2024 Emergency Loan Rankings

Emergency Loans

Emergency loans are available to people with all credit types. Up to $10K can be deposited into your account often by the next day. These loans are expensive and typically only make sense for short-term, emergency funding.

We define emergency loans as installment loans that are paid back within two years. These loans are most often tied to the date your pay check is direct deposited into your checking account. The loan amounts for these loans are generally around ~$1,000 although they can go to larger amounts. For loans that are paid back over more than two years, we categorize them as personal loans. Personal loans are generally for larger loans amounts like $10,000 and can be up to $50,000. They are used more for debt consolidation versus emergencies

We review bad credit direct lenders based on their reputation, cost, and features. Reputation considers state licensing and Better Business Bureau scores. Cost is based on terms, fees, and rates. Features include things like credit reporting or fee transparency.

OppLoans See full review Apply $500 - $4,000 Loan amounts 99% - 199% APRs All Credit type ⓘ Visit OppLoans for product eligibility. Our eligible credit type estimate is a general guide based on FICO® Scores: Credit Type FICO® Score All All Scores Fair 620+ Good 680+ Great 720+ [close] State Licensed Lender Lender status Apply

Check Into Cash See full review Apply $100 - $25,000 Loan amounts 195% - 521% APRs All Credit type ⓘ Visit Check Into Cash for product eligibility. Our eligible credit type estimate is a general guide based on FICO® Scores: Credit Type FICO® Score All All Scores Fair 620+ Good 680+ Great 720+ [close] State Licensed Lender Lender status Apply

Ace Cash Express See full review Apply $100 - $2,000 Loan amounts 175% - 1,029% APRs All Credit type ⓘ Visit Ace Cash Express for product eligibility. Our eligible credit type estimate is a general guide based on FICO® Scores: Credit Type FICO® Score All All Scores Fair 620+ Good 680+ Great 720+ [close] State Licensed Lender Lender status Apply

CashNetUSA See full review Apply $100 - $2,000 Loan amounts 299% - 456% APRs All Credit type ⓘ Visit CashNetUSA for product eligibility. Our eligible credit type estimate is a general guide based on FICO® Scores: Credit Type FICO® Score All All Scores Fair 620+ Good 680+ Great 720+ [close] State Licensed Lender Lender status Apply

LendUp See full review Apply $100 - $500 Loan amounts 155% - 164% APRs All Credit type ⓘ Visit LendUp for product eligibility. Our eligible credit type estimate is a general guide based on FICO® Scores: Credit Type FICO® Score All All Scores Fair 620+ Good 680+ Great 720+ [close] State Licensed Lender Lender status Apply

Cash 1 See full review Apply $100 - $50,000 Loan amounts 168% - 390% APRs All Credit type ⓘ Visit Cash 1 for product eligibility. Our eligible credit type estimate is a general guide based on FICO® Scores: Credit Type FICO® Score All All Scores Fair 620+ Good 680+ Great 720+ [close] State Licensed Lender Lender status Apply

Advance America See full review Apply $50 - $25,000 Loan amounts 36% - 664% APRs All Credit type ⓘ Visit Advance America for product eligibility. Our eligible credit type estimate is a general guide based on FICO® Scores: Credit Type FICO® Score All All Scores Fair 620+ Good 680+ Great 720+ [close] State Licensed Lender Lender status Apply

Cash Central See full review Apply $100 - $5,000 Loan amounts 180% - 740% APRs All Credit type ⓘ Visit Cash Central for product eligibility. Our eligible credit type estimate is a general guide based on FICO® Scores: Credit Type FICO® Score All All Scores Fair 620+ Good 680+ Great 720+ [close] State Licensed Lender Lender status Apply

RISE See full review Apply $300 - $5,000 Loan amounts 60% - 299% APRs All Credit type ⓘ Visit RISE for product eligibility. Our eligible credit type estimate is a general guide based on FICO® Scores: Credit Type FICO® Score All All Scores Fair 620+ Good 680+ Great 720+ [close] State Licensed Lender Lender status Apply

Jora See full review Apply $500 - $2,600 Loan amounts 170% - 349% APRs All Credit type ⓘ Visit Jora for product eligibility. Our eligible credit type estimate is a general guide based on FICO® Scores: Credit Type FICO® Score All All Scores Fair 620+ Good 680+ Great 720+ [close] State Licensed Lender Lender status Apply

Quik Check See full review Apply $100 - $500 Loan amounts 146% - 548% APRs All Credit type ⓘ Visit Quik Check for product eligibility. Our eligible credit type estimate is a general guide based on FICO® Scores: Credit Type FICO® Score All All Scores Fair 620+ Good 680+ Great 720+ [close] State Licensed Lender Lender status Apply

Stilt See full review Apply $1,000 - $35,000* Loan amounts 7.99% - ? APRs All Credit type ⓘ Visit Stilt for product eligibility. Our eligible credit type estimate is a general guide based on FICO® Scores: Credit Type FICO® Score All All Scores Fair 620+ Good 680+ Great 720+ [close] State Licensed Lender Lender status Apply

Check 'n Go See full review Apply $250 - $5,000 Loan amounts 314% - 662% APRs All Credit type ⓘ Visit Check 'n Go for product eligibility. Our eligible credit type estimate is a general guide based on FICO® Scores: Credit Type FICO® Score All All Scores Fair 620+ Good 680+ Great 720+ [close] State Licensed Lender Lender status Apply

Speedy Cash See full review Apply $100 - $2,000 Loan amounts 178% - 680% APRs All Credit type ⓘ Visit Speedy Cash for product eligibility. Our eligible credit type estimate is a general guide based on FICO® Scores: Credit Type FICO® Score All All Scores Fair 620+ Good 680+ Great 720+ [close] State Licensed Lender Lender status Apply

Cash Store See full review Apply $100 - $1000 Loan amounts 313% - 780% APRs All Credit type ⓘ Visit Cash Store for product eligibility. Our eligible credit type estimate is a general guide based on FICO® Scores: Credit Type FICO® Score All All Scores Fair 620+ Good 680+ Great 720+ [close] State Licensed Lender Lender status Apply

Big Picture Loans See full review Apply $200 - $3,500 Loan amounts 35% - 699%* APRs All Credit type ⓘ Visit Big Picture Loans for product eligibility. Our eligible credit type estimate is a general guide based on FICO® Scores: Credit Type FICO® Score All All Scores Fair 620+ Good 680+ Great 720+ [close] Tribe Based Lender Lender status Apply

Blue Trust Loans See full review Apply $100 - $2,500 Loan amounts 782% APRs All Credit type ⓘ Visit Blue Trust Loans for product eligibility. Our eligible credit type estimate is a general guide based on FICO® Scores: Credit Type FICO® Score All All Scores Fair 620+ Good 680+ Great 720+ [close] Tribe Based Lender Lender status Apply

Plain Green Loans See full review Apply $1,000 Loan amounts 300% APRs All Credit type ⓘ Visit Plain Green Loans for product eligibility. Our eligible credit type estimate is a general guide based on FICO® Scores: Credit Type FICO® Score All All Scores Fair 620+ Good 680+ Great 720+ [close] Tribe Based Lender Lender status Apply

Mobiloans See full review Apply $10 - $2,500 Loan amounts 206.14% - 442.31% APRs All Credit type ⓘ Visit Mobiloans for product eligibility. Our eligible credit type estimate is a general guide based on FICO® Scores: Credit Type FICO® Score All All Scores Fair 620+ Good 680+ Great 720+ [close] Tribe Based Lender Lender status Apply

Cash Advance Now See full review Apply $300 - $1,500 Loan amounts 725% APRs All Credit type ⓘ Visit Cash Advance Now for product eligibility. Our eligible credit type estimate is a general guide based on FICO® Scores: Credit Type FICO® Score All All Scores Fair 620+ Good 680+ Great 720+ [close] Tribe Based Lender Lender status Apply

MaxLend See full review Apply $100 to $2,500 Loan amounts 782% APRs All Credit type ⓘ Visit MaxLend for product eligibility. Our eligible credit type estimate is a general guide based on FICO® Scores: Credit Type FICO® Score All All Scores Fair 620+ Good 680+ Great 720+ [close] Tribe Based Lender Lender status Apply

American Web Loan See full review Apply $300 to $2,500 Loan amounts None Listed APRs All Credit type ⓘ Visit American Web Loan for product eligibility. Our eligible credit type estimate is a general guide based on FICO® Scores: Credit Type FICO® Score All All Scores Fair 620+ Good 680+ Great 720+ [close] Tribe Based Lender Lender status Apply

• Rates and fees vary by state. Not all lenders operate in all states. Check each lender's website for up-to-date information.

What Are Emergency Loans

Emergency loans are available to individuals with poor credit, do not require collateral, and tied to your pay date. They are often very easy to qualify for but can be expensive. They are best used to meet unavoidable emergency expense.

These loans are paid back over multiple periods with a set payment amount. They are also called term loans because they are paid back over a set term. The payment amount is calculated based on the interest rate, payment periods, and loan amount. The borrower then makes a set payment at every period. Each payment consists of interest and principal. Once the borrower has completed all payments the entire loan is paid off. Personal loans, fixed mortgages, auto loans, and student loans are examples of term loans. Doshound categorizes installment loans as loans with a term generally less than 2 years. For loans that have a term greater than 2 years see personal loans Personal loans typically have a 2-5 year term, offer larger loan amounts, and typically require a better credit profile than installment loans.

Secured Or Unsecured

Loans can be secured or unsecured. Secured loans have collateral so, if the borrower fails to repay, the lender can seize the collateral. Secured loans are generally cheaper than unsecured loans. Mortgages and auto title loans are examples of secured loans

The installment loans reviewed here are unsecured loans. No collateral is needed. When a borrower fails to pay back an unsecured loan the lender has no collateral to seize so must rely on attempting to collect on the debt. As a result, the lending decision around unsecured loans depends on evaluating the ability of the borrower to repay the loan. To determine this likelihood of repayment lenders traditionally rely on credit history, expenses, and income.

Paycheck Installment Loans

The loans listed in this section are paycheck-based loans. Payments for these loans occur on your pay date. Unlike normal unsecured loans, these loans do not consider credit history and instead, are based solely on your employment. To increase the likelihood of being repaid lenders require access to your checking account where you receive your paycheck. On your payday, they deduct your loan payments.

Companies offering paycheck emergency loans have made these loans very convenient. They are quick, simple, and do not require good credit. This convenience, flexibility, and availability comes at a cost -- these loans are expensive.

How Emergency Loans Work

If emergency loans are right for you, the application process can take less than 5 minutes. Typically, the lender requires that you be 18+ years old, employed, and have direct deposit set up with your employer. If approved, cash can be deposited into your account within one business day. This money plus fees must be repaid in full and payments are automatically deducted from your checking account on payday.

If approved the lender will provide a payment plan. For example, $1,000 could have a repayment plan with a ~$125 payment every pay period (14 days) over the next 24 pay periods. In the end ~$1,000 costs ~$2,400. This is cheaper than what you would have to pay if you took out a payday loan for the same timeframe, but clearly not cheap so make sure you really need this loan. See borrow money options for other ideas such as delaying the expense or getting help from a friend.

Licensed Versus Unlicensed Lenders

Emergency loans can be regulated by both federal and state laws. Federal regulations are generally less stringent and less enforced than state regulations. Lenders licensed in your state are regulated and monitored by your state so are more closely regulated. To become state licensed, lenders generally must apply, register, and remain compliant in every state in which they operate. Each state has a separate process so the licensing process can be expensive and time consuming. As a result, state-licensed lenders are generally not fly-by-night entities. Instead, they are usually larger more permanent companies.

Another type of lender is a tribal lenders. Tribal lenders operate in states under the assumption they can export laws from their tribe into other states. Tribes refer to formally recognized American Indian Tribes that are generally treated as separate federal entities and operate under their own laws. Tribal laws are generally less available to the public than state lending laws so it is difficult to know all the lending laws and their enforcement.

We believe in transparent markets, fair regulations, and consumer choice. To the extent, the existence of tribal lenders provides more choice this is a good thing. We'd like to see continued transparency and enforcement to create safer choices for borrowers. For more information see Payday Loan Laws

Installment Versus Payday Loans

Installment loan payments are spread out over time while payday loans are due at your next pay period. Spreading payments out reduces the amount of individual payments and APR but the total fees paid increases. See Payday Loans or Term Loans for more information. Many consumers prefer installment loans because paying the entire loan at your next pay period, as payday loans require, is often too difficult or impossible and renewing payday loans becomes extremely expensive.

Related terms are emergency lenders.