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If you have bad credit or no credit, a high-interest loan can seem like your only option to finance an unexpected expense. But a loan with a high interest rate could trap you in a cycle of debt and make the situation worse.
Explore cheaper options before getting a loan with a high interest rate. If you get a high-interest loan, know what to look for to ensure the loan helps more than it hurts.
What are high-interest loans?
A high-interest loan has an annual percentage rate above 36%, the highest APR that most consumer advocates consider affordable. High-interest loans are offered by online and storefront lenders that promise fast funding and easy applications, sometimes without checking your credit.
» MORE: What are no-credit-check loans?
High-interest loans are usually a few thousand dollars or less. Some are short-term payday loans, but others are installment loans with amounts up to $10,000 and repayment terms from two to three years.
How high-interest loans are harmful
Consumer advocates say high APRs lead to large loan payments that can be difficult to make on time. At high rates, the total interest cost can be more than double the amount borrowed.
If you can’t repay, a high-interest lender may offer to refinance your loan. This often means getting a new, larger loan or one with a longer term, leaving you paying more over an extended period.
How much interest is too much?
One way to tell whether a loan is too expensive is to look at the monthly payment. Small-loan payments should take up no more than 5% of your pre-tax monthly income, according to the Pew Charitable Trusts. Add the loan payments into your monthly budget to see whether they fit. If it’s a tight squeeze, taking the loan may be a risky move.
Also, consider the total interest costs. Use the personal loan calculator below to see how much you’d pay in interest alone. Interest on some high-interest loans can amount to more than double the amount borrowed.
Finally, use the interest costs to measure how much the loan is worth to you. How much extra would you pay to borrow the money?
High-interest loan examples
Here are four lenders that provide high-interest loans, plus the monthly payment and total interest costs on a 12-month, $2,000 loan at the lender’s maximum APR.
With a 36% APR, the monthly payment on that loan would be $201, and you’d pay $411 in interest.
What to look for in a high-interest loan
If the only loan you qualify for has a high APR, look for a lender that:
- Discloses the APR. By law, a lender must disclose the APR before you sign a loan agreement. You can use the APR to compare the full cost of one loan to another.
- Checks your credit. Even if it’s just a soft pull, a lender that reviews your credit is making an effort to see whether you can repay the loan.
- Puts payments toward the principal. Monthly payments should pay down principal and interest. Interest-only payments don’t reduce the loan’s principal, so interest continues to accrue at the same rate. Check the loan’s amortization schedule before you agree to borrow. Make sure each month’s principal payment is more than $0 and that the amount you owe will decrease each month.
- Reports payments. The lender should report your monthly payments to at least one — but ideally all three — of the major credit bureaus. If your payments are on time, this reporting can help your credit.
Best alternatives to high-interest loans
A personal loan with an APR below 36% may be a more affordable option. These loans are often larger than high-interest loans and are repaid over years instead of months. Their lower rates mean you pay less to borrow the money.
Lenders typically require a credit check to apply, but you can find installment loans for bad credit (scores below 630).
» MORE: Compare loans for bad credit
Lenders for bad-credit borrowers
The lenders below cap APRs at 36% or lower and can lend to borrowers with low credit scores.
Upgrade personal loans can be as small as $1,000, and the lender offers access to credit-building features, like free credit health insights. The lender also offers auto-secured loans, meaning you can use a vehicle as collateral to improve your chances of qualifying or getting a lower rate.
Universal Credit loans, which are similar to Upgrade’s, can be approved and funded in as little as one day. You can get a rate discount for setting up automatic payments.
Avant can approve borrowers with a minimum credit score of 550 and a minimum monthly net income of $1,200. The lender says it can fund most loans in one business day after approval.
Credit unions can approve bad-credit borrowers by looking beyond a credit score to the whole financial picture, including an applicant’s relationship with the credit union. Federal credit unions cap APRs at 18%, and some offer small loans of a few hundred dollars. For example, First Tech personal loans start at $500, and Navy Federal loans start at $250.
Payday alternative loans are another small-dollar credit union offering. These loans can be up to $2,000, have repayment terms of a few months to a year and have maximum APRs of 28%.
Lenders for those with thin or no credit history
Lenders that cater to borrowers with thin or no credit history consider other information to qualify them, like cash flow and employment.
Upstart can approve borrowers with credit histories that are too thin to produce a credit score. The lender uses information such as where you live and work, your education and whatever credit history is available to make a loan decision.
Oportun provides unsecured loans of $300 to $10,000 to borrowers with bad or no credit. To qualify you, Oportun reviews income and expenses. You can add collateral to the loan to help your chances of qualifying.
Capital Good Fund is available in a handful of states but offers low-rate loans to borrowers with no credit and need money for emergency expenses or other basic needs. The lender qualifies you using your bank account history. Loan amounts and APRs vary by state and purpose, but it could be your best option if you live in a state where Capital Good Fund lends.
Other borrowing alternatives
An informal agreement or nonborrowing alternative may be an interest-free solution in an emergency or financial hardship.
Family loans or money borrowed from someone you trust can help you bridge an income gap without a credit check. Draw up a contract that includes interest and a payment schedule so the terms are clear to both parties.
Payment plans are a useful way to split payments toward your utilities, rent, credit cards or medical bills. Your utility company, mortgage lender and credit card issuer may have a formal application for payment deferral or hardship plans, but you may have to ask your doctor’s office or landlord directly.
Local charities and nonprofits may help you get clothing, food or transportation. These organizations can include food banks and religious organizations, and some can help you cover emergency expenses or utility bills. Call the 211 hotline to find out what resources are available near you.
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- 1. Pew Charitable Trusts. Payday Lending in America: Policy Solutions. Accessed Mar 4, 2026.
