request. Interested lenders contact you with real terms: APR, fees, payment schedule.
Minutes to same dayYou decide, or walk away
Read the offer. Ask questions. Sign only if the numbers work for you. Approved funds are usually deposited by the next business day.
Next business day fundingWhat loans actually cost
The numbers lenders would rather you compare after signing.
Typical ranges across licensed lenders in our network. Your rate depends on credit, income, state law, and the lender. Short-term products are expensive by design; we show that plainly.
| Loan type | Typical amount | Typical term | Typical cost | Funding speed | Credit check |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cash advance / payday | $100 to $500 (up to $1,000 in some states) | 14 to 31 days | $10 to $30 per $100 borrowed ≈ 200% to 700% APR | Same or next business day | Often none or alternative data |
| Bad credit installment | $500 to $10,000 | 3 to 36 months | 24.99% to 35.99% APR High | 1 to 3 business days | Soft, then full on acceptance |
| Installment / personal | $1,000 to $25,000 | 6 to 60 months | 5.99% to 35.99% APR Fair to good credit | 1 to 3 business days | Soft, then full |
| Debt consolidation | $5,000 to $50,000 | 24 to 84 months | 5.99% to 35.99% APR Lower with 660+ | 1 to 7 business days | Soft, then full |
| Auto refinance | Current loan balance | 24 to 84 months | 5% to 20% APR | 7 to 14 days | Full |
| Mortgage refinance | Current balance, cash-out optional | 15 or 30 years | Market rate plus closing costs (2% to 5%) | 30 to 45 days | Full |
| Title loans | 25% to 50% of vehicle value | 15 to 30 days, renewable | Often 25% per month ≈ 300% APR | Same day | Usually none; car is collateral |
Representative example. A $5,000 personal loan repaid over 36 months at 15.99% APR has 36 monthly payments of $175.76 and a total repayment of $6,327.36. Personal loan APRs in our network run from about 5.99% to 35.99%. Short-term loans (payday, cash advance, title) are a different product with far higher costs and are not available in every state. Your lender will disclose your exact terms before you sign.
Know before you borrow
Some of the people who land here shouldn't take a loan at all. We'd rather say so.
A loan fixes a timing problem: money you'll have later that you need now. It doesn't fix an income problem. Before you borrow, especially a short-term loan, check these first. Several are free.
Already behind on several debts? Nonprofit credit counseling is free, confidential, and often beats a consolidation loan for people under 600. Find an NFCC member agency at nfcc.org or dial 211.
- Ask the biller for a payment plan. Utilities, hospitals, and landlords often say yes, and the cost is usually zero.
- Check your credit union for a PAL. Payday Alternative Loans run $200 to $2,000 at a maximum 28% APR by federal rule.
- Ask your employer about an advance or an earned-wage app. Many pay out already-worked hours for a small flat fee.
- Never pay a fee up front to "release" a loan. Licensed lenders deduct fees from the loan or bill them in payments. Upfront fees are a scam, every time.
- Walk away from "guaranteed approval." No licensed lender can promise that. It's the opening line of a bad deal.
- Don't roll a payday loan more than once. Each renewal adds the full fee again. Two rollovers on a $300 loan can cost more than the loan.
Loans by state
The rules change at the state line. Pick yours.
Each state page covers which loan types are legal there, the caps on amounts and fees, the regulator to call, and cheaper local alternatives. All 51 are sourced to the regulator.
Alabama AL
Alaska AK
Arizona AZ
Arkansas AR
California CA
Colorado CO
Connecticut CT
Delaware DE
District of Columbia DC
Florida FL
Georgia GA
Hawaii HI
Idaho ID
Illinois IL
Indiana IN
Iowa IA
Kansas KS
Kentucky KY
Louisiana LA
Maine ME
Maryland MD
Massachusetts MA
Michigan MI
Minnesota MN
Mississippi MS
Missouri MO
Montana MT
Nebraska NE
Nevada NV
New Hampshire NH
New Jersey NJ
New Mexico NM
New York NY
North Carolina NC
North Dakota ND
Ohio OH
Oklahoma OK
Oregon OR
Pennsylvania PA
Rhode Island RI
South Carolina SC
South Dakota SD
Tennessee TN
Texas TX
Utah UT
Vermont VT
Virginia VA
Washington WA
West Virginia WV
Wisconsin WI
Wyoming WY
Houston, TX City
Los Angeles, CA City
Chicago, IL City
Phoenix, AZ City
Philadelphia, PA City
San Antonio, TX City
Dallas, TX City
San Diego, CA City
Las Vegas, NV City
Columbus, OH City
Jacksonville, FL City
Charlotte, NC City
No match yet. Browse every state and city, or call us and we'll tell you what's available where you live.
Calculators
Run the numbers before you borrow.
Free calculators that show their formulas. Results are estimates; a lender's written disclosure is the final word.
Amortization Calculator: Payment and Payoff Schedule
Free amortization calculator. Enter a loan amount, APR and term to see the monthly payment, total interest, and a year-by-year schedule of principal,
APR Calculator: Find the True Cost of a Loan With Fees
Free APR calculator. Turn an interest rate plus fees, or a flat short-term fee, into an annual percentage rate. Includes the formulas, worked personal
Auto Loan Refinance Calculator: New Payment and Savings
Free auto loan refinance calculator. Compare your current car payment with a refinance offer to see the new monthly payment, total interest saved afte
Balance Transfer Calculator: Fee vs Interest Saved
Free balance transfer calculator. Compare keeping your card with transferring to an intro APR offer, including the transfer fee and the rate after the
Credit Card Interest Calculator: Monthly and Total Cost
Free credit card interest calculator. Enter your balance, APR and monthly payment to see this month's interest, the daily rate, and total interest unt
Credit Card Minimum Payment Calculator
Free credit card minimum payment calculator. See how long it takes and how much interest you pay making only minimum payments, versus keeping your pay
Credit Card Payoff Calculator: How Long to Pay Off Your Card
Free credit card payoff calculator. Enter your balance, APR and monthly payment to see how many months it takes, the total interest, and the payment n
Credit Utilization Calculator: Overall and Per Card
Free credit utilization calculator. Enter balances and limits for up to five cards to see overall and per-card utilization, and how much to pay down t
Debt Consolidation Loan Calculator: Will It Save You Money?
Free debt consolidation loan calculator. Compare what your debt costs now with a consolidation loan offer, including the origination fee, to see the n
Debt Payoff Calculator: Avalanche vs Snowball Method
Free debt payoff calculator. Enter up to five debts and an extra monthly amount to compare the avalanche and snowball methods side by side: months to.
Debt-to-Income Ratio Calculator (DTI)
Free debt-to-income ratio calculator. Add your monthly debt payments and gross income to see your DTI, and how a new loan payment would change it befo
Loan Affordability Calculator: How Much Can I Borrow?
Free loan affordability calculator. Work backward from a monthly payment you can afford, the APR and term, and a debt-to-income limit, to find a loan
Loan Comparison Calculator: Compare Two Loan Offers
Free loan comparison calculator. Enter amount, APR, term and fees for two loans to compare monthly payments, total interest and fees, and which costs
Personal Loan Calculator: Monthly Payment and Total Interest
Free personal loan calculator. Enter the loan amount, APR and term to see your monthly payment, total interest and total cost, with the formula and wo
Loan Payoff Calculator: See How Extra Payments Help
Free loan payoff calculator. Enter your balance, APR and payment to see when your loan will be paid off and how much time and interest extra monthly p
Cash Advance and Payday Loan Calculator: True Cost and APR
Free cash advance calculator. See the real cost and APR of a payday loan, including rollovers, or a credit card cash advance with its fee and interest
Simple Interest Calculator: Interest = P x R x T
Free simple interest calculator. Enter principal, annual rate and time to see the interest and total, plus how much more you would owe if interest com
Learn
Popular guides
Plain-language guides written from CFPB, FTC, NCUA and state regulator sources. How we research and update pages.
Is Debt Consolidation a Good Idea? A 3-Number Test
Debt consolidation is a good idea when the new APR is lower, the total cost is lower, and you stop adding new debt. Run the 3-number test with a worke
How Does Debt Consolidation Work? Steps and an Example
How debt consolidation works: you take one new loan or plan, pay off several debts, then make one fixed payment. The 5 steps, the 4 main methods and a
Debt Consolidation Loans for Bad Credit: Options and Costs
How debt consolidation works with bad credit: what APRs to expect, when a loan still saves money, secured and cosigned options, credit union loans, no
What Is a Credit Card Cash Advance? Fees, APR, Options
A credit card cash advance lets you borrow cash against your card limit. Learn how cash advance fees and APR work, why there is no grace period, a wor
Payday Alternative Loans (PALs): How Credit Union PALs Work
What is a PAL loan? Federal credit unions can offer payday alternative loans capped at 28% APR with a $20 fee limit and no rollovers. PALs I and PALs
Military Lending Act (MLA): 36% Cap and Who's Covered
The Military Lending Act caps most consumer credit for active-duty servicemembers and their dependents at a 36% Military APR. Who is covered, what it
APR vs Interest Rate: What APR Really Means
APR combines a loan's interest rate with lender fees into one yearly figure. Learn how APR differs from the interest rate and how to compare loan offe
Payday Loan Laws by State: How Rules Differ
Payday loan rules are set state by state. Some states ban them, some cap fees and amounts, and others allow them under license. Here is how to check y
Common questions
What people ask before they fill out the form.
Is BestLoanForYou a lender?
No. We're a free matching service. You tell us what you need, and licensed lenders in our network who serve your state decide whether to make you an offer. The lender, not us, sets your rate and terms, and the lender is who you repay. Lenders pay us a referral fee; you never pay us anything.
Will checking my options hurt my credit score?
No. Matching uses a soft inquiry, which doesn't affect your score. If you accept a lender's offer and proceed, that lender may run a full credit check, which can lower your score by a few points temporarily. You'll know before that happens.
Can I get a loan with bad credit?
Often, yes. Many lenders in our network weigh income, employment, and banking history more than a score. Expect a higher APR than someone with good credit, and expect smaller amounts at first. Our bad credit loans guide explains what's realistic.
How fast can I get the money?
If a lender approves you and you sign before their cutoff (often mid-afternoon), funds typically land the next business day. Some lenders offer same-day deposits for a fee. Mortgage and auto refinances take weeks because of appraisals and title work.
Are payday loans legal in my state?
It depends. Roughly a third of states cap payday loans at or near 36% APR or ban them outright; the rest allow them with limits on amount, term, and fees. Your city page states the rule for your state and links the regulator.
What do you do with my information?
We share it with lenders and lending partners in our network so they can decide whether to make you an offer. We don't sell it to unrelated marketers. Our privacy policy lists every category of recipient, and the do not sell or share page lets you opt out.
Two minutes to find out exactly where you stand.
No documents, no Social Security number, no effect on your score. Just the real options available to you today.