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Saturday, May 17, 2025

5 Best Small Payday Loans Online (2025)

Best Small Payday Loans Online
Ashley Fricker

Writer: Ashley Fricker

Ashley Fricker

Ashley Fricker, Senior Editor

Ashley Fricker has more than a decade of experience as a finance contributor and editor, and has specialized in the credit card industry since 2015. Her credit card commentary is featured on national media outlets that include CNBC, MarketWatch, Investopedia, and Reader's Digest, among many others. She has worked closely with the world’s largest banks and financial institutions, up-and-coming fintech companies, and press and news outlets to curate comprehensive content and media. Ashley holds a bachelor's degree in multimedia journalism from Florida Atlantic University.

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Lillian Guevara-Castro

Editor: Lillian Guevara-Castro

Lillian Guevara-Castro

Lillian Guevara-Castro, Senior Editor

Lillian Guevara-Castro brings more than 30 years of editing and journalism experience to the CardRates team. She has worked at The Atlanta Journal and Constitution, Gwinnett Daily News, Gainesville Sun, and The New York Times, where she covered demographics, consumer issues, and the business and financial sectors. Lillian has a degree in journalism and communications from Georgia State University and brings her fact-checking expertise to ensure Digital Brands content is accurate and engaging.

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Adam West

Reviewer: Adam West

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Adam West, Managing Editor

Adam has interviewed over 1,000 finance experts since joining the CardRates team in 2016. He spearheads industry news coverage related to helping consumers achieve greater financial literacy and improved credit. He has more than 12 years of storytelling, editing, and design experience in print and online journalism and is most knowledgeable in the areas of credit scores, financial products and services, and the banking industry.

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Qualifying for small payday loans online is easy, and the fastest way to get a loan to hold you over until your next paycheck. With the online lending networks below, you can submit a loan request for a small payday loan or a larger installment loan that you can repay over time with an affordable monthly payment.

Either loan option takes only minutes to qualify for — and the best part is that each network partners with lenders that specialize in bad credit loan products.

After you submit your payday loan application, you may receive multiple loan offers to choose from. Every offer will have a unique loan term, interest rate, loan amount, and monthly payment. Take your time deciding which loan offer is best for you.

Best Overall Small Payday Loan Online

MoneyMutual offers multiple loans and helps borrowers find a direct lender that can meet their needs and budget. Whether you seek online payday lenders or a small personal loan with a longer repayment term, this network has an online loan option for you.

  • Short-term loans up to $5,000
  • Online marketplace of lenders
  • Funds available in as few as 24 hours
  • Simple online form takes less than 5 minutes
  • Trusted by more than 2 million customers
  • Not available in NY or CT
Overall Rating
★★★★★
4.8

The process for getting a loan through MoneyMutual is simple. Fill out the easy and secure online form, which is then sent to its network of lenders for review. If a lender makes an offer you accept, you can have loan proceeds deposited into your bank account in 24 hours.

More Payday Loan Options to Consider

The online lender networks below work just like MoneyMutual — you’ll submit a single loan request that the network forwards to every direct lender it partners with. No matter what time of the day or night, each lender can make a near-instant loan decision.

This means you’ll receive an email within minutes of submitting your loan request that may contain multiple loan offers for you to compare.

  • Loans from $500 to $10,000
  • All credit types accepted
  • Receive a loan decision in minutes
  • Get funds directly to your bank account
  • Use the loan for any purpose
Overall Rating
★★★★★
4.7

Your online loan application with CashUSA.com will take less than five minutes to complete. You can get a signature loan or a payday advance loan from this network of lenders.

If you’re looking for a larger loan, CashUSA.com may be for you. Qualified applicants may receive a loan with up to 72 months (six years) to repay. A small online payday loan will have a much shorter repayment term.

  • Loan amounts range from $1,000 to $35,000
  • All credit types welcome to apply
  • Lending partners in all 50 states
  • Loans can be used for any purpose
  • Fast online approval
  • Funding in as few as 24 hours
Overall Rating
★★★★
4.4

PersonalLoans.com can help you find a small personal loan or a longer-term signature loan. But you can also connect with a payday loan provider if you only need a small payday loan to get you to your next payday.

Your interest rate will be determined by your credit score, the lender you work with, and the type of loan you accept. Payday advance loans may come with a higher interest rate than that of a traditional loan but will have more forgiving loan approval criteria.

  • Loan amounts range from $100 to $1,000
  • Short-term loans with flexible credit requirements
  • Compare quotes from a network of lenders
  • 5-minute approvals and 24-hour funding
  • Minimum monthly income of $1,000 required
  • Current employment with 90 days on the job required
Overall Rating
★★★★
3.9

Your payday loan application only takes minutes to complete on CashAdvance.com. Once approved, you can have money in your account by the next business day — or faster for an additional fee if this is an emergency loan.

Cash advance loans often have a substantially higher interest rate when compared with installment loans. Only use this type of loan as a last resort during an emergency. Otherwise, you’ll likely end up owing much more than you borrowed.

  • Loan amounts range from $500 to $10,000
  • Compare quotes from a network of lenders
  • Flexible credit requirements
  • Easy online application & 5-minute approval
  • Funding in as few as 24 hours
Overall Rating
★★★★★
4.6

BadCreditLoans.com maintains a network of lenders that offer several loan options — including secured and unsecured personal loans. This network also has payday loan partners that offer cash advance loans that can be deposited directly into your bank account.

This network has a long history of finding loan options for just about every bad credit borrower. In fact, the network claims that it can typically find a loan for you even if you’ve been turned down by a bank, credit union, or another lender.

What is a Payday Loan?

A payday loan — otherwise known as a cash advance loan — is a short-term loan that is designed to act as a bridge to your next payday. As a result, online payday lenders expect repayment in full, typically within seven to 30 days.

This isn’t a traditional loan that allows you to satisfy your debt through a series of monthly payments. Online payday loans are often far more expensive than personal loans.

You can expect to pay a finance charge of around $15 for every $100 you borrow, which can amount to an APR of over 400%. Some states allow interest rates much higher than that, as pictured in the following map (gray states indicate where payday loans are illegal):

A map of the United States with the payday loan interest rates listed on each one
Source: The Center for Responsible Lending

If you cannot repay the loan on time, the lender may roll your debt into a new loan with a penalty charge and a higher interest rate. This can result in thousands of dollars in finance charges for a small loan of only a few hundred dollars and is why loan rollovers aren’t allowed in every state.

That’s why we only recommend a payday loan if you have no other option and desperately need money fast. These loans may not require a credit check for approval if you can provide proof of enough income to repay the loan on time. Still, this convenience comes at a high cost.

Even if you have poor credit, you may still qualify for a more affordable personal loan through the online lending networks listed above.

How Can I Borrow Money Instantly?

The online lending networks listed above use automated underwriting to give instant prequalification decisions to most applicants. Once you complete your loan paperwork, you can have money in your account by the next business day. Some lenders offer instant payouts for an additional fee.

If you need an instant cash loan with an immediate payout, your best bet is to research secured financing in your area. Examples of secured financing include a title loan or a pawnshop loan.

Examples of Secured Financing
Home loans
Auto loans
Pawnshop loans
Car title loans
Secured credit cards
Some personal loans

A secured loan requires collateral to guarantee your loan. For example, you’ll need to hand over your vehicle’s title to acquire a title loan. If you don’t repay the debt on time, the lender will repossess your vehicle and sell it.

While these loans may be quick and convenient, they’re often expensive and put all the risk in your hands. That’s why we suggest personal loans if you need quick, affordable cash.

What’s the Difference Between a Personal Loan and a Payday Loan?

A personal loan is a type of installment loan that allows you to repay your debt over a series of monthly payments. A payday loan is a short-term loan that requires repayment in full by your next payday

Personal loans are more affordable because they charge a lower interest rate and finance fees. The best loan terms go to borrowers who have a good credit history, which is reviewed by the lender through a credit check.

Here are some of the key differences between the two types of loans:

Personal LoanCash Advance
Repayment FrequencyMonthlyLump sum on payday
Typical APR6% to 36%36% to 400% or more
Minimum Loan Term3 months7 days
Maximum Loan Term72 months or more30 days
Minimum Loan AmountAs low as $100$100
Credit CheckYesNo
Reported to Credit BureausYesNo

Payday loans don’t always require a credit check. These loans are designed for bad credit borrowers, and lenders charge substantially higher rates on payday advances to offset the risk they are taking.

And since payday loans have a shorter repayment term, you may not be able to borrow more than $500 or so at a time. Personal loans, on the other hand, may provide as much as $10,000 or more, with up to 72 months to repay the debt.

How Much Can I Borrow With a Payday Loan?

The amount you’re able to borrow with a payday loan will depend on your state’s laws and your income. Some states allow payday loan amounts of just $300, whereas other states allow loans of up to $1,000 or more.

Most payday loan lenders base your loan amount on how much the lender thinks you can afford to repay when your next paycheck arrives, so the amount will vary. Most states have a set maximum amount for payday loans. Here’s a list:

StateLoan Amount Cap
Alabama$500
Alaska$500
California$300
Colorado$500
Delaware$1,000
Florida$500
Hawaii$600
IdahoNo cap
Illinois$1,000
Indiana$605
Iowa$500
Kansas$500
Kentucky$500
Louisiana$350
Maine$500
Michigan$600
Minnesota$350
Mississippi$500
Missouri$500
Montana$300
Nebraska$500
NevadaNo cap
New Hampshire$500
North Dakota$500
Ohio$1,000
Oklahoma$500
Oregon$50,000
Rhode Island$500
South Carolina$550
South Dakota$500
Tennessee$500
TexasNo cap
UtahNo cap
Virginia$500
Washington$700
WisconsinNo cap
WyomingNo cap

If you need more than that and can prove sufficient income, you may be able to negotiate a larger loan with your lender. However, due to the high finance charges associated with payday advances, a personal loan is a much smarter and more affordable loan option than a cash advance loan.

Research the Best Small Payday Loans Online

You can often find small payday loans online that will approve you with just about any credit score. Just remember that a cash advance loan is expensive and risky — if you can’t repay the debt as agreed, interest fees will continue to accrue until the debt is satisfied.

Before you accept one of these loans, submit a loan request to the online lending networks above. These networks may provide you with the cash advance loan you need, but you may also qualify for a personal loan with a more affordable interest rate, a larger loan amount, and a longer repayment term.

That means more money in your pocket and less stress on your monthly budget.

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